4:54:33...

Goal accomplished! Most important I finished, and I was happy to run it in under 5 hours!

Thank you Lindsay...

Thank you Lindsay for posting such fantastic Marathon photos. You did a great job capturing how amazing and uplifting the day was.

Lindsay is a talented and passionate photographer. If you get a moment please check out her website Lindsay Lehmann.

THE BOSTON MARATHON: by Lindsay Lehmann

Well a good crowd turned out for Ryans Run in the Boston Marathon. I decided to post this blog: my first I might add, while he's at home recuperating. So many of Ryan's friends and family came out and followed him (the best we could) as he did his 26.2 mile run. There were people and cars everywhere, and what shocked me more was how many people actually were running. 27,000 runners, plus bandits add up to be more than I thought.

There were "Old Spamers"

"Telephone Runners"

"Excited runners"

"Really Tall Runners"

and "All American Runners"

and then, almost from out of nowhere, came our little "SuperMario Brother" runner.

He was running hard. Pushing himself, but didn't look strained. We were all so proud and couldn't have cheered louder.

Run Ryan Run!

Super Mario Brother or what?

And so after a quick kiss to the wife...

And encouraging words and steps with dad...

off he went up HeartBreak hill, and off we went to the T to go to Boylston St for the last leg of the race!

Before we knew it we were on Boylston St. waiting for Ryan to finish the final leg of the race. The end was in sight for every runner that came around that corner. Some were walking..

After tracking his entire race, what seemed like very quickly from his 21st mile, Ryan came around the corner just as strong and unphased as the last time we'd seen him.

He ran hard, and after a quick slap of the hands...
He was off again.
Everyone was excited... even the "naked beer cups"
And well, we're not sure what this was.
But Kelley and Jay were really pumped about it!
and Ryan was having the time of his life.
Go team Liver. Ryan did it with all his supporters on his back. Each name neatly and diligently hand written on his back, his shirt showed how much he appreciate all the support everyone has given him throughout his training and this rigorous run.
He crossed the finish line in under five hours
4:54:33
We couldn't have been prouder at this moment!

"Go Liver!"

To see all the photos from Ryan's big day:

click on the link below

ofoto gallery

Boston Marathon - Interactive Tour

Boston.com has a great interactive tour of the Boston Marathon. See you at the finish line... enjoy!

Fundraising goal met!

Thanks to all of you who have generously supported the Liver Foundation and my quest to run the Boston Marathon with your donations! Because of your support I have reached my fundraising goal of $3,000! One goal down... one to go!

Fundraising Leaders

21,468...

It's official! My bib number is 21,468, and my starting time is at 10:30 am. I'm so excited, can't wait!

17 Miler – 3/29

As promised below are pictures of the March 29th 17 miler... my longest run to date.


Run For Research group picture at the Boston Marathon starting line in Hopkinton. Can you find me? Hint... look for the guy with a crazy mustache!


Ashland, around mile 2. I'm in black pointing to my Run For Research pin.


Ashland again, just a little closer.



Natick, around mile 9. I'm pulling off the course to grab some gatorade and the cameraman caught me giving him the two thumb salute.

Mustache Marathon...

Back in February Kelley's business partner Melissa Jordan had a crazy fundraising idea. She said that I should tell everybody that if I raised enough money by a certain date that I would grow a Steve Prefontaine mustache. I've never grown a mustache, so I thought her idea would be fun. Through your eagerness to see me with a mustache and gracious donations, Mustache Marathon was off and running. As of the beginning of March I've been doing my best to honor "Pre". Stay tuned for Mustache Marathon pictures!

Been a long time...

Since I blogged, and I apologize for that. Sitting in front of a computer to blog after a long and tiring day was the last thing I wanted to do. My mind was focussed on training and my blog obviously suffered. With just 2.5 weeks till the marathon, I'll do my best to catch-up with more blogs.

Now that I've gotten my apology out of the way, you all should know I'm alive and my legs are still kicking towards the finish line. I'll try to give you a quick recap of the last two months.

February

February was physical therapy month. My sessions were filled with cross-training and painful massages. In the beginning, my legs were so knotted and tight I often thought the therapist was ripping my calves off of my legs! Over many therapy sessions the massages have been a welcome relief from the constant aches and pains of running. Without the physical therapy and the wonderful therapists (Brian, Christina, Todd, and Marie) at Pro Sports I don't believe I would even be considering running this marathon. They have been great!

March

The month of March was extremely busy... logging 30+ miles and multiple physical therapy sessions a week. My daily schedule has pretty much been run, work, therapy, eat, sleep... repeat. I'll be honest, it's taken it's toll and no doubt this training has been one of the hardest things I've ever done. Getting back into running after taking most of February off due to my injury was a slow process. I began just running indoors on a treadmill. Three mile runs progressed to five milers and so on. Running on the treadmill was easier on my legs, but extremely boring. Try running 9, even 6 miles on a treadmill and you'll know what I mean. I'd rather run outside any day. Eventually my therapists allowed me to do smaller runs on the road, which then grew to longer runs on the road. Currently I'm running both on the treadmill and the road.

End of March

The end of March has been a turning point for me, and I'm filled with optimism and confidence. The last couple weeks of March have really done wonders for me mentally. A couple weeks ago I ran a 12 miler, and just this past Saturday I ran my longest to date, a 17 mile run. The 17 miler was really a great experience, because I ran from the starting line in Hopkinton to the base of Heartbreak Hill in Newton. With that run, I'm now familiar mentally and physically with the whole 26.2 miles of the Boston Marathon. Just a few minor aches following the 17 miler and no pain in my achilles or calves which is another boost of confidence. I'm about as ready as I'll be, and I'm anxious for Marathon Monday.

Note: I will write more about the 17 miler and post some pictures from the run in my next blog... which I promise will be soon.

April

The last few weeks leading up to the Marathon are less intense and I'll be "tapering" down and logging less miles (30+ miles to around 20 miles a week), allowing my body to rest and heal.

Can't wait for the Marathon, I'm very excited!