Race Recap: Boston Marathon
What’s up team! Coach Cody here, long time reader and first time writer. I had the privilege of running my first Boston Marathon about 2 weeks ago and I wanted to share my experiences, thoughts, emotions, and tips with you.
First off, I want to thank my pacer in life and my family for all the support and love they gave me to reach this goal. It wouldn't be as special for me without them. Alright, enough of that.
We flew into bean town early Saturday so we could get our bearings, check out the expo, snag some swag before it was gone, and take our time getting ready for race day. Luckily stayed in a hotel that was just a few blocks from the finish line and all the festivities going on. For those that don’t know the race is point to point and starts in the small but lively town of Hopkinton.
Pro tip: It’s expensive; The hotels around Boston charge a premium for rooms during the race. But it’s definitely worth the convenience of getting to the expo, race events, and bus pick up on race day. It’s also worth checking out the stay around Hopkinton if you want to avoid the bus ride (more on that later)
We sauntered our way to the expo on Boylston St, the famous final turn and finish of the Marathon. In that moment, the gravity of the challenge ahead hit me: I have make it past 26.2 miles of quad-smoking down hills and a hill that want’s to break my heart. I was terrified and excited about the possibilities, but I did my best to stay in the moment. We made our way to the expo in the Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center. It was best described as Disney world lines without the magic or rides at the end. Winding through the building like the stair case in Hogwarts, we finally made it to the top of an escalator that lead to bib/packet pick up.
Pro tip: Make sure you scan one of the QR code signs before you get there. I didn't and spent a hot minute panicking when they asked for mine at the bib pick up desk.
The really cool thing about the whole weekend is that it feels like a reunion. Everyone’s wearing their jackets from years past, some stitched with dozens of past race dates. All you want to do is be apart of that history. No matter what the outcome of your race, running with everything you’ve got and finishing is all that’s required to join that fraternity.
As soon as we left, we walked a block over to Newbury St. to check out the cool pop ups shops and events going on. Rabbit, Brooks, New Balance, Tracksmith, and every other running brand you can think had a presence there. We stopped by a few but the highlight was NUUN’s art gallery with an athletic brew open bar. It featured an amazing fiddler shredding his tune to Dua Lupa and The Weekend while you ponder the meaning of art created by AI. There were also lots of great food options there too; Plenty of pizza and pasta options for you to carbo load pre-race. I highly recommend trying out Facia a Facia, a cute Italian place with a trendy vibe. They had the best Mac and Cheese I’ve ever had, hands down. Like most spots near the finish line you’ll need a reservation in advance to get a table.
Pro tip: Get a reservation well in advanced. If that doesn't work or you like finding spots off the beaten path, I highly recommend South End Buttery. It’s a bit away’s from Boylston street, but it had such a chill speakeasy kind of vibe and good American style food options. We booked a last second reservation hoping it wasn’t awful, and it paid off.
As race day rolled around we had an early wake to catch our ride up to Hopkinton (4:45 am Yuck). We made our way of to the Boston Commons where hundreds of school bussed lined up to shuttle us over. The pick up time is based on your seed time and which wave you’re in. We had first wave, so after a short walk over (again, super convenient) and a quick coffee, we made it to the check in line. It was slammed with hundreds of runners looking like they stepped out of an American Eagle ad from the 90’s; While also rocking $250 running shoes. The temperature was chilly, so layers were a necessity. There is no gear check back to the start, so whatever you bring or wear must be run back. Keep that in mind when planning out your pre race gear.
Pro tip: Have a few things with you as you go to the bus depot: Layers of clothes you don’t mind donating, extra nutrition and liquids for the wait time until your race start, and a clear plastic bag to put your things in (provided by the race). Also don’t be a stingy and just where your running gear; I saw so many people shivering in their running short because they didn't bring any warm ups with them. Besides being uncomfortable, the constant shivering will tire you out before the race does.
The ride took about 25-30 min, everyone was pretty silent. I’m sure most were either thinking about their race strategy or like me trying to keep my bladder from busting after hydrating all morning. when we finally made it to athlete village, I made a beeline for the porta potties and a place to set up my pre run stretch/warm up routine. The village is a massive layout centered in a high school football field. There’s a large tent to stay our of the elements, hundreds of bathroom options, snacks, drinks, and helpful volunteers. We spent maybe 45 min there until they called for our wave to the head to the starting line.
Pro tip: Don’t go to the first porta potties off the bus, they were slammed with lines. If you just walk into the village a bit you can find toilets with little to no lines.
The starting line is roughly a mile from Athlete Village and is all downhill. It’s a great preview of the first few miles of the course and a perfect way to warm up the legs for the race. It’s really the only open area to run your warm up and offers a great preview of the first few miles of the race. At the bottom you’ll find the final staging are before the corrals. It’s a CVS parking lot with more bathroom options and some open space for drills (at least for me). This is a great spot to pick up anything you may have left or lost (nutrition, water, medicine). As our start time drew closer I made my way through the last security check point to the corrals (again just showing my bib) and shimmied my way up the corral to what felt like an appropriate starting spot. As we lined up, we had the chance to see the women’s elite go off, with crowed favorite Des Lindon drawing roars across the starting as she toed the line. The weather had held but started to mist as we readied for our turn to start; and with a tick of the timer down to zero, we were off!
We surged down hill at a brisk but easy marathon pace, dozens of white picket fences and houses with rows of people cheering us on. The crowed support was unbelievable. I gave hundreds of high fives and sang “Sweet Caroline” at the top of my lungs during the first half. It was amazing! But this is the trap of the course. The energy and down hills lull you into a faster than planned pace, but then reality hits: your quads can’t keep this up forever.
Luckily I met up with an old running club teammate in the first few miles and formed a nice pack with him and another Charlottean. By mile five I could feel my quads a bit, so I slowed and tried to enjoy the sites of each small town that passed by. Each one felt like tail gate of a college football game. The race is a non stop party. Without a doubt, the peak of fan frenzy is around mile 15. This stretch features a sound tunnel of college students from Wellesley College. They line runners right 5 rows deep with signs of support and offers for free kisses. I’m a bit too old for that, so I settled for a sprint of high fives and lets go’s from the crowd. It’s seriously loud, like I couldn't hear my own thoughts loud. It’s the closest I’ll ever feel to being a rock star.
As you make your way past the college, you’ll go into your second to last big down hill and into your first of four climbs. This is where my quads stated to really feel steamed. Aerobically I was fine, but physically my quads felt spent.
Pro tip: It’s tempting to race the down hills and survive the climbs, but be smart about pacing. Be conservative until at least mile 16. My coach kept me realistic with a smart and even pace. Though I was tired, I had enough in the tank to manage the flats and thrive on the hills. Heart Break Hill gets all the publicity, it’s the last down hill where you will be challenged. There’s a reason it’s called the Cemetery mile: it’s the spot where most lead changes happen and where your quads will die.
I managed to keep my form until mile 18, I really started to feel my upper quads at that point. I wasn't bonking, but it felt like my femur was taking the impact every step. Thankfully the uphills provided relief. I know, crazy that I wanted the hills, but man it felt great to use my hamstrings for what felt like the first time. The hills from 18-21 really gave me a boost for the final stretch of the race. As I approached mile 20 and the bottom of heart break hill, I had such a surge of adrenaline. Every runner knows the stories of surviving the half mile climb, but experiencing it was wild. As soon as you get to the base you’re greeted by the face of Eliud Kipcoge and a sign that reads “test your pace, break your heart” in the window of the Heart Break Hill Running Co. shop. I felt like a new man on the climb up, fresh legs drove me to the top. Then I hit the other side and came back to gravity. The next 4 miles were spent in survival mode.
Brookline felt like a battle to keep my knee’s driving. I was tired, but still not bonking. I really credit my coach and a bit of a conservative approach for this. This was by far the toughest stretch for me. The sights and sounds started to blur and all I could think of was seeing that Citco sign. Once you get under it you’re about one mile from the finish line. You can see it from what feels like miles away. Finally we got under it and things started to look familiar again. As we neared Boyleston street I recognized the shops and signs from our sightseeing on Saturday and Sunday. I knew I was close, I just had to keep moving. I found a final burst of energy knowing the finish was just a left turn away.
Finally! We made it to the where this whole journey started, stretched across a few blocks away was the finish. I picked up my pace and made my way down the right side (a friend had suggested I’d get better picks on that side of the street). I threw my hands up in the air as a I crossed. It felt huge! I fished what was the most difficult marathon of my life and didn’t bonk or die. I kept to my plan, ran smart, and enjoyed every step. I made it. I shivered my way back to my hotel with my loved one’s and took a 30 min hot shower. When I stepped out, I threw on every piece of Boston Marathon gear I had. I was now a Boston Marathon finisher.
This is my favorite race; not because of my time or from the hype, but because I could feel the love for running more than anywhere else. The history, the energy, and the reverence is palpable. Whether you qualify or donate for entry, it doesn't matter. What matters is the passion and joy you get from the journey and experience. I hope you get share all the feelings I have remembering my first time when you race your first Boston. Good Luck, be consistent, and enjoy every step of the way.
