Short version: Qualifying time PR of 3:33:59. “A goal” to break 3:30 if all goes perfectly; “B goal” to PR; and “C Goal” to have fun and not embarrass myself with so many people tracking me. Achieved my C Goal – 3:43:29.
Long version: Diane had to work at her school play on Friday night and couldn’t come to Boston until Saturday evening. So I traveled up with Jeff A on Friday morning. Man, was it good to have a 4 time Boston Marathoner there to show me the ropes. We got our $15 Charlie card good for unlimited travel on the T for 7 days at the airport and shared a cab downtown. We were staying at different hotels but they were about a block apart and within about 2 blocks of the finish line. If the budget can withstand it, I’d highly recommend staying in this area.
We dropped our bags and headed straight for the Expo at the convention center. It was BIG! The check in process was simple and you were given the opportunity to change your race shirt size if it didn’t fit right. I also picked up a bib for a friend’s sister-in-law from London, who was registered but had to pull out due to injury. All I can say about the expo is that it had anything you could possibly want to buy, try, sample, hear about, learn about, you name it. Elite racers were there being interviewed by Bart Yasso. All cool.
There was definitely a buzz going on in the expo and in the entire downtown area. After a few hours at the expo we headed back to the hotels and then to the (Italian) North End for some pasta loading. Reservations definitely are required over the race weekend as they are packed full – crowded and noisy. Food at the Antico Forno was terrific. Later walked around to the various Italian pastry shops to check out the cannolis and other special dessert items. They looked awesome but I listened to my conscience and abstained until after the race. That was it for day 1.
Saturday morning Jeff & I met up for an early morning 3 mile run - around the Boston Gardens, along the Charles River (past the Kenyans), back into downtown to shower and then to NikeTown, where Kara Goucher was making an appearance. We checked out Kara, Nike’s latest gear and got our free pics taken with the Band of Runners sign that Jeff posted on Facebook. From there we went to the Puma store to see if the Bart Yasso group runners were still there but we missed them. From there it was breakfast at the Pour House (interesting decorum and great, hearty breakfast), right across the street from the convention center, and then round two at the Expo. Diane finally made it in later that night and she and I headed off to the North End where I’d squeezed in a late, 8:30 p.m. reservation. They told us we could come earlier if we wanted, and we did, and fortunately they seated us an hour early.
On Sunday, Diane and I had signed up for the marathon course tour. I thought it would be interesting to hear about the history of the marathon, and see sights along the course, which I’d probably never notice during the race. I also wanted to stay off my legs and I thought I’d force myself to do so if I was on a bus tour. It lasted from 10am to 1pm. Our guide was Tom Licciardello, who is 61 and has run Boston 34 consecutive years. Would I recommend it? Yes and no. Honestly, seeing the course from the inside of a bus scared the heck out of me. When I say the race course is amazingly hilly, it’s because I was looking out the windows, looking at up and down (and down and up) rolling hills, starting at mile 1. Most people say, and Tom said, just take it easy early on and run it smart, and you’ll be passing people on Heartbreak Hill. Well, it’s a lot more complicated than that. I know now I’ll have to prepare differently if I am able to go back. On Sunday evening, Jeff, Dava and John, Diane & I ate at Maggianno’s (again make reservations well ahead of time), 1 block from our hotels. Another good meal and time to settle the nerves and try to get some sleep for the big day.
Race Day: Jeff, Dava and I had booked on a private bus ride to transport to the start. A coach bus with bathroom for $25, leaving at 7:30 and dropping us there around 8:30. I think it was well worth the $$. Everyone on the bus was excited and ready for the big day, and the bathroom was a plus.
At the athlete’s village, it was freezing! Though the temp might have been in the 40s, the wind pierced right through you. With a singlet, arm warmers, shorts, hat, heavy sweathshirt with hood, gloves and long trashbag, it was just tolerable. They offered free coffee, water and bagels at the village and I downed a cup of coffee to take the chill off. The sun was out and everyone tried to find a place out of the wind. The 3 of us were starting in Waves 1, 2 and 3, so we all had different start times. I didn’t use the portajohns at the village, but when you leave the village and walk down the road to the start corrals, there is another little waiting area near the corrals with more portajohns. I will say, and surprisingly so, they were the shortest lines I’ve ever experienced at a marathon. 8 people in front of me the first time and 6 people the second time. From there it was a smooth start process, right into the corrals and 1000 runners released at a time to set you on your path. Once in the start corral, I threw away the trash bag and passed my sweatshirt over to the volunteers and, oddly enough, I was never cold again until the finish.
My A goal would require a sub 8 pace, B goal about 8:06 pace, and C goal – whatever. I guess my mile splits tell a lot about how the race went for me:
1 – 8:02 2 – 7:59 3 – 7:54 4 – 7:47 5 – 8:00 6 – 7:51
8 – 7:55 9 – 7:51 10-8:00 11-8:08 12-7:58 13-8:02
14-8:09 15-8:10 16-8:14 17-8:28 18-9:40 19-8:44
20-8:45 21-9:53 22-10:48 23-8:46 24-9:05 25-8:45
26-8:57 .5 - ?
Finish time: 3:43 Pace: 8:32
Here are some of my observations about the race. Exciting! Runners from all over the U.S. and world all around you. Tremendous volunteers all in their green jackets and super supportive. Spectators lined pretty much on the entire course. Loud, excited, supportive, high fiving, kissing, beer drinking, singing, chanting, young and old. If you like crowd support, you’re gonna love this race!
I thought I had a good plan. I was determined to keep mile 1 at an 8:15 pace, and then the next 5 or 6 miles at 8:05 or so, then hover around 8 minute pace until I reached the Wellesley girls around mile 12. I figured that would pump me up and carry me through until mile 16, where the 4 hills leading to Heartbreak would carry me through, and where I’d see Diane at mile 17. Then I figured I cross Heartbreak and hit the downhills to the finish. Well, my paces show that I was a bit too fast for most of the first 10 miles. Not sure if it would have made a difference if I’d gone out slower but live and learn?
Soon after you start, you are on a steep downhill drop of about 150 feet, followed by a short but equally steep uphill, then about a 3 mile downhill drop of another couple hundred feet. So it all felt pretty easy. It’s basically a McCartneyish long and winding road from start to finish. I chose to wear my name “TED” in big bold letters on my chest. If you like for people to call you out and encourage you, do this. I can’t tell you how much people cheer for you. If you want to connect with people run towards the sides and they’ll all be calling your name. If you want to try to take a break from it, move to the center of the road, but you’ll still hear “TED! I see you out there – go do it!” And lots of kids, high fiving and calling your name. They really enjoy it when you high five or respond to them with a fist pump or a thanks - I really enjoyed taking all of this in.
I don’t really know what the temperature was, probably 50s, but the sun was out bright all day. I was completely burnt red by the end. So it was actually hot on the course. I never once felt the wind behind me, but maybe 4 times felt a strong, very chilly cross wind when I was out in the clear. I didn’t want to pour water on my head, because I was afraid I’d get chilled, but that was probably a mistake. Despite two water/Gatorade stops (the pair on each side of the road) at every mile marker, I managed to be dehydrated at the end of the race.
I think Wellesley starts at about mile 12.4. I felt great at mile 12, and could already hear the chanting Wellesley girls up ahead. So as not to disappoint Jeff H, and with Diane’s approval, I already decided I was stopping for a kiss. Well, the first girl I saw when I got there, was this 6 foot dude in drag draped in a U.S. flag dress, and I was thinking this may not be what it’s cracked to be! But it improved after that. All the girls were lined up on the right side, all were screaming and high fiving and lots of lots of signs saying “Kiss Me” with their favorite ending – I’m Asian, I’m Jewish, I’m from Idaho, I’m international, I’m from Idaho, I’m a senior, I’m Latina … At some point, I just pulled over and went for the kiss (on the cheek!), apologized for the sweat, and went on my way – why not! I did see some guys kissing about every other girl and I thought that was a bit much, but I guess whatever you’re into! It was a fun atmosphere.
I was feeling very good by mile 16 when I hit the first of the 4 “final” hills. The first hill is .6 miles long, so longer but not as steep as the other three to come. As I went up, I felt my first calf cramps coming on, so I slowed my pace a little and climbed it okay. Then I found Diane somewhere right around mile 17, and stopped for a thank you kiss and hug. It wasn’t easy for her to get the T out there on that day, and then to get back in to the finish area, but it was great to have the support.
The next hill started right near the Newton Fire Station at about mile 17.5, with about a 5% grade and that’s where the wheels started to come off for me. I slowed my pace again to try to keep running but couldn’t. My calves were cramping badly, forcing me to stop and stretch, trying to work them out. Unfortunately this would only get worse over the next five miles. It didn’t take long to know Goals A and B were out the window. I did some quick math and thought maybe 3:40 was still in the cards, but I’d just have to see. The crowd support was tremendous over all of this section. As I had to walk on and off, I was able to talk to more of the spectators, and had a good time with them. Their encouragement really helped.
Heartbreak Hill comes at mile 20.3. It has the steepest grade of all the hills. I was determined to run up and over it with the cramps, even if it was slow, and I succeeded on that one. I was delighted to see the sign “The Heartbreak is Over” at the top. And then, it’s all downhill (they say) – NOT! They may not count these as hills, but there are some more rollers after this, and some overpasses, and I felt every one of them.
Boston College comes shortly after Heartbreak, and I think there is a competition between BC and Wellesley. I don’t know if it’s because the BC crowd is that much larger, because they line both sides of the streets, or if they are just that much drunker, but they were LOUD! More than one large group gave me the TED, TED, TED, TED, TED … fist pumping chant. My split times may not show it, but it was a big boost and a lot of fun. I did my best to respond in kind. This wasn’t the only time either. I’d hear those chants quite a few times from that point on.
I decided to walk thru the water stops to try to keep the cramps at bay. Maybe it was during that horrendous mile 22 split, that I came to a water stop in the middle of a downhill. I grabbed a cup and started walking and immediately my hamstring seized up completely – ouch! I hopped off to the side to a tree and spent quite a while trying to work it out – hence the 10:48 pace. I was wondering if I’d be able to run after that, but thankfully, I regrouped and was able to get moving again.
It was around mile 24 that I noticed the famous CITGO sign in front of me and quite large. This was a very good sign (pun intended!).
As I entered Boston, the crowds were beyond belief. Loud, encouraging, applauding, more chants. I’ll admit, I love this kind of crowd for a race. I think there is an overpass hill right around mile 25 and a few turns downtown, before you turn that corner and see the finish line ahead. Wow – what a race! I heard the news of the new world record walking through the finish area. Count it or not, very cool! For the rest of that day, and the days after, everyone wore their Boston Jackets, lots of congrats from runners and non runners alike. The people of Boston are definitely behind the race and its participants.
Post thoughts: Overall Fantastic! But for the cramps (and this is a big but!), I really felt good. I’ve got a BQ -3 minutes for next year, which may or may not get me in. Do I go back and try again if I can get in? Don’t know yet but I’d sure like to go back and do better. What to do differently for Chicago and future races and how to avoid cramps? Yet to be determined. I’m thankful I had the opportunity to experience this.
Evansville, Indiana – April 21, 2011
