Boston Marathon - RunMarathon

Alright, start was fine, everyone just got up to a 7:30 pace for the first mile and nowhere to pass, so just settle in and enjoy the ride. The 2nd mile was a bit faster and then the pace was fine right around 7:10 where I wanted it. The lines were too long at the portapotties so I had to stop at mile 4 to use one on the course and then back out into the masses. Hr was a bit high but manageable I wanted 166 and it was 168 but felt good. The first 5, 6, 7 miles all solid... then at mile 9 my outter thighs started to burn. This was from the hours of shivering. I now knew the price of not having a full snow suit for my prerace sit. My dreams of a 3:10 were gone from this point on. Alright well I am here nothing to do but ride it out. Hrm losing a couple seconds here, but too early to really turn up the speed and the HR is settling into where it should be, just ride it out pace is around a 3:15:00 finish which would still be a PR. I hit 13.1 at 1:37:00 yup right on target for 3:15 to 3:20.... and then my right side starts to cramp... ya from the shivering. That was a big hit, I decreased my water intake from 3 ounces every other mile to every 4 miles to reduce the side ache... then at mile 16 the other side starts to cramp. I start losing more precious seconds and 3:15 is gone. At mile 18 my right hip starts stiffening as well as the front of my thighs, at mile 19 the other hip tightens a bit. By mile 20 I am not taking in water at all or calories the side pain is too much any more and I will have to start walking. At mile 21 my right calf tightens up, continuing to bleed precious seconds throught those hills. My stride shortens my speed decreases, 3:30 is still a BQ time and as long as I don't walk I think I can hold enough speed to do it, but it will be close. More folks walking as the miles go by. At mile 23 my left calf tightens and I am reduced to jogging. Folks are passing me now. I can feel any incline or decline and I just focus on keeping my arms swinging. Even my jaw hurts from all that shivering and now clenching against the pain. Mile 24, I have to pause between breaths against the pain in my side, speed down to 9 minute miles, 2 miles to go (+.2 I know) just keep going. Mile 25, tunel vision, there is this guy in front of me and I am just following him, there really isn't much outside of that. We turn right and then there is a left turn and I can see the finish. I pick up the pace, both calves tighten like fists, I don't care I clench my fists, pump my arms and know I have about 3 mintues to close .2 mies. I get it done manage to raise a hand to wave for the finish, the calves hold and I am across the finish line. It is done. Not a PR, bearly a BQ, but not for lack of effort. That was all I had.

If I were to do it again I would bring 1 -20F sleeping bag, 1 inflatable air matress, hat, gloves, windproof jacket and pants and a mug of hot coco. It was really the shivering for 4 hours that killed my race. My training and pacing was perfect until I started losing muscle groups.

After I stopped running my legs were fried, like really fried. I hobbled on for a half mile to get to the finisher medals. I sat in a wheelchair for a few minutes while the medical staff said I shouldn't be sitting I should walk and stuff. I told them I know my and I need to sit for a few minutes. They tried to subtly check my mental status.. I told them I knew my name, the date, my time splits, that my mental status was fine and my plane was leaving in 90 minutes and walked off. I had to sit again after another block. A very nice vollunteer gave me a new mylar blanket, I smiled ironically at the thing. Another very ice lady got me a gator aid.. oh my it was cold and I knew I was borderline dehydrated. So I drank 1 20 oz water, 1 20 oz gator aid and grabbed another. I got up made it to the finisher medals and then headed off to my car. A lady asked me if I needed to go to medical, I told her no I just need to sit down somewhere and that somewhere was going to be in my car. She was nice, I just needed to get off my feet. As I got close to the car post run shivers started in. I got to the car, blasted the heat and drank the 3rd 20 oz drink. Ok now to drive. I started driving and my right calf and shin cramped at the same time as I pushed on the accelerator. Oh this is gong to be fun... in downtown Boston. I made several critical turns and thought I was golden until I missed on turn and got sent off to Revere Beach. Finally I found a gas station, filled up asked for directions and got to the rental agency. I got a ride to the airport and changed out of my race uniform into my 2xu compression leggings and street clothes, grabbed someting to eat and another 20 oz beverage. Ya still dehydrated. I got on the plane, had another 12 ounces of soda and got some solid non carb food in me. The next flight was delayed and I ended up not getting home until 4:00 am local time, 7 am East coast time and collapsed.


Shivering for 4 hours. I know I would have had a better race if I had access to any form of heat or shelter from the wind or non wet seating etc.


Ok so course was very challenging, the fans were amazing running with the big boys was a dream come true. But a tent or a heater at the beginning of the race and something to eat at the end other than 1 baegel and a gator aid would have been nice. I know they had 26k people, but they really skimped on some basic necessities. The local kids run has better post race food and activities. It is a famous race, I am glad I went, they skimped on some really important things. I wish I knew I would have no shelter for 4 hours prerace and that the temp would be 30 degrees colder than the forcast was when I packed. How not to do Boston, now I know. A rematch is definately in order. At least I passed 700+ people who didn't pass me back at the end. Fond memories, could have been a really perfect day with a tent for prerace. But now I know.