My Boston experience started last Thursday when we flew to Boston. We had a great flight, got our week long Charlie pass to ride the (fantastic) Boston subway system and made our way to the Hotel. It was such a kick to be in Boston and see all the runners around, I felt like I had to pinch myself every now and then to confirm I was actually there!
We did all the tourist things in Boston and had a great time being there. On Saturday, we headed over to the Runners Expo to pick up my race number, and tour the booths of running products and give aways. The Expo was crazy big, but there were some good freebies so we made our way through. We (I) also shopped the clothes sections for more Marathon bling, I bought the 2011 jacket (The Jacket is the one thing that seems to unite all Boston runners), a pair of shorts (I spent HOW much on those?) and a few more trinkets (Pint glass!). One of the highlites of the expo was watching the film of the race course - it was good to get a feel of what I was going to see.
I wasn't too nervous for this race, I really didn't know what the hills, or the crowds would be like so, I was keeping my expectations for a fast race time low. My goal was to run under 3:30 - or a 7:55 pace (that gave me bit of a cushion for 3:30). I slept well and made it to the bus meeting point. I paid a few extra bucks to get on a coach that a nearby running store leases for Boston. It's a nice deal because it gives you a place to sit before the race (if the weather is bad at the start) and most importantly a bus potty to use before the race instead of waiting in long lines with 25,000 other runners.
I had been training with a lady from my club, Jodie, we had the same qualifying time for Boston and have been training together for the long runs, we rode the bus together and hung out before the race. We decided we would try to pace each other for the race and stay together, but if we got separated, no big deal. About 40 minutes before our wave started, we made our way over to the start. We walked with thousands (I couldn't believe the people!) of others to the start - it felt like about a mile walk. BUT, we timed it just right and got to our corral right on time and in a few minutes we were off! As we crossed the start line I said to Jodie "We're doing it! We're running Boston" - There was not much more to say than that!
It's hard for me to think of specific things or when what happened during the run. I've been telling people that Boston was 26 miles of distractions - my brain was racing with runners, fans, paces, pain assessments and so on, here is a sample...
Mile 1 - 7:49 not as crowded as I had thought - not much slowing me down. But, so much for pacing with Jodie - it was just way too crowded to stay with her.
Mile 2 - 7:42 I know, “don’t go out too fast” but I feel good, and pretty close to goal pace
Mile 3 - 7:40 should slow down a bit
Mile 4 - 7:41 now I really need to get serious about slowing down a bit
Mile 5 - 7:53 feeling a blister start on my right foot – Stop and tie the laces a little tighter
Mile 6 - 7:35 whoops – too fast - Probably thinking I needed to make up time from my stop
Mile 7 - 7:43 feet feeling better
Mile 8 - 7:54 in cruise mode now
Mile 9 - 7:49 really only 9 miles down?? long way to go...
Mile 10 - 7:55 double digits! yeah!
Mile 11 - 8:01 a little slow, but my average is right at pace
Mile 12 - 7:56 Wellesley sign – so where are the screaming girls?
Mile 13 - 7:51 There they are - Cute signs! A girl from Alaska! OK – 1 lucky kiss!
Mile 14 - 7:54 a little deaf in my right ear (Girls only on right side in Wellesley)
Mile 15 - 8:03 OH yeah, over half way! Time for my mid-race Aleve!
Mile 16 - 7:50 Ten miles to go – no excuses, perfect day, cool, tail wind, boston - have to really push this pace!
Mile 17 - 8:07 Newton – here come the hills…
Mile 18 - 8:14 JIM!!!!! There's Shawn!! I never heard her yell so loud - what a huge boost it was to see her!
Mile 19 - 8:06 2nd hill - Government hill? (It has a name?) not bad at all!
Mile 20 - 8:20 third hill – this is longer, is this Heartbreak?
Mile 21 - 8:30 Nope – this is heart break – not horrible though.
Mile 22 - 8:04 “The heart break is over” – Sign at Boston College
Mile 23 - 8:08 The Boston College Students are Fantastic!! Love those guys!
Mile 24 - 8:03 no excuses, perfect day I really, REALLY have push this pace!
Mile 25 - 7:53 so tired, but I gotta – my time is so close!
Mile 26 - 7:56 keep bustin' a gut – the blisters on my feet will recover! press on! Hey There's Jodie!! It only took me 25 miles to find her!!
LAST .44 miles 3:24 - 7:36 pace!!! (Fastest part of the day!)
It was a great feeling to be finishing Boston! I gave it all I had at the finish - it felt so good to be done though! As I lined up behind all the runners to collect the warm-up blankets and runners medal (Yes please! I told the lady that gave me mine), I checked my watch - 3:30:04 - dang! but I did take a few steps before I stopped my watch - maybe I got it! I wouldn't know until I get my official results.
It took a long time to get my gear at the finish line and then even longer walk back to the hotel - my muscles had stiffened up and those curbs I had to step over - they were killers! When I finally got to my hotel room, Shawn greeted me at the door "Great run! 3:30:16!" I thought 16 seconds?? what the?? I was looking for 29:59...Well, after talking to my running friends, I realised what the difference was - I had my Garmin(GPS) set to "autopause"...When I stopped to tie my shoes, my watch stopped and my elapsed time was off - DANG! Auto pause has been removed from my Garmin now!
I am very happy with my run! I really enjoyed Boston and I feel I made the very most of it! I slapped hands with lots of kids along the way. I high fived a Guy from Boston College that pointed to his up-raised hand and said "Right here, right here dude". And yeah I kissed a quiet looking girl at Wellesley with a sign that said "Kiss me - I'm from Alaska" - I figured there was another quiet girl in Alaska I'd like to kiss right then, and I that was as good an excuse as any. (and, it was a very quick cheek kiss anyway!).
Boston was as wonderful as I had imagined, the crowds, the runners, the hills (not too bad), the wonderful feeling after topping Heartbreak hill and knowing it was all down hill, seeing the Citgo sign coming into town, Turning the corner at Boylston street and seeing the finish line, the roar of the crowd. I am afraid it is in my blood now - I hope I can come back!
I pushed hard at the end and was happy I could string together some sub-8 miles at the end. The conditions were so great, I kept thinking I con't let this get away from me!! It was a struggle, but I made it in. I don't know if an accurate time piece would have made a difference, it's good to have a goal, and I will probably be back out there in a fall marathon trying to find a few more minutes. With good coaching, good camaraderie with my team and the support of my wonderful wife, I know I can do it!
There are photos of my finish at www.marathonfoto.com - Rathbun, then 13651 and boston 2011 and you'll see me (look hard!)
