Place your bets - I'm running Boston Maraton on April 21, 2008

[Robert]

My wife and kids prepared a "mini-Boston" yesterday. Our running club met and ran around the park just a few hundred meters, and we had lots of kids cheering and screaming as we ran up a little bump we called "Heartbreak Hill". :D It was fun, and I feel I am now mentally prepared for the upcoming challenge in Boston.

On race day, you can track my progress in the race live on
http://www.bostonmarathon.org/

Every 5 kilometers will be shown on the website as I run. My race number is 1538 - so place your bets and predict what my finish time will be! :dude:

Will I go under 3 hours? I hope so, but who knows. This course is not very fast Plus, it's the most prestigious marathon of them all, so I may want to hold back a bit and take in the experience of it all.

On an easy course, I would guess I could do anywhere between 2:52 and 3:05 - with some more training, definitely faster than that.

[Algonquin]

Good luck Rob. Your friends here will be rooting for you. :AOK:

[just strum]

$20 Canadian on the guy with the big veins.

Oh, I forgot a time - 2:52

Run, Robert, Run

We need a marathon smiley.

[mrmudcat]

4:20 WILL BE YOUR TIME:master:

I will celebrate for you here at my house in the garage with a token;) of our frienship!!!!! And im sure warren will have pancakes afterwords:rockon: Again 4:20 is your time:pancake:

[mrmudcat]

$20 Canadian on the guy with the big veins.

I wonder if I should look for his number or just the guy with the biggest veins!:D

[sunvalleylaw]

I am going to bet under three. Even while soaking it all in, you won't be able to hold yourself back. Have a great race!

[WackyT]

Good luck Robert. That's close enough to home territory for me. I grew up in midstate Mass.

I bid 3:25, Bob!

http://poplicks.com/images/bob-barker.jpg

[Spudman]

Best of luck to you Robert. :AOK:

I'm sure that no matter what time you run it in A. you'll have a great experience B. tell yourself the rest of your life that you could have run it faster. Either way I'm darn proud of you for doing it the couch potato you are and all.:D

I'll be checking it at 4:20.

[Tone2TheBone]

You better win man it's our anniversay that day! Good luck dude. :)

[magoo]

Good luck Rob, I bet I could run it in.....lets see...Two...Days..LOL

[ZMAN]

We were there two years ago. Not to run but to take in the spectacle.
If you haven't been to Boston, as we hadn't, it is one of the most beautiful cities I have visited. My daughter had friends who lived on Beacon Hill so we got to see a lot of Boston from the standpoint of a person living there. We had lunch at Abe and Louie's restaurant and then watched the end of the race right down town.
Robert if you have never run this thing you are in for a fabulous experience.
They really do it up big. The whole downtown area is closed off and they have a Giant 3 or 4 story tower erected from curb to curb for the finish line, it has a scoreboard, and tv cameras mounted on it. There are a ton of media people calling the race from there as well.
It is an awsome sight. When the race leaders and any Americans come through there is a thunderous applause that grows as they get closer. One of the loudest was for the fellow who pushed his son in a wheelchair for the whole thing.
Check that one off the Bucket list. I could never have run it thought!
GOOOOOD LUUUUCCCKK

[Algonquin]

I just finished chatting with a friend at work about the Marathon. Rob's bib # 1538 indicates his qualifying time was excellent. I won't predict a finish time for Rob, only that it will be an incredible experience!

Rob's time has qualified him to start in Wave 1 along with the Elite runners.

Good Luck, and enjoy your day!

David

[warren0728]

good luck robert...i would try and predict a time but it would probably be in "vein" :rotflmao:

ww

[sumitomo]

Good Luck Robert,Im saying 3:10 for the time and if you feel yourself slowing down just think those people are chasing you becuse you said something about their momma.Sumi :D

[Robert]

Thanks, guys, I am leaving tomorrow morning!

Any tips on where I should go eat, or go see something interesting?

[sunvalleylaw]

Have a great race! I can't give you any advice for food other than find some chowder and Irish beers. If I was there, I would want to tour here, http://www.samadams.com/samsite/tour.html and/or some smaller independent micro brewery with a tasting room and/or pub.

[Tone2TheBone]

Naked Fish bistro, Union Oyster House, Black Rose Irish pub *chomp chomp slurp slurp*

Edit: Legal Seafood restaurant is "ok" but it's very popular and it gets really busy so the service goes to hell.

[sunvalleylaw]

Sound's like Tone knows. Do what Tone says.

[Robert]

Yessir, I take that as an order!

[Spudman]

You might want to stop by Berklee (http://www.berklee.edu/)and immerse yourself.

[merlin]

Good luck Robert,
Finishing a marathon is a great accomplishment.

I was going to run in the upcoming Music city marathon, but my training is just not there yet.
http://www.cmmarathon.com/home.html
It is a real neat marathon. There is a stage with a band every mile.

[warren0728]

good luck robert....run like the wind! :AOK:

ww

[peachhead]

Good Luck Robert, and above all, enjoy the accomplishment!
Make sure you get pics crossing the finish line :AOK:

[Blaze]

Might be a rehersal to win the Québec City one ...


Good luck and have fun ..


Blazes:dude:

[oldguy]

Best of luck, Robert. :)
I'm betting on 3:15, and less if all we Fretter's could be there cheering you on from the sidelines as you streak by us.....:bravo: :bravo:

[Algonquin]

Best of luck, Robert. :)
I'm betting on 3:15, and less if all we Fretter's could be there cheering you on from the sidelines as you streak by us.....:bravo: :bravo:
Robert's planning on Streaking?... :eek: How Retro 70's of him! (Hope it's warm out) :D

[oldguy]

Perhaps I mis-spoke.:thwap: ..... uh, I meant I hope Robert would do even better if some of the Fretter's were there to cheer him on as he flashed by us on the sidelines, cheering.......:beer:
In any event, if he does better than 3:15, I think everyone should kick in some coin, say, $10-20$, to donate to TheFret:AOK: ...... anyone else up to the challenge???:pancake:
:poke: :poke:

[warren0728]

In any event, if he does better than 3:15, I think everyone should kick in some coin, say, $10-20$, to donate to TheFret:AOK: ...... anyone else up to the challenge???:pancake:
:poke: :poke:
that's a great idea...i haven't donated in awhile....about time i did... :AOK:

ww

[sunvalleylaw]

He is capable of sub 3 flat. See here:




Will I go under 3 hours? I hope so, but who knows. This course is not very fast Plus, it's the most prestigious marathon of them all, so I may want to hold back a bit and take in the experience of it all.

On an easy course, I would guess I could do anywhere between 2:52 and 3:05 - with some more training, definitely faster than that.

I think 3:15 is too easy a goal to really motivate him. We should make his goal sub 3. ;) :D But that should not take away from anyone's desire to donate at any time for any reason. I need to donate soon again myself.

[Robert]

Hey, guys, thanks for the warm thoughts! I will let you bet all you want on me, I have enough to do to just run the darn thing!

I am hoping to meet up with Tremoloman and Ted C tomorrow! Finally get to meet some Fretters. I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully we can find a music store to have a quick jam at, and then go for a beer or coffee.

So far, I'm having a great time in Boston. Just came back from a good sea food meal at the Union Oyster House. We are staying at a nice little place in Winthrop.

Race day will be interesting. I will have to take the bus at 6am to get to the official marathon buses before 7am, and then wait in Hopkinton until 10am, when the race starts. Weather is supposed to be quite good, but there is 30% of showers, they said today. Hope there won't be rain!

The marathon expo was amazing. So much much nice stuff and gear. I just had to buy a Boston Marathon official running coat and cap - although I have plenty of running clothes by now. I had to get it, because who knows if I'll ever be back? Better get the cool gear when I earned it (or about to earn it). I also bought a new pair of Asics Gel Cumulus 9 - and I actually intend to run the race in these brand new shoes. Am I crazy doing this? We'll see! :)

[warren0728]

very cool robert...i have had nothing but great times meeting up with fellow fretters....i'm sure you will too!!

as for the shoes....i'm not a runner so who knows...if they feel good go for it....and as a non-runner wouldn't a slight rain be a good thing to keep you from overheating....just asking...

good luck :AOK:

ww

[just strum]

I also bought a new pair of Asics Gel Cumulus 9 - and I actually intend to run the race in these brand new shoes. Am I crazy doing this? We'll see! :)

If you win, you can do a commercial with Spike Lee - It Must Be the Shoes

BhHONpmlxPc

[Algonquin]

Well Folks... Rob has hit the halfway mark of the Boston Marathon with a time of 1:24:04! Keep it up Rob!... you're looking good :AOK:

[sunvalleylaw]

Ruuun Forest, (I mean Robert), RUUUUUUNNN!!!! Way to go buddy, bring it home!!!! :AOK::bravo: :AOK::bravo: :AOK:

[tjcurtin1]

From what I can see, it looks as if Robert came in under 3 hours at 2:59:02 - way to go, Robert!!! Too bad we didn't get the guys at Vintage Guitars to bet that '54 Tele on it...:D

[sunvalleylaw]

Hmm, I don't think his final time is in yet. We keep getting different projected times and he passed the last checkpoint at 40k not too long ago with a projected finish of 3:01 and change. If he was at 2:59, he would be in there with one of Lance Armstrong's times from Lance's other finishes. Lance was simply hoping to break 3. Pretty exciting to be able to track it!

[Algonquin]

Nope... official time has yet to be posted yet.

Interesting he and my friend Carlos from work are within 1 minute of each other.

Excellent job boys... you've got to be proud of yourselves! :master:

[Justaguyin_nc]

3:01:33 congrats Robert...:)

:bravo: :AOK: :bravo:

[Algonquin]

Congrats Rob!

.. Well done!

[warren0728]

nice job robert! :bravo: :pancake: :beer:

ww

[sunvalleylaw]

Way to go Robert! Check this out. I traced Robert, and added on Lance Armstrong who said he would be happy breaking 3 to see the comparison. Look at that! Robert was leading Armstrong, 7 time Tour de France champ for the first half of the race, and past there to 25k! Our fret leader is no slouch by any means. Hope you had fun Robert!

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w92/sunvalleylaw/robertTimeJpeg.jpg

Congrats! At OG's suggestion, I am donating something to the fret to honor such an effort, and to honor all you do here. He way beat the goal suggested by OG, let's give him a nice welcome home by pitching something in the hat!

[luvmyshiner]

WOW! Congrats Robert, great job.:bravo:

[Spudman]

Congratulations Robert! :bravo:

See what EPO does for people. I doubt Lance would have beat you otherwise.;)

[player]

Good Luck Robert:AOK: well now it is congratulations masta:master: :AOK: well done

[sunvalleylaw]

It also looks like the father/son team of Rick and Dick Hoyt finished in about 4:07. What a fun event!

[Childbride]

Robert, i couldn't run that far, that fast, if someone was chasing me with a deadly weapon. :D :master: :D :master:

Congrats!!!

[WackyT]

Congratulations Robert! Great times!

[Robert]

Thanks guys! I didn't have a good race running-wise; my calves seized up half-way through and kinda fell apart. But still, I had a great race! I enjoyed it a lot anyway. The cheering and support along the way is simply amazing. I've never seen so many people along a race before, simply an incredible experience. I had my Swedish shirt on, with the word "Sweden" written in big yellow letters. People yelled "Go Sweden" so much that I almost thought I was the favorite here!

I hope someone here gets a chance to run Boston. It's something one never forgets.

[just strum]

Look at that! Robert was leading Armstrong, 7 time Tour de France champ for the first half of the race, and past there to 25k! Our fret leader is no slouch by any means. Hope you had fun Robert!



Pretty damn good considering Lance had his bike.

Well, I had 2:52:00 as my guess - Good thing I didn't put up the Strat. Great job there Sir Robert!!!

Of course I would have beat the whole lot. When have you seen a marathon runner beat out an ambulance taking another runner to the hospital because he fell at the starting line???:thwap:

[tot_Ou_tard]

Congrats Robert!!

I've never had the urge to run a marathon, but I know plenty who have run them.

[duhvoodooman]

I'll bet those big veins helped! Way to go, RR! :AOK: :dude: :bravo: :beer:

[Bloozcat]

Congratulations Robert...that was quite a feat! :beer:

Even when I was younger and in great shape, I couldn't imagine running a full marathon. Six miles was the most I'd ever done...intentionally...:)

[Tone2TheBone]

Congrats Rob! So I guess you're back home then? Did you eat some righteous New England Clam Chowdah at Union Oyster House?

[Robert]

I had oysters and a variety of fish dished at the Union Oyster House. Cool place! I forgot about the clam chowdah.

[Robert]

I am back in this old town again. It snowed here around Edmonton for 4 days, and it looks insane with all this piles of snow! It was nice and warm in Boston. I should have stayed there.

Oh well, holidays are over, back to the daily grind!

[Spudman]

Robert
I take solace in knowing that when the rest of the nation is frying in the summer heat us Rocky Mountain folks will be feeling pretty smug with our much more civil temperatures. (I hope I didn't just jinx us):thwap:

[oldguy]

Well, I'm home for the weekend catching up and.......... Robert, congrats!
Job well done!:bravo: :bravo:
It's also nice to hear of you fellows meeting up there and doing some playing and G.A.S.ing over that old Tele. Cool stories.
I think it's awesome you finished the marathon so soon with the calf problem.:AOK:


As mentioned a few pages back, a small donation to TheFret has been sent. I would imagine more will follow soon, considering the great time you turned in, even with the calves seizing up.:poke:
:D :D

[tremoloman]

Robert,

Congrats on a great job! It was a pleasure to finally be able to meet both Ted and yourself. I had an absolute blast and I'm happy to hear you enjoyed our city in the short time you were here. Please make this an annual trip so we can schedule a Fret.Net jam! I'd be happy to host such an event if we could get something going. :)

26 miles... damn that's a long run!

And remember not to tell anyone about that $50,000 Tele!

[Robert]

What Tele... ;) or they will hunt us down and place the head of a horse on our pillows... then they sink us in the harbour.

Thanks Scott for meeting up with me! I enjoyed that afternoon a lot with you and Ted. You guys are great. I might just be back next year.

How's that SX neck I brought? I haven't yet had time to look at the one you gave me.

[tot_Ou_tard]

Robert
I take solace in knowing that when the rest of the nation is frying in the summer heat us Rocky Mountain folks will be feeling pretty smug with our much more civil temperatures. (I hope I didn't just jinx us):thwap:
Never been to San Diego have you? It's basically 72 & sunny with low humidity year around.

[ZMAN]

I just got back from Boston on Friday. I went down for a Game at Fenway. We took the T and it was cool. Headed down to Quincy market area in the evening for Dinnah and drinks. Stayed at the overpriced Holiday Inn in Beacon hill. The more I see of that town the more I like it.
BTW I told some of my friends who live in Boston about your time Robert and they were VERY impressed. They watch it every year.

[Robert]

Cool, maybe we can find more fretters to join up next April!

[magoo]

Congrats Robert. well done.:bravo:

[just strum]

The race has been over for almost a week and I see this thread keep on popping up in the "new post" notice. Are we still taking bets??? My entry is 3:01:33 - PM me if I won the guitar and amp.

[tjcurtin1]

The race has been over for almost a week and I see this thread keep on popping up in the "new post" notice. Are we still taking bets??? My entry is 3:01:33 - PM me if I won the guitar and amp.

Ha, ha, Strum! And now it's back at the top.....

[Robert]

Well, I'm home for the weekend catching up and.......... Robert, congrats!
Job well done!:bravo: :bravo:
It's also nice to hear of you fellows meeting up there and doing some playing and G.A.S.ing over that old Tele. Cool stories.
I think it's awesome you finished the marathon so soon with the calf problem.:AOK:


As mentioned a few pages back, a small donation to TheFret has been sent. I would imagine more will follow soon, considering the great time you turned in, even with the calves seizing up.:poke:
:D :D

Oldguy, thanks a lot for doing that! Contributions such as yours help to make this a better place to be.

[sunvalleylaw]

Well, I'm home for the weekend catching up and.......... Robert, congrats!
Job well done!:bravo: :bravo:
It's also nice to hear of you fellows meeting up there and doing some playing and G.A.S.ing over that old Tele. Cool stories.
I think it's awesome you finished the marathon so soon with the calf problem.:AOK:


As mentioned a few pages back, a small donation to TheFret has been sent. I would imagine more will follow soon, considering the great time you turned in, even with the calves seizing up.:poke:
:D :D


As I said I would, I just joined ya Glenn with a small donation. Thanks for the suggestion! And Robert, congrats on the race and trip. It looks like it was a lot of fun. :AOK: I love active vacations. :beer:

[Robert]

Thanks Sunvalley! Appreciate the support immensely!

:)