Notes
It was a warm one but not horrible. Temps in the lower 60s at the start, upper 60s at the finish - humid but a bit of a cooling headwind.
Goal was 3:10 earlier in the training cycle but thought 3:15 would be conservative due to the heat and the unconventional taper - I spent a week hiking in Montana 3 weeks out and had a sinus fever a week out.
Did not look at my watch except for the 5k timing mats and thought I was keeping it really easy effort - having a great time out there as usual. First 5k surprised me at 7:09 which was too fast (should be about 7:25/7:30). Thought I adjusted the next 5k but by the 10k split it was down to 7:08. Tried to adjust again and was able to slow it down a bit and thought everything was on target and feeling great.
Then that familiar feeling crept in - around 15/16 I felt a hamstring twinge and got scared. By the Newton hills I had cramps in the left hamstrings and had to stop to rub them out. Very familiar process.
Saw Terrie and Addie at mile 20 and it was a shit show - just couldn't run without my left hamstring and calf cramping. At one point my left calf just didn't release - so painful - almost called it quits. Just tried to keep moving forward when I could. The rest of the way it was a battle to try to shuffle until cramping.
I did go out a little fast but I have never had this hard of a time getting back to a decent slower pace. My slowest Boston and hardest crampfest. Something else going on or everything in combination.
I also did not concentrate on the downhills like in previous cycles - forgot how much downhill there is. I also didn't have the usual weekly mileage - only 55ish compared to 70ish. It's also been almost 3 years since I ran a marathon.
I've ruled out hydration - I arrived hydrated and hit every water stop - both gatorade and water. Even took a bathroom break at mile 23 or so.
I ended up having a great time as always - it was Boston's first large event since the pandemic and I felt the whole city out there cheering.
Still not sure what I'm going to do - so sick of doing that at Boston. I also don't want that to be my last Boston experience.
Can't even sign up in April because I don't have a BQ time anymore.