It’s Boston Marathon!
Post race pic
Journey
Somewhere in March 2013 I did my first run for 3km after pushing a lot by my friend Srinivas Naidu and it all started since then. Didn’t know that one day I will aim to qualify for Boston marathon. During our running journey when Kavitha qualified for Boston in 2016 I thought to chase this goal though that time my Marathon timing was 40-50 min away from qualifying standard of 3:05 in my age (18-35) category. This was a good long-term goal to keeping chasing & same I discussed with my coach Atul Godbole.
We decided to take one marathon at a time and after every marathon I was coming closure to my BQ time. After 3:17 at 2019 TMM we decided to make an attempt for crack BQ at Berlin in Sept 2019 but couldn’t succeed. We kept on training rigorously and at TMM 2020 I made it to the BQ standards in my 2nd attempt and clocked 3:03. With this I was eligible for 2021 Boston marathon however due to covid that edition was cancelled.
Later on, once it was decided that being outside was safe and that the vaccines were available, races started to pop again. The B.A.A. announced that the 2022 Boston Marathon would take place on 18th April. As soon as registration opened for 2022, we all (Atul, Kavitha, Krishna, Neelam, Tanmaya & me) applied. My 2021 New Delhi Marathon time of 2:57 was used as my qualifier and it got me in!
I was on top of the moon. Meanwhile in two years I was training rigorously and ran 4 sub three hours marathons, 7 half marathons under 1:25 and sub 40 for 10k became quite comfortable. Just before the training begun, I ran Hyderabad half in 1:24 & ready for the training.
At the expo
Training
14 weeks training started in second week of Jan. I was very excited at the idea of running Boston marathon with my peers coach Atul, dear friends Kavitha, Krishna & Tanmaya. This time there was a major change in training plan. Coach added ladder workout on Thursday’s & Sunday long runs. Initially i thought this would be easy but it’s difficult to execute. Marathon pace segments were felt like long intervals. Alternate week is for tempo runs.
We slowly started ramping up mileage. 6 days of running resulted in weekly mileage of ~95 – 100km. For strength training initially i continued to do it for 2 days but later as mileage increased i reduced it to one day only & more focus was on running, quick recovery & running. In every run i was thinking about Boston Marathon. Considering the route profile at Boston we tried to do all runs at rolling route. But eventually we can’t replicate the Boston route in Pune. We did two half marathon time trials in training and I managed 1:23 & 1:21 which was a good confidence booster to chase 2:55 @ Boston.
As race day coming closure, we had to put more focus on preparing the running kit we are carrying to tackle the dynamic weather conditions. Last four months were very happening, every conversation was around Boston and that kept me exciting. Main challenge was visa but fortunately got it renewed well before the travel.
Outside the expo
Trip to Boston was exciting. Me, Kavitha, Neelam & Deepak Ochani reached to Boston on Thursday 14th. As expected, weather was cold and windy. I was taking double precautions and ensuring that i stay warm (every single second i was thinking about what happened in Berlin and didn’t want to repeat that). Expo on Friday, what an energy in all runners around the world. Receiving the bib was proud moment for me. Roamed around expo and purchased all Boston logo stuff from all merchandise, excitement was at peak.
Boston swag
Saturday morning, Kavitha & Atul did BAA 5k event, I and Neelam did a 5k shakeout run around Charls river next to Boston Common. It’s a pretty simple run, but you get to see elite runners doing the same thing. It’s so fun and inspiring. It was too cold that first time I ran in two layers, full pant, cap and mask. Then remaining Saturday and Sunday were relaxing time spent at the hotel and staying off my feet.
Race day prep!
Big Monday – Race Day
I woke up at 4.30 am easily, had one glass of beetroot, took a bath, ate one sandwich, picked up coffee and left the hotel at 6:00. I left early as I was in Wave 1 & every wave has a 25 min gap for start time. The Hotel at we were staying was full of runners. I met one runner from Canada in the Hotel lobby and we took a taxi to Boston Common from where buses were leaving for Hopkinton.
Getting ready to leave the hotel
As I was walking through, I got a little emotional, but I keep talking to myself, “The Gods are with us today.” Trust me, in 2018 edition where the elements are not in your favor, and those days are very tough because all your training becomes void. I knew we had weather conditions in our favor which meant… perfect training, good health, great sleep, proper fueling… no excuses. I was all set. Submitted my Bag, I united with Deepak there as planned then we got into the bus.
It was one hour bus journey to start line at Hopkinton. Atmosphere in the bus was just electrifying and same at the athlete’s village. Once I reached to Athlete’s village i removed my additional layer, lower & changed shoes. At 9.15 we started walking towards starting line, walk was almost a km. I was in wave 1, coral 6 & Deepak was in coral 5 (he was allowed to lower down the coral). We both entered in coral 6 as we planned to run together. I had 5-Star chocolate & Fastnup activate. Did some dynamic warmup and all set to start.
The atmosphere and excitement in crowd was amazing. Two low flying aircrafts flew over the runners to cheer us for the race. 10 am race started and my coral started at 10:03. It was too crowded and making our way wasn’t effortless. Initial km 1 to 25 in Boston are all downhill. The goal for us was to hold back and keep it together running a steady 4:08 pace. It’s very easy to get carried away in the downhills and speed ahead of target pace, destroying yourself in the beginning only to have a horrible second half. We ran controlled 5k in 21:03, 10k in 41:25, 15k in 1:01. At the half marathon mark i clocked 1:27:25 which was good considering the Newton Hills to tackle up ahead.
In action
We were going well, timely gel, salt tablet & water. We were hitting the numbers spot on and feeling good. So far majority of the course was downhill. I took it as easy as I could going down the hill and I noted that my quads were already busted bad. Crowd support was amazing throughout the race & even runners around me. I never feel I am running alone.
My Gatorade and water intake at every aid station was good. It’s very strategic and really helped to keep the pace on target. 25k in 1:43, i was going well @4:08 pace for 2:55 finish. 25km to 35km is a series of 3 uphill climbs ending with Heartbreak Hill. The strategy was to conserve energy and reduce my stride, saving the energy for after 35k. Completed 30k in 2:05, decided to run last 12k in 52 min but the heartbreak hill stretch was killing and downhill post 35 was challenging to tackle with heavy quads. As I reached at the top of Heartbreak Hill, i decided to pick up the pace. Post 36k are false downhills so if you want to make a move, that’s the place to do it. I had my fourth gel here. I couldn’t attack as planned. My splits were over 4:30 minutes per km.
This route reminds me my Comrades downhill run. I wasn’t fatigued or faded up but kind of jerk i was feeling on my quads in those downhills was something not allowing me to push more. 38k in 2:41:40 & sub 3 was dicey. Strong inner voice was constantly asking me to stop, quads were super heavy, but my pain tolerance kept me going. It was a test of my mental toughness. All my last 9 years efforts were flashing in front of my eyes constantly. In last 6k the aid stations were on the right, so I moved all the way left for clear path focusing on getting to the finish as fast as possible.
I pushed very hard in these 30 min or so to make it under 3 hours but crossed 40k in 2:52:14 & sub 3 was out of reach. I pulled up all the strength I have for this final battle. I did not look at the crowd but straight ahead, running the tangents and focusing on my running form. My legs hurt more than they have ever hurt in my entire life, but my heart was steady and my mind clear. I kept saying mantra shared by coach over and over in my head, “Great things happens out of comfort zone”, “pain Tolerance & ability to survive is key in marathon”. Thanks, coach, for these daily motivational messages.
My Garmin was already crossed 3 hours timing when I saw finish line at 400 meters ahead. Approaching the finish, which only took about 2 minutes in total, I was running harder and faster than I’ve ever ran in a Marathon. I inhaled deeply and took off like it was the end of the world, arms swinging, legs burning in the final stretch and crossed Boston Marathon 2022 finish line with a timing of 3:02:33.
Crossing the finish line
I was thrilled with my performance. My time didn’t necessarily matter as I knew I had pushed myself very hard. Met Amod and Dilip at finish line both did amazing. It was cold i received my finishers medal and walked to the baggage van. Changed my clothes, had a protein bar and energy drink & went to the family waiting area.
Later on, met Deepak Ochani (it was just one bad day for him, I know what he is capable of), Kavitha & her son Chaitanya (very sweet boy, he was a great help in our overall stay at Boston) and then i couldn’t hold myself. We clicked pics with holding our Indian flag. That was very emotional moment for me. Crossing the finish line was a great proud feeling. I just can’t express that in words. Couldn’t pull off sub 3 but no regret at all bcoz effort was not less and now I will be called as a “Boston marathoner” which is making me happier.
Garmin data
Finishing the run under 3 hours could have been cherry on the cake but at the end of the day that is just a number and that can’t take away the joy of qualifying and running armature’s Olympic “Boston Marathon”. My dream is fulfilled. Definitely course is tricky but that’s how it should be considering the Boston standards. I am super happy to complete the run in BQ standards (3:05 for my age) and qualified for Boston 2023, though most probably I won’t go next year.
Everything for this event was uncertain due to covid wave’s, travel restrictions, visa, but dealing with all these things we could manage to run Boston Marathon.
With coach
I want to thank my coach Atul Godbole for the great coaching over past 6 years which made my journey to Boston happen in reality. Thanks to my dear friends and training partners Kavitha & Krishna for pushing each other & our group runs. This is the result of our teamwork. Thank you to my wife Vrushali for all the unconditional support / sacrifices over the years. My parents and daughter have been constant motivation. Thanks to all my friends & well-wishers for your wishes over the phone, text messages, emails WhatsApp, Insta & Facebook, it fuels me and is why I keep going. Thank you to Yogesh for support in last two years during all the time trials. I was able to clock good time in these TT’s leading up to the race.
Motiv8 Boston team post race. Missing: Tanmaya and Krishna
What a day this was! What a hard, painful race this turned out to be. It’s the Boston Marathon, one of the hardest marathon courses. I would love to come back again for Boston Marathon. The route which challenges you at every single min & sub 3 at Boston is tough nut to crack which is exciting.