I didn’t get to watch Boston today…all three of my buddies, all very experienced runners, wilted big time around the 30-35K mark… did it get really hot today, or is that just where the course gets a lot tougher?
Its the nature of the course, lots of downhill running and then around 30K you get uphill running = equals crash
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I ran it in 2011 and found that Heartbreak Hill wasn’t too bad but about a mile or so after Heatbreak things started to get really tough. It’s the nature of the course and also the nature of every marathon.
The adrenaline + downhill start get people going too fast and burn too many matches. So many people I know would try and “bank time” at the beginning. This rarely ever works. Add in hills after 16-18 miles and many get reduced to a slow jog. Once you start “jogging” or getting way off your pace, it is hard to ever get it back, physically or mentally.
Last year I ran a BQ on fairly flat course in the spring. In the fall I ran MDI marathon in Maine which “features” non-stop hills from mile 19 on. I was reduced to walking twice (only time in 8 marathons), then a slow jog and finished waaaaaaaay off what I was hoping to do. Quite humbling.
When I ran Boston, I found that while the last 5 miles are “net downhill”, there were enough small rollers that it felt like I was still in the Newton hills. The first year, that section destroyed me because I mentally was ready for flat to downhill and was in for a shock. The second time around I really held back the first 16 miles and actually had a good finish, felt pretty strong the last few miles.
I raced Boston today. It got hot (62) when I got into Boston and climbed into the 70s as the day went on. The warm temps plus the hills can turn a good day very bad quickly!!
Congrats on getting to race Boston! My buddies say it was awesome…even awesomer 
than usual!
It was cool in the morning and warmed up to high 60s-low 70s by early afternoon, bright sunny day with little shade since the trees are still bare. Tough thing about a day like today is people tend to hydrate less when it is cooler early on and then pay for it in the second half when it is warmer.
Great day to spectate though, I was in Wellesley not far past the halfway point.
My Sister who runs Competitively died at the end of the race today. The Boston marathon course is tough. Never blame the course/weather. Blame the training/thought process/fueling.
My husband didn’t wilt today, but he did say the last 6 miles were really, really tough. He said this year (this is his 2nd time doing Boston) it was very dense on the course the WHOLE way. And he said he spent quite a bit of energy keeping upright due to how packed in everyone was for the entire run. Also, the first half is mainly downhill most of the way and it’s very difficult to hold back - especially with such a dense crowd. He ran a sub 7 min/mil for the first half, slowed a bit and came in at 3:08. Not his fastest, but he did BQ at B.
I personally paid the piper big time coming down off Heartbreak Hill. Just the nature of the course.
My prayers are with your family.
My prayers are with your family.
Don’t encourage weakness.
I was in wave 3 so it was warm and got really hot
I started having issues early but finished - it was slow and ugly
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Today was my 5th Boston and I have learned something about the course every year. One thing that I think people underestimate is the long downhill section AFTER heartbreak hill and down into Boston. It really tears you up.
Also ran today. Wanted to go sub 3, see garmin link for the rest of the story. Ended up 3:03, man an 8AM start would have been wicked awesome today! The sun was up ALL DAY, crowds were huge, easily 4 deep most of the way. My first boston also. Great execution by the BAA but man, a little earlier start would have made things interesting. Sporting a nice sun burn today. What did everyone think of the finish line death walk in order to get out of that zoo?
I was stalking a few friends today and was shocked by how late they start this race.
That is really late to start a marathon.
Is it in case of a really cold day?
I was stalking a few friends today and was shocked by how late they start this race.
That is really late to start a marathon.
Is it in case of a really cold day?
Until 2007, the race started at noon. It was always the traditional starting time. I don’t think they even had wave starts until the mid 2000s.
omg I could not believe how long we had to walk! I stayed at the westin and almost cried when they sent me another block away walking like frankenstein
Yesterday was a little warmer than I would have liked, but not even close to two years ago. Boston is a tough race to pace correctly. I’m usually pretty good with even splits, but haven’t figured it out at Boston yet. The crowd support was amazing yesterday, and that walk after the finish was brutal. I’ve done numerous marathons and full/half distance tris, and no other race wrecks my legs like Boston.