Toast at Boston 2012

I initially held off on this report being so disgusted with the results then was encouraged to know how mightly everyone here struggled even just sand bagging. I decided I'd start at a pace about 30-40 second above goal pace that I thought I could still be able to run consistently and maybe hold on to at the end. Since I ran cautiously 2 years ago in my one and only Boston so far, I thought I should be able to match or beter that time since that was about 20 minutes slower than I was initially shooting for before the weather from hell appeared. Anyway, after being dropped at the state park and catching a bus to the start I walked the extra distance required to get to the athletes village. Got some fuel there since breakfast at the hotel didn't work out. Saw Tim and Wendy Miller by chance at the village and said hi. They decided to run with a group and shoot for around 4 hrs. A guy they were with led a prayer, which was a nice touch instead of a silent one I normally do. So after that I got back to the start line and used the porta pot one last time and waited in line to enter the crammed corral. I knew from the get go there would be little relief from the heat as we started down the first hill on mile one. My plan was still to try and maintain just under my long run training pace and see what happens. I basically did every possible thing to stay cool; hydrate regularly, get my hat wet, take popsicles or ice, anything and everything. It worked fairly well for the first 18-19 miles: 7:37,7:38,7:35,7:35,7:44,7:32,7:39,7:42,7:41,7:53,7:54,7:43,7:54,7:47,7:51,7:38 (mile 17)8:01,8:30,9:09. mile nineteen brought on a massive side stitch like I experienced in the fall of 2010 at almost the exact distance at the Prairie state race in similar conditions. I was just gathering myself to make a charge up the remaining hills. Had to stop and try to stomp it out then massage it. Somehow it subsided enough to start a slow run. It was a battle from here on out as I felt taking a lot more liquid may bring it back. Limiting the hydration started causing leg cramping and so the survival mode began. Astoundingly mile 20 was 8:16. Then the slippery slope of the crash and burn. 9:05,9:27,10:26,9:05,9:47,8:46 last (0.2) 7:30, hah. The 10:26 at mile 23 was where I decided to put my singlet back on that i had shed at about mile 4. I got tangled on attempt one, inside out on attempt 2, then again inside out on attempt 3, and finally got it on. This is where my Garmin auto-paused so it was probably an 11:20 after all. So basically I was walking through the final aid stations taking some liquid then trying to get back on track with more walking spells. That Citgo sign took forever to get to. Got over to the far right shaded area in the final procession down Boylston and a gal thought I cut her off since she was readdy to make a hard left into the sun. Final of 3:37:45 after the adjustment for the auto-pause. As the title alludes to, I felt like toast! Frankly, I thought I was more towards 4 hours since I stopped checking the watch after the stitch. Still have a BQ by +10 from last fall so next year is on my radar.

I have no earthly idea how you could run like that in that weather. I mean, seriously. You made it to mile 18 without even a fade and then a side stitch got you which I guess can happen to anyone anytime. You turned in a great time in the end and it sounds like your crash and burn was a managed pretty well without losing too much time (trust me, I know all about massive crash and burns). Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience and great job!!!!!!

Glad to see your report, Stephen and happy to have briefly met you on Saturday night. Guess we will both be back there next year - it will Snow, by the way. Great to see another who toughed it out!

You can be disgusted with the weather, Stephen, but I don't see how you could be disgusted with your race. You did a great job holding it together in brutal conditions (consistent splits for how long?) and managed the blow up with determination. You'll be back. Until then, be proud to say you're one of Boston 2012's survivors.

Stephen, you held it together remarkably well until the final six or so. It was simply too hot to do what we all would have liked to be able to do. Congrats on doing as well as you did given the situation. Enjoyed reading your report.

Regarding your posts title, I was tempted to post on FB before the race started: "I know it hurts to say goodbye, but it's time for me to fry" ala REO in the 80s. Thought it was a bit too cheesy though. haha!

Nothing to be ashamed of with your results. You held out well for quite a while in the heat and then toughed it out to the end. I suspect I would have folded early! Great job!

Great results in those conditions. Congrats.

That's a very strong race in Jerry's opinion. 19 miles sub 8 pace, unlucky with the side stitch, otherwise, you would have had a strong finish.

Good to meet you Sunday. Way to gut it out. Nice consistent beginning. Tough day for all of us.

I can understand your disgust. When we have expectations we are already setting ourselves up for dissapointment. Happen to be in AC Marathon where I walked/ran the who knows 10 miles. I was so disgusted I started helping the volunteers giving out gatorade. However, I realized that with the weather conditions (WINDY), that I was toast before I started. Adjusting my time was needed and even considering DNS or do it as a fun run.

You did the best you can on the given day and you can't be disgusted with that. To boot you ran a pretty solid race for the most part and the body just want to wanting any of that crappy weather.

Regroup, recover, refuel, retrain and refrain from negative thoughts. Congrats it really is another accomplishment.

I wouldn't be concerned about, I think it was a pretty good performance all things considered.

I too had a bad day, but good, albeit painful memories!

Strong race under tough conditions.

Well done on a tough weather day. Good seeing you Saturday and then again post race. Why have auto pause on? I turned that off on my Garmin for good. Hate that feature.

Chris M wrote:Well done on a tough weather day. Good seeing you Saturday and then again post race. Why have auto pause on? I turned that off on my Garmin for good. Hate that feature.

I use it to get my moving time ave. pace during training runs since I have so many stop lights to contend with. I should have turned it off at least for the race.

You ran pretty darn well in that heat! Sometimes things are just out of our control, and we just have to do what we can in the situation - and you did! Congratulations on finishing it!!

Sure, not what you wanted, but an impressive time in those conditions. I think you handled the heat better than most. Everyone was toasted to some degree on that day!

Great job holding it together for so long, those are some impressive splits until your body revolted. Nothing you can do about the weather but be proud you finished the Boston 2012 weather fiasco!