Holy crap! What an experience.
I took the redline to the Boston Common and checked my gear bag. Probably about 30 minutes later I loaded onto a bus bound for Hopkinton. Once in Hopkinton at Athletes Village, I headed right for the Port-O-Johns and then scurried to the tent to relax and stay dry.
At 10:25 and after a .70 mile walk to the start, my corral was released for a great journey. I was definitely swept up in the adrenaline and just rolled with it. I went through the half in 1:31 but was already feeling the downhill punishment on the quads. I believe that I was fueling well, but it was concerning that things were deteriorating so early. I was taking solice in the fact that I would see my family soon right around mile 17. As I approached Newton Wellesley Hospital at the 17 mile marker, I was scanning the crowds frantically looking for my wife and girls. "Damn!" I was saying to myself, how did we miss eachother? I was just hoping that maybe the streets closed before they could get there and that I would meet them at our old spectacting spot....... mile 19. As I approached the mile 19 marker, I spotted my youngest's pink winter coat and put on my best fake smile. I stopped and kissed my family and told my wife that I was falling apart. She said "You're still running a 7:03 pace!" and sent me on running. I had felt my hamsting twinge a few times along the course, and I was hoping the cramps that I have experienced in other marathons would hold off, but it was not to be. As I was heading up the hill before Heartbreak, my right hamstring locked up reducing me to a skip/walk. I immediately jammed my fingers into the area and after about 20 or so seconds, I was able to carry on at a reduced pace. Then, as I was heading up Heartbreak, my right hamstring locked and I repeated the process losing more time. I knew right then and there that this was going to be a 5 mile slog to the finish.
In terms of the weather, it was cold, windy and raining. I definitely think I had a touch of hypothermia and it didn't help that I was pouring water and gatorade down my face and chest every time I attempted to drink.
The damn Citgo sign taunted me for what seemed like forever! I tried pushing as hard as I could as I turned right on Hereford and down the final stretch. I had nothing though. In the finishers chute I was wobbling a bit and one of the million amazing volunteers wrapped me in the mylar hooded blanket like a Jedi Knight. The FORCE wasn't with me though, as my hands couldn't open anything and I was having uncontrollable cold induced tremors. I shuffled back to the Boston Common and amazingly my wife found me and helped me to my dry clothes. I love my wife and family so much for the support and love on a nasty cold day. Amy, Maggie & Paige...... You were the MVP's of our 2015 Boston Marathon!
| 1 |
6:59.5 |
1.00 |
6:59 |
| 2 |
6:54.0 |
1.00 |
6:54 |
| 3 |
6:50.2 |
1.00 |
6:50 |
| 4 |
6:51.9 |
1.00 |
6:52 |
| 5 |
6:56.8 |
1.00 |
6:57 |
| 6 |
6:50.7 |
1.00 |
6:51 |
| 7 |
6:50.5 |
1.00 |
6:50 |
| 8 |
6:59.7 |
1.00 |
7:00 |
| 9 |
6:57.0 |
1.00 |
6:57 |
| 10 |
6:59.5 |
1.00 |
6:59 |
| 11 |
6:58.7 |
1.00 |
6:59 |
| 12 |
6:56.8 |
1.00 |
6:57 |
| 13 |
6:57.3 |
1.00 |
6:57 |
| 14 |
7:00.5 |
1.00 |
7:01 |
| 15 |
7:11.3 |
1.00 |
7:11 |
| 16 |
6:54.2 |
1.00 |
6:54 |
| 17 |
7:20.8 |
1.00 |
7:21 |
| 18 |
7:34.0 |
1.00 |
7:34 |
| 19 |
7:36.3 |
1.00 |
7:36 |
| 20 |
8:24.3 |
1.00 |
8:24 |
| 21 |
8:34.7 |
1.00 |
8:35 |
| 22 |
7:39.5 |
1.00 |
7:39 |
| 23 |
7:51.1 |
1.00 |
7:51 |
| 24 |
7:50.4 |
1.00 |
7:50 |
| 25 |
7:59.3 |
1.00 |
7:59 |
| 26 |
8:04.8 |
1.00 |
8:05 |
| 27 |
3:04.2 |
0.49 |
6:18 |
Feeling good at mile 11-12
Pissed off and cramping on Heartbreak
Wow..... tough day.
I'd like to wrap this up by saying thank you to all my running friends on the "Fast Running Blog" and thank you Sasha for creating such a valuable and motivating tool. Happy Running!
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