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| All smiles after the marathon! |
Throughout the winer my training for Boston was adequate at best, and probably closer to below average. My runs during the work week didn't exceed 35 minutes and I took two weeks off in March while on vacation. My two longest runs were 14 miles (three weeks out) and 21 miles (two weeks out). That was pretty much the extent of my preparation for Boston.
Needless to say, I was a bit unsure of what to expect on Patriots' Day.
Regardless, the 2014 Boston Marathon was about more then training, it was about making the race a celebration for the city of Boston and showing the resiliency of everyone who lives here. So on race day there were no nerves or second-guessing of my training (or lack thereof), instead I was filled with calm excitement about being part of such a special day.
When I got to the starting line the sun was out, with temperatures a bit warmer than I had expected. I focused on staying hydrated throughout the race, which ended up serving me well. I didn't really feel the heat until Heartbreak Hill, at which point I started dumping some water over my head, cooling down my body temperature (at least it was nothing like 2012!).
As I ran through Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham and Natick, the crowds were full, loud and supportive. It made the first 12 miles more fun and interesting than in past years. Then I got to Wellesley, and Wellesley College was awesome! There were so many students cheering us on and I high-fives the whole line of them. The rest of Wellesley was out in large numbers, loudly bringing us to Newton.
Then the Newton hills. Rather than fear or anticipate them, my plan was to continue the same amount of effort through the stretch, and the entire race. While my calfs tightened up a bit on the uphills, the calf sleeves I had on did their job and kept them as loose as possible, so I could quickly recover on the flats or downhill. Around mile 19 I realized I had a good chance of running close to three hours, well above the 3:15 I anticipated for myself.
Once I got past Heartbreak, I let out a smile. The hardest part of the race was done, and it was all flat from here (with the exception of a few small inclines that would feel more like mountains). I made my way to Cleveland Circle, down Beacon Street and through Kenmore Square, right on Haverford and left on Boylston Street. As I turned and saw the finish line, I soaked in the 25.7 miles I had just run, the fans cheering us on and the view of that finish bridge. I'd be crossing under it this year, along with everyone else in the race.
I ended up finishing in 3:01, a personal best for the Boston course, and far exceeding my expectations. After finishing and catching my breath I turned around and tried to take in the scene a little bit. I was standing in a very special place and I wanted one last glance to remember it.
A few weeks before the marathon I told everyone this was my last Boston - there was no way I was going through that training again in the winter. But, there's something special about Boston. I'm not sure if I'll run next year or not, but there's a quality that pulls you back and makes it difficult to turn away from it. I thin part of it is Patriot's Day. Boston doesn't have a marathon early in the morning so that it can open up streets in the afternoon. The Marathon is the main event, and everything in the city revolves around it, in such an awesome way.
Unlike the other seven marathons I've run, this one was different. I was so clear - both mentally and physically - throughout the whole race, allowing me to stay consistent and even-keeled. I'm not sure why this was the case (maybe because I didn't have a set goal and therefore felt no pressure to accomplish running a certain time), but it worked to my advantage. I think I will look back very fondly of this race years down the road, remembering it for the special atmosphere and my relaxed state of mind, leading to one of my smarter and better races.
This one was a lot of fun.
