April 16, 2007 Boston Marathon Race Report
I qualified for Boston at the Chevron Houston Marathon, January 15th, 2006 with a qualifying time of 3:33:25, roughly an 8:07 pace.
Name: Tim, wa5yom (don?t pronounce it, just say the letters).
Running experience: High School Freshman Cross Country Team, one semester. Running since the age of 40.
Age: 54, BD January 9, 1953
15th Marathon since 1999.
Best Marathon ? Houston 2006, 3:33:25
Current Marathon Training pace ? 7:48
Goal pace for Boston ? 8:00 ? 8:15
Boston Bib#: 12699
Wave #2, Corral #12.
Training Summary
April 17, 2006 was my first Boston. Last years goal was to enjoy the race and finish strong. Weather conditions were almost perfect and consisted in the following results.
Pace: 8:50
Official Time 3:51:35
Overall 11367
Gender 8020
Division 1405
I targeted Boston 2007 as my key race for the year with one tune up marathon scheduled on November 19, The Rte. 66 Marathon in Tulsa, Oklahoma where I ran a 3:34:53. As my conditioning improved my VDOT score also improved to a 46 which corresponded to a 7:48 MP.
After Tulsa I began training at my new marathon pace. My speed work and training runs were some of the best I had ever experienced and lead to a 5K PR of about 21:09 (I say ?about? because the course ended up being short, see my RR) My 5K PR represented another VDOT improvement of 47.
Training was going well and I felt that I might have been in the best running condition of my adult life. Needless to say my confidence was up to a new level. Two weeks from Boston my right hamstring began to tighten but I still maintained a positive attitude.
The question was: What marathon pace should I run at Boston? The 7:48 pace was relatively new to me and Boston is a difficult course so I felt like an 8:00 pace might be possible as my primary goal and anything less than 3:35 would be very acceptable.
Wednesday, April 11, 2006
Today was my final run before traveling to Boston. 7 miles with 2 at MP. All is well: my right hamstring is very tight and sore. The weather predictions for April 16th did not look good, rain/wind/cold. A Nor?easter was brewing.
Thursday April 12, 2006
We left Ardmore for DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport) at 6:15 AM. After 2 hours on the runway due to engine problems we changed to a different plane and finally arrived in Boston at 5:30 PM. The weather conditions consisted of rain/sleet and wind. After unpacking, my wife and I went out in the cold sleet and searched for something to eat. We settled for pizza (not at the top of my carbo-loading list).
We had rented an apartment in Back Bay and later that evening, after talking to Dave (divechief), we discovered that he was across the street in another apartment. It is truly nice to have a friend nearby. Dave and I planned to run about 5-6 miles Friday morning.
Friday, April 13, 2006
Friday?s weather was overcast with temps were in the mid 40?s with a gusty wind.
At 8:00 AM Dave and I headed out for an easy run which gave us an opportunity to discuss the upcoming race and pending weather conditions...
After lunch the three of us (Dave, my wife and I) headed to the expo to get our race packet and search for Boston Marathon goodies.
The weather forecast for the race was rain with 20-50 mph headwinds and temperatures in the low 40?s, so the topic of the day was: ?How do I dress for the race on Monday??
I knew what to wear for warm rain, wind and cold temperatures but the combination of cold rain, 20-50 MPH head winds and cold temperatures left myself and most runners confused as to how to dress for the race.
I purchased an Adidas Boston 2007 jacket and throw-away rainproof suit. After a few hours at the expo it was time to return to the apartment.
My daughter (Dana) from NYC and niece (Cindy) from Dallas arrived Friday afternoon.
The evening air was cool and comfortable enough to take a long walk along Boylston Street in search of a carbo-loading meal. Dave accompanied us in our search. After mounds of pasta it was time to hit the sack.
Saturday, April 14, 2006
Sue was kind enough to take us (my wife, Dana, Cindy and myself) to Hopkinton for a tour of the athletes? village and a ride along the marathon course. The village was already very wet and soggy and I didn?t notice as many Marathon banners or mile markers along the route as last year.
Afterwards we went back to the expo and I decided to buy the Official Marathon jacket, since this race could be especially memorable due to the weather.
Sunday, April 15, 2006
We were up at 6:00 AM: my wife, Cindy, Dave and I headed toward the Freedom Run by 7:15. The weather was comfortable, with mid to low 40?s, cloudy, misty and a slight breeze.
Under the current weather conditions it was hard to believe the pending gloomy forecast for Monday. Boston weather forecasters were predicting the worst weather conditions for the marathon in its 111 year history, 38 degrees, 30-60 MPH winds and heavy rain (2-8 inches) with possible snow accumulation. One forecaster said this could be a storm of historical significance. Our biggest concern was the condition of the Athletes? Village. News photographs of the village depicted very, very wet and muddy conditions. My race plans had shifted from time goals to just surviving the elements. Concerns for hypothermia caused race organizers to prepare for the worst. They added additional medical support, buses to escort runners that would drop out and heated/tented areas to provide relief from the weather. We all just wanted the race to start?NOW!!!!!
Prior to the start of the Freedom Run we gathered for a Coolrunning picture. It was really nice to meet up with more Coolrunners, McSolar and Sans Souci and Dove.
At 8:00 AM the race started. The pace was controlled in order to maintain a 10-12 minute pace (as was announced by the race organizers). The gun went off and it was time to run.
Afterwards we showered and immediately traveled to Henry and Marj?s house, in Brookline, for a brunch and Coolrunning gathering.
We arrived just in time to miss the group photo but time enough for food and pleasant visits with very excited Boomers.
It was a thrill to meet (in person) so many Coolrunners. McSolar and I had a really nice long conversation. The internet is great for meeting others with similar interests but nothing beats a one-on-one conversation.
It was nice for Henry and Marj to host such an event. The food spread was great. I can?t thank them enough.
Later that evening, my wife, Dana, Cindy and Dave attended the Pasta Party together: the food was very good and much hotter than last year, which was surprising since it was rainy and cold: a preamble of the morning to come. It was COLD, WINDY and RAINY.
Dave and I made plans to meet at 6:00 AM so we could walk to the busses together.
Later that night I watched the weather report one more time and it looked horrible. I decided, if the weather dictated, to get inside a trash bag while waiting in the village. Dana and Cindy got a kick out of the idea as I demonstrated sitting in a trash bag. But, hey, if it works, that?s all that counts.
I hit the sack at 11:30 PM but nerves kept me awake: I think I slept about 4 hours.
BRING IT ON!!!!!!!
Monday, April 16, 2006
It was Monday, ?Are you ready for some ?. Running or maybe swimming??
The alarm went off at 5:00 AM, time for a bagel, water, and a nice hot shower: well, this time I skipped the shower since I was spending too much time getting dressed. I listened to the radio, the temperature was 46 degrees and not 38?was I hearing this correctly?
I dressed warmly with shorts, long sleeve and short sleeve shirt layered, running jacket, ear band, gloves and sweat suit all covered up by a white rain proof disposable suit. I was packed in and already warm. My wife said I looked like the Michelin Man (ironic, since I work for Michelin).
My bag was packed with ALL the necessities (at least I thought they were necessary, you never know what can happen). I wore older shoes with the plan of changing into my racing shoes as I walked to the corrals.
At 6:03 AM, Dave came knocking at the door concerned that I might have slept in. I said, ?No, I was still getting dressed?. Seeing all the stuff I was bringing Dave joking said, ?You must have been a Boy Scout?. ?Yep, be prepared is my motto?, I said
While walking to the busses, some of the wind gusts were so strong that we were almost knocked over.
Dave and I were surprised that the bus lines were so long: apparently arriving at 6:30 AM was not early enough to get a cozy, indoor, spot in the Hopkinton school buildings.
It rained during most of the entire 45 minute ride to Hopkinton but ceased a few minutes before we arrived.
As we exited the bus a race volunteer informed us that the new weather forecast was for little to no rain and lighter wind. Ironically, just seconds later the rain began to pour out of the clouds.
I scanned the village and the fields were puddled and muddy: the trick was to try and travel to the tent without sinking your feet in the puddles and mud along the way. The tent area was packed but I still managed to find a small spot on the perimeter where I could lay out my ?water-proof? picnic blanket that immediately proved NOT to be waterproof. Thank goodness for trash bags.
Dave headed out to look for Aamos at the other village while I set up our camping spot. The rain was blowing from the east directly on our little place under the tent; even so we managed to stay reasonable dry. Since I was dressed for much colder temperatures I started stripping down to my short sleeve shirt and Adidas Boston 2007 jacket. I consumed a couple of PowerGels chased by some water as my last pre-race meal.
Within 15 minutes or so before the announcement that would tell us to proceed to the starting line Dave and I left the village and proceeded to the upper village. The upper village appeared to have better drainage but under the conditions I am not sure that it really mattered.
An announcement over the PA system warned runners to not walk across the football field since it was covered in about 10-12 inches of water. Like I said, it was really soggy out there.
We found a nice dry section of concrete and changed into out racing/swimming shoes, dropped off out bag and we were off to the starting line. By now it was misting slightly, the wind was light and with the warm temperatures it felt quite comfortable.
Dave commented to me that I might have a PR here after all. He was right, the weather was far better than we could have hoped for just 12 hours ago. With that in mind I decided to take a shot at my 8 minute pace.
Just prior to the sounding of the starting pistol I removed my poncho and sweat pants which had survived all my previous marathons and tossed them to the side. I was reminded by a volunteer that they would be donated to a worthy cause.
The pre-start festivities were not quite as exciting as last year but none the less we were excited, pumped and ready to go.
The gun fired and we were headed to Boston.
The 2007 Boston Marathon had begun for the second wave.
Mile 1 Split 8:03
Mile 2 Split 8:04
I caught up with Dave somewhere around mile 2: we were running too fast for our plans so we both tried to back off. Dave planned on running slower than me this year so he reminded me that he hoped he would not see me again until the end of the race. It was time to split up so we would not influence each others pace.
At this stage I was feeling good and trying to maintain pace. My Garmin was having trouble connecting to the satellite so I was glad that I wore my ?back-up-watch?.
It was slightly misting with a light breeze; actually I was getting too warm. Some runners were shedding cloths. All I could get rid of was my Adidas running jacket and it?s not going any where without me.
Mile 3 Split 8:05
Mile 4 Split 8:11
Mile 5 Split 8:01
The crowds were not quite as large as last years but they were still very vocal. As we thanked the crowds for showing up, they did the same. The weather was still holding up and I was warm so I unzipped and zipped my jacket whenever I got warm or cold. It didn?t take long after I unzipped my jacket to cool off. I found that I could run even cooler if I pushed up my sleeves. If I could shed my jacket I would.
My legs still felt great and I was holding my pace. My current goal was to maintain pace up to the half way point. My mantra was?.one step at a time.
I couldn?t believe that the weather was so mild; sure it was breezy and wet, but based on the weather predictions I was very pleased.
Mile 6 Split 8:07
Mile 7 Split 8:06
Mile 8 Split 8:08
The crowds were still great and I continued to periodically run on the right hand side of the road so I could ?hi-five? the kids. I was having a great time.
In 2006 I stayed to the right and was very involved with the crowds but this year I spend some time running down the middle so I could concentrate on my pace. Just think, last night I had left ?race pace? behind and figured that today it would be just me against the elements but this was turning out to be a great day to run.
Mile 9 Split 8:15
Mile 10 Split 8:07
Mile 11 Split 8:08
Somewhere toward the end of mile 11 we could hear the Wellesley Crowd. Many runners were commenting on the fact that Wellesley could be heard from almost a half mile away. Their volume was awesome and provided just enough motivation to keep us going strong.
Mile 12 Split 8:08
Mile 13 Split 7:41
Passing through Wellesley was quite an experience. Even though the crowd was smaller than last year they still provided an incredible mental and physical boost as was noted in my mile 13 split.
Mile 14 Split 8:12
Mile 15 Split 8:42
Wow, I sure felt that 7:41 split; it caught up with me. My quads were really getting sore and tight and with such a long way to go I lost my concentration which I did not realize until I saw my mile 15 split. This part of the race was no-mans-land; barely half way through and a long way to go to the finish.
Mile 15 began the arduous task of climbing the Newton Hills, so it was time to re-focus my efforts toward race pace and climbing the hills.
Mile 16 Split 8:03
Mile 17 Split 8:38
Last year my family met me at Heartbreak hill which was really neat but they were not able to catch me at the finish line. In fact the ?T? was so crowded that it took them a couple of hours before we could meet.
This year needed to be different especially considering the cooler temperatures.
We decided that they could reach the 17 mile point quite easily. The ?T? would take them to that point and back (hopefully) before I finished.
I began looking for them somewhere after mile 16; it gave me something to focus on: it was quite a pleasure to see a friendly face as I approached mile 17. As soon as we made contact they began their trek to the finishing line.
Mile 18 Split 8:39
Mile 19 Split 8:38
Mile 20 Split 9:04
The next few miles can be very difficult and they were physically and mentally daunting. I tried to take them in short sections, not miles. In fact I concentrated on making it to the next block rather than the mile. It sure made the hills seem easier.
As I passed the John Kelly statue I knew that it wouldn?t be long before I saw the HTH group and Pro (Craig). It truly helps to have friends along the course especially near Heartbreak Hill.
As I approached the HTH banner I unzipped my jacket to show my Bib number and made sure to make eye contact with the group. Craig ran with me for a while and was interested in how the winds were affecting my pace. I told him that the weather (so-far) had really not had an impact on my performance. I felt strong but tight.
Thanks gang?for being there.
Mile 20.5 marks the crest of the hill: afterwards it was ?all-down-hill? and if you felt good here you had it made.
I felt great and ready to run.
Mile 21 Split 9:04
Mile 22 Split 8:15
Mile 23 Split 8:51
Mile 24 Split 8:53
Mile 25 Split 8:42
The crowd was very motivating and I can?t count how many times I heard my name as I hi-fived 30, 40, 50 spectators in a row. What a thrill, it just doesn?t get any better than this.
My legs were very sore and tight. Since I was concerned that I might have to walk due to cramping (which could result in getting too cold) I compensated by forcing myself to slow down.
Last year I missed the CITGO sign but it was not the case this year as I saw it and focused on it for quite some time.
I knew I was almost there.
Mile 26.2 Split 9:55(8:16 pace)
Since I was more familiar with the course I knew when I was approaching the final turn to the finish line. Sore legs and all I kicked it in for a great finish of 3:38:59. Not too shabby all things considered.
And this time my family caught me crossing the finish line.
After picking up my bag I went to the Family reunion area. An hour went by and I was really getting cold. I looked for a ?non-windy? place to hide while I called my family and found a better place to meet up. After getting together we went back to the apartment where I could shower and warm up.
I was disappointed that we didn?t meet up with Craig and the rest of the group after the race but I was really cold and needed to get dry and warm up.
I followed the race with a nice protein rich ?hamburger? meal.
IT WAS A GREAT DAY!!!!!
Summary
Did I meet my training goals? Seeing as I trained for Boston as my primary race for the last 12 months, was I disappointed with my results? Did the weather ?dampen? my spirits and performance?
Well?.the answers to all those questions are ?NO?
No, I didn?t reach my training goals.
No, I wasn?t disappointed. Well, only mildly
No, the weather did not dampen my spirits or have a major influence on my performance. I wanted ideal weather (don?t we all?)
I trained and focused on this race for an entire 12 months. I truly wanted to break 3:35 and inch closer to a 3:30 finish. Sure, I was slightly disappointed in my finish time but not overwhelmed by missing my goals.
I remembered that it was just slightly over 2 years ago when I finally got under 3:45 and missed qualifying by 5 seconds. If you had told me that I would run Boston within the next two years and finish in 3:38:59 I would have been ecstatic.
So, here I am excited with my results, thrilled to have been here and ready for Boston 2008.
However, during the next 12 months Boston will not be my primary focus for I will soon start training again for my next possible marathon PR. But, if I never PR in the marathon again, well, that is fine too.
Like they say?it is the journey not the final destination and Boston is just a BIG part of the Journey for me of which I am privileged to participate.
Thanks to everyone for helping me get here and special thanks to Sue and Richard, Henri and Marj, Craig and the HTH crew and Dave for just hanging around with me and listening while I obsessed about the weather.
And above all?remember?.Have FUN!!!!!
You?re a great bunch, thanks and good running to all.
Tim,
Ardmore, OK.
For your analytical viewing pleasure:
Final Official Results and a side-by-side comparison of 2006 vs. 2007:
2006/2007 Side-by-side comparison
Mile 1 2006 2007
1 7:58 8:03
2 8:25 8:04
3 8:33 8:05
4 8:58 8:11
5 8:47 8:01
6 8:43 8:07
7 8:40 8:06
8 8:42 8:08
9 8:42 8:15
10 8:41 8:07
11 8:42 8:08
12 8:55 8:08
13 8:54 7:41
14 8:52 8:12
15 9:03 8:42
16 9:17 8:03
17 9:17 8:38
18 9:17 8:39
19 9:18 8:38
20 9:12 9:04
21 9:12 9:04
22 8:18 8:15
23 9:02 8:52
24 8:38 8:53
25 9:08 8:42
26.2 10:12 9:55
2006 2007
Pace: 8:50 8:21
Official Time 3:51:35 3:38:59
Overall 11367 7718
Gender 8020 6105
Division 1405 769
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I qualified for Boston at the Chevron Houston Marathon, January 15th, 2006 with a qualifying time of 3:33:25, roughly an 8:07 pace.
Name: Tim, wa5yom (don?t pronounce it, just say the letters).
Running experience: High School Freshman Cross Country Team, one semester. Running since the age of 40.
Age: 54, BD January 9, 1953
15th Marathon since 1999.
Best Marathon ? Houston 2006, 3:33:25
Current Marathon Training pace ? 7:48
Goal pace for Boston ? 8:00 ? 8:15
Boston Bib#: 12699
Wave #2, Corral #12.
Training Summary
April 17, 2006 was my first Boston. Last years goal was to enjoy the race and finish strong. Weather conditions were almost perfect and consisted in the following results.
Pace: 8:50
Official Time 3:51:35
Overall 11367
Gender 8020
Division 1405
I targeted Boston 2007 as my key race for the year with one tune up marathon scheduled on November 19, The Rte. 66 Marathon in Tulsa, Oklahoma where I ran a 3:34:53. As my conditioning improved my VDOT score also improved to a 46 which corresponded to a 7:48 MP.
After Tulsa I began training at my new marathon pace. My speed work and training runs were some of the best I had ever experienced and lead to a 5K PR of about 21:09 (I say ?about? because the course ended up being short, see my RR) My 5K PR represented another VDOT improvement of 47.
Training was going well and I felt that I might have been in the best running condition of my adult life. Needless to say my confidence was up to a new level. Two weeks from Boston my right hamstring began to tighten but I still maintained a positive attitude.
The question was: What marathon pace should I run at Boston? The 7:48 pace was relatively new to me and Boston is a difficult course so I felt like an 8:00 pace might be possible as my primary goal and anything less than 3:35 would be very acceptable.
Wednesday, April 11, 2006
Today was my final run before traveling to Boston. 7 miles with 2 at MP. All is well: my right hamstring is very tight and sore. The weather predictions for April 16th did not look good, rain/wind/cold. A Nor?easter was brewing.
Thursday April 12, 2006
We left Ardmore for DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport) at 6:15 AM. After 2 hours on the runway due to engine problems we changed to a different plane and finally arrived in Boston at 5:30 PM. The weather conditions consisted of rain/sleet and wind. After unpacking, my wife and I went out in the cold sleet and searched for something to eat. We settled for pizza (not at the top of my carbo-loading list).
We had rented an apartment in Back Bay and later that evening, after talking to Dave (divechief), we discovered that he was across the street in another apartment. It is truly nice to have a friend nearby. Dave and I planned to run about 5-6 miles Friday morning.
Friday, April 13, 2006
Friday?s weather was overcast with temps were in the mid 40?s with a gusty wind.
At 8:00 AM Dave and I headed out for an easy run which gave us an opportunity to discuss the upcoming race and pending weather conditions...
After lunch the three of us (Dave, my wife and I) headed to the expo to get our race packet and search for Boston Marathon goodies.
The weather forecast for the race was rain with 20-50 mph headwinds and temperatures in the low 40?s, so the topic of the day was: ?How do I dress for the race on Monday??
I knew what to wear for warm rain, wind and cold temperatures but the combination of cold rain, 20-50 MPH head winds and cold temperatures left myself and most runners confused as to how to dress for the race.
I purchased an Adidas Boston 2007 jacket and throw-away rainproof suit. After a few hours at the expo it was time to return to the apartment.
My daughter (Dana) from NYC and niece (Cindy) from Dallas arrived Friday afternoon.
The evening air was cool and comfortable enough to take a long walk along Boylston Street in search of a carbo-loading meal. Dave accompanied us in our search. After mounds of pasta it was time to hit the sack.
Saturday, April 14, 2006
Sue was kind enough to take us (my wife, Dana, Cindy and myself) to Hopkinton for a tour of the athletes? village and a ride along the marathon course. The village was already very wet and soggy and I didn?t notice as many Marathon banners or mile markers along the route as last year.
Afterwards we went back to the expo and I decided to buy the Official Marathon jacket, since this race could be especially memorable due to the weather.
Sunday, April 15, 2006
We were up at 6:00 AM: my wife, Cindy, Dave and I headed toward the Freedom Run by 7:15. The weather was comfortable, with mid to low 40?s, cloudy, misty and a slight breeze.
Under the current weather conditions it was hard to believe the pending gloomy forecast for Monday. Boston weather forecasters were predicting the worst weather conditions for the marathon in its 111 year history, 38 degrees, 30-60 MPH winds and heavy rain (2-8 inches) with possible snow accumulation. One forecaster said this could be a storm of historical significance. Our biggest concern was the condition of the Athletes? Village. News photographs of the village depicted very, very wet and muddy conditions. My race plans had shifted from time goals to just surviving the elements. Concerns for hypothermia caused race organizers to prepare for the worst. They added additional medical support, buses to escort runners that would drop out and heated/tented areas to provide relief from the weather. We all just wanted the race to start?NOW!!!!!
Prior to the start of the Freedom Run we gathered for a Coolrunning picture. It was really nice to meet up with more Coolrunners, McSolar and Sans Souci and Dove.
At 8:00 AM the race started. The pace was controlled in order to maintain a 10-12 minute pace (as was announced by the race organizers). The gun went off and it was time to run.
Afterwards we showered and immediately traveled to Henry and Marj?s house, in Brookline, for a brunch and Coolrunning gathering.
We arrived just in time to miss the group photo but time enough for food and pleasant visits with very excited Boomers.
It was a thrill to meet (in person) so many Coolrunners. McSolar and I had a really nice long conversation. The internet is great for meeting others with similar interests but nothing beats a one-on-one conversation.
It was nice for Henry and Marj to host such an event. The food spread was great. I can?t thank them enough.
Later that evening, my wife, Dana, Cindy and Dave attended the Pasta Party together: the food was very good and much hotter than last year, which was surprising since it was rainy and cold: a preamble of the morning to come. It was COLD, WINDY and RAINY.
Dave and I made plans to meet at 6:00 AM so we could walk to the busses together.
Later that night I watched the weather report one more time and it looked horrible. I decided, if the weather dictated, to get inside a trash bag while waiting in the village. Dana and Cindy got a kick out of the idea as I demonstrated sitting in a trash bag. But, hey, if it works, that?s all that counts.
I hit the sack at 11:30 PM but nerves kept me awake: I think I slept about 4 hours.
BRING IT ON!!!!!!!
Monday, April 16, 2006
It was Monday, ?Are you ready for some ?. Running or maybe swimming??
The alarm went off at 5:00 AM, time for a bagel, water, and a nice hot shower: well, this time I skipped the shower since I was spending too much time getting dressed. I listened to the radio, the temperature was 46 degrees and not 38?was I hearing this correctly?
I dressed warmly with shorts, long sleeve and short sleeve shirt layered, running jacket, ear band, gloves and sweat suit all covered up by a white rain proof disposable suit. I was packed in and already warm. My wife said I looked like the Michelin Man (ironic, since I work for Michelin).
My bag was packed with ALL the necessities (at least I thought they were necessary, you never know what can happen). I wore older shoes with the plan of changing into my racing shoes as I walked to the corrals.
At 6:03 AM, Dave came knocking at the door concerned that I might have slept in. I said, ?No, I was still getting dressed?. Seeing all the stuff I was bringing Dave joking said, ?You must have been a Boy Scout?. ?Yep, be prepared is my motto?, I said
While walking to the busses, some of the wind gusts were so strong that we were almost knocked over.
Dave and I were surprised that the bus lines were so long: apparently arriving at 6:30 AM was not early enough to get a cozy, indoor, spot in the Hopkinton school buildings.
It rained during most of the entire 45 minute ride to Hopkinton but ceased a few minutes before we arrived.
As we exited the bus a race volunteer informed us that the new weather forecast was for little to no rain and lighter wind. Ironically, just seconds later the rain began to pour out of the clouds.
I scanned the village and the fields were puddled and muddy: the trick was to try and travel to the tent without sinking your feet in the puddles and mud along the way. The tent area was packed but I still managed to find a small spot on the perimeter where I could lay out my ?water-proof? picnic blanket that immediately proved NOT to be waterproof. Thank goodness for trash bags.
Dave headed out to look for Aamos at the other village while I set up our camping spot. The rain was blowing from the east directly on our little place under the tent; even so we managed to stay reasonable dry. Since I was dressed for much colder temperatures I started stripping down to my short sleeve shirt and Adidas Boston 2007 jacket. I consumed a couple of PowerGels chased by some water as my last pre-race meal.
Within 15 minutes or so before the announcement that would tell us to proceed to the starting line Dave and I left the village and proceeded to the upper village. The upper village appeared to have better drainage but under the conditions I am not sure that it really mattered.
An announcement over the PA system warned runners to not walk across the football field since it was covered in about 10-12 inches of water. Like I said, it was really soggy out there.
We found a nice dry section of concrete and changed into out racing/swimming shoes, dropped off out bag and we were off to the starting line. By now it was misting slightly, the wind was light and with the warm temperatures it felt quite comfortable.
Dave commented to me that I might have a PR here after all. He was right, the weather was far better than we could have hoped for just 12 hours ago. With that in mind I decided to take a shot at my 8 minute pace.
Just prior to the sounding of the starting pistol I removed my poncho and sweat pants which had survived all my previous marathons and tossed them to the side. I was reminded by a volunteer that they would be donated to a worthy cause.
The pre-start festivities were not quite as exciting as last year but none the less we were excited, pumped and ready to go.
The gun fired and we were headed to Boston.
The 2007 Boston Marathon had begun for the second wave.
Mile 1 Split 8:03
Mile 2 Split 8:04
I caught up with Dave somewhere around mile 2: we were running too fast for our plans so we both tried to back off. Dave planned on running slower than me this year so he reminded me that he hoped he would not see me again until the end of the race. It was time to split up so we would not influence each others pace.
At this stage I was feeling good and trying to maintain pace. My Garmin was having trouble connecting to the satellite so I was glad that I wore my ?back-up-watch?.
It was slightly misting with a light breeze; actually I was getting too warm. Some runners were shedding cloths. All I could get rid of was my Adidas running jacket and it?s not going any where without me.
Mile 3 Split 8:05
Mile 4 Split 8:11
Mile 5 Split 8:01
The crowds were not quite as large as last years but they were still very vocal. As we thanked the crowds for showing up, they did the same. The weather was still holding up and I was warm so I unzipped and zipped my jacket whenever I got warm or cold. It didn?t take long after I unzipped my jacket to cool off. I found that I could run even cooler if I pushed up my sleeves. If I could shed my jacket I would.
My legs still felt great and I was holding my pace. My current goal was to maintain pace up to the half way point. My mantra was?.one step at a time.
I couldn?t believe that the weather was so mild; sure it was breezy and wet, but based on the weather predictions I was very pleased.
Mile 6 Split 8:07
Mile 7 Split 8:06
Mile 8 Split 8:08
The crowds were still great and I continued to periodically run on the right hand side of the road so I could ?hi-five? the kids. I was having a great time.
In 2006 I stayed to the right and was very involved with the crowds but this year I spend some time running down the middle so I could concentrate on my pace. Just think, last night I had left ?race pace? behind and figured that today it would be just me against the elements but this was turning out to be a great day to run.
Mile 9 Split 8:15
Mile 10 Split 8:07
Mile 11 Split 8:08
Somewhere toward the end of mile 11 we could hear the Wellesley Crowd. Many runners were commenting on the fact that Wellesley could be heard from almost a half mile away. Their volume was awesome and provided just enough motivation to keep us going strong.
Mile 12 Split 8:08
Mile 13 Split 7:41
Passing through Wellesley was quite an experience. Even though the crowd was smaller than last year they still provided an incredible mental and physical boost as was noted in my mile 13 split.
Mile 14 Split 8:12
Mile 15 Split 8:42
Wow, I sure felt that 7:41 split; it caught up with me. My quads were really getting sore and tight and with such a long way to go I lost my concentration which I did not realize until I saw my mile 15 split. This part of the race was no-mans-land; barely half way through and a long way to go to the finish.
Mile 15 began the arduous task of climbing the Newton Hills, so it was time to re-focus my efforts toward race pace and climbing the hills.
Mile 16 Split 8:03
Mile 17 Split 8:38
Last year my family met me at Heartbreak hill which was really neat but they were not able to catch me at the finish line. In fact the ?T? was so crowded that it took them a couple of hours before we could meet.
This year needed to be different especially considering the cooler temperatures.
We decided that they could reach the 17 mile point quite easily. The ?T? would take them to that point and back (hopefully) before I finished.
I began looking for them somewhere after mile 16; it gave me something to focus on: it was quite a pleasure to see a friendly face as I approached mile 17. As soon as we made contact they began their trek to the finishing line.
Mile 18 Split 8:39
Mile 19 Split 8:38
Mile 20 Split 9:04
The next few miles can be very difficult and they were physically and mentally daunting. I tried to take them in short sections, not miles. In fact I concentrated on making it to the next block rather than the mile. It sure made the hills seem easier.
As I passed the John Kelly statue I knew that it wouldn?t be long before I saw the HTH group and Pro (Craig). It truly helps to have friends along the course especially near Heartbreak Hill.
As I approached the HTH banner I unzipped my jacket to show my Bib number and made sure to make eye contact with the group. Craig ran with me for a while and was interested in how the winds were affecting my pace. I told him that the weather (so-far) had really not had an impact on my performance. I felt strong but tight.
Thanks gang?for being there.
Mile 20.5 marks the crest of the hill: afterwards it was ?all-down-hill? and if you felt good here you had it made.
I felt great and ready to run.
Mile 21 Split 9:04
Mile 22 Split 8:15
Mile 23 Split 8:51
Mile 24 Split 8:53
Mile 25 Split 8:42
The crowd was very motivating and I can?t count how many times I heard my name as I hi-fived 30, 40, 50 spectators in a row. What a thrill, it just doesn?t get any better than this.
My legs were very sore and tight. Since I was concerned that I might have to walk due to cramping (which could result in getting too cold) I compensated by forcing myself to slow down.
Last year I missed the CITGO sign but it was not the case this year as I saw it and focused on it for quite some time.
I knew I was almost there.
Mile 26.2 Split 9:55(8:16 pace)
Since I was more familiar with the course I knew when I was approaching the final turn to the finish line. Sore legs and all I kicked it in for a great finish of 3:38:59. Not too shabby all things considered.
And this time my family caught me crossing the finish line.
After picking up my bag I went to the Family reunion area. An hour went by and I was really getting cold. I looked for a ?non-windy? place to hide while I called my family and found a better place to meet up. After getting together we went back to the apartment where I could shower and warm up.
I was disappointed that we didn?t meet up with Craig and the rest of the group after the race but I was really cold and needed to get dry and warm up.
I followed the race with a nice protein rich ?hamburger? meal.
IT WAS A GREAT DAY!!!!!
Summary
Did I meet my training goals? Seeing as I trained for Boston as my primary race for the last 12 months, was I disappointed with my results? Did the weather ?dampen? my spirits and performance?
Well?.the answers to all those questions are ?NO?
No, I didn?t reach my training goals.
No, I wasn?t disappointed. Well, only mildly
No, the weather did not dampen my spirits or have a major influence on my performance. I wanted ideal weather (don?t we all?)
I trained and focused on this race for an entire 12 months. I truly wanted to break 3:35 and inch closer to a 3:30 finish. Sure, I was slightly disappointed in my finish time but not overwhelmed by missing my goals.
I remembered that it was just slightly over 2 years ago when I finally got under 3:45 and missed qualifying by 5 seconds. If you had told me that I would run Boston within the next two years and finish in 3:38:59 I would have been ecstatic.
So, here I am excited with my results, thrilled to have been here and ready for Boston 2008.
However, during the next 12 months Boston will not be my primary focus for I will soon start training again for my next possible marathon PR. But, if I never PR in the marathon again, well, that is fine too.
Like they say?it is the journey not the final destination and Boston is just a BIG part of the Journey for me of which I am privileged to participate.
Thanks to everyone for helping me get here and special thanks to Sue and Richard, Henri and Marj, Craig and the HTH crew and Dave for just hanging around with me and listening while I obsessed about the weather.
And above all?remember?.Have FUN!!!!!
You?re a great bunch, thanks and good running to all.
Tim,
Ardmore, OK.
For your analytical viewing pleasure:
Final Official Results and a side-by-side comparison of 2006 vs. 2007:
2006/2007 Side-by-side comparison
Mile 1 2006 2007
1 7:58 8:03
2 8:25 8:04
3 8:33 8:05
4 8:58 8:11
5 8:47 8:01
6 8:43 8:07
7 8:40 8:06
8 8:42 8:08
9 8:42 8:15
10 8:41 8:07
11 8:42 8:08
12 8:55 8:08
13 8:54 7:41
14 8:52 8:12
15 9:03 8:42
16 9:17 8:03
17 9:17 8:38
18 9:17 8:39
19 9:18 8:38
20 9:12 9:04
21 9:12 9:04
22 8:18 8:15
23 9:02 8:52
24 8:38 8:53
25 9:08 8:42
26.2 10:12 9:55
2006 2007
Pace: 8:50 8:21
Official Time 3:51:35 3:38:59
Overall 11367 7718
Gender 8020 6105
Division 1405 769
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You ran great, you had fun, you experienced every minute to the fullest. You got the Offiicial Boston Marathon jacket! I am so envious, and so happy for you. 
