Enjoyed Saturday and Sunday in Boston and felt good when I got to sleep at about 9. Woke up at 5:30, got dressed in all my layers, and headed down to the hotel restaraunt for some food. I ate a couple pieces of toast with peanut butter and a banana (my typical race morning meal). It was early, for a 10am start, but I was hungry and needed some fuel. I walked over to the buses from the hotel and thought it was a little chilly but not bad. I had on a long sleeve button up shirt with my arm warmers underneath and my jersey with bib attached over the top. No, unfortunately I do not have a picture! I had not planned on wearing my Easter Sunday shirt to the race to toss to the side, but realized I had forgotten a sweatshirt to donate when it was too late to find a replacement.
I met up with Josh and we sat down and relaxed with Kevin and a couple others that were with him. I continued to drink and eat a little and was feeling great. I figured I had consumed enough liquid because I had to go to the restroom several times the last hour and a half of waiting. I had contemplated starting the run wearing my arm warmers and beanie, but by the time we lined up I had shed everything and felt plenty warm. I am used to feeling a little chilly at the beginning of races in Utah so it was different to feel fine before beginning to run. note-this should have been my first sign that the heat of the day was going to affect me.
Before I knew it, we were off and running. It felt good to get the legs moving and finally be racing. My goal was to run the first 2 miles at about 7:00 or so and not faster than 6:50, then to drop to 6:50 until "the hills." It was amazingly crowded, but I felt like the pace was good at the start. I consciously held back a few times when I felt the mass of runners push my desired pace a little. First 2 came in at 6:57 and 6:53 (according to Garmin, so add a couple seconds if you wish). I felt good with these so I decided to stick to the plan and drop down to 6:50's but hopefully nothing faster than 6:45, with one small caveat. Mile 3 was 6:47 (5k - 21:26, according to race clock).
I took a sip of gatorade or water at each station. The next 3 miles seemed to fly by and were 6:50, 6:47, 6:41 (10k - 42:33). That 6th mile was a little quick, but I allowed myself the caveat that if the mile had a decent downhill I would allow a few seconds faster as long as I didn't have to push the effort to be there. 3 more miles in and I was still feeling great. I took a gel some time between 6 and 7 and chased it with some water from the aid station. 6:44, 6:44, 6:45 (15k - 1:03:37).
Before I knew it I was at the half way point and was still feeling great. I kept thinking to myself, "hydration is on, nutrition is on, feeling good." 10-13 were 6:48, 6:44, 6:39 (decent down), 6:45. (20k - 1:24:36). So I crossed the half at 1:29:11, which is right where I wanted to be. I took another gel somewhere around 14 and I think that I poured a cup of water down my back somewhere shortly after the half. Honestly, up to that point I didn't ever really feel hot. I obviously was warm, and I noticed that I started sweating pretty early on, but up to this point I had not thought I was overheating. I thought that I was hydrating sufficiently by consuming either water or gatorade at each station.
I kept on running and only had one little niggle in my right calf. I could tell it was tightening a little, but I have had enough experience with that pain now that I know it is nothing to worry about. Sure, I won't walk well in 2 days, but I am good to keep running. 6:43, 6:49, 6:38 I knew I would be a little faster on 16 because of the down, but I held back knowing I could have easily gone faster. I wanted to just keep an easy effort down so I could hold the effort after it flattened and went back up. (25k 1:45:31).
I like to think that 17 is where the course changes to more uphill. To hit my goal, I had said that I was willing to run up to 5 miles at a 7:00 pace across the "Newton Hills." 17 - 6:49, just banked 11 seconds and the effort felt good. 18 - 7:00, right where I intended. 19 - 6:53, 7 more seconds banked. 20 - 7:04, totally fine with that. 21 - 7:14, a little slow, but I didn't want to completely run out of steam on Heartbreak. I crested the hill and still felt ok. Obviously, by now my legs are getting tired, but I thought the tough miles were behind me. (30k - 2:07:00, 35k - 2:29:14)
The downhill felt alright. I know that others have complained of the downhill being painful, but I didn't really experience that at this point. I love running downhill and consider it one of my strengths. I had to shake the up out of my legs but I thought I would dip back under 7:00 pretty easily. 7:04, Ok, I can deal with that. I don't feel great now, but the next one will be quicker and I am still a couple seconds below my goal average. This is where the pretty picture to this point gets destroyed.
Here are my thoughts as I tried to get my legs under me and back under 7:00. "Hmm...I don't feel right. I have a slight headache and I might be a little dizzy. That is weird, my hands are tingling ever so slightly. Yup, I am dizzy. I closed my eyes for a second to think what was going on. As I said, I thought I was solid with my nutrition and hydration. I had tried to keep my core temp down. My eyes shot open as I stumbled a little to the left and felt a slight variation in the road. I felt like time slowed to a halt, my mind started racing (better than my legs at this point) with countless self defeating thoughts. "I'm falling apart." "I don't deserve to be running this epic race." "I'm a hack." And then... "Am I even going to finish?"
Thankfully, another series of thoughts followed and I realized I had 2 options, quit or push through. It wasn't going to be easy. It surely want going to be pretty. However, I thought it was possible. So, I pushed on. By now, the bottoms of my feet felt like they were on fire, my hands were definitely tingling, and each time I closed my eyes things didn't stay straight. I committed to not walk. Slow down, but never walk.
I honestly thought I was destined to collapse, hopefully not until after crossing the finish line, and end up in the med tent. I am sure I looked like a zombie (not the ones on World War Z - those were fast runners) to every spectator and especially to those gracious volunteers handing out water and gatorade. I am happy to say that I stuck to it. Those several miles were some of the most miserable I have ever run. 7:31, 8:02, 8:39, 8:50, and brought it in in 3:13 (7:54 pace). I didn't end up in the med tent!
So, Boston 2014 was an amazing experience! It was just awesome to be there and to run a 3:06. However, I am a little disappointed in the outcome. My training cycle was solid and I thought I had a sub-3 in me. I still think that I did, but unfortunately it didn't play out that way. Now it is time to regroup and decide what to run next. Thinking about putting my name in for St. George. Thoughts?
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