A year ago I was in my taper phase getting ready to run the 113th Boston Marathon as a member of the Dana Farber team. It is hard to believe that it has been a year already. It seems as if it was just yesterday that I was trying to decide what my goal should be for the marathon. I can admit right here that I had no thought of trying to run a 4 hour marathon in Boston. Everything I had read and heard about the Boston Marathon was that you should not try and run a PR in this race. But, as you know, I did set a PR in the 113th Boston and finally achieved my goal of running a 4 hour marathon.
During the past week of rest I am taking due to being in the Rivers’ Edge Players production of The Importance of Being Earnest, I had a chance to think about my favorite memories from the race. The race starts in Hopkinton a little over 4 miles from my front door. The town of Hopkinton has hosted the starting of the marathon since the race moved there from Ashland in 1925. What I remember most about the area is the circus like atmosphere in the corrals as we waited for the starter’s gun to go off. Then I had to run the steepest downhill of the marathon course. It drops 130 feet from the starting line before you start to level off.
The next town on the course is Ashland. We were still heading generally down hill and it is as this point where I felt really comfortable with my pace. I really was not thinking too much about my finishing time at this point. I was just trying to take in all of the sites and sounds of the race. You cross the first 5K marker in Ashland and I remember thinking that I was running a bit too fast at that point. My split time was 28:18. I knew the Newton Hills were ahead and I didn’t want to struggle when I hit them.
I passed the 5 mile and 10K mark in Framingham. I work for Staples and my office is in Framingham. I really enjoyed the first truly flat portion of the course. I hit the 10K mark at 56:58 and was feeling like I could run at that pace forever. Still in the back of my mind I felt I was going a little too fast. The general consensus from my running magazines and podcasts is too not go out too fast as the hills later in the course will take their toll.
The 15K marker is in Natick. This is also the portion of the course where you have another downhill to the 10 mile marker. You then level off until around mile 12 where you hit the early rolling hills that will lead you into Wellesley. When I crossed the 15K mark, I was at 1:24:36. Some how I was running a very even pace. I wasn’t sure how long I could sustain it. I just decided to continue along and just try and enjoy the experience. I was really loving every step of the race at this point.
The half marathon mark is in Wellesley. But, what I remember most of all is the “screech tunnel” at Wellesley College. I don’t think that I can truly describe how loud these girls are as you run through the “tunnel”. The girls reach out to touch the runners and are begging the men to kiss them as they go by. I couldn’t disappoint and did give one of the girls a kiss as I went by. When I hit the 20K marker I was at 1:52:44 and at the Halfway Point I was at 1:58:54. When I noticed that I was on pace to potentially run a 4 hour marathon, I thought, “I have been here before and faded at the end. Better not think about it at this point.” But, I was not feeling any fatigue or aches or pains at this point in time. I left Wellesley crossing the 25K mark at 2:21:04 and knew the next stop was going to be the Newton Hills.
I crossed the town line into Newton. What is interesting is the most difficult hill in Newton is actually the first hill. It was tough. This hill on Washington Street (Route 16), climbing from the Charles River crossing at 16 miles, is regarded by Dave McGillivray, the 2007 race director, as the course’s most difficult challenge. The hill follows a 150 foot drop over the course of ½ mile and forces many runners to a walking pace. I hit the hills and knew I could handle them. I just wasn’t sure how it would affect my time. When I hit the 30K mark just before Heartbreak Hill, I was at 2:49:51.
Heartbreak Hill rises over 0.4 mile and is between the 20 and 21 mile markers near Boston College. It is the last of four "Newton Hills". Heartbreak Hill itself rises only 88 vertical feet which really is not that bad. I actually don’t recall it being hard at all. The nickname "Heartbreak Hill" originated with an event in the 1936 race. On this stretch, defending champion John A. Kelley caught race leader Ellison "Tarzan" Brown, giving Brown a pat on the shoulder as he passed. His competitive drive apparently stoked by this gesture, Tarzan Brown rallied, pulled away from Kelley, and went on to win—in the words of Boston Globe reporter Jerry Nason, "breaking Kelley's heart."
After cresting the final hill, I knew I had a fairly easy course left. Some down hills and a couple of minor hills were all I had left. I hit the 35K marker 3:18:19. It is here that the course briefly touches Brighton and then immediately enters Brookline. This is also the point where at Cleveland Circle you turn onto Beacon Street and know you are in the final miles of the race. I was still not feeling any major fatigue. I was actually feeling really good. It was also the point of the race where I thought for the first time I might actually break 4 hours. I had 40 minutes to run 4.5 miles.
I finally could see the Citgo sign and knew that I was going to finally be entering the City of Boston and approaching one of the greatest finishing lines in all of marathoning. It was absolutely crazy along Beacon Street and Kenmore Square. The crowds really pumped me up as I crossed the 40K mark at 3:47:25. I had only 1.4 miles to go and 12 minutes to reach my goal. I could not believe it. I had a real chance to break 4 hours. Somewhere deep inside me, I found the energy to finish strong.
As I turned onto Boylston St. and could see the finish line, I knew I was going to reach a goal I was not sure I would ever reach and in the Boston Marathon. I pushed my pace and crossed the finish line in the shadow of the Boston Public Library at 3:59:21. I did cut it close. But, it doesn’t matter. I broke 4 hours and felt a rush that is indescribable. My father when I told him about the race and the fact that I had stopped a couple of times to take pictures along the route and kissed the girls in Wellesley said, “You could have run even faster if you hadn’t been doing all that business on the course.” He is right. I don’t care though because I reached a major life goal and in the most prestigious marathon in the country.
I will be volunteering at the Starting Line Runner’s Refuge for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team on Marathon Monday. I will be a little jealous of those who will be heading out on the course. However, I have decided that I don’t want to run the Boston Marathon again until I can qualify. I am not sure if I ever will be able to qualify. But, the fun is in the attempt. If you are running the 114th Boston Marathon this year make sure you take in all the sites and sounds as you run. You will never experience anything like it.
Here are my training totals:
Apr. 4 – 11.00 miles (1:38:50, 8:59 pace)
Apr. 5 – 6.20 miles (54:56, 8:51 pace)
Apr. 6 – 4.50 miles (36:27, 8:06 pace) – Yasso 800s
Apr. 7 – 7.40 miles (1:05:48, 8:53 pace) – Tempo Run
Apr. 8 – 5.20 miles (40:46, 7:50 pace)
Apr. 10 – 10.20 miles (1:26:24, 8:27 pace)
Apr. 11 – 10.20 miles (1:26:57, 8:31 pace)
Apr. 12 – 6.20 miles (55:23, 8:56 pace)
Total Miles: 60.90 miles
2010 YTD Miles: 478.30 miles
During the past week of rest I am taking due to being in the Rivers’ Edge Players production of The Importance of Being Earnest, I had a chance to think about my favorite memories from the race. The race starts in Hopkinton a little over 4 miles from my front door. The town of Hopkinton has hosted the starting of the marathon since the race moved there from Ashland in 1925. What I remember most about the area is the circus like atmosphere in the corrals as we waited for the starter’s gun to go off. Then I had to run the steepest downhill of the marathon course. It drops 130 feet from the starting line before you start to level off.
The next town on the course is Ashland. We were still heading generally down hill and it is as this point where I felt really comfortable with my pace. I really was not thinking too much about my finishing time at this point. I was just trying to take in all of the sites and sounds of the race. You cross the first 5K marker in Ashland and I remember thinking that I was running a bit too fast at that point. My split time was 28:18. I knew the Newton Hills were ahead and I didn’t want to struggle when I hit them.
I passed the 5 mile and 10K mark in Framingham. I work for Staples and my office is in Framingham. I really enjoyed the first truly flat portion of the course. I hit the 10K mark at 56:58 and was feeling like I could run at that pace forever. Still in the back of my mind I felt I was going a little too fast. The general consensus from my running magazines and podcasts is too not go out too fast as the hills later in the course will take their toll.
The 15K marker is in Natick. This is also the portion of the course where you have another downhill to the 10 mile marker. You then level off until around mile 12 where you hit the early rolling hills that will lead you into Wellesley. When I crossed the 15K mark, I was at 1:24:36. Some how I was running a very even pace. I wasn’t sure how long I could sustain it. I just decided to continue along and just try and enjoy the experience. I was really loving every step of the race at this point.
The half marathon mark is in Wellesley. But, what I remember most of all is the “screech tunnel” at Wellesley College. I don’t think that I can truly describe how loud these girls are as you run through the “tunnel”. The girls reach out to touch the runners and are begging the men to kiss them as they go by. I couldn’t disappoint and did give one of the girls a kiss as I went by. When I hit the 20K marker I was at 1:52:44 and at the Halfway Point I was at 1:58:54. When I noticed that I was on pace to potentially run a 4 hour marathon, I thought, “I have been here before and faded at the end. Better not think about it at this point.” But, I was not feeling any fatigue or aches or pains at this point in time. I left Wellesley crossing the 25K mark at 2:21:04 and knew the next stop was going to be the Newton Hills.
I crossed the town line into Newton. What is interesting is the most difficult hill in Newton is actually the first hill. It was tough. This hill on Washington Street (Route 16), climbing from the Charles River crossing at 16 miles, is regarded by Dave McGillivray, the 2007 race director, as the course’s most difficult challenge. The hill follows a 150 foot drop over the course of ½ mile and forces many runners to a walking pace. I hit the hills and knew I could handle them. I just wasn’t sure how it would affect my time. When I hit the 30K mark just before Heartbreak Hill, I was at 2:49:51.
Heartbreak Hill rises over 0.4 mile and is between the 20 and 21 mile markers near Boston College. It is the last of four "Newton Hills". Heartbreak Hill itself rises only 88 vertical feet which really is not that bad. I actually don’t recall it being hard at all. The nickname "Heartbreak Hill" originated with an event in the 1936 race. On this stretch, defending champion John A. Kelley caught race leader Ellison "Tarzan" Brown, giving Brown a pat on the shoulder as he passed. His competitive drive apparently stoked by this gesture, Tarzan Brown rallied, pulled away from Kelley, and went on to win—in the words of Boston Globe reporter Jerry Nason, "breaking Kelley's heart."
After cresting the final hill, I knew I had a fairly easy course left. Some down hills and a couple of minor hills were all I had left. I hit the 35K marker 3:18:19. It is here that the course briefly touches Brighton and then immediately enters Brookline. This is also the point where at Cleveland Circle you turn onto Beacon Street and know you are in the final miles of the race. I was still not feeling any major fatigue. I was actually feeling really good. It was also the point of the race where I thought for the first time I might actually break 4 hours. I had 40 minutes to run 4.5 miles.
I finally could see the Citgo sign and knew that I was going to finally be entering the City of Boston and approaching one of the greatest finishing lines in all of marathoning. It was absolutely crazy along Beacon Street and Kenmore Square. The crowds really pumped me up as I crossed the 40K mark at 3:47:25. I had only 1.4 miles to go and 12 minutes to reach my goal. I could not believe it. I had a real chance to break 4 hours. Somewhere deep inside me, I found the energy to finish strong.
As I turned onto Boylston St. and could see the finish line, I knew I was going to reach a goal I was not sure I would ever reach and in the Boston Marathon. I pushed my pace and crossed the finish line in the shadow of the Boston Public Library at 3:59:21. I did cut it close. But, it doesn’t matter. I broke 4 hours and felt a rush that is indescribable. My father when I told him about the race and the fact that I had stopped a couple of times to take pictures along the route and kissed the girls in Wellesley said, “You could have run even faster if you hadn’t been doing all that business on the course.” He is right. I don’t care though because I reached a major life goal and in the most prestigious marathon in the country.
I will be volunteering at the Starting Line Runner’s Refuge for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team on Marathon Monday. I will be a little jealous of those who will be heading out on the course. However, I have decided that I don’t want to run the Boston Marathon again until I can qualify. I am not sure if I ever will be able to qualify. But, the fun is in the attempt. If you are running the 114th Boston Marathon this year make sure you take in all the sites and sounds as you run. You will never experience anything like it.
Here are my training totals:
Apr. 4 – 11.00 miles (1:38:50, 8:59 pace)
Apr. 5 – 6.20 miles (54:56, 8:51 pace)
Apr. 6 – 4.50 miles (36:27, 8:06 pace) – Yasso 800s
Apr. 7 – 7.40 miles (1:05:48, 8:53 pace) – Tempo Run
Apr. 8 – 5.20 miles (40:46, 7:50 pace)
Apr. 10 – 10.20 miles (1:26:24, 8:27 pace)
Apr. 11 – 10.20 miles (1:26:57, 8:31 pace)
Apr. 12 – 6.20 miles (55:23, 8:56 pace)
Total Miles: 60.90 miles
2010 YTD Miles: 478.30 miles
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