jmasgat
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2006
So 3 days later and the quads are nearly back to normal. Must be time to write a report (and think about doing it again next year). This is longdig in. And no pictures for now since I didnt have a camera and my cell phone battery died.
The trip/Expo
Drove from Michigan to Mass. on Friday. The ride wasnt horrendous as the border crossings were pretty good. Stayed at my Moms (my old) home. On Saturday we went into town to the Expo and then to watch my daughter run the 5k at MITs track meet. Number pickup was very smoothno wait, and T-shirt pickup was likewise smooth. But then, pretty much everything went smoothly for this race. Well organized and well run from beginning to end. Went to the expo and skipped all the official merchandise. Im not a huge logo person and dont feel the need to advertise. Plus I want things that I will actually use. The race T-shirt is nice and I guarantee it will get worn a lot. That said, I did buy a short sleeve tech shirt at one of the booths. It says Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston. 26.2 (So you have to be in the know for that to make sense. Those are the last 2 turns before the finish line) The expo was big and after a while my DH started to be bothered by the crowds so we left. Walked across the bridge to Cambridge, ate lunch at Flour Bakery and watched my DD run.
Race Day
Up at 5:30, breakfast of oatmeal and a cup of tea and then off to Boston. DH dropped me off at the Common to catch the bus out to Hopkinton. The line was snaking through the park-seriously it was a mile long. People were pretty loose about it and I tried to chat up someone in line to pass the time. Then a race volunteer came over and said there was another place to go where there was no line, so people started scrambling over there. Sort of confusing, but eventually I got on a bus and we headed in a convoy out to Hopkinton. We got there and I was treated to the sight of lots of guys heading off to the woods to pee. I mean, just off the roadnot even hidden. At least they were well-hydrated.
Athletes Village was greatit was really two adjacent villages. There were big tents set up and they were offering water, Gatorade, bagels, coffee, bananas, Powerbars for the runners. Grabbed a bagel and some Gatorade and filled my water bottles. Then went and found a place to just sit and chill. I have to say, this was the least nervous I have ever been before a race. Dont know whymaybe I was overconfident!
The announcers were pretty clear about informing the various waves when to exit the village and walk to the starting line-about ¾ miles away. On the way, you dropped your bag off at the appropriately numbered bus and then you were on the way.
The Race
It was windy at the village and in the 40s, and I was hoping I wouldnt be cold at the start. I was wearing shorts, T-shirt and some arm warmers that were actually an old pair of long socks that I cut the toes off. But once the race started and we headed off, it was fine.
So the gun sounds and off we go. I should probably say something about my race strategy. My training had gone well, and I was aiming for 8:45 pacemaybe even a little faster based on my recent half race result. I wasnt trying to PR, but I also have to admit that I thought I could run faster than I have before. I knew the topo of the courseit goes downhill to startand I didnt want to go out too fast. But I didfirst 5 miles in about 8:38. I tired to settle down, but I felt pretty smooth running, and so I just tried to run easily.
The course rolls a bunchand thats before you hit the hills in the latter race. And pretty soon, my average pace kept creeping up. So lets just finish the stats part of the discussion by saying I felt tired earlier in the race than I have in my previous 2 marathons. I wasnt doing too bad through about 15-16, but the first of the Newton Hills killed me and I ran pretty slowly after that.
So lets talk about the crowds. Unbelievable. Everywhere. There are no dead spots in this race. There is someone out there pretty much everyplace along the way, and when you run through the towns/cities, it is packed. It is a sight to behold, and I thought it was wonderful. Some other race highlights?
--The women of Wellesley College. Earsplitting cheering at about mile 13, with everyone having a sign that said Kiss me, Im . I liked the one guy who had a sign that said Kiss me; Im the only guy around for miles. My ears were ringing, but it was amazing.
--Hearing my name at Mile 15my brother was with some of his Parrothead friends and they managed to see me. That was a real boost.
--Seeing one guys shirt that it was his 37th Boston Marathon and he previously had a run streak of over 11,000 daysyes, do the math. Something like 30+ years. Now he also ran on the day of and each of 4 days following his hear attack, so I guess he is a fanatic!
--Getting Red Sox score updates on the course
--Seeing my daughter at Kenmore Square
--Seeing my DH at the corner of Comm. Ave and Hereford and my sisters on Hereford (1/4 mile or so from finish line)
--Running down Boylston St and crossing the finish line
Post-Race
A slow procession once you cross the line to get (in order) water/Gatorade, blanket (with a nice little sticker to hold it shut), food, MEDAL, and then off to the baggage bus. Took 2 minutes to retrieve my bag and then headed over to the G to rendezvous with family. My daughter was my Race Concierge and brought me my chocolate milk and toasted PB and banana sandwich, and waited on me. My DH arrived, and my sister came and brought me a chocolate cupcake. Hung out for a little while, then DH and I walked to Cambridge to the car (probably about 2-3 miles).
Wrap-Up
So for what its worth, I finished in 4:00:14, which is frankly, a disappointment, although technically it does qualify me for next year. I learned that I need more work if I want to run hillier races. But the overall experience was great. Everything about this race is done well, and it really does deserve the special regard in which its held. So Im already thinking that I might try to get in next year. And then up my miles, find some hilly roads and try to improve upon my time. Hey, Desi Davila trains locally herethe Hanson brothers own the running shop I go to. Maybe they can tell me what roads Desi trained on!
And if you ever get a chance to do Bostoneither as a qualifier or as a charity runnerDO IT!
Maura
"Right on Hereford" and DH, Jan and DD, Alina
The trip/Expo
Drove from Michigan to Mass. on Friday. The ride wasnt horrendous as the border crossings were pretty good. Stayed at my Moms (my old) home. On Saturday we went into town to the Expo and then to watch my daughter run the 5k at MITs track meet. Number pickup was very smoothno wait, and T-shirt pickup was likewise smooth. But then, pretty much everything went smoothly for this race. Well organized and well run from beginning to end. Went to the expo and skipped all the official merchandise. Im not a huge logo person and dont feel the need to advertise. Plus I want things that I will actually use. The race T-shirt is nice and I guarantee it will get worn a lot. That said, I did buy a short sleeve tech shirt at one of the booths. It says Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston. 26.2 (So you have to be in the know for that to make sense. Those are the last 2 turns before the finish line) The expo was big and after a while my DH started to be bothered by the crowds so we left. Walked across the bridge to Cambridge, ate lunch at Flour Bakery and watched my DD run.
Race Day
Up at 5:30, breakfast of oatmeal and a cup of tea and then off to Boston. DH dropped me off at the Common to catch the bus out to Hopkinton. The line was snaking through the park-seriously it was a mile long. People were pretty loose about it and I tried to chat up someone in line to pass the time. Then a race volunteer came over and said there was another place to go where there was no line, so people started scrambling over there. Sort of confusing, but eventually I got on a bus and we headed in a convoy out to Hopkinton. We got there and I was treated to the sight of lots of guys heading off to the woods to pee. I mean, just off the roadnot even hidden. At least they were well-hydrated.
Athletes Village was greatit was really two adjacent villages. There were big tents set up and they were offering water, Gatorade, bagels, coffee, bananas, Powerbars for the runners. Grabbed a bagel and some Gatorade and filled my water bottles. Then went and found a place to just sit and chill. I have to say, this was the least nervous I have ever been before a race. Dont know whymaybe I was overconfident!
The announcers were pretty clear about informing the various waves when to exit the village and walk to the starting line-about ¾ miles away. On the way, you dropped your bag off at the appropriately numbered bus and then you were on the way.
The Race
It was windy at the village and in the 40s, and I was hoping I wouldnt be cold at the start. I was wearing shorts, T-shirt and some arm warmers that were actually an old pair of long socks that I cut the toes off. But once the race started and we headed off, it was fine.
So the gun sounds and off we go. I should probably say something about my race strategy. My training had gone well, and I was aiming for 8:45 pacemaybe even a little faster based on my recent half race result. I wasnt trying to PR, but I also have to admit that I thought I could run faster than I have before. I knew the topo of the courseit goes downhill to startand I didnt want to go out too fast. But I didfirst 5 miles in about 8:38. I tired to settle down, but I felt pretty smooth running, and so I just tried to run easily.
The course rolls a bunchand thats before you hit the hills in the latter race. And pretty soon, my average pace kept creeping up. So lets just finish the stats part of the discussion by saying I felt tired earlier in the race than I have in my previous 2 marathons. I wasnt doing too bad through about 15-16, but the first of the Newton Hills killed me and I ran pretty slowly after that.
So lets talk about the crowds. Unbelievable. Everywhere. There are no dead spots in this race. There is someone out there pretty much everyplace along the way, and when you run through the towns/cities, it is packed. It is a sight to behold, and I thought it was wonderful. Some other race highlights?
--The women of Wellesley College. Earsplitting cheering at about mile 13, with everyone having a sign that said Kiss me, Im . I liked the one guy who had a sign that said Kiss me; Im the only guy around for miles. My ears were ringing, but it was amazing.
--Hearing my name at Mile 15my brother was with some of his Parrothead friends and they managed to see me. That was a real boost.
--Seeing one guys shirt that it was his 37th Boston Marathon and he previously had a run streak of over 11,000 daysyes, do the math. Something like 30+ years. Now he also ran on the day of and each of 4 days following his hear attack, so I guess he is a fanatic!
--Getting Red Sox score updates on the course
--Seeing my daughter at Kenmore Square
--Seeing my DH at the corner of Comm. Ave and Hereford and my sisters on Hereford (1/4 mile or so from finish line)
--Running down Boylston St and crossing the finish line
Post-Race
A slow procession once you cross the line to get (in order) water/Gatorade, blanket (with a nice little sticker to hold it shut), food, MEDAL, and then off to the baggage bus. Took 2 minutes to retrieve my bag and then headed over to the G to rendezvous with family. My daughter was my Race Concierge and brought me my chocolate milk and toasted PB and banana sandwich, and waited on me. My DH arrived, and my sister came and brought me a chocolate cupcake. Hung out for a little while, then DH and I walked to Cambridge to the car (probably about 2-3 miles).
Wrap-Up
So for what its worth, I finished in 4:00:14, which is frankly, a disappointment, although technically it does qualify me for next year. I learned that I need more work if I want to run hillier races. But the overall experience was great. Everything about this race is done well, and it really does deserve the special regard in which its held. So Im already thinking that I might try to get in next year. And then up my miles, find some hilly roads and try to improve upon my time. Hey, Desi Davila trains locally herethe Hanson brothers own the running shop I go to. Maybe they can tell me what roads Desi trained on!
And if you ever get a chance to do Bostoneither as a qualifier or as a charity runnerDO IT!
Maura
"Right on Hereford" and DH, Jan and DD, Alina
Seriously? I was jumping up and down when I saw your time on the updates! 
