Overall Time: 2:20:03
Pace per mile: 7 minutes, 0.2 seconds
Overall place: 38/443
Age group finish: 22/81 (male 39 and under)
Splits (5-mile): 33:24, 35:00, 36:08, 35:32
It's amazing what a little favorable weather and a little extra confidence can do.
I stormed out of the gate hard and kept the pedal down as much as I could. There was no reason not to; even with the similar start to last year, I knew I wasn't going to hit the same wall that I did before. I finished 5 miles well under 34 minutes knowing all this banked time would be important later in the race.
The next 5 was even and steady. The goal for the rest of the race was to maintain a sub-7 for as long as I could and I was confident I could hold it through most of the race. It was only after 14 that I started to feel the weight bear down on my legs, but once I hit 17 I was able to find the final surge and push hard to the very end.
There were a few places - namely the start and finish areas - where I could have shaved time. They're really just minor details. I set a personal best by over one minute (2:21:13) and beat my best time for this course by over 5 minutes. I'd say that this was a huge success.
With less than 8 weeks to go I stand at a great position for the elusive 3:04:59 time at Sugarloaf. I need to continue to be at that position, however, to make it.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Eastern States 2012 Preview
Easily the windiest race of the year (Hyannis is likely second), the (typically) 3-state run is a challenging midpoint race that bridges the Hyannis and Sugarloaf Marathon most years. Even if I don't excel at the race, it's a necessary linchpin to the long-distance racing season.
The direction of the wind is always important. The day chooses one direction and sticks with it. If it's at my back, I'll have an easy day, and if it's in my face...let's just say that all sorts of fun will happen.
2009 - 2:26:53 - 103 overall - 49 age group
2010 - 2:25:56 - 53 overall - 31 age group
2011 - 2:30:33 - 65 overall - 36 age group
The times I'm up against aren't difficult to beat with most other courses - in fact I have beaten 2011's time in most 20-mile splits of marathons - but weather will play a very major factor and why this race is particularly challenging.
Temperatures are expected to be around 50 degrees with light rain. So far they're not expecting a lot of wind but that could change. We'll see what Sunday brings.
The direction of the wind is always important. The day chooses one direction and sticks with it. If it's at my back, I'll have an easy day, and if it's in my face...let's just say that all sorts of fun will happen.
2009 - 2:26:53 - 103 overall - 49 age group
2010 - 2:25:56 - 53 overall - 31 age group
2011 - 2:30:33 - 65 overall - 36 age group
The times I'm up against aren't difficult to beat with most other courses - in fact I have beaten 2011's time in most 20-mile splits of marathons - but weather will play a very major factor and why this race is particularly challenging.
Temperatures are expected to be around 50 degrees with light rain. So far they're not expecting a lot of wind but that could change. We'll see what Sunday brings.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Hyannis 2012: What Went Up, What Went Down
Overall Time (Net): 3:24:44
Pace per mile: 7 minutes, 49 seconds
Overall place: 34/403
Age group finish: 8/46
Splits (5-mile): 37:13.6 (0-5), 36:47.9 (5-10), 37:12.7 (10-15), 40:25 (15-20), 52:23.3 (last 10km)
Splits (Half): 1:36:55.5 (1st half), 1:47:48.5 (2nd half)
With consistent temperatures in the 50s right now, it's difficult to recall how bitter that wind on Cape Cod was just two weeks ago but make no mistake: the conditions were what one would expect on the Cape in the middle of winter.
Unfriendly.
This was a race that started with a bit of self-doubt. In addition to the bitter weather, the lack of speed workouts (including no other road races in the month of February) and getting stuck near the back of the pack with the 12-minute pacers made the opening minutes frustrating. I knew that I had to push it all aside - dwelling on it was pointless.
The first mile was spent caught behind a sea of runners, but once I broke free the pace was much easier. One thing I did notice early in the race was that my upper legs felt heavy (I guess that's the best way to describe it) which may have been a blessing in disguise. Though it kept me from posting anything below 7 minutes in a single mile, it kept me focused on keeping a slightly slower but more even pace. I stayed around or under a 7:30 pace through the first 15 miles, stayed under 8:30 for 23 of the 26 miles, and managed to avoid a 9-minute mile entirely - especially at the end where I returned to under an 8 minute pace in the last 1.2 miles.
Though far from my PR (3:08:21) and BQ (3:04:59) goals, I was proud of my endurance both during and after the race. There was significantly fewer sore leg muscles the next day which is a testament to my winter workouts this year. It was my best for Hyannis, beating out last years time by about 2 1/2 minutes. Which means if I can keep this up I should be in great shape (literally) for the rest of 2012.
Pace per mile: 7 minutes, 49 seconds
Overall place: 34/403
Age group finish: 8/46
Splits (5-mile): 37:13.6 (0-5), 36:47.9 (5-10), 37:12.7 (10-15), 40:25 (15-20), 52:23.3 (last 10km)
Splits (Half): 1:36:55.5 (1st half), 1:47:48.5 (2nd half)
With consistent temperatures in the 50s right now, it's difficult to recall how bitter that wind on Cape Cod was just two weeks ago but make no mistake: the conditions were what one would expect on the Cape in the middle of winter.
Unfriendly.
This was a race that started with a bit of self-doubt. In addition to the bitter weather, the lack of speed workouts (including no other road races in the month of February) and getting stuck near the back of the pack with the 12-minute pacers made the opening minutes frustrating. I knew that I had to push it all aside - dwelling on it was pointless.
The first mile was spent caught behind a sea of runners, but once I broke free the pace was much easier. One thing I did notice early in the race was that my upper legs felt heavy (I guess that's the best way to describe it) which may have been a blessing in disguise. Though it kept me from posting anything below 7 minutes in a single mile, it kept me focused on keeping a slightly slower but more even pace. I stayed around or under a 7:30 pace through the first 15 miles, stayed under 8:30 for 23 of the 26 miles, and managed to avoid a 9-minute mile entirely - especially at the end where I returned to under an 8 minute pace in the last 1.2 miles.
Though far from my PR (3:08:21) and BQ (3:04:59) goals, I was proud of my endurance both during and after the race. There was significantly fewer sore leg muscles the next day which is a testament to my winter workouts this year. It was my best for Hyannis, beating out last years time by about 2 1/2 minutes. Which means if I can keep this up I should be in great shape (literally) for the rest of 2012.
Friday, February 17, 2012
10 days from Hyannis Year 5 - the beard is in full effect.
I love Hyannis. Not convincing enough?
I LOVE HYANNIS. A little better?
I mean, that should be the reason I keep coming back year after year. It shouldn't have nothing to do with the challenge factor of a New England marathon in winter, or the propensity of endurance runners to always take masochism to the next level. Right? Anyway. Here it is, for the fifth time. It's hard to believe I've already run 11 marathons, 4 of them in the same place. Hyannis was my first - perhaps that's the biggest reason to run it year after year - and always helps me set myself straight for the rest of the running year.
I've made the odd little tradition of growing a beard for February just for the race at the end of the month. I suppose it's largely symbolic to the ruggedness and chaos of the winter...because it is far from tame. At least it doesn't last long after the marathon. I'm not sure how acceptable looking like a lost band member of ZZ Top would be in the workplace.
My weight has stayed down between 185-190 in the months of January and February. Considering that these are my hibernation months and my metabolism naturally slows down in the winter, holding steady at this weight is a huge sign of progress for me. Perhaps there's hope for me to to hit 170 again - that hasn't been done since 2008 and that was when I had less muscle mass. It's exciting and I hope it will really reflect in my spring and summer running.
My running times - including the easy runs - have stayed amazing fast as well. I've only run one race since the new year (4.5 miler) but it was far faster than any of the previous years (29:12 compared to 31:31 in '11 and 30:03 in '09). Unfortunately I have not been able to run the other February races that prep me for Hyannis so I don't have much to go on in terms of speed preparation.
My weekly mileage has been consistent this year, too, which has always been a struggle. I have logged at least 35 miles every week so far, only going below 40 twice since the new year began. I even logged 50+ last week during my final long run. That will only help me improve my Hyannis time.
Pretty much the only thing left to do is to slowly start tapering and keep my diet and exercise in balance as I head into the final stretch leading to Hyannis 2012. Weather is the only thing out of my control at this point, but as many of us know, weather could be the huge factor for a Cape Cod February.
I LOVE HYANNIS. A little better?
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| 2008 - 4:42:35 |
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| 2009 - 3:32:03 |
My weight has stayed down between 185-190 in the months of January and February. Considering that these are my hibernation months and my metabolism naturally slows down in the winter, holding steady at this weight is a huge sign of progress for me. Perhaps there's hope for me to to hit 170 again - that hasn't been done since 2008 and that was when I had less muscle mass. It's exciting and I hope it will really reflect in my spring and summer running.
My running times - including the easy runs - have stayed amazing fast as well. I've only run one race since the new year (4.5 miler) but it was far faster than any of the previous years (29:12 compared to 31:31 in '11 and 30:03 in '09). Unfortunately I have not been able to run the other February races that prep me for Hyannis so I don't have much to go on in terms of speed preparation.
 |
| 2010 - 3:45:34 |
My weekly mileage has been consistent this year, too, which has always been a struggle. I have logged at least 35 miles every week so far, only going below 40 twice since the new year began. I even logged 50+ last week during my final long run. That will only help me improve my Hyannis time.
Pretty much the only thing left to do is to slowly start tapering and keep my diet and exercise in balance as I head into the final stretch leading to Hyannis 2012. Weather is the only thing out of my control at this point, but as many of us know, weather could be the huge factor for a Cape Cod February.
 |
| 2011 - 3:27:04 |
Friday, June 3, 2011
The Full Vermonty
I succeeded in completing three marathons in 90 days. This last one didn't go as well as the first two, but the major goal was the completion of this race.
Overall Time (Net): 3:46:50
Pace per mile: 8 minutes, 39 seconds
Overall place: 535/2403
Age group finish: 59/160
Splits (5-mile): 35:58 (0-5), 36:18 (5-10), 39:39 (10-15), 49:24 (15-20), 1:05:31 (last 10km)
Splits (Half): 1:37:16 (1st half), 2:09:34 (2nd half)
Little sleep, long travel, bad sleeping conditions, bad weather conditions, mistakes during the race...I can't blame any one factor, but those combined created a wall so immense that I almost dropped out at a few different places of the race.
I had spent the previous two nights camping over an hour away from Burlington. The air mattress I slept on was uncomfortable at best, which caused a sore lower back to develop and (maybe) a combined 8 hours of sleep in those two nights left me with almost no energy on race morning. In spite of adequate preparation and a relatively healthy start to the race, the cards were stacked against me.
The rain let loose around the start of the race and kept up for the first 3-4 miles, soaking every inch of my running gear. In spite of some good splits in the first few miles I could already feel an odd pressure in my right leg - muscle fatigue - and I had a bad feeling that I would not be able to hold a BQ pace for very long.
Miles 5-9 departed the city streets and entered an open stretch of highway. I was glad that the sun was not out; it would have cooked me early. The humidity was increasing with each mile but I stayed fairly consistent - hugging the 7:10-7:20 mile pace right up through the re-entry into the city. The one big mishap, however, came at mile 7 when I reached for my first GU packet and had it slip though my hand. I had considered stopping to pick it back up but I decided against it after noticing the large pack of runners behind me. I would have to try to find a way with only two gels instead of three.
The clouds partially gave way to a hazy atmosphere during miles 10-12. It was on this stretch where I hot my first wall and recorded my first mile over eight minutes. Desperate to ration my gel, I successfully took my first one on mile 11. Miles 13-15 were very rough as I tried hard to recollect myself but I had no energy. The first GU was only helping me to hold on by a thread.
Then there was mile 16 - the assault on Battery Hill.
I turned the corner to see the long ascent ahead of me. At that moment I had thought about stopping there and dropping - I could not will myself to go any faster and I could only think of the damage this hill was going to do to me. Then, I heard a wonderful thing. The rhythmic pounding of the taiko drums perked me up like no amount of caffeine could. It was like a rally for the defeated troops of my body. Renewed by adrenaline, I fought up the hill, raising a fist-clenched arm to the drummers as I went by (as they shouted back - which bolstered me further). For just a few minutes, I forgot what ailed me and conquered the hill.
I would carry the fleeting momentum through 17 and 18, but the endless labyrinth of streets could do nothing to maintain that energy. I go through a park forest on the first part of 19 and cross the makeshift plywood bridge that kept us from the flooded muck of the ruined trail.
I slid -slightly- on one of the floorboards and my left calf muscle seized up.
The pain stops my running for a few moments as I walk it off. After a couple minutes the pain gives way to a bit of soreness but I can resume running once again. I hobble through miles 20-22 though I walk through each water stop and put considerable effort into running again.
As I approach the long bike path on 23, the sun fully emerges from a break in the clouds. The air is set on fire and breathing slowly gets more difficult. The aid station announced that 'condition red' is up as I run by (meaning unsafe conditions for running - one step down from calling off the remainder of the race). I knew, however, that I had this last road to finish before I was done. I made it over 22 miles in spite of almost giving up at several places.
This was the point of no return. I needed to finish as long as I was physically capable of doing so.
The last 4 miles was a blur of hazy sun, shouting crowds, and broken racers. It wasn't until I passed a muddy stretch of trail that I realized I was opening into Waterfront Park and was a half mile away from the finish. I tried hard to push with anything I had in the tank and finally made it to the finish. After getting out of the way, I laid down for over 20 minutes to let the pain subside enough to walk.
My disappointment was in the fact that I will likely not be running Boston 2012, as I still have yet to qualify for it. I did succeed in finishing when for the longest time it didn't look like I'd make it. It's my third worst time (behind Hyannis and Sugarloaf 2008) but time was relative on a weekend that was clearly not the time for me to run my best. The best thing for me to do at this point is to focus on the summer ahead and prepare for MDI after that.
Overall Time (Net): 3:46:50
Pace per mile: 8 minutes, 39 seconds
Overall place: 535/2403
Age group finish: 59/160
Splits (5-mile): 35:58 (0-5), 36:18 (5-10), 39:39 (10-15), 49:24 (15-20), 1:05:31 (last 10km)
Splits (Half): 1:37:16 (1st half), 2:09:34 (2nd half)
Little sleep, long travel, bad sleeping conditions, bad weather conditions, mistakes during the race...I can't blame any one factor, but those combined created a wall so immense that I almost dropped out at a few different places of the race.
I had spent the previous two nights camping over an hour away from Burlington. The air mattress I slept on was uncomfortable at best, which caused a sore lower back to develop and (maybe) a combined 8 hours of sleep in those two nights left me with almost no energy on race morning. In spite of adequate preparation and a relatively healthy start to the race, the cards were stacked against me.
The rain let loose around the start of the race and kept up for the first 3-4 miles, soaking every inch of my running gear. In spite of some good splits in the first few miles I could already feel an odd pressure in my right leg - muscle fatigue - and I had a bad feeling that I would not be able to hold a BQ pace for very long.
Miles 5-9 departed the city streets and entered an open stretch of highway. I was glad that the sun was not out; it would have cooked me early. The humidity was increasing with each mile but I stayed fairly consistent - hugging the 7:10-7:20 mile pace right up through the re-entry into the city. The one big mishap, however, came at mile 7 when I reached for my first GU packet and had it slip though my hand. I had considered stopping to pick it back up but I decided against it after noticing the large pack of runners behind me. I would have to try to find a way with only two gels instead of three.
The clouds partially gave way to a hazy atmosphere during miles 10-12. It was on this stretch where I hot my first wall and recorded my first mile over eight minutes. Desperate to ration my gel, I successfully took my first one on mile 11. Miles 13-15 were very rough as I tried hard to recollect myself but I had no energy. The first GU was only helping me to hold on by a thread.
Then there was mile 16 - the assault on Battery Hill.
I turned the corner to see the long ascent ahead of me. At that moment I had thought about stopping there and dropping - I could not will myself to go any faster and I could only think of the damage this hill was going to do to me. Then, I heard a wonderful thing. The rhythmic pounding of the taiko drums perked me up like no amount of caffeine could. It was like a rally for the defeated troops of my body. Renewed by adrenaline, I fought up the hill, raising a fist-clenched arm to the drummers as I went by (as they shouted back - which bolstered me further). For just a few minutes, I forgot what ailed me and conquered the hill.
I would carry the fleeting momentum through 17 and 18, but the endless labyrinth of streets could do nothing to maintain that energy. I go through a park forest on the first part of 19 and cross the makeshift plywood bridge that kept us from the flooded muck of the ruined trail.
I slid -slightly- on one of the floorboards and my left calf muscle seized up.
The pain stops my running for a few moments as I walk it off. After a couple minutes the pain gives way to a bit of soreness but I can resume running once again. I hobble through miles 20-22 though I walk through each water stop and put considerable effort into running again.
As I approach the long bike path on 23, the sun fully emerges from a break in the clouds. The air is set on fire and breathing slowly gets more difficult. The aid station announced that 'condition red' is up as I run by (meaning unsafe conditions for running - one step down from calling off the remainder of the race). I knew, however, that I had this last road to finish before I was done. I made it over 22 miles in spite of almost giving up at several places.
This was the point of no return. I needed to finish as long as I was physically capable of doing so.
The last 4 miles was a blur of hazy sun, shouting crowds, and broken racers. It wasn't until I passed a muddy stretch of trail that I realized I was opening into Waterfront Park and was a half mile away from the finish. I tried hard to push with anything I had in the tank and finally made it to the finish. After getting out of the way, I laid down for over 20 minutes to let the pain subside enough to walk.
My disappointment was in the fact that I will likely not be running Boston 2012, as I still have yet to qualify for it. I did succeed in finishing when for the longest time it didn't look like I'd make it. It's my third worst time (behind Hyannis and Sugarloaf 2008) but time was relative on a weekend that was clearly not the time for me to run my best. The best thing for me to do at this point is to focus on the summer ahead and prepare for MDI after that.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Building Momentum
It's good to see that my times are still keeping up with 2010 but there's still a lot of room for improvement. I'm looking forward to making May my turnaround month, both for weight and for mileage.
April 2010
Miles: 154.55
Average per week: 36.1
Races Run: 3
Race Miles: 35.5
April was an obvious big month for me but in the larger scheme of the 2011 running year it's just the middle of the first Marathon gauntlet I set for myself. Combine that with a couple of smaller 5K's, the opening of the Back Cove series 5K, and warmer temps, this should be an even busier month in my running world.
Mother's Day: Sea Dogs 5K
Sunday, May 8, 9AM
Hadlock Field, Portland, ME
Previous Times: 21:30 (2008), 20:23 (2010)
This is my third time running this in the last 4 years (I did not run it in 2009 due to scheduling conflicts with dance). It's a very popular run, and it looks like they may hit the cap of 3,000 runners this year. The course starts on the street outside Hadlock field and the majority of the course goes along Congress Street and down Brighton Avenue.
It's not a significant race for me other than a good gauge of how my 5K times are holding up in the midst of the longer races.
Sugarloaf Vermont Marathon
In another break from the spring marathon tradition, I will not be running Sugarloaf. There are a few reasons for this; the one most concerning to this blog is that I will instead be running a marathon on Memorial Day Weekend - the Vermont City Marathon. There are pros and cons to running this, especially as a final chance to qualify for Boston 2012, but I am excited to take part. Nestled in Burlington - one of the few bastions of civilization in Vermont - the race is very popular and has sold out already. The route does loops around different parts of the city and features a few tough hills (notably mile 15 - the "Assault on Battery" hill) that will make this course a new challenge for me. Though I'm a bit disappointed that I won't be running the marathon that qualified me, I will have a chance to find a new spot to accomplish the same thing. I'll just have to really toe the line between aggression and smart running to get the sub 3:05 that I want to hit this year. Otherwise, it's a long time to wait until April 2013...
Summer Preview
After Vermont is over, I can relax about marathons and take the summer to really put effort into the short and middle distances. June will have a 10-miler, July a Half Marathon, and August will have a 5K or 10K every weekend. The summer will round out with a fifth straight appearance at the Bangor Labor Day 5-miler.
No wonder why I'm stressing importance on having momentum now. I'll need all of it to pull off a good running year.
April 2010
Miles: 154.55
Average per week: 36.1
Races Run: 3
Race Miles: 35.5
April was an obvious big month for me but in the larger scheme of the 2011 running year it's just the middle of the first Marathon gauntlet I set for myself. Combine that with a couple of smaller 5K's, the opening of the Back Cove series 5K, and warmer temps, this should be an even busier month in my running world.
Mother's Day: Sea Dogs 5K
Sunday, May 8, 9AM
Hadlock Field, Portland, ME
Previous Times: 21:30 (2008), 20:23 (2010)
This is my third time running this in the last 4 years (I did not run it in 2009 due to scheduling conflicts with dance). It's a very popular run, and it looks like they may hit the cap of 3,000 runners this year. The course starts on the street outside Hadlock field and the majority of the course goes along Congress Street and down Brighton Avenue.
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| Mother's Day 5K Course Map |
In another break from the spring marathon tradition, I will not be running Sugarloaf. There are a few reasons for this; the one most concerning to this blog is that I will instead be running a marathon on Memorial Day Weekend - the Vermont City Marathon. There are pros and cons to running this, especially as a final chance to qualify for Boston 2012, but I am excited to take part. Nestled in Burlington - one of the few bastions of civilization in Vermont - the race is very popular and has sold out already. The route does loops around different parts of the city and features a few tough hills (notably mile 15 - the "Assault on Battery" hill) that will make this course a new challenge for me. Though I'm a bit disappointed that I won't be running the marathon that qualified me, I will have a chance to find a new spot to accomplish the same thing. I'll just have to really toe the line between aggression and smart running to get the sub 3:05 that I want to hit this year. Otherwise, it's a long time to wait until April 2013...
Summer Preview
After Vermont is over, I can relax about marathons and take the summer to really put effort into the short and middle distances. June will have a 10-miler, July a Half Marathon, and August will have a 5K or 10K every weekend. The summer will round out with a fifth straight appearance at the Bangor Labor Day 5-miler.
No wonder why I'm stressing importance on having momentum now. I'll need all of it to pull off a good running year.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
My First Boston
Planning to get here was expected. The sequence of events to actually get to the race and finish it were anything but.
The Day Before
Going into the Hynes Convention Center and the Boston Marathon Expo was quite the experience. There was a good sense of how popular (and commercial) this race was. I got my bib, a large swag bag, picked up an extra 'qualifier' shirt, and even picked up a free single-serving bottle of the delicious-tasting POM drink. I took a quick stroll through most of the expo though not a lot was going on at that point. I quickly got myself out of the city after leaving the Expo, ate a hearty dinner, and took an easy evening for mental preparation.
The Night Before
My 'delayed' planning and strained winter budget made booking a hotel room in Hopkinton (or Boston) next to impossible, so I decided to stay at my mother's in Eliot, ME and get to the start line first thing in the morning. The night was spent on an air mattress, which was a stress test for my lower and middle back. (In retrospect, the hotel would have been a better option and will be the choice for future Boston 26.2's.) Even aside from the mattress issue, the night was uneasy and was spent tossing and turning a bit. The nerves and excitement had finally set in.
The Morning Approach to Hopkinton
I left Eliot at 7:45, a little later than I had anticipated. It turned out that I had greatly misjudged the time it would take to get to Hopkinton. The entire time during the ride I was worried that I would not be able to get to the start line before the race and I would lose the opportunity to run Boston altogether. Thankfully when I made it to the South St. lot I had arrived just when the last few shuttles were getting ready to take off toward the center of town.
Walk to the Start Line
The increasing commotion and packs of people looming ahead drew me into this trance as I walked through to the center of Hopkinton. All the nerves went away and, crossing the 'runners only' line, replaced by a small feeling of euphoria. I smiled and nodded to a large pack of runners filing in to their corrals ahead. At the summit of the hill past Hopkinton center, I found corral #4 where my assigned bib number (3987) told me I should be.
T-25 minutes
I settled in with the other corralled runners - some nervous, some excited, most focused - and started my own mini ritual. The trance was broken by the announcement of the elite runners approaching. Ryan Hall, Robert Cheruiyot, Geoffrey Mutai...they were all there, in their own zone as the roars of cheers crashed harmlessly against them like water on stone. After the exalted pack assembled in their own area, the droning of the announcer was eventually replaced by the U.S.A. National Anthem, then a throng of mumbles and occasional shouts of encouragement from start line spectators filled the time until the start pistol fired. With very little buildup in the final seconds, the race had started.
First 5K: 21 minutes, 44 seconds
This first stretch felt like an eternity. There was no road ahead; only the great river of runners as far as the road could be seen. Pockets of spectators were cheering and clapping as much as they could as we went by. Many runners were also using the quiet, wooded terrain to take a much-needed pit stop in the opening miles. I had times of 7:10, 6:51, and 6:58 in the opening three miles - a little faster than I wanted. Everything felt comfortable, if but a bit stiff from lack of proper warmup.
10K mark: 43 minutes, 56 seconds
I eased up in this next stretch and found a fairly comfortable pace as the race weaved through the historic towns along the route. The sun was getting higher in the sky and shade was disappearing quickly. It was at this point that I realized sunscreen would have been a good idea if the sun kept up its intensity.
15K mark: 1 hour, 6 minutes, 19 seconds
At this point my legs were loose and everything still felt great. The stretch felt like forever, though, and for some reason everything felt like it blended together at this point. I do remember that there were a lot of children on this stretch and I had probably hit more high-fives here than anywhere else in the race.
Half-Marathon: 1 hour, 34 minutes, 31 seconds
This was an interesting stretch. The "Wellesley Girls" - effectively every female in the college who stayed around on that day - were there at mile 12, lined up on every inch of the road that ran along the campus. Screams, cheers, and signs for kissing requests flooded the area. Even for a mile after leaving the campus area, I could still hear the echo of the crowd back there. It was a bit haunting, but all the cheering brought up some much-needed adrenaline that I carried through the half way point.
25K mark: 1 hour, 53 minutes, 5 seconds
This was a fairly flat stretch but the tough part was that there was practically no shade as the sun's intensity really bore down on me. Around mile 15 or 16, I started using the water stops to douse my head and the back of my neck. The sunburn was already forming but there wasn't much I could do about it. I had ten long miles to endure it. Thankfully, my energy level was higher than Hyannis or Eastern States, and the occasional gusts of tailwind helped bring a much-needed cooling sensation.
30K mark: (approx. 2 hours, 18 minutes)
The flat terrain gradually turned back to the rolling hills that really hit runners hard at this stage. In retrospect, I believe the hill at mile 18 is more challenging than Heartbreak Hill. It was on this hill that I hit the wall. I continued to hold on past this point but the challenge was quickly piling on.
35K mark: 2 hours, 43 minutes, 41 seconds
This was the Heartbreak Hill stretch - It was simultaneously the most grueling and most exciting part of the race. I had hit the 20 mile mark at 2 hours, 28 minutes - ahead of my previous two long-distance races -which instilled me with enough momentum and adrenaline to tackle the great challenge ahead. Throughout the hill were swarms of cheering and encouraging spectators as well as pavement marked all over with various chalk drawings. It was almost magical. I temporarily forgot about my issues at that point and surged to the top of the hill. It was all coasting speed from this point - if I could hold on.
40K mark: 3 hours, 9 minutes, 37 seconds
A lot of this stretch was a downward slope to the harbor with high-rise apartments providing what little shade the route could afford. The crowds steadily thickened past 21 with constant cheering as I approached the 40K mark. The Prudential building was in sight, as was the Citgo sign at the end of this segment. I pushed my burnt, aching body through the streets of Boston as I thought of nothing but crossing under the big blue archway.
Finish mark: 3 hours, 21 minutes, 5 seconds
Somehow I found a way to surge forward. Adrenaline kept my pace maintained as I fought through the last mile and a half. The final turn at the Hynes Convention center marked 26 miles and the finish was, at last, in sight. I don't remember much between that point and after the finish, but I did remember crossing the legendary finish line.
Post Race
My one gripe about the race was after the finish. The extra long walks to each item - medals, blankets, water, Gatorade, bags, and meeting area - got me disoriented to the point where I had to be escorted to a medical tent for a few minutes to lay down and regain my senses. Though I didn't feel too beat up approaching the finish, the dehydration, sunburn, painful legs, and short breath hit me all at once when the adrenaline washed away. I had recovered - as I always do after a Marathon - in short order and I eventually met up with my family.
Post Marathon Thoughts
I was told that this race was a one-of-a-kind experience, and they were right. I loved running it, and I can't wait to get the opportunity to do it again. There will be changes to how I approach it and how to coordinate and prepare, but I want to be there. It is definitely worth qualifying for.
Will I Run this Again?
The short answer: yes, if I qualify again. Since I did not qualify with this race, I have only one more clear shot to make it for next year - in Vermont at the end of May. Beyond that, everything will have to be made in 3 hours, 5 minutes just to qualify. With the tiered registration, I will likely only make it if I qualify by at least ten minutes. So the real question is can I qualify in under 2 hours, 55 minutes?
It's just another challenge that I have accepted. This race, like the other nine before it, is a stepping stone to that goal.
The Day Before
Going into the Hynes Convention Center and the Boston Marathon Expo was quite the experience. There was a good sense of how popular (and commercial) this race was. I got my bib, a large swag bag, picked up an extra 'qualifier' shirt, and even picked up a free single-serving bottle of the delicious-tasting POM drink. I took a quick stroll through most of the expo though not a lot was going on at that point. I quickly got myself out of the city after leaving the Expo, ate a hearty dinner, and took an easy evening for mental preparation.
The Night Before
My 'delayed' planning and strained winter budget made booking a hotel room in Hopkinton (or Boston) next to impossible, so I decided to stay at my mother's in Eliot, ME and get to the start line first thing in the morning. The night was spent on an air mattress, which was a stress test for my lower and middle back. (In retrospect, the hotel would have been a better option and will be the choice for future Boston 26.2's.) Even aside from the mattress issue, the night was uneasy and was spent tossing and turning a bit. The nerves and excitement had finally set in.
The Morning Approach to Hopkinton
I left Eliot at 7:45, a little later than I had anticipated. It turned out that I had greatly misjudged the time it would take to get to Hopkinton. The entire time during the ride I was worried that I would not be able to get to the start line before the race and I would lose the opportunity to run Boston altogether. Thankfully when I made it to the South St. lot I had arrived just when the last few shuttles were getting ready to take off toward the center of town.
Walk to the Start Line
The increasing commotion and packs of people looming ahead drew me into this trance as I walked through to the center of Hopkinton. All the nerves went away and, crossing the 'runners only' line, replaced by a small feeling of euphoria. I smiled and nodded to a large pack of runners filing in to their corrals ahead. At the summit of the hill past Hopkinton center, I found corral #4 where my assigned bib number (3987) told me I should be.
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| The building that my corral was positioned beside. The difference between this picture and the scene on race day was about a thousand people. |
T-25 minutes
I settled in with the other corralled runners - some nervous, some excited, most focused - and started my own mini ritual. The trance was broken by the announcement of the elite runners approaching. Ryan Hall, Robert Cheruiyot, Geoffrey Mutai...they were all there, in their own zone as the roars of cheers crashed harmlessly against them like water on stone. After the exalted pack assembled in their own area, the droning of the announcer was eventually replaced by the U.S.A. National Anthem, then a throng of mumbles and occasional shouts of encouragement from start line spectators filled the time until the start pistol fired. With very little buildup in the final seconds, the race had started.
First 5K: 21 minutes, 44 seconds
This first stretch felt like an eternity. There was no road ahead; only the great river of runners as far as the road could be seen. Pockets of spectators were cheering and clapping as much as they could as we went by. Many runners were also using the quiet, wooded terrain to take a much-needed pit stop in the opening miles. I had times of 7:10, 6:51, and 6:58 in the opening three miles - a little faster than I wanted. Everything felt comfortable, if but a bit stiff from lack of proper warmup.
10K mark: 43 minutes, 56 seconds
I eased up in this next stretch and found a fairly comfortable pace as the race weaved through the historic towns along the route. The sun was getting higher in the sky and shade was disappearing quickly. It was at this point that I realized sunscreen would have been a good idea if the sun kept up its intensity.
15K mark: 1 hour, 6 minutes, 19 seconds
At this point my legs were loose and everything still felt great. The stretch felt like forever, though, and for some reason everything felt like it blended together at this point. I do remember that there were a lot of children on this stretch and I had probably hit more high-fives here than anywhere else in the race.
Half-Marathon: 1 hour, 34 minutes, 31 seconds
This was an interesting stretch. The "Wellesley Girls" - effectively every female in the college who stayed around on that day - were there at mile 12, lined up on every inch of the road that ran along the campus. Screams, cheers, and signs for kissing requests flooded the area. Even for a mile after leaving the campus area, I could still hear the echo of the crowd back there. It was a bit haunting, but all the cheering brought up some much-needed adrenaline that I carried through the half way point.
25K mark: 1 hour, 53 minutes, 5 seconds
This was a fairly flat stretch but the tough part was that there was practically no shade as the sun's intensity really bore down on me. Around mile 15 or 16, I started using the water stops to douse my head and the back of my neck. The sunburn was already forming but there wasn't much I could do about it. I had ten long miles to endure it. Thankfully, my energy level was higher than Hyannis or Eastern States, and the occasional gusts of tailwind helped bring a much-needed cooling sensation.
30K mark: (approx. 2 hours, 18 minutes)
The flat terrain gradually turned back to the rolling hills that really hit runners hard at this stage. In retrospect, I believe the hill at mile 18 is more challenging than Heartbreak Hill. It was on this hill that I hit the wall. I continued to hold on past this point but the challenge was quickly piling on.
35K mark: 2 hours, 43 minutes, 41 seconds
This was the Heartbreak Hill stretch - It was simultaneously the most grueling and most exciting part of the race. I had hit the 20 mile mark at 2 hours, 28 minutes - ahead of my previous two long-distance races -which instilled me with enough momentum and adrenaline to tackle the great challenge ahead. Throughout the hill were swarms of cheering and encouraging spectators as well as pavement marked all over with various chalk drawings. It was almost magical. I temporarily forgot about my issues at that point and surged to the top of the hill. It was all coasting speed from this point - if I could hold on.
40K mark: 3 hours, 9 minutes, 37 seconds
A lot of this stretch was a downward slope to the harbor with high-rise apartments providing what little shade the route could afford. The crowds steadily thickened past 21 with constant cheering as I approached the 40K mark. The Prudential building was in sight, as was the Citgo sign at the end of this segment. I pushed my burnt, aching body through the streets of Boston as I thought of nothing but crossing under the big blue archway.
Finish mark: 3 hours, 21 minutes, 5 seconds
Somehow I found a way to surge forward. Adrenaline kept my pace maintained as I fought through the last mile and a half. The final turn at the Hynes Convention center marked 26 miles and the finish was, at last, in sight. I don't remember much between that point and after the finish, but I did remember crossing the legendary finish line.
Post Race
My one gripe about the race was after the finish. The extra long walks to each item - medals, blankets, water, Gatorade, bags, and meeting area - got me disoriented to the point where I had to be escorted to a medical tent for a few minutes to lay down and regain my senses. Though I didn't feel too beat up approaching the finish, the dehydration, sunburn, painful legs, and short breath hit me all at once when the adrenaline washed away. I had recovered - as I always do after a Marathon - in short order and I eventually met up with my family.
Post Marathon Thoughts
I was told that this race was a one-of-a-kind experience, and they were right. I loved running it, and I can't wait to get the opportunity to do it again. There will be changes to how I approach it and how to coordinate and prepare, but I want to be there. It is definitely worth qualifying for.
Will I Run this Again?
The short answer: yes, if I qualify again. Since I did not qualify with this race, I have only one more clear shot to make it for next year - in Vermont at the end of May. Beyond that, everything will have to be made in 3 hours, 5 minutes just to qualify. With the tiered registration, I will likely only make it if I qualify by at least ten minutes. So the real question is can I qualify in under 2 hours, 55 minutes?
It's just another challenge that I have accepted. This race, like the other nine before it, is a stepping stone to that goal.
 |
| Wearing a medal with this logo is a feeling like no other. |
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