Anyone who is reading this has probably followed my training at least to
some degree so there should be no surprise that I headed into this year's
Boston with a lot of confidence. My training was strong and consistent. I
had high hopes for Boston but as a back-up plan had also registered for the
Big Sur marathon two weeks later, since you never know what race day will
bring, not to mention I have always wanted to run Big Sur and the two week
timeframe was better than the normal 6 days.
The week leading up to the race the forecast looked good. I managed to get
plenty of rest and control my diet. Thursday before the race I started to
develop a cough but chalked it up to allergies that typically hit me at this
time of year. It didn't seem to get better or worse through the weekend and
by race day I was walking with a quiet confidence of a strong
performance. Talking
to my coach before the race neither of us would speak what we thought was
possible. We devised a plan for the race that was essentially a 68 minute
10 miles split and a 2:15- 2:16 20 mile split and then run like hell to the
finish. More importantly between 15 and 20 miles I had to make a choice, if
I thought Monday was not the day then I had to shut it down run easy in and
be ready in two weeks for Big Sur.
Being a member of the BAA running club I had the advantage to leave on a
later bus with a police escort to the start. Once there we got to sit in
the middle school gym as VIP's. I was surprisingly calm but I think it had
to do with being so familiar with the course and knowing my training was
good. I bumped into Janet (Jordan) Kelly and right before dropping my bag
off got a call from Crackhead (Sheila on the tri list). She told me she
would be there at mile 24 to bring me home. I walked down to my corral and
another tri dead Ken Cowen and we chatted before he headed a little farther
back. It was good to talk to him and kill some time. A few minutes before
the start Frank Fields came up and asked what I was shooting for and I
mentioned it for the first time 2:55. He said great I am going to start
slow and will try to help you as long as I can before letting you go (he ran
2:54 and I never saw him).
The start of Boston is always special for me, the fly over, the crowds, the
runners; there is so much talent in one place. I had number 2451 that meant
there was at least 1,500 people with faster qualifying times than I had and
I ran 2:59 to qualify. Additionally, I knew there were another 20,000
people behind me who all had done the same thing I did and qualified to be
here. Unlike past years, I planned to try and run my race, not high five the
kids, not get overwhelmed by the crowds, not worry about runners getting
anxious.
I was across the start in 37 seconds and was running comfortably and in
control. The first mile came in 6:58. I made sure not to pick up the pace
because I knew I was already running faster and that the first quarter mile
was probably slower. Sure enough mile two came in 6:32 and tried to slow
down even though I was running easy mile three was 6:35. Fortunately, we
were through the worst of the downhill. Oddly enough I felt like I was
running so easy and totally in control. I was not pushing it at all and was
just clicking off the miles. Mile four came in 6:39 and I took my first gel
and tried to slow down a little hitting mile 5 in 6:49 (33:35 overall). I
felt totally comfortable and mile 6 came in 6:38. I thought about Tim
Newell's advise about sleeping through the first 6 miles of the race. To
this point I had hardly noticed the crowds and was vaguely aware of the
group that I had been running with. Somehow I missed the 7 mile split but
hit 8 in 13:26 (6:43 per). I was still feeling totally in control. I
thought at some point I am going to have to work but it hasn't happened yet.
A few minutes later my stomach started to hurt and I coughed a couple of
times. I had taken a second gel in the last mile and was due for a succeed
shortly so I just shrugged it off and hit mile 9 in 6:44. I was approaching
my first checkpoint at mile 10 and took my salt and hit mile 10 in 6:49
(67:14). I thought perfect - 10 in 67 - 20 in 2:15.
My stomach was still a little upset but I was mostly ignoring it. Mile 11
came in 6:51 and mile 12 in 6:46. My legs felt strong and I was right on
pace. I was still with the same group of runners but my stomach was
complaining. Mile 13 came in 6:59 and I though I better pick it up a
little. A tenth of a mile later I looked down and saw the half in
1:28.xxand thought perfect.
Mile 14 was 6:57 and I knew I was going to need to visit one of the little
blue houses and started looking out for one. Mile 15 was 7:03 and shortly
after I found a bathroom. Fortunately, it was empty and I was in and out in
1:30. Exiting it I thought I hope I have gotten rid of the poison and can
now run free. Mile 16 was 8:07, but that meant I was back to sub 7's and I
thought not bad the race is just starting. Mile 17 is the first real hill
and I was 7:25. I still felt pretty good and ran steady around the corner
onto Comm Ave. Mile 18 came in 7:31 (2:04). At this point I started
working on my math. If I could pick it up and run 14 minutes for 2 I would
be 2:18 for 20. My stomach was still gurgling and mile 19 was 7:30. At
that point I knew I couldn't get under 3 hours. I eased up a little hit
mile 20 in 8:04 (2:20).
I smiled as I saw the med tent I spent time in last year and knew I was in
much better shape this year. My stomach was less than ideal and my legs
were starting to feel the challenge of the course but I was running steady.
I got up heartbreak in 8:24, and ran along to mile 22 in 8:25. I started to
work on math again and what a 3:15 would take. Mile 23 came in 8:40. I
started thinking about another stop but kept running, Mile 24 came in 8:52
(2:54) and 20 minutes for 2.2 and I would have a qualifier. Mile 25 came in
9 flat (3:03.xx) and I thought 10 minutes to go. I tried to keep moving
forward and turned on to Boylston street hitting mile 26 in 8:32. I ran the
last .2 in 1:42 crossing the line in 3:14:12 another qualifier. I stopped
after crossing the line and dry heaved for a minute passing up medical help
before heading back to get my bag.
Tuesday morning Harriet (Dr. Kang) listened to my worsening cough and
thought it might be bronchitis. She prescribed some strong cough syrup and
hopefully it will be better in a few days.
When I consider my race I am left with a few thoughts:
The marathon is a very tough race. It requires everything to go right in
order to perform it up to your potential.
The stronger the training the closer you can come to performing when it is
not your day.
Boston is a special race, the pull of the spectators and the pull of the
finish carry you through your best and worst days.
Big Sur is in 10 days. I am glad I already have my BQ because right now I
have no idea what to expect.