Boston Marathon 2015 Race Report Part 2: Patriot's Day. Our Moment.

Boston Marathon 2015 Race Report Part 2:
Patriot's Day. Our Moment

Thank you for joining me for Part 2 of the Boston Marathon 2015 Race Report.
Ok, thirteen days after the marathon is not exactly rapid fire.  Since Boston, a cold I had going into the race subsided and made a comeback congestion and cough style.

 In Part 1: The Arrival, we got a plane, survived a lay over in Los Angeles, and managed to walk 25 miles (7 miles in shakeout runs) over the two days leading into Marathon Monday. Oy Vey! At least they were soft miles and I wore compression socks most of the time.  After you join me in crossing the finish I detail out my pre race nutrition plan and marathon nutrition plan.

Get on the Bus to the Refugee Camp

Before going to be bed I prepped all my nutrition, packed the post race gear bag, and laid my race gear, and my tri-slide to ensure a chaffing free experience regardless of what Mother Nature had in store.  From the Hostel it was a 2.5 block walk to Boston Common where we would be dropping off our gear bags and hopping on the bus to Hopkinton.  I had just enough time to finish my Generation UCAN Chocolate Protein, hit the porto-johns, and jump on the bus.  It took a while to get there but some Boston Veterans had some of the funkiest music playing then it stopped and it set in.  Our Moment awaits.  The Athletes Village felt more like a refugee camp with snippers on the schools rooftop, runners wrapped in heat blankets, with coffee and bagels being handed, and bodies finding their space underneath the big tents.

The 119th Boston Marathon

The goal for the first few miles was to not go out too fast!  Easier said than done, but the lack of a warmup aside from activation drills ensured that I was going to easy run at the start.  The greatest drop in elevation occurs within in the first mile as we bolt from the start line with our hearts on our sleeves, frogs in our throats, and visions of glory in our minds!  Our moment had finally come. We could stop pinching ourselves, stop second guessing, and just run the Boston Marathon that lay before us.  Ultimately, practice made perfect as training over trails and racing long distances over trails really instilled the mindset.  The marathon is not won in the first 10k; it can only be lost.  All that aside I was happy with my splits and passed my first test of patience.  I relied on my heart rate to keep me honest just like I did during The North Face Challenge San Francisco 50K

Mile 1: 7:40

Mile 2: 7:19

Mile 3: 7:18

In preparation I made use of every resource I could access which included podcasts from Trail Runner Nation, web articles from Runner'sWorld.com, and Raymond Britt's in depth data spanning thirteen years of Boston Marathon finishes.  From this I knew that the best opportunity to hit my marathon race pace would be around mile 5 through 7 so I could lock into the pace. Locking into my pace proved to be a challenge.  I was picking up the pace gradually but just could not put two marathon pace miles back to back.  It seemed that as soon I hit one split the course would rise in elevation or the wind picked up.  No worries.  I decided to just roll with the punches take what the trail gives me weather and all to see what happens later.

10K Split: 45:23

The next few miles just rolled past which is just what Greg McMillan of McMillan Running states should happen: "...the first 10 miles of the marathon should just fly by..." Having lived in Boston for two years it was great seeing the architecture of the homes, the stores that exist only in Massachusetts, the kids holding out orange slices, all the Mom's, Dad's, and Sibling waiting for their Marathoner to run passed them.

During miles 11-12 the rain started to come down harder.  At this point I fully committed to run the best Boston Marathon that I could run on this blustery day.  So I started cheering on the crowds, high fiving more spectators, and prepare for Wellesley!!!  Literally this was the best decision I made and contributed to having a truly amazing and positive experience.  I am even thinking I may do a fall marathon.

Half Marathon: 1:33:08

One of the hardest things to do at Boston is to meet up with everyone you know is going to be at Boston.  I mean think about it everyone's logistics are so different especially this year.  So when I "ran" into Pam just past the half marathon mark I had to do a triple take.  Thankfully we all have a signature to our racing stride or gear.  I approached cautiously so I would interrupt her stride, run into arm on the back swing, or scare the bejesus out of her.  Pam running into you was the best part of racing Boston!  Out of the four of knowing each other, running in PA-USATF races, and criss crossing similar circles; we haven't ran together.  Oh the Beauty of Boston, where magic happens!  We weaved through the field at a solid pace and in rhythm trying to find the perfect drafting partners but that turned into a futile exercise on a constantly changing course profile.  Somewhere in the second set of hills through Newton we lost touch.

35K split: 2:36:16

It is always a bitter sweet moment when you there is more marathon behind you then lay in front of you.  As the miles and kilometers brought me closer and closer to the City of Boston emotions ran high once again.  The memories of free wine and cheese tasting at Brookline Liquor Mart, the sweltering "T" rides on the green line, double dates in Kenmore Sq, and so many more. The sweet memories of days gone past.  I thank Boston for turning me into a fighter.  I learned how to overcome adversity and to fight with passion and pride to create opportunities not wait for them.

Fittingly, the wind picked and the rain came down harder.  I would expect no less from you Boston. A smile comes over my face and I turn into the mountain lion hunting down the finish line. My left hamstring was starting to act up in the form of little electrical twinges and my right hip flexor was starting to tighten up.  I was not gonna have that I finished all my UCAN and took in some Gatorade Endurance and told my body to: "shut up and get with it you can hurt later we got a marathon to finish."

40K Split: 2:59:15

I turned my focus to the last bump that lay before as we dip under the overpass before making the left on Boylston (1KM to go).  All of my final long runs ended with a slight uphill.  I crush it.  However, I also went into a mental lull of complacency which is when Pam whizzed past yelling: "Let's Finish This!!!" Two seconds latter I wake up and get after it!  Boylston never seemed to end then I look up and there is the famed finish line!!!  I dig deep, turn the wheels and find the straightest line. I reeled in the finish line running 6:12 min/mi pace right behind Pam for a hug, and high fives to all of our mates that kept us company.  Nine years, three days, and two careers later I crossed the finish at the Boston Marathon with a BQ time of 3:08:47.  One never forgets their first Boston.

My Colombian Friends; ¡Rayos de luz!

Nutrition Plan-Pre Marathon
5:45AM Pro Bar Meal Bar Superfruit Slam +
              12oz of diluted Tailwind Naked Flavor
5:50AM Cup of Coffee
6:15AM Generation UCAN Chocolate Protein Recovery
9:20AM 1/2 Serving of Generation UCAN PomBlue

Nutrition Plan During Marathon
4OZ flask: Generation UCAN PomBlue in Gel form (use as needed)
4OZ flask: 1/2 Serving of Generation UCAN PomBlue (drink bet. 70-80min into marathon)
8OZ Crystal Geyser bottle with a full pack of tailwind nutrition (sip on through first 10-15K to avoid early aid stations)
1 GU Gel: Chocolate Outrage (cause you never know what may happen)
1 Pack GU Roctane Electrolyte tablets w/Ginger Root (in case I get behind hydration)


Gear
Yellow Poncho (see through)
Long sleeve "Property of Boston" Shirt I bought for $5
Garmin 620 w/HRM
CEP Arm Coolers (I tend to give off a lot of heat)
Saucony Inferno Singlet
Pearl Izumi Fly Endurance Split Shorts
CEP Compression Quad Sleeves
CEP Compression Socks
Saucony Zealot ISO