ahhhhh I can’t believe this incredible journey is over. It’s 5 days post-Boston and I’m definitely feeling some blues. I want to do it all over again ASAP! What is wrong with me?! 😝
I don’t even know where to start to “recap” this amazing race! This was one of the best days of my life (up there with my wedding day and the birth of my boys). My FIRST marathon! DONE!
Qualifying FOR Boston IN Boston. huge! Now to chisel away at that time for bigger & better things. Gotta start training for Boston 2016 baby!
My stats:
| Courtney |
| Net Time |
3:30:28 |
| Overall |
10294/26610 |
| In Gender |
2484/12022 (Female) |
| In Division |
1970/6011 (F18-39 Age Group) |
It’s safe to say, I’m hooked for sure. I’m already obsessing over which fall marathon to run and Im planning on a half in a few weeks!
I had a few concerns going into race day. Rewind to 12 days pre-Boston. I woke up one morning with NEW hip pain. (On my good hip! Wtf?!) I’m blaming my am husband for rotating the mattress. I was tossing and turning in his crater he created while he was peaceful sleeping on my nice soft side 😖 anyway. I called my PCP and ortho MD ASAP. I was able to get an appt for Friday (10 days before the marathon) I knew it was a new bursitis because I felt a rub and a new click with pain which can be caused by increased pressure (delapatated mattress!). I was desperate. I made my PA give me a cortisone shot. I spent the whole weekend 3 FULL days in misery. The shot ultimately helped but that 3 days was bad. Excruciating pain. A LIMP! Awful. NOT how I envisioned spending my last week before a marathon. But come Tuesday it was practically good as new. Now I was tapering so the furthest I got to run on it was 6 miles. Good to me. 👍 I did my best to not think about that stupid hip again. NO ROOM FOR NEGATIVITY.
My incredible mother-in-law (a marathoner and my mentor practically) gave me this “manifest” rock.
She constantly reminded me the YOU CAN MANIFEST ANYTHING! Words of wisdom, man. She knows her stuff. (Yes I know I HIT THE JACKPOT with her as a MIL)
This brings me to my second concern – I was starting in wave 4 corral 5 because of my invitational entry. No proof of speed. Eh, rite of passage for first marathon right. My plan was to sneak along the sidelines. I knew the first few miles would be crowded. I even adjusted my pace strategy to accommodate a 1030 mile and 930 second mile! Whatttttt!
MANIFEST 🙌
Let alone THE WEATHER!!! Calling for 30mph EAST WINDS. = headwinds. THE. WHOLE. TIME.
I was panicked ALL weekend. But my sister gave me a swift kick in the ass. She was like “pretend it’s not even raining. Who cares?! You’re tougher than a little wind. You’ve worked so hard. That wind has nothing on you!” I let it go on Sunday and said EFF THE WEATHER. That was the last I thought about it. Ain’t nobody hold me down, oh no, I got to keep on movin…..
MONDAY MORNING
I woke up like it was Christmas. Before my alarm at 5 am. Made my coffee. Had my two normal every day cups. And a banana. My kids and husband got up shortly after. I got dressed and kissed my babies and hubby goodbye and headed to Dorchester to my Moms to pick up my sister (WHO ALSO RAN!)
I had my bagel and PB when I got there. And tons of H2O and Gatorade. Our sister dropped us off in Boston Common to jump on buses to Hopkinton. The whole AM felt surreal. My first marathon, UNDERWAY!
The bus ride to Hopkinton was Long. I had no doubts but I could see my poor sister getting a little nervous based on the long ride. We watched my FAVORITE inspirational BOSTON video. So badass. Watch here, warning: goosebumps (we may or may not have watched this multiple times)
We finally made it to athletes village. Hit the portapotties a few Xs then it was time to head down to start corral. It was chilly. I was happy with my clothing choices. I HATE being cold running. I’d rather be hot.
40 degrees. Wind. Rain. = brushed tights. Long sleeve. Running jacket/windbreaker. Gloves. And a hat & ear warmer for me. 👍👍 I was happy with this as I was freezing in Brookline…
Anyway—– the long herding to the start corral had me nervous about the crowded first few miles. As I waited in the corral it started to rain. I had a poncho on but my feet were already wet. Before the start. Toes, numb. Oh well. Here goes nothing. Gun went off. The herd started shuffling to the start line. As I crossed the mats it was so weird. I was running the Boston Marathon. Wow. This is it. here goes nothin’.
I snuck off to the shoulder of the road. There were tons of people doing the same so there was a “passing lane” forming. People didn’t care and almost made room for it. I went right into THE ZONE. Watching my footing carefully trying not to trip for the life of me. I now know that I expended way too much energy doing that but oh well. Next year I’ll be seeded based on time. The first 2 miles are surely a huge drop in elevation (like forewarned). So people were actually moving.
I ran by my sister!!!! I didn’t even see her. I was like a horse with those blinders on! Hahahah! She sniped this pic!
First mile 8:3x. Nice. I thought to myself “nothing’s stopping me now”. It was raining pretty solid for the first like 12 miles. My feet were soaked. But I didn’t feel a thing. I ditched the poncho around 4-5. I was feeling solid. I kept reminding myself to SLOW DOWN in first 5 miles. But with the downhill I literally felt like I was going soooooo slow. And I didn’t want to pump the brakes TOO much and beat up my quads any more. (My rationale 😝) 5 miles split was sub 40 mins. Faster than I wanted to be. 10 k, Framingham. Now it was time to run a steady pace. My goal was 7:55 from 6-16.
My family was going to be in Natick Center (10.5miles). I couldn’t WAIT to see them! They were getting alerts via the awesome BAA app! When I saw my family it was downpouring! The poor things! I knew I had to go crush it after they were trucking around in the pouring rain with two kids in tow! I got a jolt of energy from seeing them. And then I got goosebumps and a lump in my throat. I thought “omg DONT CRY”. I felt myself sucking for air. I was barking in my head “LOCK IT UP!”
I cruised through to Wellesley. I shut off my music so I could hear the girls. Even with the weather – screams! Yay!
Mile 11 or so my left hip really started to bother me. It wasn’t “painful”. I was still running. But I felt the rub. I spent mile 11-16 worrying about it. Analyzing every step. Watching my clock the closest I had the entire time. So worried that I was slowing. But I hung on. And I figured. Oh well. It is what it is. Just keep running til you can’t anymore. Then when I poured into Newton Lower falls – I saw the “entering Newton” sign. And I thought, ” F that, this stupid hip, these stupid hills, aren’t gonna stop me. I AM DOING THIS!” “I’ve done all of my long runs in Newton on these very hills. These hills ARE MINE! ” as I climbed over 128. I regained the power of my mind and didn’t spend one more second thinking of my stupid hip.
I knew I was seeing my family again at 19. I cruised through those hills feeling pretty strong. Not as fast as I have done them before but not terrible either. I saw my family at 19 and this time I pulled over quick to high five and cup the rosy cheeks of my beautiful toddler. I could tell how happy (and relieved) they were to see me looking strong. I felt great. I took off. Up the last two hills. Creating heartbreak I knew I was home free. I was ahead of my goal split at 21. Now I thought just gotta hang on and get home! BC was awesome all the crazy kids screaming! Started to really soak it all in.
As I turned with the course in Cleveland circle (22M) I fed off the crowd here. High fives. Smiles. Cheers. Screams. It was electric and I had goosebumps from this point on.
I didn’t know my brother and sister were going to be around 22-23M. I ran right past them! I heard screaming and then realized I heard someone screaming “COURTNEY!” I looked over and saw my giant brother (he’s 6’4″) SPRINTING down the side walk. Super limbs. He was screaming and fist pumping “yeahhhhhhhhh you got this you’re my girl!!!!” I was so happy to see them. The wind had picked up and I was feeling cold and running directly into a headwind. I needed this burst.
Beacon street was bustling. I realized as I was running, I didn’t want this to end. All this training. All this hype. The BOSTON FREAKING MARATHON. The oldest and the greatest. MY FIRST MARATHON. Was going to be over soon. I cherished every last minute.
As we dumped into Kenmore Square, running right by the Citgo sign.. Running under the overpass I drive on to go to work. I had goosebumps and a lump in my throat. The fans were insane. And just ahead. Is that what I see? TURN ON HEREFORD???
I was moving as fast as my legs would take me. (Not as fast as I would like) I watched my clock. (” Mt Hereford” was not as bad as I had heard) … And then turn onto BOYLSTON. I could see the finish. Omg. This was it.
I looked around. I looked at all the people cheering from the bottom of their hearts. My heart was FULL. I was soooooo proud to call Boston my home. So proud of the resilience of this city. The finish line wasn’t tainted. The sun was shining down (not really, but in my head) onto Boylston. It was an absolute HONOR to run down that street towards the finish.
And that was it. Crossed that beautiful finish. My goal was to BQ. AND I DID IT! WHAT?!
The volunteers at the finish line were OUTSTANDING. heartfelt congratulations from each and every one of them. Wrapping me in a heat sheet. Putting the medal around my neck. PEELING BANANAS for runners. Incredible. So thankful for them.
There is so much I left out. The miles went by so fast. It was over just as fast as it started. It was a blur but it was a beautiful blur. I finally completed my marathon. I honestly feel like a changed person. I am. I’m a marathoner now. A special kind of people.
4. Apple iWatch , the sport version Here 
