My BOSTON RACE story

Running my 7th marathon has brought a fair share of personal pre-marathon routines, ones I believe are very helpful for my race. This Monday morning, I had set the alarm at 3h45AM, I want to make sure I don't have to rush everything prior to departing for a race. One key difference with Boston is the delay before the start, which was set at 10AM.

After getting up at 3h45AM, I rush to the already prepared hotel room coffee machine. I know there's some available in the lobby, but before moving I need java. I go through my routine, browsing the internet for latest weather forecast, looking outside for signs of rains (even though forecast showed 0% probability of rain). Go through my gears, prepare my things so when I leave I forget nothing, as I know, the closest I get to leaving the room, the more nervous I become.

With a weather forecast of blazing heat, the dress code was easy, light Colors, and less is better. So I go through the motion, vaseline in key area's (I did forget my armpit, which I was reminded fast enough during the race.), also the famous scotch tape for the nipples, sunscreen all over the body, sunglasses, gel packs, coca-cola). 

Also, I prepare my clothes replacement, after any race, warm or cold, once your body is exhausted, you get cold, so I always bring dry replacement clothes and sandals (flip flops). Removing my shoes is the first I need to do after the run. It was 5AM ish when I started eating, already caffeine was running through my veins and I was feeling good. It felt like a end of July day, very warm, way too warm.

I was now ready too leave the room. Boston marathons starts at the end...they actually transit you to the start in a little city call Hopkinton.

From the hotel, we (lots of nervous runners, all taking about the BAA warning of severely warm weather) were hotel shuttle to the finish line in Boston. Where there all runners gather to get to Hopkinton in school buses. The hundreds of runners line up in front of hundreds of buses. It's the beginning of an incredible journey.

Once you finally get on a bus, you ride for...45 minutes, for me it was mentally disturbing, it felt such a long way, it scared me to think I had to run that long. But then, I came over it. 

You get to Athletes Village, the closest I'll go to Olympics Athlete Village... phenomenal, with the warm weather, it was almost a vacation resort. People enjoying the sun, loud music, pure enjoyment, while sitting over there, 

Finally, I get to walk to the start a .7 mile walk. Reality quickly catch up, it was very hot, just standing in the sun was hot, it was 9h15AM.

Arriving at the start gate, I'm joined by thousands of runners. All trying to cool down, it will be very hard, the hardest running conditions. Temperatures above 30C. We are constantly reminded of being careful. My goal is to cross the finish line. 

National Anthems goes, we get to our corrals, ready to finally start, just waiting there was difficult, no where to hide, the sun was just hitting the body. My feet were already burning

...there was still 42k's to go.

Finally the horn sets the start, it's the beginning of my first Boston.

The density is incredible and in the first few miles, you have to follow the flow, it is absolutely crowded and dangerous, I wanted to avoid at all cost to step and someones foot and roll an ankle. First few meters are downhill, it is very fast. I want to slow down, but I'm stuck in between everyone else, nowhere to go. It is way too fast. 

Start --> I reach the starting line, the hardest line to reach in Boston. I did it, more than one year in waiting

1k--> Mostly downhill, absolutely no space, I'm in the middle of everyone, following establish tempo

2k --> First water-gatorade station --> it's a struggle to get some refreshments, but it will be a long day, I fought my way to get some gatorade, lots of respectful pushing, as runners are trying to go through

4k--> A slope, it was difficult, I knew I was already hurting from the heat, was trying to slow down

5k -->I'm hurting and I know I was too fast, some people are already cramping up and walking

6k --> Really hard to follow my pace on my watch, too many people, can't look at it.

7k-->An incline, 4min39s pace, I'm really hurting, already establishing small goals for myself

8k--> A constant battle to get some water, the water is extremely hot, does not cool down when poured on to yourself

9k-->For the first time in a marathon, I elect to stop and pee, I knew I would drink a lot, therefore, I had to go. 4min54s

10k-->I have now decided to walk at water stations, I desperately need some water, it is very warm. I have slowed down my laps

11k--> Now in the Framingham city, not the prettiest US city, but still so many cheerful spectators

12k-->My laps have slowed down, I'm walking at water stations and now monitoring my heart rate, it climbs up really fast under too warm weather

13k-->Almost a 5min lap, I'm looking for Ice or any form of hoses, it is incredibly hot, any signs of shadow is worth a million dollars

14k --> I remind myself there's one-third completed, then I realized the easiest part was done, what will be the next 28k

15k-->Last 5ks was rolling up and downs, nothing significant in normal conditions, but any elevation in this heat is significant. At 15k, I now have only 27k to go, one mental victory

16k-->Was climbing a lot, took a major toll on my body, heart rate is climbing, and the heat...getting unbearable, it is around 11h30, must be around 31C. Tough k, 4min48s

17k --> Incline again, had to walk to reduce my heart rate, got very comfortable walking, my minds was struggling, my body wanted me to quit, it was a challenge, I had still not reach the halfway mark and not even started the hills. A 5min k

18k --> Less of a slope, 4min48

19k --> A bit downhill, I love it, 4min33s

20k --> An up and down k, very hard to keep a pace, every uphill raises my heart rate, with the heat not good, I need something to cool me down. Any sprinkler was great, it would cool down for 5-10 seconds

21.1k --> Finally, the half point mark, I knew I could walk till the end, and there's less to go. A very important psychological mark. You also start to hear the college girls…inspiring

22k --> Hills, very hard, and there not even qualified hills, but still an incline, with this heat, very challenging

23k --> The college girls experience is something, they support runners like crazy, it gives a boost, spectators are so helpful.

24k--> Another tough k, I'm slowing down, my armpits are burning, I grab some ice cubes and stored them under my hat. 

25--> Only 17k to go, so easy while practicing, it is around 12, the sun is hitting very hard. My feet are burning, still no signs of cramps, but I see many runners slowing down.  

25-30k--> Last 5ks before the 4 miles stretch of hills, I'm mentally challenged to stop, but it's my first Boston, I need to cross this finish line. I know that those hills are coming, I'm trying my best to lower my heart rate, I'm around 5min/k. Very slow, but I have to keep some energy for those hills. Refreshments are not coming fast enough, and my skin has started burning

30k-34k --> The most challenging portion of the race, very long hills, so many runners walking, I go as steady as I can, on top of each hills, I elect to walk, still no cramps. 

35k--> After Heartbreak, I'm still there and I know it is the final stretch, mostly downhill, but also at a blazing 31C. I go down the first hill pretty fast and at the bottom, I start cramping out of my stomach

36k-->It hurst, I can hardly breathe, there's no quitting in Boston

37k--> Only 5k to go, we are very close to Boston, I'm seeing the cities skyscrapper. It is brutal, I'm cramping a lot, not sure what to do

38k-->If I remember correctly, it is along Fenway Park there's a game, Red Sox are battling the Rays, I can see, the fans in the Stadium, it is unbelievable, It's a moment to remember, I remind myself, I'm happy, I'm hurting, I'll make it

39k--> I'm thinking time, even though, i'm hurting, my legs are strong, i was so ready for this marathon, but not for the heat. I wanted to push, but my cramps were making it impossible to breathe

40k-->Only 2ks to go, It seems easy to better the 3h30 mark, but it is not over

41k--> I can walk till the finish line, I'm there, in the city of Boston, surrounded but thousands of screaming fans, they can all see, myself and the others are hurting. 

42k --> Last stretch, once you turn on Boylston, you can only appreciate the cheer size of the marathon, the whole street is ours, fans everywhere, I see the finish line, I want to break 3h30, I give it all, 

42.2k --> I'm a Boston Marathon Finisher

After crossing the line, I lay down on my knees, embrace the ground, the crowd thinks I'm hurt, I get up to a standing ovation. I'm addicted. Emotions are running very high, I just can't believe it. I did it! There's nothing in me, I'm totally dehydrated, I'm hurting, but personal pride overcomes every pain.

I will proudly wear my Orange 116th BAA official jacket