This past Monday was the 112th running of the Boston Marathon. It seems like just yesterday, but 10 years ago, I was one of the runners in the 102nd Boston Marathon.

First, let me state that I am not your typical marathon runner. I am more of a plodder. Still, I have attempted about 18, finishing about 12 (in somewhat respectable times).

After completing my hometown Chicago Marathon a few times, I decided I needed to run in the granddaddy of them all, the Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon is the most prestigious of all marathons. It is also one of the most difficult, mainly due to the numerous hills.

The noon start time (instead of the usual early-morning starts) and the April race date (limiting my outdoor training) were also unfavorable factors. I took all of this into consideration and decided to train like never before. I did the Cleveland Marathon in May. I ran the New York Marathon in November. The one in New York was a rain-soaked 26.2 miles of pure gut-check. I continued training throughout the winter (although mostly on indoor tracks). By April, I was as ready as I could be.

The city of Boston treats the Marathon as something really special. It is a citywide celebration. From the moment I arrived in Boston, I was amazed at how well the entire city treated every runner, not just the elite or professional ones. It seemed everyone went out of the way to make the experience easy, pleasurable and memorable.

The actual race start is in Hopkinton, MA, about 26 miles outside of Boston. I got there early and hung out in Athletes’ Village. Again, the treatment there was wonderful. Special meals and a huge auditorium for relaxation were just two of the perks. Fans mingled with runners. I even had the odd experience of signing an autograph for a couple of star-stuck children (I tried explaining I was nobody, but they wanted a signature anyway, so I obliged).

The run started and I felt great, perhaps a bit too good. I probably let adrenaline get the best of me, because I was running ahead of my usual pace. By the two-hour mark, I had completed 14 miles. Then things started to unravel. I didn’t quite realize it (and it would have been too late anyway), but I had started to suffer from dehydration. Somewhere around the 18.5 mile mark (around 3.5 hours into the race), my vision blurred. I went to one knee as everything sort of went spinning. The medics were on me quickly. They pumped me full of some liquids, but my race was over.

I was disappointed that I could not finish. I was upset that I did not take the necessary precautions, like drinking more water. Still, it was one of my greatest experiences. Everything about the Boston Marathon was first class. The 500,000 people who lined the streets cheering on runners were just incredible. The race volunteers were as helpful as I have ever seen. The long, storied history of this event made it prestigious, but the continual effort by all involved continues to make it that way. Thank you Boston, for everything. Congratulations to the 30,000 or so who ran on Monday!

-John Wroblewski, distibution specialist