Ran the Boston Marathon - What an amazing experience!
Michelle M, Michelle N, Cheris, Julie and I left for the buses at 6:55 and began to worry when we saw the lines. They actually moved very fast and we were able to get on the bus and on our way. Our bus driver got lost on the way which did cause some worry but it would be better to sit on the bus then out in the cold. Once we got there we had enough time to find Kris and Dean and then get in the port-a-poty line. I think we were the last people to use them. We began walking down to the corrals and did not make it to ours before it started. We ended up starting in 22 instead of 16 but our plan was to really hold back the first two miles and then pick up from there. We followed our plan very well due to the great pacing of Michelle M. The details are below.
Mile 1: 9:32 a little slower than planned but a nice start
Mile 2: 8:58 right where we want to be
Mile 3: 8:41 starting to pick up a little
Mile 4: 8:26 rolled my ankle in a pot hole and felt it pull right up my IT band - exactly how I hurt it earlier this year. Not sure what to think.
Mile 5: 8:33 feeling okay, GU'd
Mile 6: 8:34 Another good mile
Mile 7: 8:35 same
Mile 8: 8:29 same
Mile 9: 8:27 starting to hurt a little from the ankle roll - Saw some missionaries somewhere around this mile, it was fun to cheer with them
Mile 10: 8:32 took some IB from Michelle along with my GU
Mile 11: 8:44 slower, while waiting for Michelle M and Dean in the bathrooms
Mile 12: 8:16 running with some other missionaries who became bandits for a few miles
Mile 13: 8:27 not liking this at all
Mile 14: 8:37 not liking it even more
Mile 15: 8:26 Yeah - the hills start. I had been so worried about the Newton hills but felt great once we started and really began to have fun, GU'd
Mile 16: 8:27 feeling good
Mile 17: 8:33 Still feeling good
Mile 18: 8:33 Still feeling good
Mile 19: 8:33 More goodness
Mile 20: 8:36 still good, GU'd
Mile 21: 8:56 Heartbreak Hill - Not bad at all.
Mile 22: 8:06 a little surge knowing I was done with the 4 Newton hills. Let Michelle M, Julie, Cheris and Dean go at the end of 22.
Mile 23: 8:34 GU'd
Mile 24: 8:40 - Can see the CITGO sign in the distance and know that when I get there, 1 mile left - it just took forever to get there. Ran by Fenway
Mile 25: 8:35 Glad it is over but still feeling pretty good
Mile 26: 8:42 Passing people along the way and feel pretty good heading up to the convention ctr and turning on Boylston.
.2: 8:17 Had to keep telling myself that I was not done until I cross the finish line but felt good.
I loved the course! Not just because of the great fans but I liked the constant rolling hills. It was great to run the majority of it with friends and get to share this experience. It was windy that day 10- 15 mph head wind the entire course but not horrible. It was a great day for running and a great experience. I was glad we had planned on running a little slower, so that we could enjoy the entire course and have a great time. Thank you Cheryl and Peggy for all the hill work outs - they paid off big time!
