Boston Marathon - RunMarathon

I came into this race in the best long distance shape in my life. Really felt 3:15-3:18 is where I would finish. My goal was just sub 3:20. The first thing that surprised me about this race was how packed the first 5 miles were. I wanted to get out and run 7:30's but I was stuck in a pace of people which were running in the 7:50 range. There was nowhere to go, I didn't try to push it because I thought the slower pace would do me good in the long run. about mile 6 my road ID was rubbing on my ankle so I stopped to take it off and put it in my back pocket, that mile ended up being 8:45 and started a downward trend. I almost never do well in extreme heat and knew PR's, re-qualifing, or any goals were out the window. I tried my best to just enjoy the race and take in the atomosphere. I walked every water stop and went thourgh every sprinkler and mister along the way. Enjoyed the girls at Wellesley they were great and made it to the half in 1:50:30. At around mile 15 the heat was really getting to me, my neck and arms just seem like they were in an oven. I have never seen so many awesome runners walking. The Newton miles arrive, I must say they were not as bad as I thought but in no way easy. I slowed my pace but plowed up them in the 9-10 min per mile range. finally Heartbreak hill I decided if anything I was going to at least run the entire heartbreak hill and not walk at this point and I did. My thighs were starting to feel it at mile 21 as I started the decents, The guys at Boston College were great and gave me a big lift, I still stopped at all water stations and got what I could. I just tried to survive at this point on and make sure I did not get a DNF. I ran the last mile of so as hard as I could and was around 7:50 I probably had too much left but with this weather I had to play it safe since finishing is the most important thing. I did accomplish one goal to beat my bib number I was 11069 and I finished 9080 that surprised me.

If I was to run Boston again, I would traing running down hill hard over and over again. People told me the down hills kill your thighs, but I did realize that the downhills were so long. I whould have a plan to get out and on my pace early with crowds. Nothing I could do about the weather it was just to hot to run a good time.

walked around to the family area to meet my wife and friends


90 degree weather


I have never seen crowd support like this it was just amazing. I did enjoy the history, people, course, and atomosphere of Boston. Even though it was probably the roughest day I have ever had running it will be a memory I will never forget and feel so blessed to have been there. I think this is a course you can run a great time on if the conditions are right.