Boston Marathon Course Miles 12 - 20

I had a chance this past weekend to get back onto the Boston Marathon course and run from mile marker 11 to mile marker 20. I was very surprised to see so many other runners out on Saturday. I wasn’t aware that so many of the charity teams have their runners out on the course for their last long runs before they start to taper towards race day. It was really nice to be out there with so many other runners. Plus there were water stops and police out to protect us from the crazy motorists.

Mile 11 to Mile 12

The start of this mile is uphill towards Wellesley. Don’t despair, after about a quarter mile it goes back downhill slightly until you reach the mile 12 marker. It is very quiet in this stretch of the course. There are woods on your right and there is nowhere for fans to stand safely. I remember taking this mile to collect myself, check my pace and prepare for what I had heard would be crazed Wellesley College co-eds.

Mile 12 to Mile 13

When you reach the 12 mile mark, you come upon the main gate of Wellesley College. At this point in the race, I could already hear the screaming and cheering. It was inconceivable to me that I was still almost a half mile away from the center of the college yet the noise was already there. Incredible!

There is no way to describe the women of Wellesley. They are definitely loud and excited about seeing the runners go by. They cannot be ignored. I remember getting too close to the corrals at one point and the co-eds grabbing for my shirt sleeves. They are all looking for kisses from the runners. I did give one co-ed a quick kiss on the cheek and she squealed with delight. Not the usual reaction a 48 year old normally gets.

As you run the gauntlet you will pass the 20k mark. At this point the course starts to drop slightly as you head towards Wellesley Center. There is a climb into Wellesley Center but it is minimal and nothing to worry about.

Mile 13 to Mile 14

I really enjoyed the mile through Wellesley Center. It was fun because the crowds are thick and enthusiastic. The downtown area is really nice and the best part is you will have already passed the halfway point when you finish this mile. Despite this psychological boost, I had to remind myself that all marathons have two distinct halves. The first 20 miles and then the last 10K. I needed to make sure I didn’t let the enthusiastic crowds spur me to run faster than planned. The good news is this mile is mostly flat so you can cruise with no problem.

Mile 14 to Mile 15

As you pass mile 14, you’ll see tennis courts and athletic fields on your right. It is still fairly flat here. You enter another little retail and commercial area. It is also at this point that you cross Route 9. I remember this mile well because the crowds were still there and urging us on. While I was feeding on their support and energy, I kept telling myself that the next several miles will be a series of ups and downs – literally. I was feeling good at this point and knew what was ahead. I just needed to stay focused and not let what was ahead psych me out.

If you get to this point and you are starting to feel fatigued, I recommend you drop your pace back and regroup. You need to have some gas in the tank to make it through the next 9 miles.

Mile 15 to 16

This mile is where the Boston Marathon really begins. You start with a small climb that levels off quickly. Then you enter a nice residential area where it remains flat for about a quarter mile. Then at just about the halfway point, the road drops by more than 100 feet into Newton Lower Falls. It is here that you need to get mentally prepared for what is ahead.

For the next 9 miles you will be climbing and dropping over and over again. What I found in training on the course last time was that none of these hills were too bad individually. The problem with the Boston Marathon course is that there are several hills and their cumulative effect after 16 miles makes this a real challenge. My recommendation is to take each hill individually and celebrate as you finish each one. Then tackle the next one. I found that this allowed me to just focus on the task at hand and not let what was ahead slow me down.

Mile 18 to Mile 19

Mile 16 to 17

The start of this mile is at the bottom of the hill in Newton Lower Falls. You will see the sign that says, “Entering Newton” on your left. It is also the first real uphill you have to overcome. For my money, this is the toughest hill on the course. You are running uphill on an overpass for I-95/Route 128 and it is an ugly section of the course. I remember it being particularly windy here as you are very exposed to the elements. I will say it right here – I hated this mile and was glad to have finished it. As I passed the Newton Wellesley Hospital the road finally leveled off. Now I was looking for the next big Boston Marathon Icon – the Newton Fire House.

Mile 17 to Mile 18

Mile 17 starts out nice and flat. You’ll pass the Woodland Country Club and the Green Line T station. I enjoyed this stretch as we wound through a very nice residential neighborhood. The crowds started to thicken as I approached the famous turn at the firehouse. The right turn at the firehouse comes at about 17.3 and then you are on Commonwealth Avenue. I found that from this point on there were crowds everywhere and the energy level was spectacular.

As you head up Commonwealth Avenue, you will be climbing what some people call Firehouse Hill. It is a pretty big hill. It is steeper than the one over I-19/Route 128. It is less than one half mile long and is over before you know it. When you reach the top, it drops slightly towards the 18 mile marker. I have to admit I don’t remember running this hill at all. I was so pumped up by the crowds I didn’t even notice the climb. Hopefully you will feel the same.

When you pass the 18 mile mark, you are headed uphill again. But, you will find that this mile is actually flat for the most part. You will cross Chestnut Street on your way to the 30K marker. Take it easy here because the toughest hills mentally are just over the horizon. There is a small drop as you reach the 19 mile mark.

Mile 19 to Mile 20

Look for Newton City Hall at the 19 mile mark. You only have 7 .2 miles to go. If you are not running for a PR, take some time along this stretch to see the statue that was erected here as a tribute to the legendary Johnny Kelley. Kelly won the marathon twice but more incredibly he finished it 58 times. His last finish was in 1992 at the age of 84. The “Young at Heart” statues depict a young Kelley running alongside an elder Kelley. I stopped on Saturday to look at it in more detail and it really is a wonderful statue.

The next hill starts about a quarter mile in. A lot of people mistakenly think that this is Heartbreak Hill. Well, it isn’t. Heartbreak Hill is ahead in mile 20 to 21. In my opinion this hill is even tougher than Heartbreak. This is because it actually has two separate climbs. The first part is short and steep. Then it levels off and climbs again briefly. I remember shortening my stride and just pushing through at this point. The crowds will cheer you on and give you a boost if you need it. Drink it in. Next stop Heartbreak Hill – that pesky little speed bump that may be the most famous spot in all of marathoning.

I am hoping to get a chance to run the last 6.2 miles of the course sometime in the next 2 weeks. But, even if I don’t I will post on this blog a description of the last 10K of the course. I hope these entries help if you are not from the area. All I can tell you is that if you have a chance to run this marathon whether you are running as a qualifier or a charity runner remember that you worked incredibly hard to get to the starting line. Not many people get the chance to run Boston. So take the time to enjoy it all. Take the time to meet other runners or the fans who line the course. They are the ones who truly make you feel like an elite runner the entire race.

Mar. 5 – 9.50 miles (1:21:22; 8:34 pace) – Mile Repeats
Mar. 7 – 9.10 miles (1:14:08, 8:09 pace) – Tempo Run
Mar. 8 – 8.10 miles (1:15:56, 9:22 pace)
Mar. 9 – 7.10 miles (1:07:24; 9:29 pace)
Mar. 10 – 17.10 miles (2:40:57, 9:25 pace)
Mar. 11 – 8.10 miles (1:14:06, 9:09 pace)
Mar. 13 – 9.50 miles (1:21:32; 8:34 pace) – Mile Repeats
Mar. 14 – 6.10 miles (58:11, 9:33 pace)
Mar. 15 – 9.20 miles (1:13:41, 8:01 pace) – Tempo Run
Mar. 16 – 10.20 miles (1:37:28, 9:34 pace)
Mar. 19 – 8.10 miles (1:15:10, 9:17 pace)
Mar. 20 – 9.50 miles (1:21:32, 8:34 pace) – Mile Repeats
Mar. 22 – 10.20 miles (1:22:00, 8:02 pace) – Tempo Run
Mar. 23 – 7.10 miles (1:09:06, 9:44 pace)
Mar. 24 – 18.10 miles (2:40:45, 8:53 pace)
Mar. 25 – 8.10 miles (1:14:50, 9:15 pace)

Total Miles: 155.1 miles
2012 YTD Miles: 461.6 miles