As I nervously laced up my custom built ASICS running flats last week, prior to my 18 mile tempo run, I could not help but smile to myself as I thought I am living every kids dream. As a kid growing up, I was sports mad. When I wasn't forced to go to school I did nothing but play sports or watch sports on tv. At that time professional basketball players were just starting to come out with their own custom built shoes that were becoming available to the general public. I remember wanting a pair of Air Jordan's but not having anywhere near the bills I needed to sport them. I always dreamed of what it would be like to have my own shoe. Now I know.

Ever since I signed with ASICS in 2005, I had heard stories about the ASICS Research and Development Center in Kobe, Japan and the special custom shoes that were being turned out for their athletes. This past spring I had the opportunity to take a two-day trip to Kobe and get a pair of my own shoes built. The trip opened up my mind to what all goes into making a custom pair of shoes and ultimately made me glad I wasn't wearing someone else's custom shoes when I was a kid.

Going to the ASICS R&D Center I knew that they would measure my foot a couple of different ways using cutting edge technology, however I wasn't prepared for all that my 36 hour trip would involve. I had no idea what goes into making my shoes. There were about seven different experts that I met with throughout the day. Some measured my leg lengths, some measured my arch using a high tech device. Then there were a couple stations that I had to be physically put to the test. They had me perform all out leg exercises so they could take into account my leg strength ratio and my strength in relation to other marathoners. The test that I personally liked the best was a running test where I literally ran through the middle of the building on a indoor/outdoor track that runs in and out of the building, landing on plates that measured my ground impact force and reaction time.

At the end of my testing they sat me down and went over all my running mechanics, giving me strengthening and stretching tips. What I love about the Japanese is that they tell you how it is. So when they respectfully told me that I "ran like a girl", I wasn't too surprised and tried to take it in stride. If I didn't get it by now that they were only doing everything in their power to make me better I never would. I thought I was flying half way around the world to get a pair of shoes made but with a company with a slogan of "A Sound Mind in a Sound Body" I should have known I would be getting much, much more than a pair of shoes.

RYANS RESEARCH - Video

After a hard day at the office, I enjoyed some traditional Japanese hospitality when we went to get my first taste of Kobe steak. I can't even begin to describe how good Kobe steak is. You have to go there and try it for yourself. Before catching my afternoon flight the next day, I had the opportunity to visit the ASICS Global Headquarters and meet the faces that make up ASICS. I met many enthusiastic employees but my highlight had to be meeting with the President, Chairman and other VIPs from the Global Office. I admit that I was pretty nervous as they ushered us into a leather chair lounge for our meeting. I got even more nervous when I saw the barrage of suited men walking toward me as I took inventory of my attire, or lack there of. They were very gracious as we exchanged hellos and found our seats. Then the Chairman said something that I was least expecting, "Your wife is so beautiful." Instantly all the tension in my body melted away as I thought to myself I can't wait to tell Sara about this one.

RYAN VISITING SPORTS MUSEUM - Video

I left Kobe knowing that the first time I race a marathon, at The 2009 ING NYC Marathon, in my new custom designed racing shoes, I will have no doubt that I am in the perfect shoes for me. The experts at ASICS took everything that makes me who I am and made a shoe around that. It is easy to take a mold of a foot and make a shoe around it, it is another thing to design a shoe around an entire body, which is exactly what my shoe is. My shoe is not just a customized shoe, it is a customized extension of me.

It took about six weeks till I came home one day from practice to find the very normal looking package waiting for me outside my door that I had been waiting for since my youth. I knew it would take time to make my shoes because I saw the workers putting the finishing touches on one of my buddy's pair of track spikes. It is pretty cool that when I lace up my shoes before The ING NYC Marathon I will see all the faces behind the shoe. From the woman who is responsible for punching the holes, to the technician who analyzed my stride impact force, to the Chairman who acknowledges my wife's good looks, I will feel their support in more ways than through my shoes absorbing the tough roads of New York.

Thanks to all who of you who have been keeping up with me on my blog during the lead up to yesterday's Boston Marathon.  It was a great experience to run in the oldest continuous marathon in the world and my podium finish proved my training is heading in the right direction.  Under the guidance of Coach Terrence Mahon, we feel a win at a Major Marathon is definitely in my future.  Every race provides me with lessons which I will take to the next one and soon you will see me on the top of the podium.

Aside from the race itself, there were many memories from my first Boston experience which I will always remember.  One that will always stand out is being on the mound at Fenway Park.  I've carried the baseball around with me since throwing out the first pitch and I even had it in my backpack as we went to the starting line yesterday morning.  The baseball is now one of my good luck charms!  Lastly, I want to thank all of you who lined the streets in yesterday's cold and windy weather to cheer on all of the runners as we made our way to Boylston Street.  You kept us going when the hurt started to set in especially in the last 10K.  

I look forward to my return to Boston next year!

Ryan Hall crosses the finish line at the 113th annual Boston Marathon in third place with 2:09:40.

Went on a 35 minute run this morning followed by some strides and drills so all the preparation for tomorrow's race is in the books!  Excitement continues to build so it was great to have Sara with me on the run this morning to make sure that I kept everything easy and not push the pace or intensity in my run or strides/drills.  All of my workouts for tomorrow's race could not have gone any better.  They were better than what I put in last year when I ran in London so I am hoping all will translate to a good run tomorrow.  Thanks to all of you for your kind words and prayers.  Now where did I put my singlet? 

Growing up wanting to be a Major League Baseball player, tonight was a dream come true and one I will never forget.  How cool is it to throw out the first pitch at a Boston Red Sox game in Fenway Park and getting the ball to home plate without hitting the dirt first.  Truly a sweet experience!!

After the expo, it was off to the marathon finish line for a photoshoot with Boston Marathon legend, Bill Rodgers.  It was an awesome experience for me to be in the same photo with Bill as he has crossed this finish line 4 times as the winner of this legendary race.  Bill is also running the race on Monday and I hope that being in his company today will rub off on me in my quest to run and win the race on Monday.  Thanks Bill for taking this photo with me!  (I am very superstitious when it comes to crossing a marathon finish line so the photo was shot in front of the line.)

 One of the things I enjoy during marathon weekend is going to the expo to meet runners of all ages who stop by the ASICS booth to say hello, wish me luck, ask for an autograph, or have a photo taken with me.  We left the athlete village at 10:45am to head over to the expo for my 11:00am appearance.  On the way, we ran into my parents who had just arrived in Boston.  On the way to the expo, they told me that it took them 25 hours to get to Boston.  Their flight out of Ontario Airport left at 9:45am Friday and, after stops at 4 different airports due to delays, etc., they finally made it to Boston a day later.  They have been at all of my major races since high school and know they would do whatever it took to get to Boston to watch me race on Monday.  Lacking sleep but still looking fresh, they joined us for the morning. 

We got to the expo and was met by a crowd that started to form a line an hour and a half before I arrived.  I thought it was cool for people to line up to wait for me but at times I am still in awe that they are there to see and talk to me.  I started signing autographs as soon as I sat down to make sure i was able to meet everyone who had been up to an hour waiting for me.  It was great to meet other runners who will be on the line on Monday.  As much as you all tell me how much I inspire you, I hope you all know that you inspire me to keep going and running as fast as I can.  After an hour of signing autographs and taking pictures, we had to tell those who came by the ASICS booth that I had to get to my next appointment - a photo session with 4-time Boston Marathon winner Bill Rodgers at the marathon finish line. 

It's been a busy Friday and it's only noon.  Started out with a 6:15am wake-up call from USADA for a drug test (had to give blood on this one).  I was able to go back to bed to catch a few more Zzz's and then it was out for a 30min run around Back Bay in sunny Boston.  The weather today is very diffrent from when I was here in March to preview the course.  Back then it was around 20 degrees with heavy snowfall; today was definitely much better!  After my run, all the athletes met over to the Fairmont Copley Hotel for the official Boston Marathon Press Conference.  I spoke to about 30 journalists from around the world with questions ranging from "Am I going to win on Monday?" to "How much do I know about the history of the Boston Marathon?"  With each passing day, the excitement grows.  I am one day closer to fulfilling a dream of running Boston.  I hope to post again later today letting you know how the rest of my afternoon went, but I can definitely tell you now that there is a nap on the agenda.  For those of you in the Boston area, I will be at the expo tomorrow at 11:00am signing posters at the ASICS booth.  Hope to see you there.