Bosto Marathon Race Report

Is it really over?

My special Boston weekend was on my mind as I ran Chicago last October. As I struggled with cramps and pain during the Chicago Marathon I would repeat, Boston, Boston, to spur me on. Well, it got me there, with 8 seconds to spare, 3:35:51. It was my 50th birthday present to myself.

We arrived on Thursday and stayed at the Lenox Hotel which is on Boylston, just yards from the finish line. The excitement in the air was awesome. We were able to watch the whole scene come together day by day.

We went to the expo on Friday and made the traditional purchases of Boston jacket and other stuff. I really enjoyed seeing the other runners who have been to Boston before and their previous years Boston jackets. Lots of different designs. The expo was great. You could see the wonder on runners faces as they entered the expo center. Their eyes would light up with pride. "I'm really here."

My wife and I spent a lot of time walking around the area. We visited the North End and really enjoyed the food in that part of town, Italian. We also were amazed at the desserts at Mikes Pastry. A sweet tooth's heaven. Since it rained a lot of the time we also walked the shops that connect the Prudential, Marriot and Weston hotels together. You can actually get to all these places without going outside.

It's hard to put into words what a special weekend this was for me. This was my 50th birthday weekend. I had my wife, mother and father in law, my two brothers in law and their wives and kids there with me. What more could I ask for? We spent time walking the streets and shared great dinners together.

I decided to not listen to the advice of staying off your feet. How can you? You are in Boston for the Boston marathon. I'm not there to win the race. I'm there to have a great time and do the best I can. Soak it all in. After all the training miles I figured some walking will not do me any harm. It didn't.

Saturday evening I really enjoyed seeing some of the V Team at dinner. I just could not figure out what Hal was eating. It looked like a giant piece of pie. Not sure though.

My 50th birthday was Sunday, April 18 the day before the big race. It was a special day with Beth and other family members. As I walked into the restaurant, Stella's, for my B Day dinner, Beth had balloons tied to my chair. One had a big 50 on it. The table was covered with little 50 sparkly things. I noticed that if you turned them over the 50 would become 20. I liked that. Dinner was fantastic and surreal. It was for me and I was 50 years old. What an honor to be able to live this long and enjoy life. I am so lucky.

RACE DAY

This whole thing is amazing. I woke up early Monday morning and had my coffee and breakfast. Then it was time to head to the bus pick up area. This was really crowded. I met new friends along the way.

The bus ride took a while. We climbed and climbed. The State Police had all exits on the freeway closed for us. People who had not relieved themselves before the ride jumped out of the buses as we neared athletes village to relieve themselves in the woods. The bus drivers could not allow them back on the bus so they had to walk the rest of the way to athletes village.

Once there it was so nice and sunny. A perfect day for a marathon. People were stretching and preparing for their big day. Me, I just hung out with the people I met in the bus line. I was already prepared. I had my fluids and shot blocks.

THE RACE

I want to stress this first. IF YOU ARE GOING TO RUN BOSTON I THINK YOU NEED TO TRAIN ALMOST MORE ON DOWNHILLS THAN UPHILLS. GOT THAT!

The race started and I was still walking to my corral. I tore of my warm clothes and entered at corral 15. No big deal. This made me start slow, just like I wanted. The first several miles are downhill. As I decended my quads started feeling funny. Kind of like they were waking up from being asleep. I was concerned. But eventually they were fine.

The crowd support is fantastic. I did lots of high fives with kids along the way. Many people were handing out water, oranges, sponges, etc. Just wonderful. I love these people. They really have a great time cheering you on.

After the initial downhill start I realized that I needed to pick it up. So I did. I ran some great splits. I almost had a PR for a 1/2 marathon and felt fine. It's funny, but as I was cruising along I was impressed at how good I felt. I said to myself, this is a great day. This is my day.

I had one cramp that hit my upper right hammy that I had to stop and stretch. I think this happened around mile 15. Not 100% sure though. I did change my stride by shortening it a bit so it would not happen again.

The up hills were no problem. As the race went on I would look forward to the up hills so I could give the downhill quad muscles a break. This whole time only my right quad would hurt. This was shocking because that was my good side. This whole training cycle my left side gave me problems. They were gone for this race. Amazing.

I notice when I look at my splits below that I lost a lot of time the last 5 miles. Mile 23 was 8:48. I honestly do not remember seeing that. After you are done with heartbreak hill you hear other runners say, "that was it?" It's not a big deal.

The big deal about Boston are all the hills. All the ups and downs. Up and down. And it's mainly the downs that will grind on your quads. You want to pick it up but each stride is painful and you truely don't know how long you quads will last. Especially if this is your first Boston.

I had sub 3:30 in me but I guess I was to conservative the last 5 miles. I really thought I had it. I am not sure what I was thinking because I was off by 2 minutes. I need better clock management.

As you were heading down to the finish after heartbreak hill the crowd would be yelling, "it's all downhill, you did it." But this downhill 5 miles is a true test of quad strength. I just could not muster up the speed. I wanted to make sure I was able to finish without stopping to stretch another cramp.

The closer I got to the finish the crowds were bigger and louder. Making that left hand turn onto Boylston and into the sun was awesome. This is the final 1/4 mile or so. The crowd is crazy. You hear yells and bells and whatever else you can make noise with. It was awesome. Awesome!!

I crossed the finish line and had tears in my eyes. I really just about gave it my all. My body ached. I was shaky. It was hard to walk but I slowly moved forward to get the water, banana, cover up, and the medal. I was in a daze. I found my family and still had tears in my eyes. We took some pics and gingerly worked our way to the Lenox. I had to find ways to walk that did not require stepping up. My legs were shot.

After a shower I felt a ton better and went for a walk by myself. I put on my 114th Boston Jacket along with the Boston medal. I walked around the block and then to the finish line again. The memories are in my head, forever. Thank you Boston.

Even though I did not get my 3:30 or better I finished in 3:32:00 which is a new PR for me. So I PR'ed in Boston and also qualified for another Boston in Boston. Next years 115th Boston Marathon is on April 18th, my 51st birthday.

I shall return!!

The splits:

Split Time Moving Time Distance Elevation Gain Elevation Loss Avg Pace Avg Moving Pace Best Pace Steps Calories
1 0:08:23 0:08:18 1 23 134 8:23 8:18 7:26 0 131
2 0:08:06 0:08:07 1 3 58 8:06 8:07 6:42 0 134
3 0:07:46 0:07:46 1 0 52 7:47 7:46 6:52 0 134
4 0:07:50 0:07:50 1 0 61 7:50 7:50 6:40 0 135
5 0:08:09 0:08:10 1 39 30 8:09 8:10 7:00 0 132
6 0:07:57 0:07:58 1 0 8 7:57 7:58 7:11 0 134
7 0:07:42 0:07:43 1 0 13 7:42 7:43 7:14 0 134
8 0:08:02 0:08:03 1 35 26 8:02 8:03 7:21 0 133
9 0:07:50 0:07:50 1 0 35 7:50 7:50 7:22 0 133
10 0:07:33 0:07:34 1 21 0 7:33 7:34 6:56 0 133
11 0:07:49 0:07:50 1 18 0 7:49 7:50 7:16 0 134
12 0:07:38 0:07:38 1 0 51 7:38 7:38 7:03 0 134
13 0:07:28 0:07:29 1 12 10 7:28 7:29 6:38 0 132
14 0:07:34 0:07:35 1 18 19 7:35 7:35 6:10 0 134
15 0:07:58 0:07:58 1 23 0 7:58 7:58 7:24 0 134
16 0:07:50 0:07:51 1 12 105 7:50 7:51 6:55 0 134
17 0:08:01 0:08:02 1 85 30 8:01 8:02 7:00 0 133
18 0:08:04 0:08:05 1 42 26 8:05 8:05 7:08 0 134
19 0:07:53 0:07:54 1 22 34 7:54 7:54 7:15 0 134
20 0:08:06 0:08:05 1 58 21 8:06 8:05 7:16 0 134
21 0:08:25 0:08:26 1 84 18 8:25 8:26 7:24 0 133
22 0:08:01 0:08:01 1 4 84 8:01 8:01 7:21 0 134
23 0:08:48 0:08:49 1 0 52 8:48 8:49 7:43 0 132
24 0:08:26 0:08:27 1 21 52 8:26 8:27 7:46 0 132
25 0:08:17 0:08:18 1 0 42 8:17 8:18 7:48 0 132
26 0:08:23 0:08:23 1 0 6 8:23 8:23 7:15 0 133
27 0:03:40 0:03:40 0.45 0 0 8:06 8:05 6:43 0 61
Summary 3:31:56 3:31:50 26.45 520 968 8:00 8:00 6:10 0 3,527









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" Beyond the very extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own, sources of strength never taxed at all because we never push through the obstruction."

* It takes courage to push yourself to places that you have never been before... to test your limits... to break through barriers. And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” - Anais Nin