Well, I did it! I ran my first marathon and qualified for Boston at the same time. Not an easy course either. There were so many hills it was ridiculous, at least 40%-50% hill terrain, with a 1 mile stretch of hills that was crazy. I bet heartbreak will have nothing on that mile. The last 2 months of hill training paid off in a big way for this.
Got to the start with only 10 minutes till gun time @7:00am. only had 5 hours of sleep, did not sleep well. Did not get to stretch much. Only a about a 1/5th of a mile warm up run. Definitely not the way I wanted to prepare. About 500 runners total, most were for the Half Marathon. Loaded up on a cliff bar, apple, and banana, a packet of emergenc-c, and 2 ginseng capsules. (Naturemade ginseng is great stuff, highly recommend! Also emergen-c is very good, B-vitamins to help convert your food fuel into energy, and vitamin C to boost your immune system, also some electrolytes, though not recommended as your only source for that) Garmin was low on battery, didn't have time to charge. Glad I didn't because I really enjoyed not constantly looking at my time, just ran hard.
My strategy was basically to go all out from the very beginning, knowing I could maintain a sub 7:00 pace for at least 15 miles. Then I'd let that carry me for the next 11 miles being able to go over an 8:00 pace for the majority of it.
Mile 1 through 5 - I started near the front. Only about 30 runners ahead of me. Didn't know it at the time, but only 1 was a running the full, the rest were halfs. Hitched on with a guy with a stop watch, we ran at a 6:50 pace for 5 miles. Had a little conversation but not much, we were both working hard. At mile five either he picked up the pace or I slowed down slightly, either way, I did not want to burn up to fast. I was still easily going sub 7:00 though. mile 6 - 9 was just non eventuful running alone, got passed by 2 halfers, asked me if I was running the full, and I said yeah, they were all "ah get out of here!!!" heh. Still probably at a sub 7:00 pace at this point. The halfers headed off to the half course, I continued. Going strong at this point still stomach was still full of carbs, didn't need any gels and only a little bit of heed. (that's good stuff!) 10-13. Still running strong but closing in on 7:00/mi pace. No pain. nothin, stride still efficient. 14 - The 1 mile of huge hills, this is where my pace definitely went above 7:00 and did not get back under. still running strong at this point, still running on my initial fuel loadup. and water and heed. Started taking heed at nearly every aid station. got passed by 1 guy in the opposite direction at the turn around point. Amazing! was I really in second place? He was only about a 1/2 a mile ahead of me, maybe 3/4th, he was running strong, and had a bicycle pacer with him. That or it was an official race volunteer to make sure he was ok? I dunno. He went on to finish with a 2:44 time. 15 - Course was not well marked in spots!!! Made a wrong turn! doh, put on an extra 25 - 30 seconds. Luckily a bystander caught up to me, since I didn't hear anyone yelling to turn around. Had she gotten to me 8 seconds later I would not have qualified for boston. 16 seconds was all it would have taken. 16-18 Goin strong, but feeling the wear. heals startin to hurt a little. But overall I'm functioning at 85% or so, still doing good. probably 7:05 -7:15 pace. or so. Going back the same way, lots more hills, oh boy. No cramps or anything though,s taying well hydrated.
20 - Gel time. Grabbed a hammer gel. I'm rapidly losing movement from my muscles.energy is running out. Nobody has passed me though. Looking back every so often, nobody is in sight. No cramps, all systems functioning well, but lower energy.
21-23 same thing. Energy goin down, well over an 8:00/mi pace at this point. I am totally breaking down, and am fighting to move my legs, but there is no way I'm gonna stop. Had the thought a couple of times to stop and walk or take a quick break at an aid station, but kept saying no, I'm gonna finish it all the way through. Gel seemed to slow the energy decline a bit. Nobody still in sight behind me. 2nd place is in the bag, I'm stoked, even if I don't qualify for Boston, I get 2nd overall. still no cramps, have not had to take a bathroom break the whole way, everything feelin good as far as inner systems.
24-25 - 2nd wind is coming on, getting closer and the gel is doin it's thing, or the mind is, either way, I can smell the finish. Last aid station- get some water, decide to stand still to drink it, savor it, make sure it all goes down.
home stretch - Gettin the pace back to 7:30 or so. last uphill done. Ending 1/4 mile is down a steep hill, fly down it and pick up the steam.Crowd is cheering, the announcer on the PA system is screaming my name telling me to run as hard as I can and the Boston Qualifying time is within reach, I can see the finish line and the clock reads: 3:10:45!!! Is that really true! yes it is!!!! BREAK INTO FULL SPRINT AS THE CROWD IS GOING WILD, I CROSS THE FINISH AT 3:10:56!!!!!!!!!! I FLY THROUGH IT GRAB THE MEDAL BEING HELD IN MY DIRECTION AND RAISE MY ARMS IN A V AND PROCLAIM "IM GOING TO BOSTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
After that I'm just all smiles, getting my finishing photos, high 5s from strangers people asking me how I'm doing! All is awesome!!! Then I look down, and my band aids had fallen off and I'm wearing a white running shirt with nipple blood all over it, lol. how embarrassing. went to the medical aid tent, got some bandaids, and an ice pack to ice everything down for 10 minutes or so. Not in any pain but I do it as a precaution now. Started texting all my friends and my mom and brother telling them I qualified for Boston, including my friend that lives on the route of the marathon! I'm going to have a place to stay, and a personal aid station at mile 22, how sweet it will be! Got a nice bottle of wine as my 1st place in age division prize. FYI: This course sucks!!!! I mean, it's beautiful scenery, but the road sucks!! could they add one more hill please? Cause you see, after the 100th one, I just was dying for another! Also a lot of slanted road. It is not the easiest course.. though that makes me even more stoked that I qualified for Boston at it. however, if you want an easy win, this is the place to go. I mean.. my 3:10:44 takes 2nd place overall? lol, that's not that deep of a field. Thanks everyone here for your encouragement and advice, especially Jon, Sasha and Dustin with your tips on my training. Mission Accomplished.
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