In my opinion, the Marathon Majors are special. All marathons are special in their own way, but there’s something about major tournaments that I love. The extra fare for fans, the events leading up to race day, the “hideout”. It is the common equivalent of Golf Majors or Tennis Majors. They’re just bigger, there’s more excitement around them.
And this year, the Boston Marathon did not disappoint.
This was my second time doing the marathon and my third time in Boston, and there seemed to be more shakes, pop-ups, and events this year than in previous years. It was hard to keep up with all of this and not overdo it before Monday’s marathon.
I kindly received my bib from TCS and so had a fun run with elite runner Reed Fischer along the Charles River alongside a film crew. Discover the reel they made by us. As well as joining the Westin x Abbott World Marathon Majors.
We stayed at the Westin Copley Place (this is not a sponsored stay – my friend Jenna books them almost a year in advance!). Honestly I think this is the best place to stay as they have a great setting for runners with breakfast from 5am, a Hyperice Recovery Zone, pre-run pasta dinner and easy walking to the buses and back from the finish line.
Pre-race breakfast
- Oat latte and cream cheese bagel at the hotel
- Precision fuel and hydration, carbohydrate and electrolyte drink on the bus
- Another square bagel, banana and Rice Krispie plus 1/2 Gatorade while waiting for departure
As part of entry to the TCS Run Club, we had access to VIP buses and hospitality at the start. My friends Robbie and Kyle were also on those buses/starters, which made the morning of the race a lot less nerve-wracking, even when the bus got lost! We spent the 3 hours waiting for our 11:15am start, stocking up on carbs and electrolytes and using the restroom several times.
As we walked to the start line, it was clear that it was going to be a hot day. I had ditched my disposables before I even left the reception area and was nervous that I hadn’t brought enough sodium with me.
Ash had suggested, since race day temperatures were starting to peak just as I was starting, to throw a cup of water on me at each aid station to help cool down, and I decided to grab a cup of Gatorade at each aid station to make sure I stayed hydrated. Honestly, I think those two adjustments helped me a lot, even though my hair was a complete bird’s nest by the end of the race.
I think I was in sub 4 form, about 9 minutes, but with the heat and hills (and downhill start) in Boston, I wanted to go out conservatively for the first 10k – aiming for a 9 pace, 15. I saw Mat Fraser on the course and wished I’d stopped to take a photo (for my fellow Crossfit nerds), then realized after watching my phone videos that I was actually running alongside from his partner Sammy for a little while. running without realizing it!
How I Refueled During the Race
Around Mile 17, I saw a gate with no lines and decided to go pee there. Even though I was sweating a lot, I had obviously drank quite a bit while waiting for the start and during the course. This mile was my slowest of the day at 9.57, but definitely worth it to feel more comfortable when I run. (When I ran Boston in 2017 I knew the sub 4 would be really tight so I peed my shorts!)
I’m so lucky to have my mom and Tom at so many of my marathons. I think it’s such a boost to know that they are on the right track and looking out for them. While most of my friends were running the race on Monday, I knew I had to wait to see Chris and Elle from Westin and the TCS team at mile 20.
One of the things I struggled with later in the race was seeing a lot of people walking…and wanting to walk myself! The heat had caught up with a lot of runners and unfortunately I also saw a few receiving medical attention. Many people were in survival mode at this point in the marathon, trying to stay upright and move forward. It can be difficult to continue those last few miles when your body (my quads!) is screaming at you to stop. I also knew at that point that my sub 4 time goal was exceeded, so it was difficult to continue running when there are so many people. others were walking. But I knew it would take longer and as you may have seen on my Instagram, one of my main goals was to not miss my flight that evening!
What I wore
I made the decision on game day to wear the Nike AlphaFly 3. I figured that since I wasn’t aiming for a record and given that it was going to be a hot day, I didn’t have much to lose (except slow it down). In!). Luckily, I didn’t have any issues with cramping. or blisters – full shoe review ahead. The Lululemon shorts were an older version of the Fast and Free shorts because unfortunately the new iteration went way back. And the Tracksmith tank was another last minute decision but I loved it. Tracksmith makes very high quality pieces and their Marathon Major collections are always perfect in terms of design, even though they are expensive. We headed straight to the Tracksmith store on Newbury St on Friday morning when it opened to pick up some of the Boston stash – some pieces were already sold out during the members pre-sale!
After the race, I discovered some chafing on my bra, but given that I spent the entire race pouring water over my head, I escaped with only minimal chafing !
These last few miles, my quads seemed to be the limiting factor, and I spent a lot of those miles promising myself I’d spend more time in the gym when training for the Berlin Marathon this summer.
This final stretch along Boylston is so special – I love that the crowds can get so close to the Boston Marathon finish line (they limit access much more in London). I tried to sprint this last stretch, but it turned out to be barely faster than my average pace and showed me that I had indeed given it my all that day. I finished in 4.05. I burst into tears immediately after crossing the finish line to see the TCS photographers above me.
After finishing, I met the rest of the TCS team and Reed presented me with my medal. I had stupidly forgotten my drop bag the morning of the race which contained my sandals and my post-race protein shake – so I hobbled in my running shoes and tried to down another Gatorade to hydrate myself. We waited in the finish area for Robbie to finish, then I returned to the hotel to get a full debrief of all the girls. Everyone had run slower than they wanted, such was the day.
My biggest mistake was not eating or hydrating. well after the race (I didn’t eat more than a packet of chips until I got to the airport) and it had an impact on my recovery I think. My resting heart rate was high the entire next week and it took a full 7 days for my legs to recover. A reminder not to be forgotten. your fuel after the race!
For me, this marathon training block was all about building a base, finding a balance between parenting, Tom’s work and absences, and running, and somehow finding the fire again to pursue my goals of race. Even though the sub 4 goal was not achieved, I would call the entire build a real success. And now I’m focusing on running strong in Berlin…
A big thank you to TCS Global for the free bib – I had the best weekend!