| | First, I'd like to say thank you to EVERYONE who wished me luck and/or gave congrats to me! I really appreciate it :) It was awesome to know I had so much support/encouragement!
Anywho, so as many of you know, I had been dreaming about this race since November when I signed up. Actually, more like since last May when I got my BQ at the Rockford Marathon. Back in high school cross country, I dreamed of running a marathon. I always thought Boston would be cool but never thought I'd get there. It is the crown jewel or Superbowl of running and I just figured no way would it happen. After my marathon debut in the disaster known as the 2007 Chicago marathon, I didn't even know if I wanted to run a marathon again. But after a few days and the soreness left, I knew I definitely could do MUCH better. So I promptly signed up for the Rockford Marathon last spring. I trained and trained for this and knew a BQ was possible. On the day of the race, the last half was hilly and tore up my quads. But I kept going and got a little weepy at the last mile when I knew I would qualify for Boston. I could barely walk afterward, but it was definitely worth it! (Kooky I know!).
In November, I submit my time and am officially registered for the 113th Boston Marathon! I was excited but of course it still seemed forever away. In January I started student teaching and Boston Marathon training....no easy task for either! Boston is notoriously known for its difficult and hilly course...and especially Heartbreak Hill at mile 21. So my training plan was the highest mileage I'd ever run. It was HARD and student teaching was also busy! I love training for marathons because it's such a long process and as the weeks click off, you are getting better and better. I loved student teaching too...it has been awesome! But both together made for a crazy busy schedule for the past 15 weeks. There were a lot of late nights and mornings when I was exhausted driving to school. But running yesterday made me realize that it was all worth it....every minute of it!
With that said, onto the race report! My mom and I got to Boston Saturday evening. We basically got dinner then called it a night. Sunday morning we headed to the Expo to get my number and everything....talk about a nuthouse! It was packed. I waited 45 minutes in line to get a shirt and of course the official jacket (not to be worn until after the race...don't want to jinx yourself!). I also had been agonizing on what to wear so I bought some arm warmers and decided to wear a tank with the warmers. After the expo we shopped a little and then went back and ate at the hotel. I had my pasta and had been eating carbs all day (no problems there! One of the main reasons I love marathons ha). Called it a night around 10 or so.
The alarm goes off at 6, and I am up right away and of course nervous. My mom was going to meet up with me later, as I wouldn't even start until 10:30. But the shuttle to the race left at 7, so I get my things together and head down to the lobby. I am eating my poptarts and am getting nervous. The shuttle drops everyone off at the Boston Commons and then buses actually take you out to Hopkintown, where the race starts. So, its about a 26 mile bus ride! I talk to a few people and we get going. The whole time there I'm thinking I didn't do enough hill training. I had done some, but all I kept hearing was Heatbreak Hill is a killer, it's tough. But at this point, obviously there wasn't much I could do about it. We get to Hopkintown and my new runner friend and I wait 45 minutes to use the porta potties! By that time, the elite women had started and Wave 1 was getting ready, which meant we needed to go. I am feeling nervous/excited. Helicopters are flying around and there was so much excitement in the air.
The gun sounds and the race is off. I am feeling AWESOME! The crowds are huge, but I hold back and stay pretty conservative for the first 5 miles. The first part of the course is downhill which can kill your quads if you go all out (which makes Heartbreak Hill murder apparently). So my miles are slower (8:30 or so) but I'm ok with it. Boston's course is awesome in the fact that you are running through several villages instead of around a city. So as a result, there are few spots with no people cheering! The weather is cloudy, and somewhat windy. It's cool, but actually good running weather. I pass through Ashland and at mile 7 I take it up a bit and start getting some 8:15-8:20 minute miles. Again I'm feeling good but there is a lot to go. I am high fiving little kids and having fun. At mile 13.1, the halfway mark at Welesley, the crowd was LOUD! You could hear it over my Ipod and from a half a mile away. When I get to the halfway mark, I just thought, wow there is nothing like this! I had been at about the same pace and still was feeling good. However, in the back of my mind I knew that it was going to get HARD.Coincidentally at that time, my Ipod headphones just died...great!? So I get rid of them, as the cord was blowing in the wind and annoying me since there wasn't any music. At mile 16 or so I see the sign that I am entering Newton aka the hills. There are actually 3, the 3rd being Heartbreak Hill. So the first one comes and I tighten my stride and make my way up...no huge problems. The course flattens out before the second hill, which again isn't too terrible. The course flattens out once again and as I'm going, I am nervously anticipating Heartbreak Hill. Mile 20, there it was. Fortunately the crowd support was AMAZING so although it wasn't easy, it was not near as bad as I thought it would be. I am thankful I went out easy at first, because I still had a ton of energy. I actually passed a bunch of people on Heartbreak Hill, which was an adrenaline rush. After Heartbreak Hill, I pick up the pace and get some good miles in, 8 minutes and even a 7:30. My headband fell off at mile 22 but what can ya do. At mile 24, I see a girl literally crap her pants (you witness some crazy things during a marathon!) and think there is no way I am looking at that the last 2 miles! So I quickly pass her. At mile 25 I see the infamous Citgo sign signaling that the end is near...I am getting a little weepy, as I realize I am going to complete the Boston Marathon. Through that last mile I thought about it all....the shitty winter weather training, the long runs, the late nights, the student teaching....everything. I see the finish line and the crowd is roaring. I did cry a little (shocking I know...I do get emotional sometimes!) but finished the race! My race outfit of shorts and a tank and arm warmers was perfect for running, but now I was freezing! I get my little blanket finally and my medal. My mom was at the finish area and had been cheering for me and was shocked I didn't hear! But we met up and she got my picture with my medal and she gave me the scoop of the elites (Kara Goucher was 3rd and apparently not to thrilled about it). Lots of people complained about the wind and I have to laugh because I live in the cornfields where it is ALWAYS windy! I normally complain ALL THE TIME about it, but I guess it ended up helping me so no more complaints I guess, as the wind didn't really bother me too badly!
In short, the Boston Marathon was truly amazing and I will never forget it. It is everything it's hyped up to be and is the Superbowl of marathons. I had a lot of support from family and friends and even my cooperating teacher at school, which was awesome! I appreciate it all! My official time was 3 hours 38 minutes, which ACTUALLY qualifies me for next year's Boston Marathon! My overall pace was 8:20/mile. I am also amazed that I am not more sore...after Rockford I was in bad shape for over a week! I am sore and my back hurts today but it isn't unbearable like last time.
So what's up next for me? I am still on a huge high, but for starters a few days off! I Probably will get a few short runs in over the weekend. A goal I've always had is to go under 20 minutes for a 5K (best is 20:21) so I'm going to work on some speed and have a go at that in a 5K in June. I plan to keep my mileage around 30 to 40 or so depending on what else is going on. In mid-June I will start training for the Chicago Marathon. Since I'm already in Boston for next year, I would like to now improve my time so I get seeded better. What would be awesome would be to get a time good enough for Wave 1 of next year's Boston (I was in Wave 2 this year). I also plan to run in the heat a lot this summer, as Chicago's been HOT the past 2 years. If I had to pick, a goal time for Chicago would be 3 hours 30 minutes. This would require a drop to 8 minute miles instead of 8:20, which I think is feasible. I actually think I could have ran the first part of Boston a bit faster, but again was conservative due to the hills I'd heard so much about. But I think with a few tweaks and some more speedwork (I kind of phased out of it towards the end of training as I was sick during my peak week and was just trying to get the runs in haha) it could be possible. I also could clean up my diet a lot haha...easier said than done! I will never be elite, but I love trying to get to the best of my ability. I also plan on a few summer classes, horseshowing (finally again!) and graduating in December! Exciting things are on the horizon! This was long so kudos if you are still reading! |
| | Posted 4/21/2009 9:05 PM - 19 Views - 6 eProps - 3 comments
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