Boston Marathon Recap

[runblondie26]

First of all, I want to give everyone here a hug and an enormous thank you. Seriously, I could not have done it without you ladies. Knowing you were out there cheering and watching my progress online, really pushed me from checkpoint to checkpoint. I couldn’t let you down!

Reading through the full Boston Chat thread had me both tearing-up and cracking-up (looking at you clseale). You’re all the best.

I’m still riding the post-race high. I CANNOT believe I not only finished the race, but it wasn’t even my worst marathon! That honor still resides with Boston 2005 when I crashed and burned. I finished almost 15 minutes ahead of that time with a 4:09.

The whole experience was so emotional. My recap turned into more of a novel once I started typing. If you want a full play-by-play, here it is. Otherwise, just scroll to the bottom for some pics
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I set the bar extremely low for this race. All I wanted to do was finish. I could barely run 6 miles without stopping when DD was 5 months old, and here I was about to do 26.2 at 5 months post-DS.

When pressed for an estimated finish time, I told people I thought between 5.5-6 hours. We have a friend who ran a marathon a few years ago in 5:24 on very scant training. I actually paced him through the last few miles of it, and knew it would be tough, but plausible.

The elders on this board probably remember me talking about not doing a long run over 13 miles to prepare for a marathon in my younger days. However, I was running 50-60 miles a week so my overall volume was high.

This time, not so much. I peaked at about 35 mpw in the beginning of January while I was still on maternity leave. After that, whenever I started ramping up the mileage something would get in the way. Injury, weather, family emergency, illnesses ….the list goes on.

My typical workouts were 4-6 miles on treadmill (about as much as I could tolerate on there), topped off with some time on the elliptical or bike to reach full hour of cardio. My longest run was a 13 miler the second week of March. After that I took 2 weeks off from running, and only did the bike and elliptical while I rehabbed some calf cramping issues. Then of course, I got a stomach virus shortly after that (which in hindsight, was beneficial in shaving a little more weight off me).

Sooo....Race day started at 4:30 with a pumping session. Our hotel was in an awesome location, both within walking distance of the finish line and Boston Common. I left our room around 6:45 and stopped at Dunkin Donuts on my walk to the common. I ate my blueberry muffin and small half-caf while waiting in line for the bus. I had intended to eat it on the bus, but they wouldn’t let me bring the paper bag into the bus loading area and it was awkward to hold with my other gear. Security was no joke.

The bus ride felt like it took for.ev.er. Like really, I’m about to run this distance back?

Once we arrived at the Athletes Villiage, I set up camp with an airplane blanket and ate one of the bagels from the refreshments area. I played on my phone for the next hour and a half, then it was time to head to the corrals. It’s also when I finalized what my race strategy would be.

I knew from my lone 13 miler that I was capable of running the first half fairly comfortably in about 2 hours. My plan was to come through the half in 2 hours, and then just hang on for dear life. I assumed I would mostly be walking the second half, taking pictures, and enjoying the crowds.

When I came through the half in 1:57 still feeling strong, I had to quickly reassess. I wanted to keep that same pace for a long as possible.

Although I had been taking in a half cup of Gatorade at each mile, my fueling strategy wasn’t very good. In fact, I hadn’t brought any fuel with me at all. Since I expected to be going slow, I figured the course Gatorade would be enough, then I’d grab some of the PowerBar Gels they were handing out at mile 18.

Will I ever learn? I was already behind the 8 ball on fueling by that point, and knew I needed something.

I started taking candy from strangers. Thank you generous spectators for your sugary aid.

Tossing back a handful of warm jelly beans when you have cotton mouth is not the best idea. I was gagging like I had a hairball as they got stuck in the back of my throat (Twizzlers went down a little better, so I started taking those instead). It was not my finest moment. But at least I was getting more carbs in my system.

I hit the wall HARD at mile 16. My quads seized up and each leg felt like a lead weight. There was still so much of the race left to go, walking was going to take forever, and it hurt almost as much as running anyway. If you’ve ever hit the wall, you know the complete frustration of having no control over your legs.

Mile 16 is right around the point where I passed Team Hoyt, as well as a woman on a prosthetic leg. The whole experience was so emotional, but at that point, TEARS. It was more like a shuffle, but I willed myself to keep up a running motion until I hit the 20 mile mark. There were people with more obstacles than me.

As soon as I hit the 20 mile marker, relief and elation washed over me. I was almost there. I was “allowed” to walk now. I walked all of mile 20, which included Heartbreak Hill. For miles 21 and 22, I alternated between a ¼ mile run and ¼ mile walk. It was at mile 23 that I realized, not only was I going to break 5 hours, I was going to break 4 ½. Game on!

The adrenaline washed over me and I was able to pick up the pace and run the last 3 miles. Right on Hereford, left on Boylston. The roar of the crowd in the final stretch was deafening. Cue more tears.

I managed a smile for photographers at the finish line. But after I passed them…..more tears. I was so overwhelmed by the intense joy and energy all around me. At the same time, I was in shock that I dug out a performance I thought I was impossible.

We were funneled quite some distance from the finish line before the barricades ended and we could join the spectators on the sidewalk. I took my first step up onto the curb and literally crumbled. Fortunately, a man behind me caught my arms and helped me back up. Two days later and my legs still feel broken. I have to push myself out of a chair using my arms

It was almost 45 minutes slower than my BQ Marathon time, but one of my proudest finishes of any race I’ve run.

[runblondie26]

Since the app will only let me upload 3 pictures at a time:

[runblondie26]

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[runblondie26]

And a shout to kams for tracking my progress

[clseale]

Well, shit. There seems to be something in my eye.

Why am I so emotional over all of these reports?! Oh, I know why. It's because I love you all to pieces and I am so damn proud of the women on this board.

I love this recap, and all of the pics!! What an awesome experience, and performance. I felt like I was there on the course with you. You did such an incredible job, and I'm so happy you had an amazing day. Ride this high! You've earned it. Congrats again, blondie. I am so happy for you!!

[enfuego23]

Loved your recap! So happy that this was such a great race for you:) Very inspiring!

[Deleted]

Amazing! Great recap!

[Deleted]

And there goes my mascara.... *sniff*

What a great post, I am so proud of you!

[sassystace]

Loved your recap and your race! You got me crying. I cannot believe how well you did on one 13 miler?!

[shorewife]

Great recap! I share many of the same thoughts you had. Congrats on an awesome finish too

[runblondie26]

You're next clseale! I'm so excited for you! I pm'd you some hotel info. This was my favorite out of the places I've stayed for the race.

[thom]

Just speechless. So moving and beautiful. Congratulations on running an amazing race and truly soaking up what it meant to be there.

I think your mind and heart were in exactly the right shape, so it didn't matter that you body wasn't quite there yet. It did it anyway. It's a good thing there's athlete tracking or your poor DH probably would have been futility looking for you at the line around 5.5 hours.

Yay Blondie!!!!!!!!

[gt7301b]

Ahhhhh, why are you making me cry??

[sadlebred]

Loved the photos! Congratulations!!

[psyri]

Glad you had a great race! Congrats!

[melmel48]

Oh my dear lord! What a great recap! You rock! I am so happy for you. Thank goodness that man was there to catch you when you crumbled. WAY TO GO!!!

[jene]

You rock, lady! Your report had me teared up!

[breezy8407]

Congrats! You are amazing. Beautifully written.

I LOL'ed at the Beer Cigarettes and Donuts sign.

[andrealynn]

I am loving reading these recaps. You did so good! Congrats!

[katandkevin]

Congrats! Great recap and your pictures are awesome!

[cinco]

Aww, it made me so happy to read this. You are incredible. Congrats!

[runaways]

Congratulations again! I love your recap and your pictures!

[kams]

I'm crying at my hair appt Blondie...

So impressed by you, so encouraged by you, so inspired by your perseverance and attitude. Congratulations on an incredible race.

Hope I didn't seem creepy-deepy! I remembered your bib# was on Instagram

[lb2006]

i was so glad Monday was my Easter holiday as i was glued to the live stream on one tab & THIS board on the other tab So proud of all y'all!!

[beckbech]

Congrats, that was such an inspirational recap.

[mrshandy]

Kick ass recap for a kickass lady!

As someone who had a baby 8 months ago, I'm in awe of you running Boston with such an awesome time 5 months after having a baby. So awesome! Congrats!

[runblondie26]

Apr 23, 2014 12:04:46 GMT -5 kams said:

I'm crying at my hair appt Blondie...

So impressed by you, so encouraged by you, so inspired by your perseverance and attitude. Congratulations on an incredible race.

Hope I didn't seem creepy-deepy! I remembered your bib# was on Instagram

Haha, I think it's awesome someone cared enough to do it! We'll be doing the same for IMTX in a few weeks

Knowing how exhausted I feel at the end of a marathon makes it impossible to wrap my mind around doing an Ironman. I feel like a slacker compared to you!

[jreeds]

Great Recap! Congrats on a great race

[jamalynn]

Ah, great recap! I love reading these, but espeically the ones from Boston. I am so glad you were able to run it and enjoy it. How cool!!! And thanks for the pictures! They are great!

[bostonmichelle]

Great recap! Congratulations on an awesome race.