Really solid week for me. Volume back up. First marathon specific workout went really well and faster workout felt pretty solid.
I think I have some goals for Vermont City weather pending. C) 2:38, B) 2:36, A) 2:34
M - 14 @ 6:15 avg. as 5k up + 8x1k on/off. Ran 3:33/3:34/3:28/3:29/3:27/3:26/3:22 and averaged 3:52 on the off portions.
T - 10 @ 8:04
W- 10 @ 6:57
Th - 22.4 @ 6:22 overall as 13k up + 3x5k @ M w/ 1k in-between (first and last 1k @ 90% marathon pace and middle one as a surge) + 5k down. Splits on the workout portion were 18:17/3:55/18:11/3:22/17:51/3:53. This felt pretty moderate so was very pleased with the splits.
Fr - 10 @ 7:57
Sa - 11.5 @ 7:13
Su - 10 @ 6:57
Total - 88
Good luck to everyone racing Boston tomorrow! I can't wait to see all the race reports.
Male, 32, 5’8”, 150 lbs.
PRs: 2:14, 4:51, 17:17, 36:17, 1:19:48
Upcoming races: Rochester Mile on 5/21, road mile on 5/27, 800s in June/July
M - 5.4 @ 8:17 with 8 strides / 4.3 @ 8:30
T - 2.0 up, 10 x 200 (35, 38, 35, 35, 35, 36, 34, 34, 35, 33) with 200 jog, 3.8 down
W - 4.3 @ 8:29, 4 strides, 8 x 40 m hill sprints with full recovery, plyos, 5 x 10 single-leg squats on each leg with a 10 lb. weight
Th - 2.2 up, 12 x 200 (36, 38, 35, 36, 36, 35, 36, 35, 36, 36, 35, 34) with 200 jog, 2.2 down
F - 5.0 @ 8:19, 4 x 12 pull-ups
Sa - 4.9 @ 8:14
Su - 11.2 @ 7:43 with 8 strides, 4 x 25 push-ups
Weekly Total: 51 miles
YTD Total: 753 miles
This week kicked off my 800 training cycle. I'm basically following Daniels's 800 plan, with some additional sprint work based on the 5x60m thread. I also added some plyometric exercises to my usual strength routine. Wednesday's extra sprint+plyo stimuli left my legs feeling sore for a few days, but I expect they will get used to it after another week or two.
Going to live vicariously through everyone racing Boston tomorrow.
Happy Easter / Passover to all who celebrate.
M36, 5’10”, low 160s
Upcoming
10k - 5/15
Road bests | 2022
5k - 15:20 (2006) | 16:14 (CB split)
10k - 31:15 (2008) | 32:51 (CB split)
10M - 51:52 (2009) | 53:41 (C Blossom)
Half - 1:09:01 (2009) | 1:12:07 (RnR DC)
Full - 2:25:14 (2019) | ∅
Another recovery week to get everything back in working order after the two races. Should get back to the track in a few days.
Mo: 8 @ 7:23
Tu: 8 @ 7:14
We: 8 @ 7:16
Th: 8 @ 6:40
Fr: 8 @ 6:47
Sa: 8 @ 6:58
Su: 8 @ 5:38*
Total: 56 miles
*Splits 5:51, 5:46, 5:39, 5:37, 5:36, 5:32, 5:32, 5:31
M53, 5’6”, 125
Best of success to our Patriots’ Day racers and Happy Easter…
M: 9.25 at 6:51 overall, finishing 6:45, 6:44, 6:36, 6:26.8, 1:37.3
T: off
W: 9.25 at 6:51 overall…6:49, 6:59, 6:46, 6:44, 6:43, 6:40, 6:35.3, 1:41.6 in last 7.25…hot day
T: off
F: 10.25 at 6:41 overall…6:52, 6:54, 6:40, 6:34, 6:29, 6:27, 6:21.0, 6:16.3, 1:34.2 in last 8.25…felt great
Sat.: off
Sun.: 6.5 at 6:33 overall…full progression…7:07, 6:49, 6:47, 6:33.6, 6:16.8, 6:08.3, 2:55.8…felt good
35 miles
Picked up another VO2 point after this morning’s run…
Happy Easter/Passover to anyone who is celebrating either of those!
Male, 28, 6'2", 196
PRs: 800m: 1:56 (2011), mile: 4:21 (2011), 3k: 8:49 (2012), 5k: 16:45 (XC, 2013)
Short term goals: Lose weight, strengthen the joints, avoid injury, build up mileage, have fun
Long term goals: sub-3:00 marathon
Upcoming races: Wells 2 Kennebunk Beach 10 miler (5/22), Luv 2 Run Portland 5k (6/12), On The Run Half Marathon (9/24); will almost certainly run more than this (I love racing), but I haven't signed up for any others yet
Week of 4/11/22 – 4/17/22
Monday: 2 (8:20) + lift
Tuesday: 6.5 (8:40) w/ 5 x 1’ on 2’ off at 15 min in
Wednesday: XT on rower, easy lift
Thursday: 6.5 (8:33) w/ 5 x 1’ on/2’ off at 15 min in
Friday: Off
Saturday: 3.07 (8:05)
Sunday: 10.44 (7:20)
Weekly mileage: 28.51 miles
An interesting note: my weight hasn’t changed at all over the last 6 weeks or so, even though I look much thinner. I’m getting noticeably fitter even just week to week, so I’m not concerned about it at all—just surprised by how steady it’s been.
Second 10 mile LR felt good! I start doing some threshold workouts this next week—we’ll see how my body reacts to that. This weekend marks the end of the Jack Daniels “White Training Plan” for me and the beginning of the “Red Training Plan.” The White Plan was what I needed because I kept getting injured trying to come back too quickly. Some of the runs were so simple that I felt like an idiot doing them, but here I am 4 months later uninjured and able to run! This summer is a bonus summer for me because I was supposed to donate my liver to my mom in the coming weeks, but she actually got a surprise transplant a couple of days ago! (She’s doing better now btw) There are a lot of reasons to be appreciative that I am healthy and am able to just go out for a run.
Have a good week everybody!
Good week for me, rain & weather made us miss the tuesday work out. So didn't feel as sharp as I am used to feeling, need more stuff at 62-64 second pace. Most workouts have been around 68-69 average.
Mon - 6 Miles @ 7:15
Tues - off
Wed - 5 Miles @ 7:47
Thurs - 4 Miles @ 7:28 + 4 x 150 @ 22
Fri - 2.5 WU/CD, 1500m race in 4:07
Sat - 3.25 WU/CD, 800m race in 1:57
Sun - 10 Miles @ 7:12 avg
Miles: 33
Race Recap:
1500m race - 4:07 (67-68-67-44)
Didn't want to lead, ended up in the lead off the gun and nobody else would take it. Locked into 67/68 to go through 800 in 2:15 and 1200 in 3:22. Won heat by 2 seconds and placed 4th overall. Last 800 was 2:08 so closed pretty well. 7 second PR & pretty happy.
800m race - 1:57 (27.5-29.8-30.1-30.4)
Went well, was in dead last for the first 500m and then ended up closing home for 5th in the heat. Top 3 were all 1:52 so it was a race within the race for the rest of us. Lungs felt great, legs just couldn't move at that speed comfortably haha.
Steeple next week lets gooooo and then 1500/800 double the week after that again!
M62, 5'11", 178 lbs
Age 23: 16:05, 2:40:30
Age 43: 17:10, 2:56:03
Age 58: 18:58, 3:07:26
RACE CALENDAR
May 7: Half Marathon
May 29: Marathon
APRIL 11-17, 2022
M - Off
Tu- 4.0 miles (9:11, 9:09, 8:16, 7:03)
W - Off
Th- 12.2 miles @ 8:33 avg (9:06 > 7:47)
Fr-- Off
Sa- Off
Su- 12.2 miles @ 8:43 avg (9:38 > 7:08)
TOTAL: 28.4 MILES
Lethargic today. Maybe it was the big pancake breakfast (and Easter candy) right before the 12 miles.
Looking to schedule a long run late this coming week, allowing two weeks recovery before the HM. Then one last long run a week after that.
Then two weeks recovery, and the marathon. I'd like three weeks, but this seems to be the only way to get two more long runs (22 and 18).
Run well.
Good luck Boston runners! ThoughtsLeader- I'm very sorry about the DNS - that truly sucks.
RRR - sorry I wasn't there - I decided three 5K races in four weeks was too much, especially when the off week was getting my back injected.
***
Female, 47, 5'4", 109
PRs 5:25/18:51/38:56/1:02:28/1:24:08/2:57:42
Upcoming race entries:
Broad Street 10 Miler (5/1), Garry Bjorklund Half (6/18)
My week:
60 miles running, 3 hours pool-running, and ~1500 meters swimming.
M: 90 minutes pool-running and upper body weights/core.
T: 12 miles, including a track workout of 6x800 in 3:24, 3:17, 3:14, 3:12, 3:14, 3:13. Recoveries were 1 lap jogged in between 2:2x and 2:4x.. Followed with leg strengthwork and 500 yards recovery swimming.
W: Streaming yoga and 11 miles easy (9:41) plus drills and strides.
Th: 90 minutes pool-running and streaming yoga.
F: 11 miles, including a four mile tempo on the roads in 27:46 (7:05/7:01/6:55/6:45). Followed with leg strengthwork and 500 meters recovery swimming.
Sa: 11 miles very easy (9:33) and upper body weights/core.
Su: 14 miles progressive, split as the first 5 miles averaging 9:49, next 4 averaging 8:17, and next 5 averaging 7:24 (and then a cooldown to make it 15 total). Followed with leg strength work and 500 meters recovery swimming.
Male, 32, 6'1", 166
Very solid week for me. Got in two good workouts and a decent long run. Might be racing a track 5K this Wednesday (haven't got confirmation from the race director yet) or otherwise hopefully this Saturday.
mon - 8 easy + strides. Beautiful weather that unfortunately wouldn't last :(
tues - 3x2 mile tempo. 5:40 pace or under for all of it which I was very happy with. 90 seconds rest between reps. Legs felt good.
weds - 6.5 easy
thurs - 13 mile easy-ish long run. This was supposed to be a track workout but the weather was absolutely atrocious so I swapped in the long run. 20+ mph sustained winds with intermittent sleet. Somewhat miserable but got it done.
fri - 6 easy
sat - off
sun - Long awaited track workout! 4x800 w/ 2:00 rest - 2:36, 2:33, 2:33, 2:32 // 4x600 w/ 2:00 rest - 1:52, 1:52, 1:53, 1:53 // 4x400 w/ 1:30 rest - 73, 73, 72, 71. Felt pretty relaxed through the whole thing and was really happy to hit goal 5K pace or faster for everything. Very encouraging session.
total - 51
YTD - 752
Best of luck to all the Boston racers and happy training everyone!
Male, 27, 5’8”, 135 lbs
PRs: 17:11 5k (2015), 28:31 8k XC (2015), 36:11 10k (2018), 59:23 10M (2018), 1:18:47 HM (2021)
Spring Race Schedule:
4/2: Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon (Lexington, KY) – 1:22:20 (2nd OA)
4/30: Capital City Half Marathon (Columbus, OH)
Training went well for me this week, although structure of the week was a bit unconventional, as I ended up doing my workouts on Friday and Sunday. Life just got in the way on Thursday. Is what it is, definitely impacted Sunday’s workout in terms of paces I was able to hit, but effort level was appropriate. Officially in taper mode for Cap City, volume will stay relatively high this week but will be cutting back on quality.
M: 10 EZ
T: 10 EZ
W: 10 EZ
Th: Off
F: 12 total, 2 up, 4 x 2 mile (2 min rest), 2 down. First time doing this classic HM predictor workout. Executed really well, averaged 5:56 pace for the workout, with all miles between 5:54 – 5:59. Finished still feeling fresh, definitely could have done at least one more rep at pace.
Sa: 10 EZ
Su: 16 mile long run, 2 up, 5 x mile float (7:02 average), mile faster (6:03 average). As mentioned above, doing this 48 hours after 4 x 2 mile wasn’t ideal. Would have liked to hit faster paces, but the effort level was appropriate for where I was at, so I will take it.
Total: 68 miles
It’s too quiet here. Any results?
Thanks darkwave. Did finally test negative today and feeling good. Gonna come up with a plan based on how the next 2 weeks go, but encouraged by how I feel physically! Serious FOMO today, seeing some huge PBs from the women I know running, tougher times for the men, but that might just be coincidence. Hope everyone the thread went well and excited to hear about it.
Male, 28, 6’4”, 148 lbs
PRs: 4:54 Mile, 16:56 5k
Races - 4/21 gravel 5k, 4/30 road 5k
Mn - AM: 2450yd swim, 8 @ 7:05s
Tu - 4x2k @ 5:57s + WU/WD = 10.25
Wd - 9 @ 7:15s
Th - AM: 4 @ 7:20s, 2600yd swim, PM: 5.25 @ 7:55s
Fr - 8 @ 7:25s
Sa - 5 @ 8:00s
Su - 5 @ 10:30s with father
Total Run - 55 mi
Swim - 5050 yd
General - Would like to be running ~70mpw but struggling over the weekends
I'm surprised to see that others have not posted their race results.
I'll share mine even though I have not participated in the thread in quite some time.
54M, 5'8", 138lbs
Official Time 3:07:10, Pace 7:09
With the exception of a headwind, the weather was quite favorable for a marathon. I think it may have been around 40°F at the start and ~50°F at the finish with low humidity. The tailwind at the end never materialized and instead it was a headwind the whole way.
Abbreviated race report
I started in the back of my assigned corral which was I guess mainly ~3:15:00 runners. I went into this without a specific time goal and not exactly knowing what shape I was in so it was mostly a race by feel that was balanced against checking my HR. I wanted to take it relatively easy at the start so that I would have something in the tank by the time I got to the hills in Newton.
First two miles were slow due to being mixed in with the slower runners. The next two mile went a little fast as I realized was the previous two miles under pace and at a low HR. After the first 4 miles I managed to settle in. I got to the halfway point in 1:31:40. I think it was somewhere between the halfway point and the Newton hills is when I noticed that things had thinned out. I think this is where the faster runners from wave 2 left the bulk of the Wave 2 runners behind. This made navigating the hydration stations much easier. That and I learned some lessons from the last time I ran Boston. While I still made this a positive split by 5:00, this was a lot more even effort than my previous Boston. Overall this time was much more enjoyable (if you can consider running a marathon enjoyable) than my last time at Boston.
Just for comparison sake, in 2019 I was trained up for a PR and hoping to get close to 2:55. Race day comes and the weather is warm and humid due to all the rain that morning. I did not adjust my plans to accommodate the warmer conditions and began the race at that ambitious pace. By the time I got to the Newton hills I was miserable and had some mild stomach upset. I still finished with a barely sub 3 time of 2:59:36. This year my training did not come together until around 5 weeks out from race day. Needless to say that I was not in PR shape (forget the fact that I am also 3 years older and in my 50's) so I had no ambitious goals. My best estimate going into this year's Boston was that I was 20s per mile slower than my PR conditioning. With that in mind my estimated completion time for my family that were spectating the race was 3:05 - 3:15. I really wish I had been able to train for a good time because this was really great weather for the Boston Marathon. Since I was not trained to capitalize on the weather I decided to go for an even effort that I knew that I could sustain given my current level of training. Overall a decent time compared to my friends that also ran Boston so no regrets. Actually none of them came close to beating my time. The real shame is that I did not see the ones that I passed on the course.
Male, 26, 5’9", 131lbs
PRs: Half Marathon: 1:17:53 (2021), Marathon: 2:47:57 (2021)
Next Races: Boston Marathon 2022
Future Goals: Sub 1:16 HM, Sub 2:40 Marathon, Sub 17:30 5k
Race Recaps will be written later but the result was 2:45:27 with a negative split at Boston.
I'll defer all the @$$ kicking that day to beers.
F45
2022 races: Cherry Blossom 10mile (1:17); Boston Marathon (3:47)
I haven't posted in a few weeks. I was tired of thinking about running and didn't want to write about it, because I was just tired of running, to be honest. I had thought several times about quitting on the spring races but stuck it out despite the struggle to feel good through workouts and the uncooperative weather that made doing important workouts difficult/impossible (and the evaporation of mental toughness that resulted from all of that). I stuck it out because I wanted to run at Boston one more time and didn't want to put it off to another year; basically wanted to "get it over with". Which perhaps isn't the best mindset to have, but that's where I was.
I ran the Cherry Blossom race in a personal worst by several minutes but the funny thing was, it seemed to flip a switch. I had been feeling pretty terrible running most of the winter. I never felt like myself, which is a large part of why I struggled so much, especially mentally. But after the Cherry Blossom race, the very next run, and then the run after, and every run following for the last two weeks, I felt ... free again. Like myself. I felt good, because after so long feeling awful, I felt normal. I don't know why, all of a sudden, but it was wonderful. I regretted that it was too late to reap any real training benefits for Boston, but the emotional value was great. Instead of dreading Boston, I was looking finally looking forward to it. I knew going in that my fitness wasn't anywhere near my best, but I accepted that I would run what I could and know that I didn't leave anything out there, and be OK with whatever that was. It's taken a couple days to be OK with it, but I'm there.
I've never had a good experience at Boston. In the 4 prior tries. My first Boston was the super-hot 2012 and was the worst experience of my life. The other three were bad in their own ways (including a DNF in 2014), so I was just hoping for one day that I could say wasn't miserable. The weather Monday was favorable, so I can't blame anything on that, and except for my inability to run as fast as I wish I could, I finally had a non-miserable experience. (Mostly -- Was it just me or was the bus situation the worst it's ever been? I was in Wave 3, not 2, this year so maybe it wasn't this bad for the earlier waves, but I stood in line for an hour just to get on a bus and that has NEVER happened before, not even close. I had zero wait in the athlete's village, and was still in line for a portapotty when my wave was starting. I ended up toward the back of the wave when I should have been up in corral 3. It couldn't be helped.)
I finished in 3:47, which is by quite a bit my worst marathon time not driven by extreme circumstances. I admit that I'm not really happy about it. But the day came down to my fitness, and that was all on me, and as I said, I have accepted that. The course is unforgiving and if you're not fit, you're going to pay the price in a way you might not on an easier route. I was feeling OK through the first half, just trying to run comfortably (but not "easy", because, well, even if I wasn't going to be setting any PRs, this is still a race, right?), but then miles 15-22 happened and dragged me down. I didn't feel that great for a big chunk of the race, but my head still felt positive and I kept running. My goal was always to finish respectably, and ... well, I finished. Not as respectably as I had hoped, but I made it running.
This was probably my last Boston. It's too much for me anymore; the winter training, the logistics, the too-many people, the expense. I will leave the spot I could take in the future to someone else to experience. I'm just happy that this time, I leave Boston not feeling like I still have something there to prove to myself. I've run a couple decent times there. I've overcome its challenges. I've had a good experience at last. I'm leaving it on good terms.
I'm going to take a couple weeks away from running to recover physically and to refresh mentally for the summer. I'm not going to plan anything for the fall yet. I'm just going to take the free feeling of normal I've experienced running since the Cherry Blossom race and enjoy it for a while.
Thanks for reading. I haven't been posting, but I've still been following all of you and sending my good thoughts when you've needed them for your races :-)
Male, 29, 6'0", 125 lbs.
PRs: 3K: 8:40.12 (2022) 5K: 15:18 (indoors) (2021), 8K: 25:16 (2021), Half Marathon: 69:22 (2022), Marathon: 2:28:23 (2022)
Goals: Recover Post Boston
M: Off
T: 10 miles @ 6:52 avg
W: 3 up (6:53, 6:52, 6:39), 20 minute uptempo (5:35, 5:34, 5:36) 1 mile jog (6:25), 4 x 1 minute fast/1 minute easy (4:47, 4:44, 4:55, 4:53), 5K cooldown
TH: 8 miles @ 7:04 avg
F: 3 miles easy (6:56, 6:49, 6:40), 2 miles @ MP (5:38, 5:36), 1 mile cooldown
S: 16 miles @ 6:47 avg, 8 easy, 5 @ MP, 3 down
Sunday: 2.39 miles @ 9:07 average
Total: 46.58 miles
Oh, and Boston recap! Here ya go.
Boston Marathon, 93rd overall, 2:28:23, First half: 75:11 Second Half 73:12
Recap copied from Reddit:
Pre-Race
I woke up at 4:45 race morning and made my way out to the subway to take the bus. I had put out a post on multiple platforms for anyone looking to try to break 2:30 with the strategy I was given. The night before coach and I had a back and forth about race strategy. He wanted me at 5:45-5:50 for the first 10 miles and then find a comfortable 5:40-5:45 pace over the next 10 before ripping the last 10K. I originally came in with the idea to knock out 5:40’s through 10 and then move but we settled on the 5:45’s and the dip until 5:40’s after 10 if things were going well. I made my way to the first couple of buses for bag drop off and met up with two buddies I had been talking about this strategy with. With the buses tending to be a bit of a crapshoot we felt it was best to find each other first and then head on the busses to athletes village together to prevent any unnecessary issues.
We made our way to the busses and we were off to athletes village. As we entered the town I thought to myself that we were going a weird direction that I don’t remember heading to in 2019. The busses dropped us off and I could hear a bit of commotion happening between the volunteers and the bus drivers. Turns out they had dropped us off in the area just before the start instead of athletes village where they were supposed to be. Basically we were in a spot that could only be accessed after they opened up corrals almost an hour later. So that meant easy access to portapottys and water and saved us about a half a mile of walking to the start. We sat on a curb and relaxed until it was time for us to warm up. In that time we picked up another person to join us in our group. Here’s the kicker though, 2 of our 4 guys were in corral 2. Our goal was to try and sneak them through with us and then we could start together. If that failed I would start at the back of corral one to make sure we didn’t lose each other.
As we moved through each corral my confidence in this plan increased, but at the last minute we were separated and we lost our corral 2 guys. So I jogged around the back of corral 1 hoping to catch a view of them. With minutes to go before the gun I was worried that this plan meant that they would be stuck at the back of corral 2 as well. Thankfully I was soon greeted with a yell from the 2nd corral. They had made their way to the front and the volunteers were moving us together quickly. We agreed on a direction to try and pass people and waited for the gun to start.
Race
The start of Boston this year gave me memories of college cross country. The four of us worked to keep each other in eyesight as we maneuvered through the masses of corral 1 athletes. As soon as we found an opening we’d gesture to the person next to us to try and get room and then yell to our group to follow. Unlike past years this lateral movement of snaking through people didn’t hurt. That was a good sign. We passed through the first mile in 5:51. I try to stay calm as it’s so easy to jump from 5:50 to 5:30 over the next mile because of how easy the race gets out trying to get around the crowds. There was an issue though. I needed to pee. Bad. I told myself I would wait it out until 8 and see how I felt then but my body basically said now or never. So I told my buddy I’d have to pull over and that I would catch them again eventually. I took a hard surge to try and bank some distance and pulled over into the woods. After what seemed like ages I got back on the course to see them far out but within eyesight. I started moving back past people trying to make sure I made up some ground without completely throwing away my race plan. Got through the second mile in 5:46, so I guess that 5:30 effort did come after all.
It was at this point that I realized that my plan to have a group running together was gone. Even with a 5:46 they were not within striking distance so I made a decision to stick with my race plan and see where it went from there. It was going to be a lonely one out there but I was not going to deviate from the plan and start running 5:30s like I did the year prior. The next couple miles were tough for me. Running felt really easy but my legs wanted to take advantage of the downhill sections and I found myself in a constant battle of making sure I didn’t get too caught up moving up. I settled into a groove at mile 5 and the next couple ones were fairly consistent. At this point the group around me seemed like a seasoned group also looking to break 2:30. I saw a guy in a Bowerman TC jersey that looked to be in control so I went off of him for a bit. It felt really weird this time around for me. I was so used to getting really into the crowd, looking around at everyone and taking in the atmosphere. This felt different. The only two things I was focused on was my pace and the next group ahead of me. To go back to something I said earlier, this felt like cross country.
At mile 8 I began to get antsy. 2 miles until the race starts I told myself. To me these next two miles would be a test of my patience. I felt good. But I wanted to hit these next two right on the money. Mile 9, 5:44, okay closer. One more to go before we have some fun. Mile 10, 5:45. Money.
“It’s time for the real racing to start.” I said out loud.
And so I pressed on the gas, slowly. Over the next three miles my goal was to check in on myself as I made sub 5:40 feel comfortable. I wanted nothing under 5:35 at this point. Not with 16 miles to go. Mile 11, 5:40. Mile 12, 5:35. And here came the next challenge. The scream tunnel. In both 2019 and 2021 I completely abandoned my race plan because of the hype from the crowd. That 5:33 in 2021 basically was the beginning of a very tough finish for me. I passed through but still made sure to pass some high fives to the crowd. No surging, no shenanigans, and as I crossed the 13th mile I was rewarded, 5:40. Just a little further on we passed the half way mark, 75:11. I felt completely fresh. In my head the first half of the race essentially didn’t happen. Boston was a half marathon race now and I had two more challenges ahead of me.
As we approached mile 15 I had memories flowing back of years past. This next section sealed my fate on my last two attempts. That aggressive 100+ foot downhill drop destroyed my muscles and turned my dreams into nightmares. I knew full well that this next mile would be quick and I just needed to maintain a comfortable form and not chop my stride and we’d make it safe and sound. No shocks, no aches or pains, nothing. I was good through this section. I crossed 16 and immediately started saying what u/Iam_defatigable’s coach was telling him on the day of his 2:16, “You are actualizing!” It was less than an hour until this would be done. It would be up to me how much under an hour that would be.
As I left Wellesley I knew over the next couple miles I would find out if this strategy would play in my favor. I bet on being conservative, confident that I was strong enough to run hard over the Newton Hills and eventually Heartbreak. What seemed like mountains in previous years felt like speed bumps on a usual Saturday long run. I was comfortable and maintained form on the uphills and pressed slightly to keep moving on any downhills I got to. I was passing people with authority. I found two of our original group, gave them some encouragement and kept moving. My race was just starting and I was in the zone. I locked into singlets I recognized, either by club or by people and kept striking. As I made it to 20 I was faced with my final challenge.
Heartbreak Hill.
As I approached the climb of Heartbreak Hill I saw the final person out of our original group. I was excited to get up there and work together to really rock it over the final miles after heartbreak. I caught up and gave some encouragement and started to charge up the hill. If I was to have company, fantastic, but at this point I was zoned in on a key point in the course, the mile after heartbreak. The mile that broke me and caused me to walk my first race in 2019.
At 21 something clicked. At this point I said, it’s 8K. You’ve done 8K. Let’s race. I pressed on the gas again. I started rolling and I was passing people left and right. At mile 22 I had memories of stopping and almost dropping out in 2019. This time I was running my fastest mile of the race, 5:28. I was hyped but also I knew well enough that anything could happen in the last 4 miles. I was cruising but I needed to be in control. Last thing I needed was a fast mile only to crash at 24 because I got too ahead of myself. Another sub 5:30 mile, 5:29, and now the feeling of being on my feet for over 2 hours was started to be very real. My breathing was comfortable at this pace but my legs just felt a little tired, particularly my feet from my shoe laces.
Just 3 miles to go I told myself. Let’s see a sub 16:30. You can do it.
Mile 24: 5:31.
Being over 5:30 is just what I needed to get my ass in gear. We were committing to sub 5:30s. No ifs ands or buts.
Mile 25, a 5:26.
2K to go. 2K to go. Time to try and hammer this out.
But first a dip under the overpass and a final hill that felt like a gut punch. I completely forgot about this one and boy did that not feel good.
But there was a light at the end of the tunnel, 1 mile to go.
So I pressed. And pressed. Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston. The finish was in sight. As was a familiar singlet. And seeing that singlet lit that final fire I needed to charge down Boylston passing people until I saw the clock, 2:28:**, and I lost it. I pumped my fist and yelled as I crossed the finish line.
2:28:23. A 2 minute PR, and almost a 2 minute negative split. I had no idea my placing but I was sure I was top 100.
Post-race
I stopped my watch, started it up again and immediately started jogging again. I figured a 2:28 would put me in decent position to hopefully be first at the track house. So I started jogging. Accidentally crashed into someone that was walking after the race that I still feel bad about. Jogged by the volunteers giving medals and grabbed mine. Headed off to my gear check to get my stuff and realized it was much heavier that I remember it being. So you see me carrying my gear with both hands run walking down Newbury Street trying to make it in time. I get to the porch and ask Lou if I'm first to the trackhouse.
3rd. Oooooof. hahah
Anyways, this was such an incredible experience. Sorry if there's a bunch of mispellings or mistakes, I was writing this in the back of the car on the drive back. Will probably clean it up and add in the stuff about me boozin' a bit in Portland Maine the Friday before. lol. Brought back 60 or so beers back to Columbus safe and sound.
This is awesome. Congrats!
just reading this made me hyped