This has got to be the longest longshot ever to appear on FRA Forum.
Anyone else doing this years Boston marathon on 20th April?
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This has got to be the longest longshot ever to appear on FRA Forum.
Anyone else doing this years Boston marathon on 20th April?
About 21,999 other runners! You will not be alone:D.Quote:
Originally Posted by bestathlete
Nope, next year if all goes well.Quote:
Originally Posted by bestathlete
A friend of mine is doing it. :o
Its the final countdown - Anni Waltz today (taking it easy) then an ever decreasing daily run until I leave next Friday.
Weather in Boston seems unpredictable - lurching daily between 16 and 6 deg C. I would prefer 6.
Training has gone well so I'm gonna be bold and say that I am aiming for 2hrs 49mins (6:29/mile). One way course so hopefully wont be 26.2miles of headwind.
Good luck.
Wish I could be bothered to do enough training (and less eating and drinking)to get under 3hrs. I'm going to London on the 26th to try for 3.15. Like you, I'd prefer it to be cold! Can't cope with to much sun.
Im not running it but I may be there to watch itQuote:
Originally Posted by bestathlete
London for me.
Hows tricks Ajohns? Glossop is basking in the sunshire today!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadrunner
Lovely day RR, had the kids baptised today, enforced rest day !!
We had ours dne in the area and then a party at Glosso cricket club. Infact, just booked the cricket club for out wedding party in August.
I shall be there too (not running obviously) so will give you a cheer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadrunner
went to a do their the other week, really nice now they sold that piece of land at the side for old peoples flats and then spent hundreds of thousands on it !Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadrunner
With apologies for going off the christening topic - I'm heading off early tomorrow morning so this may be my last forum visit til next week.
Easy jog tonight and again on Sat/Sun then race on Monday. Forecast cool and rainy - cant wait.
All the best for the race. See you in a couple of weeks.Quote:
Originally Posted by bestathlete
Good luck BAQuote:
Originally Posted by bestathlete
Good luck bestathlete. Fingers crossed you hit your target time.
Remember, any running you do now will not make a difference to your finishing time, so take it very steady, drink lots on that flight and enjoy the race.
Good luck Best Athlete. Weather lovely and sunny over here today with the warm weather forecast up till Saturday.
I am heading down to Boston in an hour or so - enjoy the city it really is a great place
results are in...
my friend Graham did 3:24:04 :)
well done to all.
2hrs 51mins 15seconds
Not my best ever performance - was hoping (and expecting) 2:49ish. Still, not bad considering it was 26miles of headwind and much hillier than expected. Just because it finishes lower than the start doesnt mean that there arent significant uphill sections that reduce the overall average pace.
As for the event itself - Fantastic, possibly better than New York. The crowds were enormous in Boston (although only the final few minutes were actually in the main city) but the towns along the course were also packed with vociferous support.
At halfway there was a girls college and I think every single student was at the roadside screaming at the top of her voice. It was incredibly loud- could hear it half a mile in advance due to the headwind. Once i got up to them I could see many were holding up signs saying 'kiss me' as well as the screaming. I resisted stopping to oblige and was in some ways glad to be past so my ears could readjust back to normal loud cheering.
Heartbreak Hill at 20miles was nothing compared to the earlier upslope (will get pulled to bits if i call it a hill on this forum) at 16miles. In fact, Heartbreak Hill is not so called due to breaking the runners hearts with its incline but in fact its down to a famous duel between two runners of yesteryear when the race was decided at this point.
The transport to the start town was well organised and quick. The baggage transfer arrangements were spot on. The finish line routine was well thought out and efficient - (a large lady pysically manhandled many of us out of the way of a puddle of sick). Thankfully the helpers didnt all say 'good jahb' which was tiresome in NY after the 15th time of hearing.
The post race free massage was down two flights of stairs though:eek:.
Paced myself really well, starting easy, letting hundreds pass me ( I was in the very front line after Elites) but then easily cruising past folk in the final few miles. Probably didnt run quite hard enough to be honest - average pulse was not as high as I thought it would be and know it could have been. I think I may have reached a stage in life where I enjoy the experience for 3 hours more than I have the urge to flog myself for 2 and a half.
Berlin next (after a summer on't fells)
Overall I would certainly recommend Boston to anyone wanting a great international marathon experience. Expensive entry though - 140 odd quid.
Well done bestathlete, only 2 ish minutes outside your target, sounds like you had a good time and enjoyed it, that's the main thing;)
Sounds to me like you would have hit target time on a 'better' course.
Come run round Edinburgh in five weeks time.
You running Edinburgh are you? Perhaps not now after your FLM success though eh?Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadrunner
I emailed them as soon as I got home with an earnest request to get a late entry but I havent got the qualifying time for free entry so am not holding much hope of success with that.
If you not doing it - does that mean theres a number going spare? Hmmm;)
[quote=bestathlete;217236]2hrs 51mins 15seconds [quote]
5 seconds behind my friend and clubmate Dave Coales of TeamBath AC!
Chairman Dave Reports From Boston
-
I came 519 in Sunday’s (April 20th) Boston
Marathon in a time of 2:51:10. I was
hoping for a time of 2:45 but the hills and
the windy conditions had the final say.
There was a group of kids chanting kill,
kill kill the hill at the bottom of heartbreak
hill unfortunately it was the hills that
nearly killed me! I went through halfway
in 1:22:14 and was still on target for 2:45
until about mile 18. Boston is a great
course going through some wonderful New
England towns but it is oh so tough!
Indeed I saw your mate Dave pretty much all race long. (although at that stage I didnt know he was your mate or even that he was called Dave.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boy Wonders mate Dave
You got that right Dave
Well done BA!
1st Brit home too.
Well it didn't, but three years later and after quite a lot of trying, I ran 3:19 at the Annecy marathon on Sunday and have finally qualified. :thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Feet in the Cowclaps
Boston 2013 here I come, though I hope it's not as hot as it was yesterday for the 2012 version. 31°C Attachment 6006.
Well done FITC :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Feet in the Cowclaps
wasn't Iain R running the boston this year? any one know how he did?
2 hrs 44 according to f/b (132nd out of 23,000 starters I think)Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
[QUOTE=Boy Wonder;217920]i was similar.. 1:18 something to half way.. which is just inside my marathon pb.. and still on sub 2:40 to the base of the hills.. but TBH my pace also suffered coming down around Chestnut and down Beacon.. even the down hills I was barely inside 6:30 min miling.. finsihed 2:44:30 ish.. no sure on exact time, on the clock I was 30 seconds slower starting and finished just over 2:45... so chip was 2:44 something.. 132nd would normally be 2:33-2:38 in the last 5 years..Quote:
Originally Posted by bestathlete
Most seemed to be at least 6 mins off their pace.. 8-10 minutes were pretty common.. further down the field, they were out for longer in the heat as they started later 30mins > 1 hr off their times..
Superb race.. not that quick a course as I'm not suer the down hills overly help in the end, they just do damage for later when you hit the hills at 16-21.. which are nothing.. but your pace drops..
The organisation is superb.. busing 23,000 runners out there from 6 am..
I was really looking forwards to a night on the beers but it wasn't to be.. I was in a mess last night, only after the 100k at the commonwealths have I felt so ill.. I was close to admitting myself to hospital..
I think I was.. I changed my address to a Boston address as I've been in TX for so long prior to the race so couldn't get my number.. I ended up making the local paper as a 'local' runner...Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobert
Quote:
Originally Posted by bestathlete
i did that too... have the code for good for age but not free entry.. ran 2:42 on a hilly course 6 weeks ago and 2:44 yesterday.. so will see.. have 5 days to think..
well done Iain,you`ll qualify for a guaranteed place in the FLM with those times.well worth cashing it in as it gives you good stat line position(just behind the pros) and a seperate changing,toilet and warm up area away from the rest of the crowds.i think the times are valid for two years so no rush for this year
Cheers.. tough run..Quote:
Originally Posted by rocksteady
Will probs do London 2013.. will see..
FITC cloud you know Boston is now 5 mins quicker qualifying.. so sub 3:15 under 45 and sub 3:25 for under 50..
Yep thanks, it's your age on the day of the race that counts, and I'll be 45 by then. T'jobs a good'un! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
I've never been called a cloud before, so thanks for that too. ;)
wow I could qualify! never been to Boston...!Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
It's actually a fairly scenic course. Great city, Sam Adams good beer.. I loved it as my first big city marathon.. and normally you'd expect 55-65F heat.. BTW its something like $160 to enter.. but the costs, flights, hotel etc dwarf that.. Entries open September I think..Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak