Training Log Archive: KyeIn the 7 days ending Apr 18, 2016:
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Monday Apr 18, 2016 #
10 AM
Running race (Boston Marathon) 3:33:09 [3] 42.19 km (5:03 / km)
Feel as though I should write a recap - for myself in the future
Going in to Boston, I could only run 5k at new years (3.5 months out), only reached 32k in training, and travelled across 5 countries, and 3 continents before arriving at the race... needless to say my expectations were low.
I was more nervous about getting to the start than the actual marathon - but once I got into the city (was staying in the burbs), the bag drop, buses to the start, making friends, toilets, fuelling - all easy.
I was not prepared for the downhill... the first 10k really downhill rolling, but mostly downhill. As I started in my qualifying time 322, and was thinking I'd run a 345, I was being passed by many many people. My first km was 4.49m/km. I kept yelling inside my head - slow down.
At 10km my feeling was - you're only a quarter of the way there - I don't think you'll make it. Then I reminded myself, I'm doing this for enjoyment not a time - soak it in.
By 18km I was holding my pace steady, although I was trying not to look at my garmin, and with km markers only every 5km, the mile markers didn't mean much.
I met George at this point, we casually started talking, this was his 26th Boston, with 100-200 marathons under his belt. So we chatted away, and I got a guided tour of Boston Marathon.
Past halfway around 147 - faster than I wanted but felt good.
It was hot... like 15-18 degrees, so I was drinking at every aid station - every mile!!! Coming from Africa, this was actually comfortable, but Northern Americans were not coping.
I was prepared for the hills before 35km, and just concentrated on a far away point, and kept thinking, these are not hills, they are bumps - which they were.
With 5km to go, I look at my watch and calculated I would go way closer to 330 than 345, so I pushed a little. George and I still running strong, chatting and overtaking a lot of people.
Now... there were people all along the course - with hilarious signs, handing out beers, oranges, roses, kisses - its infamous, and its really cool.
Feeling strong, I took one last gu with 30mins to go.
Seeing the one mile to go sign, and the familiar street signs and city was great!
As we made our last two turns, I felt like I was sprinting, in reality not even my tempo pace.
I finish strong, with a high 333 on my watch.
Funny ending
George and I continue to chat as we get our medals and treats, its then time to part ways, I have nothing on me, aside from a spare gu, a medal, and a layer of salty sweat. And he has not checked a bag, bc he is walking back to his accommodation. So we walk up to policemen and politely ask for a pen. As I ask George if he is on social media... trying to guesstimate his age. He says sure, so I write my name on his bib and explain I'm easy to find because of my last night. The police me slaps him on the arms, and congratulates him for picking me up - lol we're all laughing, and he politely says I'm married, and I just smile. This probably sums up how friendly and camaraderie the race is.
Given the chance I would do this marathon every year.
Going in to Boston, I could only run 5k at new years (3.5 months out), only reached 32k in training, and travelled across 5 countries, and 3 continents before arriving at the race... needless to say my expectations were low.
I was more nervous about getting to the start than the actual marathon - but once I got into the city (was staying in the burbs), the bag drop, buses to the start, making friends, toilets, fuelling - all easy.
I was not prepared for the downhill... the first 10k really downhill rolling, but mostly downhill. As I started in my qualifying time 322, and was thinking I'd run a 345, I was being passed by many many people. My first km was 4.49m/km. I kept yelling inside my head - slow down.
At 10km my feeling was - you're only a quarter of the way there - I don't think you'll make it. Then I reminded myself, I'm doing this for enjoyment not a time - soak it in.
By 18km I was holding my pace steady, although I was trying not to look at my garmin, and with km markers only every 5km, the mile markers didn't mean much.
I met George at this point, we casually started talking, this was his 26th Boston, with 100-200 marathons under his belt. So we chatted away, and I got a guided tour of Boston Marathon.
Past halfway around 147 - faster than I wanted but felt good.
It was hot... like 15-18 degrees, so I was drinking at every aid station - every mile!!! Coming from Africa, this was actually comfortable, but Northern Americans were not coping.
I was prepared for the hills before 35km, and just concentrated on a far away point, and kept thinking, these are not hills, they are bumps - which they were.
With 5km to go, I look at my watch and calculated I would go way closer to 330 than 345, so I pushed a little. George and I still running strong, chatting and overtaking a lot of people.
Now... there were people all along the course - with hilarious signs, handing out beers, oranges, roses, kisses - its infamous, and its really cool.
Feeling strong, I took one last gu with 30mins to go.
Seeing the one mile to go sign, and the familiar street signs and city was great!
As we made our last two turns, I felt like I was sprinting, in reality not even my tempo pace.
I finish strong, with a high 333 on my watch.
Funny ending
George and I continue to chat as we get our medals and treats, its then time to part ways, I have nothing on me, aside from a spare gu, a medal, and a layer of salty sweat. And he has not checked a bag, bc he is walking back to his accommodation. So we walk up to policemen and politely ask for a pen. As I ask George if he is on social media... trying to guesstimate his age. He says sure, so I write my name on his bib and explain I'm easy to find because of my last night. The police me slaps him on the arms, and congratulates him for picking me up - lol we're all laughing, and he politely says I'm married, and I just smile. This probably sums up how friendly and camaraderie the race is.
Given the chance I would do this marathon every year.