RACE REPORT: Boston Marathon

Submitted by: Jeff Hartney

As all of you can imagine Boston is a phenomenal race!! I was certainly anxious going into it. I never feel properly trained before any full marathon but after reading about the course and how people go out too fast at Boston made me begin to think about a race strategy. My strategy was to think of it as a Saturday morning long run with the RMEC and if I had anything left at the end I would give it all I had. I just didn't want to "bonk" and have to walk! Well my strategy paid off because I finished with a respectable time of 3:33:41.

The Expo was huge! Adidas got a big financial shot in the arm with the ever popular Boston running jacket selling for $90 and I'm guessing they sold at least 20,000 of those. Never saw any famous runners but took a picture of the cardboard cutouts of Ryan Hall and Kara Goucher anyway. The city of Boston is gorgeous so much history and beautiful architecture. Spent Sunday touring the city and taking lots of pictures. Saw the Cheers bar (where everybody knows your name) and lots of other Historic landmarks.

The course was challenging to say the least but not as hard as I thought it would be. But hey, 26.2 miles is hard anywhere. Much of the beginning of the race was downhill. You wanted to go fast but I let the crowd slow my pace. I had never run with so many people. At times I wish I would have carried my camera to take pictures of the sea of runners. I had only run Charlottesville and OBX before Boston!

The course became more challenging around the second half. Heartbreak hill wasn't that steep but there were three hills before it so your legs were pretty done by the time you got there. I just kept my head down and plowed on till I reached the top.There were so many people along the course screaming and cheering you on that it made it seem much easier!. All schools are closed on Patriot's day and probably most businesses. I heard estimates of half a million people lining the course and I believe it . There was never a moment that people were not clapping and cheering, little kids holding slices of oranges for you to take and everyone holding their hand out for you to slap as you ran by. You could literally slap hands with the spectators the entire course!

Oh yea, the Wellsley girls were out in force and we could hear them before we saw them. They were screaming at the top of their lungs and free kisses to anyone who would stop. I'm still kicking myself for not stopping and kissing the girl with the sign that said Kiss me I'm a Tarheel!

I got emotional around miles 23 when we passed Fenway park and all the people who saw the game that morning were now out cheering us on as much as they did their beloved Red Sox. The final stretch was Boston College and the crowds got bigger and bigger and finally the finish line downtown!

I was hurting at the end so I felt like I ran the race I wanted to and was proud of my performance. I owe it all to you guys. I had no intention of qualifying for Boston but when Michael told me I had after running Charlottesville and having everyone encourage me to do it I felt now was the time for me. I may never run Boston again but I'm so glad that I did. I wish all of you the chance to run this incredible an historic race! Good luck , Derek!!