Living in Boston
is very cool
when you live
in the Back Bay
And run on the Charles
almost every day.
It was very fun working
with Bobby and Tim
Not to mention
we were doing it
with Jim.
Tim and I were training
for the big ‘Pru’ race.
We wanted the win
so we brought in
an Ace.
My second tour of Boston was a hoot; Fenway was within walking distance of the ‘Pru,’ so I watched a few Red Sox games from our suite which overlooked third base.
The ‘Pru,’ where WVBF was located was 52 stories high and had enough people working in it to run their own race.
Tim and I were looking forward to running in it, but the Gillette Company who occupied two full floors always fielded a big team which included their fast guy who won it every year.
We had some excellent runners on our team, and even I was picking up some speed after hiring Thom Hunt, an elite runner out of San Diego, to coach me.
A few weeks before the ‘Pru’ race, I’d run a half marathon back in Winnipeg with my nephew Jamie Boychuk, so I was in pretty good shape.
Jamie and I had run several races over the years, so I suspected he was itching to beat his old uncle.
We had some excellent runners on our team, and even I was picking up some speed after hiring Thom Hunt, an elite runner out of San Diego, to coach me.
A few weeks before the ‘Pru’ race, I’d run a half marathon back in Winnipeg with my nephew Jamie Boychuk, so I was in pretty good shape.Jamie and I had run several races over the years, so I suspected he was itching to beat his old uncle.
We’d run a 5K and a 10K, but now we were doing the half because, as coach Thom said to me, “Always take the young ones long.” (Jamie pictured with me above)
While waiting for the start of the race, we did a little stretching and as we did so, I noticed that Olympian Jeff Galloway was upfront with the elite runners.
I was a big fan of Jeff’s because I’d read all of his books that are considered the runner’s bibles. (Jeff is pictured above)
While waiting for the start of the race, we did a little stretching and as we did so, I noticed that Olympian Jeff Galloway was upfront with the elite runners.I was a big fan of Jeff’s because I’d read all of his books that are considered the runner’s bibles. (Jeff is pictured above)
When the gun went off, Jamie predictably sprinted ahead, and I didn’t see him again until about the 2-mile marker.
As I slowly went by him, I visualized him tucking in behind me and then waiting for the perfect moment to make his move.
As I slowly went by him, I visualized him tucking in behind me and then waiting for the perfect moment to make his move.
There was no way I was going to flinch by looking around, so just picked up my pace.
I ran the rest of the race out of my comfort zone, which resulted in a 3rd place medal and PR time of 1:31. Wow!
After crossing the finish line and discovering that Jamie was nowhere in sight, I did a little more stretching as I waited for him to show up.
As I did so, surprisingly, I saw Jeff Galloway cross the finish line.
As I did so, surprisingly, I saw Jeff Galloway cross the finish line.
Later that night, I called coach Thom to give him my time and also tell him that not only did I beat my nephew again, but I also finished ahead of Jeff Galloway.
However, I said, “He was probably dogging it.” “Well,” said Tom, “That’s Jeff’s story; yours is, you beat him.”
However, I said, “He was probably dogging it.” “Well,” said Tom, “That’s Jeff’s story; yours is, you beat him.”
Meanwhile, a couple of weeks later back in Boston Tim had discovered that the fast guy from the Gillette Company was a ringer from their New York office.
That really pissed us off so we convinced Hilliard that we needed a sports consultant for a few days, and Jim’s only question was, “And just how fast is this consultant?” My reply was, “World-class fast, sir.”
When Thom arrived in Boston, the first thing he asked was, “Do you want me to just kick the ringers ass or do you also want me to hurt him?”
Tim and I both agreed that he needed to feel some real pain. (Thom Hunt pictured above)
That really pissed us off so we convinced Hilliard that we needed a sports consultant for a few days, and Jim’s only question was, “And just how fast is this consultant?” My reply was, “World-class fast, sir.”
When Thom arrived in Boston, the first thing he asked was, “Do you want me to just kick the ringers ass or do you also want me to hurt him?”Tim and I both agreed that he needed to feel some real pain. (Thom Hunt pictured above)
Race morning the weather was perfect and as we stretched Thom says that he has some good news and bad news.
“The good news,” Thom says, is, I’ve spotted the ringer, and even though he looks fast, the bad news for him is; I know the name of every runner on the planet who has any chance of beating me, but I’ve never heard of this guy.
“The good news,” Thom says, is, I’ve spotted the ringer, and even though he looks fast, the bad news for him is; I know the name of every runner on the planet who has any chance of beating me, but I’ve never heard of this guy.
When the gun went off, we headed down a slight incline where we’d make a sharp left at the bottom onto Boylston and then a right onto a small bridge that takes you to the running path on the Charles.
By the time I hit the bridge, the race leaders were already out of sight.
By the time I hit the bridge, the race leaders were already out of sight.
Even though I was pretty fast, it seemed like it took me all day to get back to the finish line.
When I finished, I rushed over to Thom and Tim, who were stretching, and anxiously asked Thom if he won; he said, “That was never in doubt.”
When I finished, I rushed over to Thom and Tim, who were stretching, and anxiously asked Thom if he won; he said, “That was never in doubt.”
As I began my own post-race stretch, the ringer hobbled over to Thom and said, “Who the hell are you?”
When Thom tells him, he says, “Ah, no wonder.” As Thom had said earlier, “All the fast guys know the names of the faster guys.”
When Thom tells him, he says, “Ah, no wonder.” As Thom had said earlier, “All the fast guys know the names of the faster guys.”
The Pru replayed a video of the start and the finish of the big race in their lobby all week, and I never tired of seeing Thom run up the small incline to the finish line all by himself.
When the ringer finally showed up, he looked like a Duck-Billed Platypus as he gasped and stumbled to the finish line.
When the ringer finally showed up, he looked like a Duck-Billed Platypus as he gasped and stumbled to the finish line.
Later that night at dinner Thom gave us the play-by-play.
“The ringer,” he said, “Went out very fast, so I just tucked in behind him, and then I slowly pulled up beside him, which caused him to pick up his pace.
“The ringer,” he said, “Went out very fast, so I just tucked in behind him, and then I slowly pulled up beside him, which caused him to pick up his pace.
Each time I did this, Thom went on to say, “He would keep picking up his pace until he finally went into oxygen debt.”
“At that point, I just blew by him and put him out of his misery.” Revenge is so sweet, baby!
“At that point, I just blew by him and put him out of his misery.” Revenge is so sweet, baby!