Haha indeed
What an awesome experience, even though a long day. Great vibe, atmosphere and NOISE!
The day starts early with finish bag drop off at 7am, followed by loading on the iconic yellow school bus for the 1hr journey to the start at Hopkins. It is freezing cold, you are layered up with old clothes to throw away, but still shivering. At athletes village you have hours to waste before being loaded into your corrals and walked to the start line, shedding clothing to the charity bin bags and using the 1000s of porta potties on the way as you walk to the start. The start pen you are only there for 10mins before walking over the brow of the hill and rolling through the start line. A 10:25am start time, I am not really use to and has been a long day already and you are at least off and running a downhill.
The crowds are out pretty much all the route and in the towns you pass through and especially half way and heartbreak hill are at least 10 deep and loud.
Whilst the course is downhill, it is quite rolling so saps the legs together with all the downhill running and heartbreak hill, is actually 3-4 hills around 28-33km, which are not really that bad, apart from where they come in the race, then it pretty much downhill to the iconic finish and the mass of people, atmosphere and deafening NOISE to get you to the finish 🙌
As for my race, this was my 2nd major after Chicago (3:18hr) last year and was doing it as a fun run and to soak it all in. I was aiming for around 3:30hr, especially as had not done specific marathon training, having raced Ironman South Africa a month before and had only been averaging 47km/week (pretty low). The goal was around 5min/km or just under until over heartbreak hill at 33km, then see what was left in the legs for the majority downhill to the finish. I was just over 5min/km cresting heartbreak and pushed what I could until 40km when the legs gave out (nowhere to hide with low volume running and only a couple of long runs), so enjoyed the crowds everywhere the last kms, the vibe, the gees, the atmosphere and NOISE, and a nice easy stroll up to the finish taking it all in and enjoying every moment. Crossed the line with a 3:34hr finish time and a 2nd major ticked off, and lots of memories of this one, more so than Chicago.
A great week, great memories and a enjoyable run to soak it all in ..... all the way to the finish 🙌
