My Boston Marathon Experience




Monday I ran the 2019 Boston Marathon!

We got in Saturday afternoon and went straight to the Expo. I didn’t spend as much money as I thought I would.


Sunday morning we got up and went to the Expo again to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I swear the Expo was much bigger in years past.  Afterwards we went to the Red Sox  ballgame and they won! We found a great pizza place after the game followed by complimentary appetizers later that evening at our hotel before getting to bed early.




Race morning came too early with a 3:30 am wake up call. I was fortunate to be able to ride a coach bus that had a bathroom and we were able to sit on it until our corral started. It was a rainy morning so I was very grateful I did not have to be outside in the cold and rain. Luckily by the time my corral started, the weather cleared up and was quite warm.

I started out way too fast like I always do. However, it was really hard holding back when there was so much energy taking place and everyone was moving quickly. I was just trying to go with the flow. I brought gloves because my hands are always cold. I only had them on for a mile or two and took them off. I knew a friend was watching at mile 8 so rather than just tossing them I was going to hold them until then and if I still didn’t need them I would throw them to her, and that is what I did. It wasn’t until after I passed mile 8, I got a little more into my groove and didn’t feel like I was rubbing elbows against someone else while running. I got to the half way mark and I was still feeling good while running through Wellesley with the girls cheering but I knew that would soon be over since my longest run in this training cycle was 14 miles.





The next 6 miles were the most challenging. There were the Newton hills and my pace drastically slowed down. I stopped for a few more cups of water and Gatorade. I even grabbed an ice pop from a little kid. I knew there was heartbreak hill coming up and knew this was the last of the hills. I got to the top of the one hill and I saw a sign that said "You have conquered heartbreak hill". And I thought well heck that was it? I remember the last time I ran it, the hill itself wasn’t that bad,. I think it just was the location of it that makes it challenging because you are running on tired legs by this time.

When I hit the 20 miler mark I knew there was only a 10k left so I had to mentally keep telling myself that, soon it would be a 5k. Then I saw the Citgo sign, yes two more miles to go. It really was the energy of the crowds that kept me going.


And then in was the right on Hereford and left on Boylston and I was on the homestretch. I kept looking for my parents. I knew what side they would be on but wasn’t sure how close they were going to make it to the finish line. Unfortunately I did not see them, but they saw me. . I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get emotional during this time. Six years prior, on the same day to be exact, April 15th I was minutes away from the tragedy that took place.



After I crossed the finish line I texted my parents to tell them I was finished and I would meet them in in the family meeting area. I started walking towards the place where we planned to meet, but it was too far, I texted my Mom to tell her that I couldn’t walk down that far and to just meet me where I was.


After meeting my family we were able to walk back to our hotel since it was so close. I was so happy to have finished when I did, because it did not start raining until our walk back (which it originally was supposed to be all day). I got ready as quickly as I could since we had to check out pretty immediately. We headed out of the city and found a hidden gem on the way home at a great Italian Restaurant for a celebratory dinner!


Overall it was a great experience and I am very grateful that my parents were able to make the trip with me this year. I felt like this was my redemption year! Will I ever run Boston again? Well never say never, but right now I can say I am content if I don’t get the opportunity to run it again. Everything just fell into place the way it should have and I don’t want to jinx myself to try again. Always end with a Runner’s high right?

Have you ever had a great experience with a race that you are scared to do it again because you may not have the same outcome? -L





29 comments:

  1. Huge congrats to you! It's great that the weather shaped up, just in time. I didn't realize you had been there six years ago, how scary that must have been.

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    1. Thanks Kim! Yes there was a moment on the final stretch where I almost got choked up.

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  2. Congrats Lacey! What a great experience. I hope you get to run it again.

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  3. You did awesome! Although I personally think anyone who runs Boston is awesome. �� I’m sure that it had to feel really special with your family there.

    You never know, the stars could definitely align again some day!

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    1. That would be really nice if they did. Yes, I was thankful my parents were there this time.

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  4. Congratulations! It sounds like a whirlwind trip with a great finish. I can understand wanting to keep your Boston memories happy ones.

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  5. Congrats on a successful race!!! You nailed it and it sounds like a fun time!

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  6. You crushed it! A lot of my friends struggled with the heat. I'm so glad you had a great experience. I can relate to the idea of capping a great experience and calling it a win. I had an amazing race in Chicago in 2001 and a terrible one in 2007 and I wished I'd called it after that first one. I'm running again this year for the first time in 12 years!

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  7. Congratulations to you! So glad that you had your great experience. I was really happy to read to your experience and see that it was so positive. Nice job!

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  8. Congrats on running a successful Boston! Are you doing the Boston 2 Big Sur Challenge? A friend did that one year, and it was always so appealing to me. Of course, to do it I have to qualify for Boston again. That could be a challenge! :)

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  9. Congrats Lacey! I did not know you were on a coach, we may have been waiting in the same parking lot! It was great to have that since the rain was coming down pretty hared early in the day. I don't know if you noticed, but the athlete's village was covered with mud. Ick! Have fun in Big Sur and we will definitely connect next time we are at the same race!

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    1. Thanks Oam! Yes it was very nice to be able to sit on there while the rain was coming down earlier.

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  10. That's so awesome!! Such a bucket list item for many... glad you got to experience it... & did so well in it. That's good when you get to the top of Heartbreak Hill & think, "Oh, that was it?" :) Love your parents got to be there with you too!

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  11. Congrats Lacey! Boston is always such a wonderful, electric weekend. I will never forget that course or the people of Boston. I can't imagine the expo could be even BIGGER! Wow!

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    1. I was actually a little disappointed in the expo. I thought it was much bigger in the past with several floors. All the merchandise this yr was on one floor.

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  12. Congrats on the race! It sounds like a great experience and that’s perfect that the rain held off until you were on your way back to the hotel :)

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  13. Congrats, Lacey! It's so exciting that everything fell into place for you with this race. Glad the rain held off, too! Congrats again!!

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  14. Congratulations. I actually got a little chocked up reading this. I could just imagine the pain, the push, the people, the emotional and mental work . I am so impressed. I've necenecendone a full and I feel like I should have a desire but I just don't. I can manage a half with training but I just don't have it in me to train for a full . I instead am in awe of peipeolike you. Very happy that you accompliseda what you set out to do.

    bosbodaciousblog.blogspot.ca

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    1. Thank you and thanks for reading. The training is the hard part, the race is just the victory lap:)

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  15. Congrats again, Lacey! I was so glad I was able to cheer you on & actually get to see each other as you were right, at mile 8 you were in a giant sea of people! And I'll be able to wear your gloves as lucky gloves on my next race. You looked great and I'm so happy for you that your Boston experience was a great one!

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  16. Thank you! It was great to see you too. I hope those gloves bring you goodluck at your next race:)

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