The Boston Marathon has come and gone. The experience is bitter sweet I guess. I was so looking forward to the marathon… completing the iconic Boston course after what were some of my best marathon training months. I was excited. I felt ready. I really thought I was getting somewhere with my mental toughness. During my Boston prep, I had two successful 20 mile runs (this was a new thing for me… all previous ones were pretty rough). I, in general, completely die towards the end of the long run… slowing down substantially instead of picking up the pace (which is normally the goal). So, for the first time in my short history as a runner, I had a good 20 miler (two in fact). I enjoyed them.
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| Gear and goodies :) |
As the final taper week started, the weather hype did also. When I checked first, it must have fluctuated down for a few days. I saw 70-something. I could deal with that… a little warmer than normal, but nothing crazy. The next day it was back in the low 80’s. Nerves set in a little more, but I tried to stay calm. By Wednesday it was back to upper 80’s. I tried to be cool… stay positive… hide the irritation that the weather would be so awful for the Monday and be back down to the 60’s by Wednesday. Why Boston? Don’t you know that I trained really hard for this marathon?? That I slacked on my biking and swimming because I was really going to give this my all and then switch the focus to triathlons?? I practiced on hills. I did more 20 milers than ever before and executed 2 of them quite nicely (by my low standards). I had even thought to myself… “I think I’ve worked on my hills, I can handle those better. Now, I just need to work on my toughness in the heat”. But, since it was April… I had not got there yet…
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| Expo craziness |
Flew into Boston on Saturday Morning and made the trek on public transit to Brookline to stay with my friend Laura (super smarty pants going to Harvard Med School). We had a nice visit to Harvard… had a delicious lunch and took some dorky pictures… then walked along the Charles to meet her friends for drinks / appetizers. Sunday was the Expo, lunch in the park and then a pasta dinner with Laura and her roommie. I was maintaining that I could still go for my goal and just try to tough it out.
Race morning:
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| On the bus to the start with Alec! |
Since the marathon starts at 10AM, the morning wasn’t too crazy. I woke up at 6AM… grabbed the T with Laura’s roommate. There was only one minor change of plans when the Copley stop was closed for the marathon. Instead of taking the buses, I ventured on the commuter rail to Wellseley to meet Alec and get a ride to the start with him and his family. On the way to the train I heard one disgruntled Bostonian mutter “I hate marathoners” and got some funny looks as I waited for the train with the other spectators…. “wait, you’re running the race??”. I swear… I have a plan. Met Alec and rode the rest of the way to the race. Got shuttled to the start, sat in the Athlete village, and before I knew it we were headed to the start. It was hot… and sunny… and, I was still going to go for it.
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| Excited to race... even in the Boston heat |
The race:
I was in Wave 2 (missed the cutoff for wave 1 by 55 people… 10 seconds… ). But, I was in corral one so I was pretty close to the front. Leaving Hopkinton was incredible. There were so many people and the energy was so strong. I can definitely see how people get carried away running too fast down those downhill’s. I tried to stay on track and felt good… between 7:10 and 7:15… feeling strong. Think I had a few that were too fast in here too. Reflecting on the race, I think I have issues hydrating properly in heat. I suspected that I overhydrated a bit in Vegas and think I did the same thing here. I am a good sweater (an annoying, but very true fact)… and I am also paranoid… so, I think I tend to think I need to hydrate more than I actually do. So, I stopped every aid station. I walked a bit so I could actually consume the Gatorade instead of dumping it all over myself (I really can’t drink properly while running… how do people do it?). By mile 6 I already saw a girl get taken off in a stretcher. By mile 10, I was starting to fade a bit (slowed to 7:20’s / 7:30’s).
Somewhere around mile 12 I knew I wasn’t going to be able to push it the whole way. I had one moment where I felt like I got the chills. I feel so unsure of myself when I’m racing in the heat. I don’t actually want to drink all the time, but feel like I should? Anyways… this was right around where my race split take a drastic change for the worse. I am running slower and walking most aid stations. I don’t know how fast I was running when I was in fact running… but my splits were around 9 or 10 per mile (not pretty). I stopped around 17 maybe and used the bathroom. As a general rule, I feel that if I have to pee during a race I have done something wrong hydrating wise (vegas and boston = too much fluid). They were full when I got there and another girl was in line… and my indecisive self just stood there stupid and then finally decided that I wasted too much time contemplating waiting or going that I might as well just wait. Not that it matters, but I think I could probably shoot for more strategic bathroom breaks. Highlight of second half includes the sweaty hug I gave a complete stranger at mile 22. You should know I dislike hugging. I often give my family the one arm pat (and get a little bit of harassment for that). His sign said “I WANT SWEATY HUGS!” I gave him a “I’m pretty sure you don’t really mean that look” and was greeted with a bear hug. Gave me a boost to start running again (for a little bit anyways J).
Contrary to what most of the second half seemed like (a rather slow slog along the hills of Boston), a decent amount of people did seem to break through their own personal “walls” and pick up the pace towards the end. I didn’t have it in me… but made it to the finish. Tried to pick it up the last little bit and the legs felt like they might cramp. Probably the slowest race finish ever. Spent some time chilling in the park post-race. Fabulous day for laying in the grass (not so much for marathon running).
Things to work on:
· Being tough. When the race sucks and isn’t going my way… suck it up and keep pushing. HTFU. DO IT!
· Hydrating. Trust my body. Don’t stop at every aid station… if I don’t train with water every 1 or 2 miles, why do I think I absolutely need it race day??
· If you have to pee on the course… do it faster. Do not EVER wait in line. That is ridiculous.
Enjoyed a great sushi dinner and drinks with Laura and her roommate! Such greats hosts! I will have to come visit Boston again.
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| Laura, my fabulous friend and hostess during my stay in Boston :) |
