What did I do wrong in the Boston Marathon race and training?

Question

I ran a 1:26 half and a 3:15 for the full. I had a bloody nose possibly from dehyrdation but drank approx 6 ounces of gatoraid every 2 miles. I had a sunburn. The weather conditions were ideal, low wind, sun. I ran approx 21 min for each 5k until the 25k point in which I ran much much slower. My muscles started feeling tight at 8 miles. They started cramping up in my feet and legs at about 15. Should I have gone out even slower for the first half? Drank more? My training consisted of outdoor long runs on hills and indoor track speedwork. The rest of my regular miles were spent easy running on the treadmill about 30 min to 1 hr per day. I didn't requalify. I'd like to write them a letter to complain about the screaming spectators on the route. Why was everyone yelling at me? And also to ban runners with costumes. Most of the runners in costumes beat me.

Answer 1

They were yelling at you because you were naked.

Answer 2

Hmmm... Aiming to negative split Boston? Unwise, given the first half of the course's substantial net downhill.

Your long runs need to be of three types if you expect to *race* 26 miles:

  1) 20+ milers @ 2-3' per mile slower than Anticipated Race Pace;

  2) 12-15 milers @ ARP; and

  3) 12-16 milers with 1st half @ 3' per mile slower than ARP, 2nd half 1' per mile faster than ARP.

Study your training log. I'll bet that your long runs were all #1's.

If logistics permit, try these runs on venues of similar character to the course of your key race. And naturally, build up to these distances/paces over the course of 16-20 weeks (for 'thon).

You'll nail it next time if you heed this, I'll warrant.

Answer 3

First, 3:15 is generally the slowest time for people who actually qualified for the race.  Everyone else was doing charities and just wanting to be DONE.  The guys in the tutus were running under 3 hours.

The treadmill and the indoor track may have been killers, as well.  You didn't get as much wind resistance and elevation changes like in the Boston Marathon.

Next time, aim at a negative split, run the first half slower, then pick up the pace and play catch-up with the pack.