RR: Cake's 2011 Boston Marathon

1196 Views 18 Replies 14 Participants Last post by juliemboyle, May 4, 2011

cak73

Discussion Starter · Apr 29, 2011

So…this is a bit late… 115th Boston Marathon 
18 April 2011 
#23322, Wave 3, Corral 6 Hopkinton with excitement 
Ashland with stride 
Framingham with confidence 
Natick with nerve 
Wellesley with screams 
Newton with grit 
Brookline with momentum 
Boston with pride 
(from large Adidas banners on the course) Short Version 
charity runner for Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton, MA 
first marathon 
total time 4:58:38 
1st half 2:30:30 
2nd half 2:28:08 
Mile splits & HR avg 
M1 11:06 166 
M2 11:12 166 
M3 11:23 166 
M4 11:24 167 
M5 11:50 168 
M6 11:32 167 
M7 11:34 167 
M8 11:31 168 
M9 11:15 169 
M10 11:36 170 
M11 11:39 170 
M12 11:24 170 
M13 11:36 171 
M14 11:37 170 
M15 11:42 173 
M16 11:20 169 
M17 11:28 174 
M18 11:43 172 
M19 11:23 168 
M20 11:53 170 
M21 12:01 170 
M22 10:55 169 
M23 11:07 169 
M24 10:55 169 
M25 10:54 172 
M26 10:30 172 
M26.2 2:01 (10:05/mi) 177 Pre-race 
Training went very well, IMO, and included 2 swims, 2-3 rides, and 3 runs each week. Despite having to deal with a touch of a knee issue after one run (Nitto Denko kinesio tape to the rescue!) and a week-and-a-half of vertigo at the end of February (during which I still could manage to do my rides on the trainer), I was able to complete all of my longest runs including 17 and 19 miles solo, a 30K race, and a ~21 mile "rehearsal run" on the course from Hopkinton to the top of Heartbreak Hill. I was forced to cut mileage more sharply than planned during taper due to some tendonitis around my ankle. It had bothered me throughout the 21 mile run and I had to stop every 20 min or so because stretching my calf seemed to relieve things a bit. Talked to my PT/coach about it, got some exercises to do every day before the race and started hoping for the best come race day, knowing that I could deal with it if I had to, but worrying about it nonetheless. The hay was in the barn. 
Met up with a friend for lunch at place on Boylston on Friday. She had twice before run Boston for the MS Society and works not too far from the library. My knees got a bit weak as I exited the Copley T station and saw the finish line! After lunch, we picked up my number and checked out the expo. Got a t-shirt from Saucony that included the directions "Bang a left on Boylston" and made sure to get the free poster from Adidas that has all of the entrants names on it.
 
<a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/84339/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="03-NumberPickUp-sm.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16795" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16795/width/301/height/401" style="; width: 301px; height: 401px"></a> 
On Saturday, I headed to the pool for an early morning easy swim so I could zen out for awhile. Later that morning, I went out for an easy 2 mile run. Wasn't sure I was going to be able to make the LIT meet up at Bukowski because when I got to the Riverside T station, the traffic for parking was backed up out onto the street! Between the marathon expo and the Red Sox game, the lot was packed but I managed to find a spot. Was great to spend time with Mike, Monica, & Adam even though I was thoroughly done with having to deal with people on the T.
 
<a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/84341/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="05-LITpreBOS-sm.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16796" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16796/width/401/height/300" style="; width: 401px; height: 300px"></a> 
On Sunday, I had been instructed to spend no longer than one hour on my feet and to keep track of that time using my stopwatch. I think I was up for more like 2 hours, but trying to keep track of it was a nice distraction. Was glad that I had gotten the bulk of my race day gear packed up in a bag earlier in the week because most of what I needed was already together in one place and I only had to hunt down a couple of things. Had my "big meal" of the day for lunch and a PB&J with a banana later that night. Stayed the night at the Cohen's where I watched Monica do their taxes, watched Adam get his race stuff together, chatted with Horrible Peanut, and read some of Duel in the Sun. A nice way to pass the time and it was lights out around 10:30pm. Slept pretty well, actually, and the crazy race dreams didn't start until the last couple of hours of sleep (was at my parents house & no one would drive me to Hopkinton, was on a bus to Hopkinton but it was going to Needham, that sort of thing). Race Day 
Breakfast went down well (gf cinnamon raisin bagel with honey almond butter and banana) and was consumed over a couple of hours. We met the Central Mass Stiders club bus at a YMCA in Worcester at 6:45am and enjoyed the camaraderie on the way to Hopkinton. 
 
<a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/84343/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="cak-adco-bus-sm.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16797" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16797/width/400/height/300" style="; width: 400px; height: 300px"></a>
 
It was very comfortable hanging out in the bus near Athlete's Village, though we ventured out to use the port-o-potties and shake out the legs now and then. Was super excited to score a cool temporary tattoo (a shamrock with running legs I had applied to my right calf), green "Boston with swagger" shoelaces, and several tiny BodyGlide applicators! Fun! Was really gusty, windy out in the Village, but we could tell the temps were warming up. Had a banana an hour or so before the start and a mint chocolate Gu 15 min or so before the start. Made our way toward the corrals, shedding layers as we went. Have to say, it was awesome to be able to just follow Adam around from the moment we got to Hopkinton to the start. I think it really helped me stay calm. Pretty sure our corral had its official start a few moments before we got there, but we just followed the steady stream of people making their way to the start. I knew I wouldn't be timed until I crossed the mat and I walked every step as I made my way toward it, trying to take in everything I could. I had none of the pre-race anxiety/excitement/pent up energy tears that I've had in the past before some big races. I was ready.
 
<a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/84347/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="starting-sm.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16799" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16799/width/300/height/400" style="; width: 300px; height: 400px"></a> 
Hit the mat, hit "start" on my Timex HRM, and started to run. Right away I payed close attention to my HR since I knew not going out too fast was key. So many spectators, so many folks heading out into the woods to pee. I stuck to my 9 min run to 1 min brisk walk intervals throughout, walking through aid stations only when I needed to refill the bottles on my fuel belt. Ate one gel every 30 min and took tiny sips of alternating gatorade and water every 5 min (otherwise my stomach gets too sloshy). Because it was more warm than I'd been used to, I also took in a bit of fluid at each aid station and supplemented with two endurolytes every hour. 
I high-fived lots of little kids. Loved the rowdy folks outside of TJ's Food and Spirits in Ashland. Also noted in Ashland was a homemade "Entering Brookline" road sign by which I was momentarily puzzled and thought, "That's not right." Never felt crowded where I was running. Carried my camera and iphone with me, but never paused to take photos; I wanted to, but I also wanted to try to meet my faster than 5 hours time goal. I let the miles tick by and concentrated on keeping my HR in zone 3. I hit the split button every mile, but never made note of the time it took to run every mile. At the end of each hour, I noted I had run more than 5 miles so I knew I was running faster than 12 min/mi and probably closer to ~11:30 min/mi and I left it at that. I was about 2:30 into it when I crossed the 13.1 mile mat in Wellesley and I felt good about that. The plan was to keep the HR as low as possible in zone 3 for 10 miles, let it drift up a bit through Heartbreak Hill and then ignore it after and "empty the tank." I had friends out on the course near mile 10 in Hopkinton, near mile 14.7 in Wellesley, just before the turn by the firehouse in Newton, near mile 20 along the hills of Newton (can't believe I almost missed seeing Monica because I was totally looking out for her), and at the top of Heartbreak Hill. This helped me tremendously and I imagined reeling them in one by one. 
 
<a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/84345/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Mile-17ish-fromsuzy-sm2.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16798" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16798/width/401/height/301" style="; width: 401px; height: 301px"></a>
Before the turn at the firehouse (from my friend, Suzy). I think I was trying to do "devil horns" but it seems like I managed devil horns on the right and "aloha" on the left.
 
Somewhere in Wellesley, there were like half a dozen small trampolines with kids jumping up and down on them. I was tempted to join in for a few hops, but then I imagined twisting my ankle and gave it a pass. The scream tunnel in Wellesley was great, but the crowd at Boston College was better. At one point, they formed two lines and created a tunnel of high fives. The person at the end of this tunnel was so enthusiastic in trying to wave people into it that I couldn't resist! Loved the huge arch that stated, "The Heartbreak is Over!" Near BC, a kid of about 4 years in age ran by me and was closely followed by his grandpa (the race day photogs actually got a photo of this!). 
I knew by mile 10 or 11 that I was gonna have some great blisters on my bunions and on a few toes (Bodyglide + newer shoes = fail). My ankle lasted about 3 blessed hours before it started to make a peep…right about as I ran down that screaming descent into Newton Lower Falls & pretty much when I figured it would. Tried to stretch my calf only once, wading through the empty cups like 12 inches deep on my way to the curb. At about the same time, I really began to be aware of my quads. This wasn't a surprise to me in that I'd heard plenty of other folks talk about this and I knew to expect it. Still, it amused me that they hadn't felt that way at all during the rehearsal run. No cramping, but a steady soreness that I knew would be with me the rest of the way. So, I owned it. I looked forward to the Hills of Newton because up hill was easier on my ankle. I looked forward to down hills because they were easier on my lungs. I looked forward to my walk intervals and to any change in elevation because they kept all kinds of soreness at a manageable level. It all felt sort of surreal until the discomfort started. Then, it felt like hard work…but still very doable. I had the impression, as I ran up Heartbreak Hill, that everyone ahead of me was walking. I felt great, all things considering. I had never seen the course between Cleveland Circle and Hereford so that was all new. A spectator in Brookline commented that I had great form still. By this time, I was having to go around lots of folks walking or running more slowly and dodge folks running into the course to join runners they knew. 
By the time I got to the bit that goes underneath Mass Ave (which is cruel, BTW, because your vision does go a bit grey and it made me feel a bit trippy), pretty much the only thing on my mind was, "Where the FOOK is Hereford?!?!?!" I had been due for a walk interval, but I skipped it because I was just past mile 25 and I knew full well I'd regret it if I came in over 5 hours. I was all, "Go, go, GO!" at that point. During the last few minutes of my first half-iron tri I wanted time to slow down and I wanted those moments to last longer. This was not at all the case as I desperately anticipated the turn onto Hereford. Made the turn and things got surreal again. Left onto Boylston and I let the vision of the finish line suck me in. I'd made it! Under 5 hours with 1.5 minutes to spare! 
All I wanted to do was lie down on the curb and take a nap. I'd felt very even in regard to energy and mental outlook during the run, but I was DONE after I crossed the finish line. Got my space blanket, medal, and bag of food. Got my phone out to text Tom and got a text from Adam. Turns out, he finished just a bit ahead of me. I met him at the bag claim and here, again, Adam totally helped me get straightened out. He made me eat some potato chips and we headed to the Park Plaza where the running club had gotten a couple of rooms for showering purposes. I am certain it would have taken me much longer to get there if I'd been by myself. In hindsight, I should have grabbed one of the Gatorade recovery drinks even though I drank a bunch of water. Adam actually sought out Monica who had gotten a banana from Yoshiko…AHHHHH, banana. It really helped! Removing my socks confirmed a few of my toes had taken a beating. Washing the funk off in the shower totally helped me feel more human and, with great satisfaction, I dressed in the Boston Marathon tech T I got with my bib number, my "celebration" jacket and my finishers' medal.
 
<a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/84349/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="cak-tjk-MJs-sm.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16800" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16800/width/400/height/300" style="; width: 400px; height: 300px"></a> 
Met up with LIT peeps at MJ O'Connors where I enjoyed a soda and a beer. Was great to see Mike, Monica, Adam, John, Thor and Heather! Sorry to have missed Yoshiko and Zdoc. Though it was probably very helpful to my recovery, the walk back to the car, which was closer to the convention center than it was to the Park Plaza and more than half a mile away, was slow going. Was pretty sore on Tuesday and a bit less sore than that on Wednesday when I went in for a massage. Post-race Thoughts & Thanks 
It went as well as I could have ever hoped it would! I'm very happy to have finished in under 5 hours, negative split the course by almost two minutes, and run the last 5 miles with my fastest splits of the day! 
I, with help from Adam, was able to raise more than $2000 for Baypath Humane Society, a non-profit, no-kill, all-breed shelter for dogs and cats in Hopkinton! 
HUGE thanks to you all for your support of both me and Baypath! Your advice and words of encouragement helped carry me through the day. It was an amazing experience!
 
Forgot to thank my coach, who is also my physical therapist! He put together a great plan and helps me keep my hips healthy. He's the only person I know who could change his mind regarding a race, forgo all exercise in the 3 weeks leading up to the race, run sub 7s for 14 miles then jog it out to mile 21 (still ending with like a 7:30 pace overall) and happily end his day at Boston. 
It goes without saying that I could not have done this without the support of my husband, Tom. 
Would I do it again? Yes. Next year? Dunno. 
Would I run a different marathon? Yes, but it's gonna be difficult to find one that matches Boston in regard to spectators support! Just not sure how I would manage the distance without that support and distraction. 
Would love to volunteer on the course sometime!

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xflbk43

· #13 · May 1, 2011

Very impressive race...and to negative split it...WOW! Congrats on a very smart race. And oh yeah, probably a good idea to NOT get on the trampoline, though it may have been fun to do so. I'm glad you did the smart thing.

Awesome job out there!

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