Short Version: Utterly brutal. Bonked big time, but finished which I suppose is victory enough for the conditions.
Longer version: as you may recall, I’ve been recovering from a stress injury in left foot and a rough time in getting used to orthortics (which I didn’t wear for the race), so I didn’t come to Boston as ready as I’d like. In fact, it was 8 weeks since my last 20 miler and I only finally decided the Friday before the race that I would actually run.
As I sat shivering at the prerace pasta party it was sort of hard to believe that heat would be a problem, but god it was. My run was a case study in lack of preparation and not adjusting properly to the conditions. Given the weather and my lack of training, thought I should stick with a 7:35 or 7:40 pace and see if I could hold it (I qualified at a 7:03 pace). I got to the 10 mile mark at a 7:18 pace, even though by mile 6 I was beginning to get uncomfortable and at that point knew it was going to be a long day. If you start feeling that way at mile 6, it ain’t a good omen. I also noticed, by mile 5 or 6, that the idle chatter among runners had already quieted down more than normal—again, not a good omen.
By the time I got to Wellesley College/halfway point, my quads were feeling weak. In addition to the lack of training, two weeks ago I ran 15 miles in orthotics as one of my first runs in them—which completely tore up my quads; I felt at that point that I had run a ‘thon. Basically, my legs were destined to go early in this race, and my quicker than ideal early pace didn’t help.
Second half of the race: it’s a blur. Had to stop and walk for the first time at mile 16 (I normally don’t stop or, if I do, not before mile 22 or 23). From Newton into boston, it was a death march. I knew I wasn’t alone in this – lot of people stopping and starting – and, were this not my first Boston, I would have seriously considered a DNF.
Began to dehydrate. Started avoiding the sprinklers (making me cold) and by mile 20 I noticed a stopped sweating. At that point, I was thinking: just walk in if you have to, but finish w/out killing yourself. My quads were hurting so much that I began to run (if you could call it that) UP the hills and walk down them to avoid the pound. I don’t remember seeing Fenway Park. My major achievement at the end was not walking at all on Boyleston (sp?) Street to the finish.
Afterward: for the first time ever, felt like I was going to faint at the end. Took in water and some juice. Threw it up 5 minutes later. Made it back to the hotel by 4:30 or so. I knew my plans to go to the post-race party weren’t going to happen. I was nauseous for hours (had been that was since mile 18) and about 8:30, I got up the energy to call room service. They delivered a 10 inch pizza, which I proceeded to eat completely in 15-20 minutes. By midnight I was able to get up and take a short walk. My back is also very sunburned (despite sunblock), and that caused me to sweat through the night.
Bottom line: 3:34:36 (chip time). That’s Worst marathon, time wise, since my first one 10 years ago. That said, it put me in 2372 place overall, which is about 350 places ahead of my bib #. While some registered people didn’t show up, it suggests that overall I did no worse (and perhaps slightly better) that runners on average. Which is very telling about the conditions.
The night after the race and yesterday, my initial thoughts were: god, I don’t want to do this again. Now that it’s Wed AM and I’m feeling a little better (though still sunburned and legs very very sore), I feel differently. This was my first, and not my last, Boston. Was a great race, great support from the fans and staff. I only wish the conditions allowed me to enjoy it more.
Still, after a bad winter for training, after foot injuries, and esp. on a day like Monday, I’m happy to have finished.
Don in NYC, who knows this will probably be the longest recover period from any marathon
PS on a completely different note: did you hear about that British guy who, at the London marathon, dropped his PR from 3:39 to 2:33? What the hell is that?