Belated Boston Marathon Recap

[mrshandy]

Vacation, work, and life got in the way of me writing this earlier. Grab a drink and settle in!

I had a solid training cycle. I ran the miles. I stayed smart and ran my easy miles easy and my hard miles hard. I kept up with strength training throughout most of it. The weekend was busy, probably too busy, but I couldn’t sit on my ass all weekend. We arrived Saturday after spending Friday night with some friends in Western Mass. I had my kids, my sister, some friends and their daughter and my mother in law. Saturday, I went to the expo with my friend. I saw the jacket and decided I had to have it. The rest of the time was spent waiting in the insanest line I have ever seen. (mental note buy jacket online in the future). We made it late to the game and had fun, then back to our AirBNB in Cambridge, which was super nice and a great space for all of us.

The next day we hit up the science museum which was close to our place. The kids enjoyed that and we could have stayed all day. I did try to sit down as much as possible. Lunch called so we ubered to a yummy place in Bunker Hill. After lunch, we hit up the Constitution which my son really enjoyed. Then it was time for me to go home and sit on my ass for a couple of hours while everyone else went to the North End. We had a late dinner of pasta and meatballs at the place and then bed for me.

That morning, I woke up to the sound of pouring rain and thunder. I had some breakfast and coffee and tried not to run up and down the steps too much. I packed up my stuff. I wore throwaway shoes, socks, sweater, pants, and a poncho on top of my tank top and shorts. I looked outside and there was a river going down our street. Ugh. I was considering ubering to Boston Common, but held off for another few minutes and the rain let up a little. I figured now was the time. I walked 5 minutes to the train station where the trains were free (I did not know this! Last time I didn’t take the train). I got off at Arlington and walked the few blocks to the bag check for my bib. Then it was back to Boston Common to catch the bus, which thankfully were running. They had stopped them earlier, because everyone was sheltering in place at Hopkinton.

I tried to meet up with a running buddy who was catching the bus around the same time, but it was too wet, cold, and windy to linger so I caught the first one I could get on. I sat next to a nice teacher from St. Louis who was running it for the first time. We chatted about running, Boston, and what not.

I finally got to Athlete’s Village and found the portapotties which is the only thing I needed. After that, I tried to find a dryish spot to change my shoes and take off my throwaway pants. At this point, the weather was cool, cloudy and windy. Almost perfect racing weather. Right after changing, it was time to go! I made my way towards the exit for the walk through Hopkinton. I dropped the last of my clothes and got into my corral which is the first one, the same one I was in last time. It was kind of cool to be up front and see everything and one loud bang later, we were off!

I tried to relax and stay steady and relaxed. I told myself to find my pace and that’s what I did. The first three miles were right where I wanted to be. Mile 4 was a little faster than I was supposed to, but I really was feeling good. I grabbed a little water at every water stop.

The volunteers are amazing. Water is on both sides so it’s really easy to maintain your pace. As the sun came out an hour or so into the race, I started grabbing a water to pour on my head. I took a Cliff Gel around mile 7. And I tried to enjoy the little towns and feed off the energy.

Boston crowds are great. All these little towns are lined with people cheering you on and you run through the town square feeling like a rock star. Wellesley is the best part of the course IMHO. Everyone is screaming their head off. You can’t help but put a huge smile on your face and high five as many people as your arm can handle.

Mile 14 I took the Cliff gel that I had grabbed earlier. I was in a rush to eat it before the water stop and next thing I know. It exploded all over my hands and then I tried to eat it off my hands. LOL. By the time I got through the water stop, I had chocolate GU all over my face, hands and shirt. I must have been quite the site. I tried to clean off the next few water stops and still drink some water. I didn’t discover the last bit of GU until I was at home about to take a shower.

Mile 17 was the first mile that was outside of my goal pace. But that had the first of the nasty Newton hills. The first is a doozy and I was really tempted to walk along with the crowds of others. The sun was out fully and the clouds had disappeared. I remembered that it was at that point that I had walked during my first Boston and resolved to run up the hill. I was turned off the last Cliff gel after my disaster earlier so I dug out my Ginger Ale shot blocks that came in our pack. I liked them. They did a good job of settling my stomach

Around mile 20, I was running along and I saw someone familiar up ahead. She had a bib on her back that had F-70 and I knew it was her! Jeannie Grace. I had read online that she was going to be in my corral so I knew to look out for her. I ran up ahead and told her I thought she was amazing and that I was a big fan. She said thanks but said she was done. I slowed down a little and then ended up passing her as she walked.

My pace definitely slowed, but I kept running, until I caught sight of heartbreak hill in the full sun and that broke me a little. I walked up most of heartbreak hill. I was bummed that I was walking, but that was what my body needed. After I got up it, I knew the worst was behind me. I started running because I knew my family wasn’t far. I moved to the left because I knew they would be in a similar place to the last time. Finally I caught site of my husband and gave hugs all around. My daughter pulled back from me because I was too sweaty for her to hug. LOL.

The next few miles, I tried to find my relaxed pace and get through those last miles. I enjoyed them because I was almost done, but I do find the crowds on the earlier miles to be more fun. The course is a lot wider and you’re kind of farther from them.

The downhills felt good except for my quads being a little sore. Finally, the turn to Hereford came, then Boylston came. I tried to soak it all up and also make the finish line come closer. It’s a long, long way! I watched as my possible BQ passed me by. I ticked off various landmarks and the finish line was there. I gave it my all and put up my hands to celebrate a solid race. I finished in 3:36:xx which was about 18 minutes faster than the last time I ran. 

Right after crossing the finish line, I ran into another running buddy, who had started in an earlier wave. It was quite awesome to see her since she moved away and it was only fitting that we finished this Boston together since we had started the last one together. We caught up and got our medals.

After a few pictures, we got separated in the crowds. It had started raining so I kind of booked it for the train station, which was surprisingly easy and free. After a short walk to the house that felt pretty long. My legs were DONE. Finally we got back and then it was favorite part of the day. Time to celebrate!

My mother in law was nice enough to watch the kids so we all could go out and celebrate with dinner and drinks. Afterwards I had a great little vacation with my family going to Burlington and Montreal.

[sadlebred]

Congratulations!!

[shauni27]

you are so amazing--you killed that race!

[G22]

Loved the recap! Congrats!

[wawa]

Great recap and great race!!

[scm1011]

Yay, congrats!! Great recap!

When I woke up to the thunder and downpours that morning all I could think was OH NO, POOR RUNNERS! I'm glad you guys ended up getting a better day than last year!

[jene]

Congratulations! I love the part about your daughter not hugging you because you’re sweaty. Totally something my kids would do.

[lilypad1126]

Congrats on a great race. I'm so glad you had a great day for it and that you were able to enjoy it!

[Wines Not Whines]

Congratulations!

[oswin]

Congratulations!

[melmel48]

Congratulations! We had every possible weather that day! I was spectating in Newton!

[mysticmuffin]

Congratulations! You had me in a fit of giggles over the exploding gel.

[labbie]

Congratulations!! Great recap and you crushed that race. Glad you had a good vacay afterwards too, what a way to wrap up such an epic event.

[gt7301b]

Congrats on another Boston!

[keweenawlove]

Congrats! Great finish line picture!

[bostonmichelle]

Congratulations on a great race!!

[sassystace]

Congrats on an awesome race! Loved your recap.

[hurricanedrunk]

Congrats on an awesome race!! I was following along on your training since I had a similar schedule and you really knocked it out of the park! Well done!

[mrshandy]

May 5, 2019 11:30:47 GMT -5 hurricanedrunk said:

Congrats on an awesome race!! I was following along on your training since I had a similar schedule and you really knocked it out of the park! Well done!

How was Paris? Did I miss a recap? If not, then you should totally do one.

[ktzmoh]

Congratulations on another great Boston experience! You are a powerhouse!

[hurricanedrunk]

May 5, 2019 15:38:18 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

May 5, 2019 11:30:47 GMT -5 hurricanedrunk said:

Congrats on an awesome race!! I was following along on your training since I had a similar schedule and you really knocked it out of the park! Well done!

How was Paris? Did I miss a recap? If not, then you should totally do one.

No you didn't miss a recap, I need to get on that! It went really well, thanks.