My 2017 Boston

Experience
By Anthony Lopetrone
Boston: A world class marathon where the best
runners in the world compete. What a thrill for us amateurs to
participate in the same event.
I have run 127 marathons and my favorite is Boston. My 3rd and last
Boston (before 2017) was 20 years ago. There were only 10,471
participants back then and I was close to the front. This year I was
concerned about the large number of runners (27,221), plus I was
seeded in the middle of the pack. This was not a major problem
however, because of the outstanding organization and runner support.
All of Boston is psyched up for three days. The sidewalks, hotels,
restaurants and parks are jammed with people from all over the world
and everybody is talking about the Marathon. A total of 27,221
participants started the 2017 Boston Marathon, and 97% of the field
reached the finish line on Boylston Street. A total of 11,973 women and
14,438 men completed the 26.2 miles, making it the fifth largest
Boston Marathon in race history.
My biggest fear was the logistics of getting to the starting line when
there are so many runners. I was amazed at how well this race was
organized. There was no problem getting to my assigned wave and
corral. Let me explain how it is done. Because of the huge number of
runners and the narrow street at the starting line in Hopkinton, the
race is separated into 4 waves plus the elite women. Each wave has
about 8,000 runners separated into 8 corrals. The runners are assigned
a wave and corral based on their qualifying times. So you have faster
runners in front of you and slower runners behind you. The elite
women start at 9:32 am, the elite men and wave 1 start at 10:00 am.
Waves 2, 3 and 4 are 25 minutes apart. This separation helps to relieve
the congestion for the runners. Still, it is crowded the whole way, but it
does not significantly hamper your pace because you are surrounded
by runners of similar abilities based on qualifying times.
The cheering spectators are the best in the world and they line the
whole 26.2 mile course. The organization and support for the runners
is fantastic with two aid stations, portable toilets and medical aid every
mile.
My strategy for marathons is to start out slow enough to be able to
maintain a consistent pace. Of course you have to adjust for
topography. Most amateur runners do not follow this critical strategy.
Even the professionals sometimes go out too fast. At our carbo loading
party hosted by Marathon Tours and Travel, the guest speaker was Joan
Benoit Samuelson, winner of the first Womens Olympic Marathon in
1984. Joan warned us about going out too fast. She told us of Grete
Waitz, who won more New York City Marathons nine than anyone
else. She was perhaps the pre-eminent female distance runner in
history. So when Grete ran her first Boston she was ahead by three
minutes at the 23 mile mark, a tremendous lead. Then her thighs
seized up and she had to drop out of the race.
I trained well, did my long runs and tapered my mileage in the last two
weeks so the first half of the marathon was easy. I started out at a
conservative pace. Practically everyone was passing me. So now 13
miles are behind me, Im all warmed up and the famous Wellesley
coeds are roaring with encouragement. The coeds are competing with
each other to cheer the loudest and many had signs begging the
runners to kiss them. If you think you might have to drop out this
would be the time. My legs are getting tired and it takes a little more
effort to maintain the pace. After a few more miles my muscles tighten
and my stride shortens. Now I have to force myself to maintain the
pace. At this point I am passing practically everyone and that
motivated me, plus the spectators are roaring with encouragement.
Now Ive run 16 miles and there are hills so I have to concentrate and
force myself to run faster than my body wants to but not so fast that
my legs seize up later. Its a fine line.
At 19 miles and with 7 to go, here comes Heartbreak Hill. My tired legs
are aching and my calf muscles are in pre cramp mode. This is where I
start thinking, why am I doing this? This is my last marathon. Ill never
do this again. But wait Im still running when others are walking or
running very slowly. There are more spectators screaming even louder.
Those spectators are the best! I crested Heartbreak Hill at 21 miles and
its all downhill or flat the rest of the way. With 5 miles to go Im not
certain that I can finish without walking, but the crowds are getting
louder and Im still passing people. With one mile to go I am now
confident that I will finish and there are sooo many spectators and they
are cheering sooo loud the sound is deafening! I turned left onto
Boylston St. and could see the finish line about 1/3 of a mile away and
the spectators were roaring and the feeling was overwhelming. I
finished in 4:04:38 a Boston qualifying time. See you next year.