Monday, April 19, 2010

2010 Boston Marathon - 2:59:26 / 6:51


Net Time: 2:59:26 (PR)
Chip Time: 3:00:53
Pace: 6:51
5K Split: 20:26
10K Split: 40:57
15K Split: 1:01:21
20K Split: 1:22:06
Half Split: 1:26:36
25K Split: 1:43:06
30K Split: 2:05:01
35K Split: 2:27:27
40K Split: 2:50:07
Overall Place: 1263
Age Grade: 69.7%



48 hours later, the feeling has finally sunk in. More due to the fact that it happened on a big occassion like Boston and not in another flat or downhill course. To hit a sub 3 in Boston is very special because quite frankly I would rather do it here than anywhere else! This was very unexpected as I never stated that a sub 3 hour goal was within my reach. I always had this notion of maybe slowly but surely and within time, maybe....maybe I could break the 3 hour barrier in a marathon. I knew I had to give myself a few years before I can state this goal. Why? There's a lot of runners who just ran a BQ and eventually would aim for a sub 3 ad nauseum and later faltering. I prefer to be patient with this goal and let the results come in naturally rather than forcing it. It just kills the fun of running! Don't get me wrong, it is good to have goals, but I think designing goals within reach is more pragmatic.


After last year's experience, I had an idea of what to expect at the athlete's village, endless crowd support and the inevitable hills. I met up with several friends before the start on corral 2 and 3 and it got quite windy. I told myself that there's really nothing I can do with the weather and since the news stated "cross-winds"; I shouldn't worry too much about the impact. There's going to be plenty of variables in marathons and I just didn't want to expend extra energy in worrying about the weather. Just talking to other runners and friends (jim from trd who now lives in boston) definitely eased my nerves a bit. Granted it was my 19th marathon, I told myself to treat this race like anything else. To be honest, it is tough. The moment I entered the corral, nerves begin to sink in and you just realized the occassion, the history of the Boston marathon, rehashing your training regimen, and how far I came to where am I at.


Furthermore, I thought about my experience at DC, where I was able to PR in a marathon even being in the ER 48 hours before. I told myself that if I'm able to be a little aggressive and channel my energy on this previous experience, maybe good things can happen. I was thinking if I could risk it all, I may have a chance to hit a 3:00 flat or even PR around the 3:01-3:02 range. I knew it was a risk since Boston is a difficult course but a risk worth taking because I really have nothing to lose and if I happen to falter, there's always another marathon. Hence I decided to hit around 1:28ish on the first half, with that being said should give me some cushion to hit the hills comfortably on miles 18-22.



Once the gun started, I quickly thought of my pops on how much he's been through and use this to channel my energy into the race. First mile was quick and steady as I clocked around 6:43-6:44. I knew this was normal because of the downhill. I felt comfortable through the downhill from miles 2-8 and was clocking 6:30s. I was comfortable at this pace and decided to try to keep hitting 6:30s until I get to the firehouse turnaround and hills. I've pretty much tagged along w/ Tina from the CT races I see all the time 'til the half-way mark. Once I noticed I had hit 1:26:3-ish on the 13.1, I knew I could really PR in this course. That was the belief I had and remind myself to run hard but conserve for the hills. In addition, the fact that this was the 2nd fastest half marathon I've ran so far really sparked some confidence during the race.


Through the hills on miles 17-22, I've hit 7:06s-7:32s. Although I lost a bit of steam at the end of the hills, I knew I was in better shape than last year because I was hitting 7:30s to 8s at that point! I looked into my clock and realized that a sub 3 is really close but I would rather opt for a safer goal of PRing around 3:01-3:02.



After conquering the hills and with the help of BC'ers and downhill, I decided to give it all I got on the last 3 miles. Alas, the CITGO sign from afar. I knew I was close; but yet a few miles far! I knew I was definitely going to PR if I kept hitting under 7:30s but little did I know after mile 25, that I had a chance to sub 3. When I passed the mile 25 marker at 2:51ish, I thought to myself that if I could just think of the last 1.2 mile as if I was doing track intervals, I should be able to make it. I knew it was cutting really close. It was a do or die situation. I clocked around a 2:57ish on the turn-around into bolyston. I knew the finish line was near and had to give my all and just thinking about all my training, friends, coach and family, masking the pain from all the exertion. I clocked the last .2 miles in 1:23 and when I looked into the watch and realized that I was able to sub 3 with a few seconds to spare, I was literally ecstatic.





Upon crossing the finish line, I was elated but very surprised and unexpected. I may have come close to sub 3 marathons, but it has never been a true goal of mine. Maybe I never believed that I was ready for that goal. I believed that hitting around the low 3:00s was always within reach, but if you were to ask me to run a sub 3 marathon this year, I would've just cracked up. Who knows, it really was my lucky day and a perfect race to perform my first sub 3 in Boston. I would be lying to y'all if I say I didn't get all emo'ed up at the end. Truth is, I did; I thought of someone going through so much more than this race; that really puts things into perspective. Anyway, so I called my pops immediately after the race and he was ecstatic for my time and kept yelling "sub 3 sub3." Ok pops, I get the point! It is only one race! I want to be more consistent in the future buddy!

My next goal? As usual, is to continue to race consistently. I really want to hit a sub 40 on a 10K and compete in more short distances since 10Ks have always been my achilles heel. I think after this experience, I have to trust my training and try not to doubt myself. In addition, it is ok to take risks because you never know what is going to happen. First sub 3 in 19 tries; hence never give up! I really believe that everything will work out eventually and trust your training; whether it is a sub 4 hour, sub 1:30 or even a BQ. Just be patient. Hey I'm not an expert, just an average runner who just put in the miles and with a little bit of luck; good things can happen. Most of all, thank you to all the volunteers, family, coach, friends for the support as well as CPTC (have been training with them but have not officially raced for them yet); I really could not thank you enough for their kind words. Pops, this race was for you- you da man!

Next up: New Jersey. I PROMISE I will run for fun this time around!


Splits:
Mile 01: 6:43:88
Mile 02: 6:34:85
Mile 03: 6:32:41
Mile 04: 6:31:93
Mile 05: 6:40:32
Mile 06: 6:29:50
Mile 07: 6:30:13
Mile 08: 6:37:30
Mile 09: 6:34:47
Mile 10: 6:38:88
Mile 11: 6:41:64
Mile 12: 6:37:02
Mile 13: 6:40:01
Mile 14: 6:44:22
Mile 15: 6:52:29
Mile 16: 6:48:04
Mile 17: 7:06:91
Mile 18: 7:06:34
Mile 19: 6:58:75
Mile 20: 7:15:65
Mile 21: 7:32:22
Mile 22: 7:04:13
Mile 23: 7:20:50
Mile 24: 7:11:04
Mile 25: 7:20:61
Mile 26: 6:52:22
Mile .2: 1:23:32










































Cheers,
Moz

13 Comments:

Blogger DawnB said...

Ken outstanding I told you so, congratulations what a way to Boston, although I'm pretty convince a sub 4 is not in the picture for me thank you for giving me hope. Awesome,
awesome, awesome. Looking forward to the race report.

3:01 PM  
Blogger JoggerJoel said...

great job moz; I've been following you ever since you put up your blog on hkrunners.com; check me out at joel_labelle@yahoo.com on facebook or joggerjoel.blogger

3:15 PM  
Blogger jbetanoff21 said...

Congrats Ken! You deserve it! All that hard work, consistency and persitence paid off! Your first sub-3 out of many more to come.
I feel like we have progressed at this distance at the same time! BQed around the same time and sub-3 around the same time! What's next? I say 2h55m. What do you say?

Enjoy your accomplishment!

4:53 PM  
Blogger Billy said...

DUDE - OUTSTANDING! Congrats on the PR and sub-3!

5:58 PM  
Blogger Lindsay said...

congrats on the sub-3!! and jersey so soon? seriously you are nuts :)

7:01 AM  
Anonymous RJR said...

Sub-3! Nice. Extra cool because the first one for you came at Boston.

It's so nice that we can sit back and enjoy New Jersey now without having anything to prove.

11:23 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Simply Amazing. Found you through RunnersWorld somehow and I've been enjoying your blog for long while.

Your consistent training and racing paid off big time, on one running's biggest stages, Boston Marathon. Congrats. If I were you I would retire from marathon-ing. ;)

11:30 AM  
Blogger Willis said...

DAAAAAMN!! You rock! Awesome! Way to finish an incredible racing season. Major props!

7:01 PM  
Blogger Bridges Runner said...

Congratulations, Ken! Outstanding work.

9:09 AM  
Blogger chicopea said...

you the man!!!! we need to celebrate and do a happy hour!

11:44 AM  
Anonymous MattG said...

Excellent race ! Make sure you take some time to reflect and enjoy this one for a while !

Congrats on breaking the 3hr mark....

1:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey dude, ran threw ur article quick and it gave me inspiration. Im 23 years old...i have done 3 marathons and about to do my 4th in a few days...may 30th (buffalo ny marathon 2010)...ive ran my last 2 marathons-3:15...and 3:16...im trying to hit 2:59 too! I'll think about you when im in the last few miles, i hope i can get to my goal as well. keep up the good work!!!

Jack

1:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I always believed in you bumblebee!

6:32 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home