2009 Boston Marathon 3:15:20 / 7:27

Net Time: 3:15:20
Pace: 7:27
Rank: 3688
5K- 21:52
10K- 43:34
15K- 1:05:34
20K- 1:27:42
1/2 Split- 1:32:32
25K- 1:50:14
30K- 2:13:44
35K- 2:38:54
40K- 3:04:20








I was in for a rude awakening. Although it wasn't the best result, the marathon is really unique and stamped with a special feeling. Maybe that's why certain runners emphasize the importance of Boston. The hills, headwind, course, township crowds, hills, drunken BCers, wellesley girls, hills, korean ladies, downhills, the volunteers and hills...it was surreal.

Although I'm always biased over the fact that nothing will be more special than NYC, this marathon is the one I will remember the rest of my life. I have to admit that I was flushed with nerves upon grabbing my bib and chip at the expo (i know it was lame!). The volunteers and expo was a bit smaller and more domestic without the international hodgepodge you would normally get at Javits.

We stayed at Holliston a few minutes from Hopkington and at the athlete's village was a slew of runners with their celebration jackets on. I wondered to myself, if it is more appropriate to wear it after the race? Within a few hours of waiting, we headed to our starting corral via bib #. But damn, we lucked out on the weather after all the weather panic I've been hearing from the rest of the crowd at the expo. At the corral start, being around the rest of the talent was a bit intimidating but I zoned out with some shins tunes (to the lowest volume possible).

I felt really comfortable at the start and funny enough I noticed several familiar faces I normally run into at central park. Miles 1-6 was rolling but I felt it was more of a gradual descent than a downhill. Miles 7-13 was the same but with the endless crowd support. On mile 14-15, was probably the highlight with the wellesley girls "getting to unbrace yourself". Sometimes I wish that the line of support was a tad longer as they certainly bring in some excitement haha! After Mile 15, it was the huge downhill that I was always afraid of. I knew right after this point, will be a struggle from the gradual series of hills until mile 22. Each hill was like any other Central park hill, however it was just the placement of the hills late in the course that makes it more difficult. In addition, the gradual series of hills doesnt give much of a breather. That is when Jon passed me. He clearly told me that I was struggling with the death shuffle at that point (which was totally true!). Hence, by the time I got to mile 23, my legs were dead and heavy. However, I managed to hang on as long as possible. By the time I ran on the underpass around mile 24, I knew the end was near and the excitement poured on as I inched from finishing my first Boston. At the end, the announcer pronounced my surname incorrectly, which I thought was pretty funny but yet that's what makes it so memorable. Post mylar-grabbing, I managed to grab a cell and called my pops. He was tracking my time all along! Funny thing is he kept mentioning Kara and Ryan this and that and how he was so disappointed in their 3rd place finish. I have to admit I was a bit bummed myself as I really want an American to break through that vicious cycle of monotonous champions.

Post race bar-crawl, we grabbed a quick bite at AuBonPain, then headed for beers at minibar and hopped to Brownstone since Clerys was packed! Afterwards we continued the binging at whiskeys, more food at tapeo and finishing an amazing celtics game at another bar in copley.

So, I've finished my first Boston and every mile was memorable. The endless crowd support was unreal. In the end, I asked myself, how did moz do? I'm happy with the result. I'm sure there are things I could've done that could've achieve a different or better result. But at that moment in time, I'm satisfied at how I handled the race and never gave up. Hence with some unfinished business, Boston 2010 here I come! Till then I have a few more days of rest before another one :)










































Splits:
01: 7:18:08
02: 6:57:00
03: 6:53:05
04: 6:56:00
05: 7:04:81
06: 6:57:42
07: 6:59:66
08: 7:07:55
09: 7:04:76
10: 7:06:12
11: 7:11:67
12: 7:03:54
13: 7:06:06
14: 6:57:28
15: 7:19:89
16: 7:12:73
17: 7:32:78
18: 7:42:12
19: 7:42:25
20: 8:01:63
21: 8:31:10
22: 7:59:62
23: 8:26:01
24: 8:04:29
25: 8:05:12
26.2: 9:48:14

And the notorious crotch shot....ENJOY!



Cheers,
Moz