What was your qualifying time? I'm also in wave 1 corral 5!

I qualified with a 2:58:58 after taking almost 25 minutes off of my marathon time in 6 months ( which was set on a much easier course than my qualifying race )

Last year I was doing some ultra running and totally blew out my quads at the Squamish 50/50

As a result, in October I did my last race and legs seized up with a NASTY case of ITB issues as the quads healed super tight and adhered, I neglected some of my recovery post Squamish.

I had more than a month completely off, then beginning of Jan I was at 10k per week.

Took til mid Feb to build to 50k in a week, giving me less than 2 months to try and put something together as far as any real marathon fitness.

I was pretty well content to go and run easy, enjoy the experience, but my coach pushed me more than I thought, and I somehow hit a peak week of 122 km ( 76 miles ) higher than my last build, and I have zero niggles, ran my last hard 20 miler 4 minutes faster than the one going into my qualifying race, with more elevation gain and loss, felt easier, lower heart rate.

I think I am shooting for a 2:55 at this point, which would mean I somehow rebuilt to PR fitness in such a short amount of time, boding well for my triathlon fitness this year!!! Going under 2:55 makes for super easy math on the splits too! :p

Just waiting to hear back from my coach on his thoughts ( he hates race predictions )

We fly in from Canada on wednesday evening, and are staying with a friend 50 minutes from the start, so our marathon day will start a little earlier, but no need to worry about accomodations!

Wow that's cool. It sounds like you're going to have a great day. Hopefully you can pace it well!

My qual time is 2.59.30. I haven't really done a marathon under my own steam yet outside of ironman. I paced the 3hour group at gold coast marathon last year off the back of ironman training which is how I got my qualifier. I was on track for 2.58 low but stopped a few times in the last k to wait for people who fell off the bus.

Should be an interesting and painful experience I expect...

It's just about always safe. I might not run through the fens at 2 am.

It's always busy, but especially next weekend! Saturday is supposed to be really nice weather, so not only will you have to deal with 20k other marathoners in town, but a whole bunch of public wanting to be outside after a cold spring, AND the first day of the 2nd school spring break.

Great, looking forward to getting over there and getting amongst it.

It’s my first time doing Boston and am pretty exicted! Wave 2 corral 1. Hoping to run a 3:20.

I hope so too!! The shorter build up, and much less opportunity for specific pace work is leaving me a LITTLE wary, but the rest of the training data is pointing to some pretty good fitness.

As long as we don't get a torrential downpour race day.....

not looking good for monday to avoid the rain...chilly, windy and rainy. sounds pleasant.

A friend and I are both in Wave 1 corral 6 (3:02 qualifying). This will be my first and probably last Boston, I don't like open running races that much. I am going to be that slow guy in wave 1, just enjoying the race and treating it like a long training run.

Ha....that's funny.

Boston Marathon # 19 for me.
I'll be running injured so I just want to continue my streak, and hopefully qualify for # 20 but we'll see.
have fun everyone. It's a great race.

Nancy

what is the wind direction going to be doing on raceday? Any idea if its a head wind or tail wind?

Last year on race weekend running along the river, especially in the morning, was really nice. There were a lot of other runners out there, but it wasn't too crowded.

Best of luck. Don't go out too fast, that first downhill half can fool you.

Ive heard not to go out too hard at the start, even though it is downhill. I mainly run to feel but being the first crack at a marathon and with so many people around and a slight downhill it could get interesting...

It's difficult not to get caught up in the adrenaline of the start. Another thing to mention, the race is extremely crowded until it starts to thin out a bit around mile 4-5. That made the first few aid stations extremely difficult to get to - it was difficult to get over to the right or left, and you'd basically come to a standstill trying to get water. It might not be a huge deal with this year's forecast (it was quite hot last year), but be prepared for that if you want something, and if not then stick to the very middle of the road at the aid stations. It's just very difficult to maneuver those first few miles.

have fun and go easy in the first 13. The corrals are seeded, so everyone around you in your corral ran about the same qualifying time as you. Unless you are planning to run faster than your BQ time I'd advise hanging in the pack. If you are passing lots of folks then you are likely running too fast. This is #4 for me. In my first Boston I felt great and passed tons of folks heading down from Hopkinton. Man was that a mistake! All those people passed me in the later miles. The next year I told myself to go easy (by effort) until mile 21, after heartbreak hill. I finished strong , by that I mean I did not slow down in the last 5 miles and passed plenty of runners. My goal this year is to come close to that year's time.

Boston is a great race and the town is very safe in my experience. There will be tons of runners everywhere this weekend.

brian
#12695

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Brian
“Eat and Drink, spin the legs and you’re going to effin push (today).” A Howe

Awesome sounds good, I am trying to run ~ 15min faster than my BQ time, hopefully there are a few people going out at the same pace.

I think right now it's about a 18-20 mph headwind (east to west).

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I like analyzing things - http://engineeringfitness.org

Lucky I'm good at drafting then. I guess that's one plus of it being a big race there is always someone to run behind.

I'm in wave 1, corral 5 with a time of 3:00:16.

Aim is 2:55. Those 17 seconds have burned all year. No way I'm not going sub 3hr this time.

I was hoping for rain (I seem to run better in the rain but my cheering squad could do without) but I'm not so keen in the forecasted headwinds.

Awesome! Good luck I hope you nail it.

Not running this year, but have run twice in the past & recently qualified for 2019 with a race in Feb.

The race day forecast is looking like rain and about avg temps (high of 60), but it’ll probably be in the upper 40’s to near 50 for the start - so take along some throw away gear to stay dry and warm at Hopkinton HS (race village). I wouldn’t want to start with wet shoes, so maybe bring a pair to toss and your race shoes in a plastic bag to put on just before heading to the corrals.

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Blog: http://262toboylstonstreet.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/NateThomasTri
Coaching: https://bybtricoaching.com/ - accepting athletes for 2023

Brett: due to Double Letter Cheater Identification Protocol, your BQ is currently under review

J/K: Good luck

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

But I had just broken up with my partner....it was a weak moment.....you wouldn't understand the troubles I have gone through!!

I don't think there's another marathon like Boston where you'll be surrounded by people the entire time. Fortunately for you most people go out a little quick because from my one experience running it (2015) it can be quite congested and can be tough to move up if your planning on running a lot faster than your BQ.

So rumour has it we're in for difficult conditions.

Yes, I carry a handheld water bottle for the first ten k, and stay in the middle of the road....much safer that way!

Wet and raw with 20 mph headwinds, heaviest rain mid afternoon so the back of the pack folks are in for a rough day. I agree with Nate's suggestion about throwaway gear, I'd even bring some trash bags to wear and also sit in beforehand to help stay dry (I did this for my first one where it rained that year). It's a great race, enjoy!

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"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

Are you from the area brian? If so any advice in viewing the race and possibly getting to the start for a spectator? Is uber the best way?

Yes, I'm just north of the city. Been a few years since I last ran Boston, Uber could get you out to the start but they may have to drop you off quite a ways from Hopkinson Green as they restrict traffic in the area. There is an office park right off I-495 where they have shuttle buses but even then you can expect a huge back getting off the highway to get there.

Best bet from a spectator standpoint is using the T. B train on the Green Line gets you out to BC/Beacon St around mile 21, can also also take the commuter rail out to Framingham around mile 7. It is tough with a point-to-point race like this seeing someone multiple times - another option is to get an Uber out to Wellesley (ask for St Paul's church, which is just after the 1/2). They should be able to come up Rt 135 through Needham and drop you behind the church, and then when you are ready to head to the finish get back into the city and get dropped off downtown somewhere away from the race course (ask for 60 State St - there's an Orange Line stop right there) and then take the Orange Line to Back Bay Station and you are right behind the finish line where the med tents are (Copley station of Green Line is closed on race day).

Hope this helps, have fun and stay dry/warm!

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"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

Thanks for that. My gf wants to get out to support on the course. She has a few different options and yes i have suggested she just stay dry and warm in the room but she is adament that isnt an option.

One of the easier/more popular options is to ride the D line to spectate at the Woodlawn T stop in Newton around mile 16-17 and then hop back on the T to get to the finish.

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Dimond Bikes Superfan

Raining harder here than expected for this time of day, folks are definitely going to earn their finish medals today. Good luck to all!

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"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

I've got a bad feeling about this

Good luck to all the runners, volunteers and support people

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

NBC Sports coverage is now live. Looks like an epic day.

Best of luck to all the runners.

Back in my army days we uses to say "If it ain't raining, then it ain't training!!".... This will certainly be one to talk about for years to come.

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Austin Hardy -

I think the only time I've seen anyone run Boston in soaking rain, was in Saint Ralph

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

The first year I did it (1988) had steady rain but temps in the low 60s, so it was bearable. Nothing like today with the cold, wind and downpours though. I did Hyannis in 2009 in freezing rain but there was only one stretch of wind along Craigville Beach for about a mile that absolutely sucked, yet that is what people today are going to have to deal with the whole route. Hope everyone makes it through OK.

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"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

I guess this is the race day thread too?! Epic conditions.. Really putting the runners toughness on display, it's great to see!

Hughes props to Desiree (sp?) who dropped back to pull Flanagan back up to the pack after a quick porty stop! Now Dess is off the group but Flanagan is still in the hunt.

The Women's race just got very interesting. The conditions have made this race extremely tactical. Des is back.

AMAZING! Love the grit Des is showing!

The wife is running today. Her 2nd Boston. She has trained well & did real well in a 13.1 a couple of weeks ago. Her coach was hoping she would BQ for 2019 at todays race.
That feat will be difficult due to todays conditions.

Good luck to all the athletes, many thanks to the volunteers & Boston area residents.

The race goes a couple blocks from my house, just went out to try and watch the elite women go buy. Lasted less than 10min and it just started pouring. What a nightmare for these runners, yuck.

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Dimond Bikes Superfan

Tracker shows Daska 15 seconds off the front heading into the hills, if she’s really tryin to attack over the hills that’s pretty awesome.

For the men... Rupp has been so smart so far, but is he running as "easy" as the other elites!? Time will tell... Really enjoying this year's races!

GO DES!!

Weird seeing the lead men go through the Newton Hills with hardly anyone out there watching. Crowd is usually 4-5 deep at that point.

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"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

Yeah, stark contrast to last year! My bro was there last year watching and was looking for shade, so he didn't get burned!

This TV coverage is brutally bad. Commentators who know little about running, refusing to show us anyone other than the person in first.

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Dimond Bikes Superfan

Next time each of us chooses to go out and run on a cold, rainy, windy morning we have something new to dream about! If I was running Boston today, I certainly wouldn't have wished for these conditions, but as a spectator what an inspiring and surprising race. So happy for Des Linden.

What about the next time someone complains about having a full time job and mixing in training?? How about that Kawauchi, aka Citizen Runner!!!

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808 > NYC > PDX > YVR
2024 Races: Taupo

Finish this quote: “There's no such thing as bad weather ..."


"... just soft people." - Bowerman
"... only unsuitable clothing.” - Alfred Wainwright
"... only different kinds of good weather." - John Ruskin

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

Seven of the top ten women and five of the top ten men were from the USA. Definitely not expected.

Conditions wreaked havoc on the non North American runners! They literally seemed to freeze up in the last 10km.

Edit: So pumped for Des! Amazing performance.

Plus, being an awesome friend & teammate she waited for Shalane, then paced her back up

https://deadspin.com/...ak-in-the-1825291930

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

@germanotes:
'Boston Marathon champ Linden tells NBC: in early miles she felt miserable, so she told US teammate Flanagan, "If there's anything I can do to help you out let me know because I might drop out." Helped with bathroom break, then rebounded for the win.'

What about the next time someone complains about having a full time job and mixing in training??

Triathletes complain about difficult courses and weather but they brag (and exaggerate) about having a full time job and training...

This is why I almost always choose to run outside in bad weather. About the only time I stay inside is when I'm feeling sick or active lightening in the area.

Yup, I mentioned that earlier. It totally looked like Des was there in a support role early on. Great teamwork between the two and an amazing turnaround for Des! That's a dream day, come true for her!

https://deadspin.com/...g-winners-1825293545

• He’s a government employee in Japan who doesn’t run professionally and has a full-time job.
• This was at least his 71st competitive marathon since the beginning of 2012—averaging just under one a month. Overall, he’s run in at least 81 marathons.
• He’s run 26 of them faster than 2:12 and 79 of them under 2:20. Both of those numbers are world records.
• In January, Kawauchi ran a 2:18:59 marathon in Marshfield, Massachusetts in one-degree weather. He was the only finisher.
• That race gave him the most marathons ever run under 2:20; he finished two more between then and Boston. (Obviously he was the only one of his competitors to have already run a marathon this year. Today was his fourth of 2018.)
• The NYPD mysteriously clipped him in the 2014 New York City Marathon.
• Today in Boston he beat defending world and Boston champion Geoffrey Kirui, and defending Chicago champion and all-around stud Galen Rupp. No one finished within two minutes of him.

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

Love the winners, but I’m in awe of the people of Boston. So many of them came out to cheer for us in truly miserable conditions. People cheering, handing out water, oranges, hand warmers, etc. There is a great story about a church that took in runners in need of medical assistance. The race volunteers are amazing too. I tried to be a grateful runner.

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Brian
“Eat and Drink, spin the legs and you’re going to effin push (today).” A Howe