Recap: 2015 Boston Marathon

 

Two down, one to go.  For some reason that I haven't quite nailed down I decided last year that I needed 3 Boston Marathon medals; one for each son.  About 5 miles into this one I was starting to think that Sam might have to settle for a store bought t-shirt.  Now I'm already looking forward to going back in 2016 and going back healthy and focused. 

This was another great experience but I am admittedly tired and worn down.  I never fully recovered from the Palmetto relay and resuming my marathon training without time off led to some really uncomfortable runs.  A number of my longer runs were cut short and my last 4 weeks of training were pretty much a disaster.  I might have averaged 20 miles a week before completely shutting it down with two weeks to go.  Bill Johncock and his staff were amazing with their treatment as well as talking some much needed sense into me regarding expectations.  

I'm a firm believer in planning a race and sticking to the plan so I felt like running 3:30 was more than respectable and was a pace that I could handle without risking further injury or just being flat out miserable out there.  Once the weather forecast started going south I was one of the few that wasn't glued to the weather channel so it was nice to be able to shrug off the nasty front coming in.  I flew out of Charlotte Saturday morning and ran into a fellow Boston runner on the shuttle to the airport.  Oddly enough I recognized him from running the Charity Chase Half Marathon last June where he ran 1:25 and I finished about a minute later.  We chatted it up for a bit and he was in sub 3 marathon shape and would go on to nail it at Boston running 2:57.  That would be my first of many conversations I would have with runners that either were coming off a great training cycle and looking for a PR or that were banged up and just treating Boston as a victory lap.


Being the creature of habit that I am my pre-race day schedule is generally very predictable.  I like to have a fairly large late lunch where I get my carbs and have something familiar.  For dinner it's usually something a little lighter and traditionally something along the lines of a Turkey sandwich from Subway.  Again something my body is used to eating and digesting.  But not this year, oh no. The Red Sox game started at 1:30 so my lunch consisted of a pretzel, a slice of pizza (my first in 6 months or so), and some strawberry shortcake all around 3:00.  After the game I did some shopping and committed the ultimate marathon faux pas and bought a new singlet, and yes, I ran in it.  I mean really - at this point I hadn't run in 3 weeks and had eaten like crap for two days.  It was supposed to be cold, rainy, and windy.  Like wearing a new singlet was really going to matter.  And I topped that off with dinner about 9:00 that night having a pressed chicken panini with some goat cheese and red peppers at the hotel.

Race day came bright and early Monday morning and I was having my traditional pre-race meal of a bagel with peanut butter, a Diet Pepsi, and of course I made sure I was getting enough water to stay hydrated during the race.  The hotel shuttle came about 6:15 and dropped us off at Boston Common to catch the BAA buses to Hopkinton.  I made a game time decision to take my phone and hope that I could get some pictures of the 'Boston experience' but the constant rain made that a little difficult.

Loading the buses at Boston Common

The bus ride to Hopkinton is always fun.  Basically a convoy of school buses down the interstate to the athletes village which is a local middle school.  Unlike last year when the weather was perfect this year it was a hot mess.  Initially it was just cloudy with a temperature in the low 40's which was actually perfect for running and the wind wasn't really a factor.  At least not yet.  That all changed about 8:30 when we started to get a steady rain.  Runners were all huddled underneath one of two tents shoulder to shoulder which was pretty cool at first but an hour of sitting with crossed legs before a marathon is not something I recommend if you can avoid it.  Things really started to get hairy when the Wave 2 runners showed up prior to the Wave 1 runners heading to the start.  I had a good spot near some nice folks but soon enough it was time for us to make our way to the start.

Trying to stay dry in the athletes village 

Last chance for the porta potty before the start

I made it down for the national anthem, heard the elites being announced, and settled in at the back of Wave 1.  After a 5 minute shuffle to the start I finally had started my 26.2 journey on the hallowed grounds of the Boston Marathon.  My first 5K split was similar to last year, an easy 7:50 pace that actually felt easy and considering that was my longest run in 10 days or so it was nice to at least get past the first split.  Feeling pretty good about things and running downhill I picked up the pace a bit and ran the second 5K closer to a 7:25 pace.  That felt alright but I could tell that I was running very timidly with a wonky stride that just didn't feel natural.  The rain was coming down hard which was making it feel colder than it really was but I pushed through the first 15K with just under a 7:40 pace and decided to back off a little bit.
Miles 10 and 11 run through Natick Center where the crowds are large and they are loud.  I was actually very surprised that the weather didn't affect the spectator turn out but I really didn't notice any drop in crowd support from the beautiful day in 2014 to the less than spectacular day in 2015.  I decided to stop and cross the ropes for a potty break and to regroup a bit as we moved through town.  My wet socks were all over my foot and in between my toes so they were driving me crazy.  I watched from the porta-pot as my pace dropped but from then on any pressure related to pace was off the table.  Before getting back on course I asked a nice couple if there was a shorter route to the finish and the guy suggested that maybe I should run faster.  Not exactly the response I was looking for but he might have been on to something.

A quick selfie at Wellesley College

Miles 12 to 13 begin with a nice descent into the town of Wellesley that leads to the College  Everything you read about hearing the girls before you see them is true - they are loud and their signs are clever so I stopped for a quick selfie and started preparing for the Newton Hills.  Normally I break a marathon into three parts; the first 10 miles, the second 10 miles, and the final 10K but mentally this was a little different.  There were a few times early on when I would feel something strange and think to myself, here comes the pain, and honestly the whole DNF scenario crossed my mind more than once early on.  All along my target was mile 16 - if I could just get to the base of the Newton Hills I knew I would figure out a way to get up them.  And once I got through Newton it was all downhill to the finish so even a worst case scenario of walking it in was doable from there.

Heading into Newton I was feeling fresh but not fast.  I wasn't laboring which was nice but my legs just weren't turning over.  I expected that, I just didn't like it.  Mentally I had moved on from the DNF thing and starting to settle into more of a normal stride.  Fortunately the wind hadn't been much of an issue through 16 but on the day we probably only got in 5 or 6 rain-free miles.  I knew my Newton running friends (the shoe guys) were somewhere around mile 16 / 17 so I just looked for them and made my way through the hills.  They were kind enough to give me a hat at the expo in exchange for wearing it in the race so I wanted to make sure they knew I made good on my end.  Eventually I crested Heartbreak Hill and it was pretty uneventful because actually I don't even remember it.  There were some quality runners starting to wave the white flag and those that got out too fast were starting to transition into that death march towards the finish.  And of course there were some front runners from Wave 2 that were starting to cruise through at a nice clip.  I was still having fun with the crowds and their signs so now that the hard part was over I was just ready to finish and get warm.

Once you pass mile 21 the hills are behind you and you can sense that feeling of closing in on the city.  Physically and mentally this is the best I had felt all day and I was finally able to let go of my apprehension and just run.  My paces began to drop steadily from mile 22 through 26.2 and I crossed the finish line feeling great with a lot more bounce in my step than any other marathon I've ever run.  I was curious as to who won so I asked a local reporter and she wasn't sure but she was able to confirm that it was not me.  She proceeded to interview me for a bit about the day and the conditions which was pretty cool and fortunately she was able to edit my ramble to a short couple seconds of non-idiotic ramble.

I had finally earned the right to wear the purple finisher jacket but I still wasn't feeling very runner-like.  I was soaking wet, couldn't feel my hands, and shivering uncontrollable so I made my way to the T and headed back to the hotel.  After ditching the wet clothes I went straight to the hotel restaurant to eat then took a short cat nap before a non-eventful nightcap of watching basketball and eating fried calamari.

Now that I'm back I've gone through a range of emotions with the big two being relief and appreciation.  I'm relieved it's over and looking forward to getting some rest.  I said that after the Richmond Marathon but didn't really stick to it so I paid the price and still am.  I also have a much deeper appreciation for being healthy and the level of commitment it takes to continue improving as a runner - especially as an older runner.  As someone who is notorious for not stretching and not drinking water I realize that I'm probably going to have to change that if I want to continue running into my late 40's and 50's - and I definitely do!  At the end of the day I did what I set out to do; 1) I finished, 2) my 3:27 was slightly better than the 3:30 target, and 3) most importantly I feel good.  I'm going to take a couple of weeks off then ease back into running with a couple of very easy weeks.  I've got my sights on an October half-marathon where I hope to return to form and roll that into training for Boston in 2016.    


Mentally and physically the past 8 or 9 months have been really challenging.  Through it all though I have experienced firsthand the genuine respect and support the running community has for one another.  My family and friends have been amazingly supportive as well providing the perfect balance of encouragement combined with the occasional shut-up-and-stop-feeling-sorry-for-yourself.  That message really hit home as I saw runners competing in Boston while overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles including autism, blindness, and running with prosthetics.  One athlete was competing as an amputee without a prosthetic leg effectively covering 26.2 on one leg, crutches, and no guide assistance.  That takes a courage that most of us can't fathom and really underscores just how blessed that we are.  The last runner to complete Boston crossed the finish line 20 hours after starting and suffers from a rare muscular condition that makes even walking difficult.  These are the real athletes enduring real pain and sacrifice which really puts our 'bad days' in perspective.

For those of you planning to run Boston that haven't already below are a few tips that you might find helpful when your big day comes.

1.  Book your room early.  I've booked through Marathon Tours for the past two years with much success.  Boston registration is in September so even if you're registering the last week and fear missing the 'cut' the cancellation fee is nominal so it's worth booking before you get official confirmation.  Unless you're just really superstitious...   http://www.marathontours.com/ 

2.  Get familiar with the T (Boston's public transportation system)  You can catch the T at Logan airport and pretty much take it anywhere in the greater Boston area and beyond.  It won't take you all the way to the start in Hopkinton but unless you're staying near the start there's really no reason to go that far.  There are T stops everywhere which is convenient and despite the hassle of constantly trying to figure out where to get on and off (if you plan to explore the city) you're much better off on the train than trying to drive and park in this mess

3.  Buy the official finisher's jacket, especially if it's your first Boston.  The color scheme changes every year so even if you hate it, buy it.  I wasn't planning on buying my first one but my dad made me and I'm glad he did.  It's not cheap ($110) but wearing it to and from the airport will make you feel like a rockstar.  Plus when you get to Boston you'll see them everywhere.  Before the race you'll see a lot of prior year jackets as most runners won't break out the current year until they actually finish the race.  There will be plenty of first time runners wearing the current year jackets on the way in so you earned the right to wear it if you want.  Unless you're just really superstitious...

4.  Take the BAA transportation to the start.  No matter where you're staying (unless you can walk to the start) figure out a way to get to the T and take it to the bus pick-up at Boston Common.  Getting on the school buses with runners you've never met and taking the convoy to the start is part of the experience.  You'll travel 20 miles of interstate with cars of well-wishers passing by and you know you won't be late.  Drive to the start if you must but be prepared for road closures and re-routed traffic so leave yourself plenty of time.  Some hotels are within walking distance of Boston Common and several hotels offer complimentary shuttles to the bus loading area.

5.  Be prepared for downtime once you get to the Athletes Village.  Bus loading begins at 6:00am for Wave 1 runners and the race doesn't even start until 10:00am.  New England weather in April is all over the board but be prepared for a chilly morning.  Dress warmly, wear throw-aways, and know that everybody looks like an orphan when they show up so it's all good.  Even if you're in the later waves it's going to be chilly and you'll be at the athletes village (a middle school) for at least an hour - maybe even two depending on when you get there. 

6.  Don't start too fast.  No really, do not start too fast.  Adrenaline is off the charts and the start is downhill so it will feel like you're walking.  If you're lucky the sheer volume of people will hold you back but if you burn out on the downhill start it's going to be a long day coming through Newton.

7.  If you have family going to watch make sure you know where they are going to be on the course.  There are some areas on the course that are better to watch from than others and easily accessible from the T.  Once they get there they should plan on staying there because hopping on the T and trying to catch you at multiple places on the course is probably a bad idea.  My advice is to find a spot somewhere along the Newton Hills (miles 16-21) or closer to the finish.  Also discuss which side of the road you're going to be on.  If you're running on the right and your family is on the left there's a good chance you're going to miss them.  Remember, 30K runners and 1M spectators along the course.  If you have no idea where your people are good luck finding them.

8.  You aren't winning or making it to the podium so give high fives and play up to the crowd.  Sure it takes a bit of extra energy but it's Boston and the vast majority of those cheering you on would give anything to be running along side you.  Take the time to thank them for coming out - especially the kids.  You might never again compete in front of a million spectators again so take advantage of it. 

9.  The Newton Hills aren't that bad.  Unless you run in a pancake flat state the hills aren't worth stressing over.  If you just want to obsess over hills obsess over the downhills.  The first 15 miles are mostly downhill so Newton actually provides a bit of relief and works some different muscles.  The real challenge is the downhill finish from 21 to 26 so that's what you need to be ready for.

10.  You can see the Citgo sign from forever away.  You'll hear and read that once you see the Citgo sign the finish is right around the corner.  That's sort of true but hold off on the Chariots of Fire sprint to the finish from here.  You actually catch a glimpse of the sign closer to 2 miles out and there's still some work to do.  Then you'll get a good view of it when you're about a mile out.  You'll know you're getting close because the decibel level goes up a few notches but once you take a right on Hereford Street get ready to soak it in because you're about to take the left on Boylston to the finish.

11.  Be humble.  Be gracious.  Be thankful.  These are the best runners in the world so appreciate the opportunity to run with them.  If you want to race, race yourself.  Don't even waste your energy sizing up runners based on their size, shape, age, or shoes.  Just assume everybody is fast.  For perspective a 3:30 marathon would have been put you in the top 10% of the field in the 2014 Chicago Marathon.  That same 3:30 would have only gotten you in the top 35% of Boston this year.  Be gracious to the host city and the residents.  They genuinely appreciate you running and often will thank and congratulate you throughout the weekend.  Thank the volunteers, the policemen, and the first responders.  They spend more time on their feet than you do and brave the same elements you are and they don't get a medal when it's over.  And thank everyone that helped you get this far because nobody does it alone.

12.  Have fun.  The best advice that I ever got was that "you only get one first Boston."  Plan your race, race your plan, and don't regret anything because you'll never be in that moment again.


Below are a few pictures from the course in no particular order.