In March, 2015, I qualified for the Boston Marathon after running the Seoul marathon in 3:29:51. The age group qualifying time (F40-44) for 2016 was 3:40:00. Fast forward a year to April 18, 2016 -- After six months of training, I ran my first Boston Marathon. For the amateur runner, the opportunity to run in the world's fastest field of runners is the achievement of a lifetime. It was a thrilling (painful, mentally and physically grueling) experience that will be tough to beat.
Boston is known for unpredictable Spring weather, a late-morning start, steep downhill for the first four miles, and a punishing series of hills late in the race. You can read about it, talk about it, study the elevation charts, watch YouTube videos of the course, meticulously plan your pacing mile by mile. But ultimately, on race day, the course will chew you up and spit you back out, leaving the first time runner wondering what the hell just happened. Boston is iconic because it's unique and it's hard!
As I hobbled through the finishing chute, a little dazed and confused, quads quivering, I remember thinking it would be a long time before I would even consider trying to qualify for this race again. The next day, I learned my finishing time of 3:34:06 guarantees me entry into Boston 2017. A funny thing happens after 24 hours of post-race reflection. The pain subsides (sort of) and you start thinking "I could have done this and that...if the weather had only been..." So yeah. I'm stoked and already planning for next year. Runners are masochists. Or just plain dumb.
The Positives: What Worked Well
Applying sun screen provided at the Athlete's Village just prior to the race. The two spots I missed were a stark reminder of what could have been.
Dumping water on my head at every water stop, starting at mile 2. I did not wait to overheat.
Not over-dressing. I saw many runners in long pants and long shirts. I also passed many crowded Medical tents along the course.
Using the downhills at the start to my advantage. Every well-meaning Boston "advisor" will tell you not to go out too fast at the start...to "save" your legs for later. I'm old and stubborn and I know how I run. I used the downhills to my advantage. This does not mean I went out too fast; it means I went out at a faster-than-marathon-pace, but one that was quite comfortable for those hills. My target pace for my goal time of under 3:30:00 was 8:00/mile. I averaged around 30 seconds under pace through mile 8. Then the terrain starts to get a little lumpy. I stayed at or below target-pace until mile 15. Through the infamous Newton hills to mile 21, I averaged about 40 seconds slower than marathon pace. I picked up the pace from mile 22 through finish, sustaining about 25 seconds slower than my target pace. I ultimately finished 4 minutes 7 seconds off my goal time. I have no complaints. I don't think I'll change my tactic. Under cooler conditions and sans headwind, I am confident I could have executed better through Newton and recovered better through the finish. Yes, my quads were screaming. But they would have screamed even if I'd paced 30 seconds slower at the start of the race.
Hydrated appropriately. I did not over-hydrate the day/morning before and I used almost every water stop on the course. I also mixed water and gatorade in a hand-held and drank the last sip near the finish.
Executed race day meal plan. Cliff bar in the morning, Cliff Energy Food pack on the bus, a smaller energy food pack at the village and 1/2 a banana. I ingested three gu packs (every 7 miles) + some gatorade along the course with minimal GI issues.
Placed in corral 1 of wave 3. Corral 1 of a later wave is better than a deeper corral in an earlier wave. There are 10 minutes between waves. Being in corral 1 meant I had a wide open road at the start; no squeeze.
The Negatives: What Did Not Work As Planned
The weather was hot: 70+ degrees this year, with a head-wind and bright sunshine. But weather will always be an uncontrollable variable.
The constant noise. The crowds are amazing - they line up from start to finish, cheering and hollering and cow-belling the entire way. I will bring head phones next time so I can absorb the enthusiastic energy without the audio-overload.
Heartbreak hill is vicious. I knew it would be, but the reality is so much more painful than the idea of it. 9:13 pace. I might have squeezed out a tear or two. SOOOO grateful Jess and my mom were there, giving me a much needed mental boost, followed by Caffrey at mile 22 to ignite the legs.
I probably did too much walking around in Boston the two days prior to the race. That may have impacted the freshness of my legs and overall carbohydrate level.
One of my toes on my left foot hurt at the end of the race (didn't notice until I'd crossed the finish line, thank goodness). Now the nail is turning black and probably going to fall off. No idea why. That has never happened to me before. I suspect it was the downhills causing my foot to slide forward in my shoe and the longest toe bore the brunt of it. That was not planned.