Boston Marathon 2008

I was lucky enough to be able to go to the Boston Marathon again, 2nd year in a row. I went with my Dad and some other friends and we stayed at the youth hostel in Boston. The hostel idea was great. We met many nice runners there, and the location was excellent. We had a great social time, Dad and I also took in the sights of Boston on one of the National Parks guided walks. Very interesting. A little more spartan than the private company walks, but free!

We saw some familiar faces in Boston, including my friend Ginny from Guelph. Saw some other Guelphites too. I saw some familiar ENDURrun runners too!. It was so great to see Bob, Brad, and Jackie again. I saw Jackie during the race, but mainly just her pony tail as she blew past me around 15 km point.

It was really nice running conditions, but it was a little hard to anticipate what it would be since the day dawned overcast, but with no significant breeze. Brad and I were under the tent at the high school in Hopkington wondering what to wear. I dressed lightly and that was fortunate since 5 min before the race started the sun broke through the clouds and was beautiful for the rest of the day. This brought out so many spectators, many more than last year [though last year they were great too]. I heard an estimate of 1M spectators. I only cared about my Dad at the finish line and all the Wellesley girls with the "kiss me" signs [had to oblige, but there was a really beautiful one I passed too quickly to go back - i still regret it...].

So my training the past 1.5 months has been really sporadic with travel, family, etc. And i wasn't even really doing much mileage by early March either. But I did have a base so I went to Boston to just run a steady pace and to have fun, hopefully finish in 3:30 or shortly thereafter.

My friend in Guelph suggested to me one time to forget a goal time and pace, just run at a pace that works for you that day, and I've done that ever since and not looked at the watch until i settle in to a stiff pace that i think i could do for 40 km. So, the immediate downhills helped me get going, but I didn't get carried away. I just ran and around 5 km I looked at my watch and noticed i was doing 7:15/mile. That scared me because last year we did 8:00/mile for a goal time of 3:30, so i was running 45 sec too fast/mile. Well, i trusted my initial gut feeling for a pace and just ran it.

The crowds were amazing and I had fun. I made sure I got my Gatoraide, and i took a swig of my gel once in a while. Jackie ran with me for 15 seconds but quickly disappeared ahead of me. She looked really strong. I enjoyed the run and the great spectators [hats off to them]. I enjoyed that 400m by Wellesley, but I already said that. Through Newton the hills were noticeable, but they passed if you kept running.

I was feeling quite comfortable and strong [given that I have just run for a rather long time]. As I got closer to Boston I started to feel more tired, but not at the point where you feel less coordinated or loosing running form. The crowds really propelled me along, propelled everyone around me on, some of the runners would raise up their arms to get the crowd going - fun.

Finally I saw the Citigo sign and I was rather glad since the end was near. I figured the winners were either finishing their Champagne, getting a massage, or they were totally recovered and out for a recover run already! I wondered if it was 1.5 miles left to run when you see the Citigo sign, or 1.5 miles to go when you pass that sign. Must be 1.5 once you pass it as there was still a ways to go. I saw all the tall buildings that near Boyleston Str. Getting close, and now I noticed sensations in the tendons of the lower quads and ankles. The crowds were amazing - more than I could imagine. There is this last stretch that goes parallel to the Charles River, and you have to go down a dip and under a bridge then up again - this is the hill I disliked, even though it was likely no more than 4m over 50m! But then people were turning right! Then end was near and my time was about 3:13. I was rather surprised and pleased. The finish down Boyleston Str really is a blast. But is actually pretty bloody long too! It takes about 45seconds, maybe a minute, but it really is great to approach the finish line with supportive crowd's cheers echoing through the canyon of buildings. And then I crossed the line in 3:17:56, and it wasn't until afterwards I discovered the chip time was 3:15:21. Dad got some pictures of the finish. I was a little wobbly, but after some water and Gatoraide, i started feeling pretty good - all things considering. That is, considering the Wellesley girls.