What went right, what didn’t, and why I know there’s more there
There’s a lot I’ve been wanting to say about this race, and honestly, I think I’ve been putting it off because I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.
On paper, it was a solid day — 2:45:41, averaging 6:20 per mile. That’s something I’m proud of. But like most races, especially the Boston Marathon, the story is always more than just the time.
Training Block – Controlled Chaos
This entire training block felt like a balancing act.
I was dealing with a rear chain issue that kind of hit everything — hip, hamstring, calf, even into my foot. It never fully stopped me, but it was always there. Every run, every workout, every decision had to factor it in.
The goal became simple:
Get fit without pushing it over the edge.
I kept things pretty structured:
- One quality session per week
- One long run
- Everything else controlled
Workouts actually went really well:
- 2×2 miles at threshold
- 3×2 miles at threshold
- 2× (1 mile, ½ mile, ¼ mile)
- 22-minute continuous threshold
A lot of those runs were hovering around low 6:00 pace without feeling forced, which gave me confidence.
Long runs topped out at 18 miles. I wish I could’ve done more, but with how my leg was reacting, it just wasn’t worth the risk.
A couple weeks out, I pulled mileage back more than I normally would. Not ideal—but necessary.
Also, and this is random, but I swear every evening run was straight into the wind. Every single one.
The One Thing I Couldn’t Solve
The biggest issue all cycle wasn’t my leg.
It was my stomach.
Every quality session. Every long run. Something felt off.
I never really figured it out—and looking back, that carried straight into race week.
Race Week – Not Ideal
Travel made things tougher than expected.
Between being in a hotel without a microwave and needing to stay strictly gluten-free, my options were limited. I ended up relying way more on carb bars than I normally would.
That was probably a mistake.
It was a big shift from how I usually eat, and my stomach never really settled. My carb load just wasn’t where it needed to be.
Race Day
The first 8 miles felt exactly how you want Boston to feel.
Smooth. Controlled. Fast, but comfortable.
I locked into pace early. Legs felt good. Everything felt like it was lining up.
I got two gels down… and then around mile 8, my stomach turned.
That was the race.
I tried to manage it, but it just kept getting worse. I got one more gel in around mile 10 and some water—and that ended up being the last fuel or fluids I took in.
From mile 10 to the finish, it was basically just hanging on.
The Back Half
At that point, it wasn’t about pace anymore.
It was about managing what I had left.
The frustrating part is my legs still felt decent. The fitness was there. But without fuel, there’s only so much you can do.
Even with that, I was able to keep things together and finish strong. It wasn’t a blow-up—just a slow fade I couldn’t stop.
Looking Back
This is one of those races where I’m both satisfied and frustrated.
- The fitness was there
- The pacing early was right
- The leg held up
But the stomach completely dictated the outcome.
And that’s tough, because it feels fixable.
The Bigger Picture
At the end of the day, this trip was bigger than just the race.
Having my family there, being in Boston, experiencing everything that comes with race weekend—that part was incredible.
That’s what sticks with me the most.
What’s Next
If I can get the fueling side figured out—especially with travel and celiac—I really think there’s another level there.
This race didn’t show my full potential.
But it showed me I’m close.
And that’s a good place to be.