As the 115th Boston Marathon kicks off this morning, I reflect on my amazing experience last year…..
Category Archives: Boston
Boston Bound Part IV- the sights, the sounds…the food
So J and I did do other things in Boston beside run 26.2 miles…we explored the many historic sites…like Fenway 🙂 and ate our way through the Freedom Trail.
Here’s a little recap of our trip:
Day 1
We treated Carl and Julia to a Italian feast aka “Carbo load”
at Allora Ristorante in Marlborough, MA (suburb of Boston)
Mediterranean Salmon stuffed with spinach, feta and sun dried tomato over fennel and arugula salad
Lobster and Ravioli chunks of lobster, baby spinach, red onion and zucchini simmered in tomato alfredo sauce
Day 2
see Boston Bound part III
Day 3
Boston Marathon
Day 4
it was time to say “good-bye” to Carl and Julia and head to the city to explore the sites
they dished us up with a lovely home, comfy bed, and awesome home cooking
Downtown Boston
J had to get in on the Dunkin’ Donuts craze while we were out there
they are EVERYWHERE on the East Coast….not sure I’m sold on the coffee
More baked goods at Bova’s Bakery in the North End
The Freedom Trail:
directions…follow the red brick line to see Boston’s historic sites (approx.2.5 miles)
warning…this may not be the best thing to do after running a marathon
Here we go!
we saw the State House…ooooooohhh
the site where the Declaration of Independence was read….ahhhhhhh
Paul Revere’s grave and home…
a large steeple and clock….more ooohhhs and ahhhs
“hey…I didn’t know they had Starbuck’s back then….did you J?”
and OF COURSE we found some historic food….the oldest restaurant in America…
Union Oyster House est 1826
we finally got a table after making our reservation in 1856
New England Clam Chowder…YUM…coming from someone who doesn’t typically like this soup
J ordered oysters….not me
but after J’s persuasion and my hesitation I tried one and………..was done
we made it all the way to Bunker Hill aka the end of the trail
we were exhausted…J looked like a British solider defeated at Bunker Hill
and I fell asleep in the hotel lobby waiting for our room
Boston Common
the oldest park in the country…lots of “oldest” stuff in Boston
I felt like I was taking my senior pictures
Fenway Park
J and I finally had our celebratory drink…cheers!
Red Sox’s WON!
Day 5
Boston Duck Tour
J made me sit in the driver seat….can’t wait till we have kids so I don’t have to do the korny pics anymore
a slice of heaven…I mean Boston Cream pie at the site it was created, Omni Parker House
Regina’s Pizza, this has to be where pizza landed in the US because it was GOOOOOD
of course, I had to get one with veggies on it
a few random pics:
wish this was my spice rack
look good, feel good, do good
https://davissportsnutrition.com/
Boston Bound Part III – Rocket Fuel aka Huevos Rancheros
J and I were fortunate enough to have a contact in Boston to stay with….Carl and Julia Kinkel. They were the most gracious host and hostesses and opened up there home and arms to us.
Carl made his famous Huevos Rancheros for brunch Sunday. Keep in mind this is probably something I would have passed on, choosing something less fiberous and spicy, had I been planning on running the whole 26.2 miles the next day….however I did pass on the beans… because as I mentioned before something in the back of my head was telling I was going to be able to.
We joked at brunch that this would be great “jet fuel” for the marathon. I made a comment that mine was “unleaded” (no beans) and J’s and Carl’s was “diesel” (beans). We shared a good belly laugh.
The following post is written by Carl Kinkel:
Huevos Rancheros de Carlos
“Boston Marathon Rocket Fuel”
This dish is in the classification of “Refrigerator Management”- ie. Use what you’ve got and help clean things out of the fridge.
In general…Huevos Carlos consists of a flour (whole wheat) burrito/ wrap shell filled with “stuff” and folded in half. Topped by one or two sunny side up eggs… sprinkled cheese (Cheddar, Jack, whatever)… some Pace Picante sauce lavishly poured on the top. Sides can be beans (refried, regular, black), Rice (grits or Quinoa), and some iceberg lettuce sliced with an orange slice… fruit, etc.
Here’s what we made for Sunday morning brunch the day before the Boston Marathon so that Sara would have the extra added benefit of Jet Propulsion.
Stuff for inside the half folded Burrito Shell
Cooked up a bunch of Jimmy Dean Sausage (hot)… then added a can of Old El Paso Enchalada sauce to the sausage. We had some Taco Seasoning… so we added that as well… then about an equal amount of Swiss Cheese… or anything you have (a can of queso works as well). For a veggie alternative… onions, green peppers, beans, tomatoes, etc. work great. Simmer it all.
Grits
These were terrific. Regular grits following the cooking recipe on the canister. Add Some Chili Powder and Cumin to taste… 2 to 1 Chili powder to Cumin. Should just turn the Grits a yellow/ orange/ brown color.
Beans
We opened a couple of cans of refried beans and heated it up. Then added a bit of cheese to the top. Don’t doctor up the beans… it’s the one thing that you should leave bland.
Eggs
2 are best… Sunny Side Up. Placed on top of the half folded burrito with the stuff inside. Sprinkled with cheese… and Pace Picante Sauce. Then popped into the microwave for 30 seconds to melt the cheese.
Add Beans and Grits… and garnish. And Serve.
Good with Orange Juice!
Now Sara has the “Umph” to make it the 26 miles from Hopkinton to the Common… watch out for Chestnut Hill !!!! It’s a heartbreak. You’ll need the Rocket Fuel.
Carl- thanks for sharing your delicious recipe! It was sooo yummy, hope everyone enjoys!
Until next time…
look good, feel good, do good
https://davissportsnutrition.com/
Boston Bound Part II – The Race
By the grace of God…I was able to complete the 114th Boston Marathon. I have NO idea how or why my leg held up but it did and I feel so unbelievably blessed. ELATED! On second thought I think I do know how….there is something to be said about the power of prayer….
As J and I packed up for Boston I was very relaxed about what I packed and how I prepared myself for the upcoming marathon. I just had it in my head that I was starting the race, running a couple miles, and then would have to pull out. I didn’t need the gu’s, the body balm, or even the proper nutrition for the expected 2 miles I was going to be able to run of the 26….so I brought the bare necessities. When our host and hostess (Julia and Carl) picked J and I up from the airport Julia asked if I was nervous…I wasn’t, because who gets nervous for a couple miles? I did so many things I would have NOT done had I known I was running a marathon in the proceeding days.
I awoke the morning of the race to PERFECT running weather….50’s and sunny. My dilemma was what to wear (typical girl). Do I wear capri tights so I don’t freeze when I might have to pull out OR do I wear shorts which is more realistic of 50 degrees and 26 miles. I decided to go with capri tights. As you can see my doubts still lingered however, I did decide to grab an extra gu just in case. Holy cow, it was a roller-coaster morning!
7:30am we headed out the door. I was dropped off at the “athlete village” and J went to our pre-scoped out meeting place about ½ mile into the course. This is where he would jump in to be my life-support and pack mule. Yes, he was going to “bandit” the Boston Marathon!
After 2 hours in the athlete village, relaxing, stretching, using the port-a-potty I headed to the start. Of all 26,000 runners I start chatting to this older gentleman…we talked about Boston, the weather, I even caught myself saying, “it is perfect huh? Nothing to worry about… just go run.” I asked where he was from….Cedar Rapids, IA, so weird! Before you knew it…10:30 and bang – race time!

I was so happy to see J! He was the best support I could have ever imagined. 2 miles down, then 3….the pain in the knee started rising up; at 5 I was thinking “hey…I have already gone farther than expected!”, so J and I celebrated with a fist pump. I wanted to make it to 6 miles because that is where Julia and Carl were waiting to cheer us on OR to aid us with a change of clothes if we had to pull out. I was feeling good so we gave them a quick smile and high five and kept on trucking. It was great to see someone we knew on the course!

Along the way I thought about all the wonderful prayers that the church and my family had said for me. I had an incredible feeling of God’s presence and I just kept talking to him….” Philippians 4:13-“I can do everything through him who gives me strength” repeatedly came into my thoughts. Every time I heard a “Go Sara!” I knew it was probably someone around me who had Sara written on her shirt or arm, but instead I chose to think they were angels sent to cheer me on. 🙂 Loved it!
25…this is it! J peeled off and I brought it on home with a huge smile…26.2! Despite the lack of preparation, training and injury… I did it! I ran the Boston Marathon! Did I learn a lesson? You bet I did!
2) The mind is a powerful tool – often times much greater than your own physical strength.
The coach I work with at Solon High School has a rule that the girls do 10 pushups for every time they say “can’t.” I never really thought it applied to me until I reflected back on this experience, so don’t worry ladies, I will own up for all the times prior to the race I said I would not be able to finish.
3) And many more I may figure out tomorrow or in years to come.
My leg is rather stiff as I sit here writing, in fact it doesn’t want to bend at all. I also have one toenail that looks like the top of ET’s finger, blistery and swollen….but it’s all good because those things are temporary and will heal and the fact that I have my finishers medal from the 114th Boston Marathon will be with me forever!
Boston Bound
Walking home in blinding tears and melodramatic sobs…I reflected…