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So I ran the Boston Marathon last week. I tried to break 3:00. It did not go well.

Here's the report:

Training

My mileage most weeks was in the 60s and 70s. The biggest change I made in my training was to do more longer intervals on my interval workout day. I didn't do as many 6 x 800 or 4 x 1200 type intervals. I did more 4 x 1.5 miles, 3 x 2 miles, and 2 x 3 miles intervals just to see what that might do for me. Obviously, the longer intervals were at a slower pace than a 6 x 800 or 4 x 1200 workout but still 30-50 seconds under race pace (with 2-3 minute rest intervals). I went 20+ miles seven times and those were in a progression run format with the final 4-6 miles at or slightly below race pace and overall about 30-35 seconds over race pace. I also did a weekly run of 6 to 10 miles at 5-15 seconds below race pace. The rest were easy runs.

The Race

It was a wild weather day. I woke up to dark skies, rain, thunder, and lightning. It was pouring rain on the way to Hopkinton. They even moved the runners into Hopkinton middle school and high school for a short time. However, by 9:00, the rain was completely gone, which was great. The downside was that by 10:00 it was about 62 degrees with 88% humidity. By mile 3 of the race, I was already wiping a bit of sweat off my face. I wasn't tired by mile 3, of course, but I knew that was not good. I continued to sweat way more than is conducive to running a good marathon.

Thankfully, the humidity dropped a bit by 11:15 or 11:30, but at that point the clouds had broken and it was full sunshine and around 68 degrees the rest of the way. The sun was just bearing down on us. I ended up with sunburns on my shoulders and face and that was the absolute last thing I thought would happen as I monitored the weather forecast in the days leading up to the race and as we drove to the start in pouring rain.

Ultimately, I just couldn't keep the pace in that kind of heat and humidity. I didn't have any injuries, cramps, or stomach problems. I took gels every 30 minutes instead of every 5K, which was much better. I drank water at every aid station. I would say that I officially knew it was not going to happen by mile 12. Then, when I hit the half in 1:30:27, I certainly knew I wasn't going to run 1:29:32 with the heat and with the hills coming up. The clocks on the course did not seem to be affected by the heat and humidity. They maintained a pretty consistent pace throughout.

I briefly thought about 3:05 since that's my BQ time. That thought lasted about two miles before I knew I couldn't hit that time, either. After that, I just calculated what 3:10 - 3:20 meant to me vs. slowing down, enjoying the atmosphere, and accelerating my recovery. I decided that 3:10 - 3:20 didn't mean much to me (I ran 3:09 in NY in the fall and my PR is 3:03). As a result, I did a few stop & talks with some people I knew on the course and just ran easier the rest of the way in. I finished in 3:26. Some guy, who was also struggling, turned to me at mile 19 and said, "you about ready for this to be f*@king done yet?" That provided a few seconds of laughter and distraction from the disaster that was occurring.

Post-Race Thoughts

I think some people are able to handle the heat and humidity better than others. When it's hot and humid, my heart rate is higher than it should be at all points in the race and I just can't keep it down save for slowing down (I was not checking my heart rate during the race). But I had to give it a shot. There was an email from the BAA suggesting that runners adjust their race goals from the start when the conditions are not great for racing. Adjust my race goals?!! Yeah, I don't think so.

The day after the race I spent 5 minutes searching the results of bib numbers near mine. There was a little bit of comfort in finding that most of the runners I searched (about 20) who went through the half in 1:29 to 1:31 ended up finishing in the 3:12 to 3:30 range. There were a few who held on to finish in the 3:01 to 3:05 range and all credit to them!

The good thing is that I got the real Boston Marathon experience this year. Last year, the crowds were thin because of the cold, wind, and rain, and I was basically looking down the whole time to avoid the rain so I didn't really get the experience. I have to say that I thought it was great. Maybe it wears off after you've run Boston a few times, but I really enjoyed the atmosphere.

The Takeaway

I think the biggest takeaway from this race is that I believe you have to be approximately 4-6 minutes better than your target time or you have to have ideal conditions. If I want to break 3:00 on my next attempt, I either have to be in 2:54 - 2:56 shape (which will obviously be difficult for someone at my level but not necessarily impossible) to account for wind or heat, or I need to pick three fall races on flat courses and monitor the weather in the week prior to the race before deciding to travel there a day or two before the race if the wind is reasonable and the temperature is in the 40s or low 50s.
Conclusion

Unfortunately, for me, Rob Base and the late DJ E-Z Rock remain incorrect.

It Takes Two Three.