It felt like a long road getting to the Boston Marathon. I trained hard in 2019 to qualify at the Edmonton Marathon and was accepted to run Boston in April 2020. I was training for the run in early 2020 but in mid-March, Covid forced the marathon to postpone to Fall 2020. I was training again for the oldest marathon through the summer, but it was clear, in-person races weren’t going to be possible so I took the option to run Boston virtually in September 2020. The 2021 marathon wasn’t going to be a reality for the spring 2021 but eventually it was scheduled for October 11, 2021. I made the extra tight qualifying cuts for acceptance and was cautiously optimistic it would be a go.
Oct. 9: Race day really starts on the day you pick up your race package, including bib, and a peruse of the race expo. In order to pick up your bib this year you first had to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within the 72 hours previous. I had made my appointment for the Saturday morning before the expo opened and the checks were set up in tents at Copley Square. After showing my documents I was adorned with a bracelet which was to be kept on until after the marathon. With the bracelet, I picked up my package which of course included the participant’s shirt and a few other goodies.
The expo had far less vendors than usual because of the pandemic but there was the Adidas outlet with all the Boston Marathon clothing and souvenirs. I had an agreement with my husband that I could get everything I wanted, as this was a once-in-a-lifetime event. My credit card was hot and I acquired a new wardrobe.
The race this year had runners assigned into colour-coded waves based on their qualifying times and if you were taking the supplied buses to the start, you also boarded at designated times based on your wave. I had to walk most of the way to the bus pickup (St. Charles Street between Boston Common and Boston Public Garden) by myself because of security. There I stood in line and waited for the convoy of school buses to show up and find a seat. The Boston Marathon is a point A to B race meaning it starts in the charming village of Hopkington and finishes in Boston on the famous Boylston St. Riding the buses is all part of the fun and the experience.
As the buses pulled away other runners, volunteers and spectators cheered and that’s when you felt the party begin. I admit, my eyes slightly teared up at the enormity of the emotions and excitement. Driving up the freeway, cars would roll down their windows and wave as they all know the significance of the day. Boston has a lot of heart and pride in all their respective sports teams and the marathon is no exception.
We arrived and poured out, with many visiting the porta-potties one last time, while others stretched, fuelled or changed clothing. From the facilities I continued to follow the runners to the start line. It was a rolling start this year to reduce the number of people gathering. I didn’t put much thought into what that meant and before I knew it, I was starting the famous Boston Marathon. A rolling start means we don’t all wait for someone to say “start” you just cross the start line and with a time-chipped bib you’re on your way.
The race this year took place on Columbus Day, a holiday Monday for workers and students so the course was full of pockets of spectators, cheering with signs and aid. The course passes through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton and Brookline.
How did I feel? I had a foot with some soreness before I even got started, and I felt that the whole time but it didn’t get any worse so no cause for concern. Once I got into the double digits (a marathon being 42.2 kilometres) my back started feeling tight followed soon after by my hips – no surprises there. Part of the reason you train for such an endeavour is to become mentally strong, not just physically strong. Knowing that you’ve pushed through pain and discomfort in training runs and lived to talk about it assures you that you can do it again. With nine kilometres left, my other foot cramped and I was worried about how I would be able to go on if it continued. It went away and was replaced by tight, cramped calves. I’ve never experienced that before and it had me a bit worried especially when I saw other runners pulling off to the side or collapsing all together due to muscle cramps. With four kilometres left, my other calf tightened up as well.
As much discomfort as I was in and looking forward to an end to that, I was still reminding myself to be grateful and take it all in because I was probably never going to experience this again.
At last I entered Boston and excitedly looked forward to the famous last directions of the race: a right on Hereford and a left on Boylston. There I saw the finish line. It seemed a ways down but the crowd was the biggest I had seen yet and I started to look for my husband Kerry on my right where I figured he would be. I spotted him, waved and continued on through the finish line!
Then it was a bottle of water, the coveted unicorn medal and a space wrap to keep me warm while I found my way back to Kerry and the hotel. A much needed bath, change of clothes and it was time to celebrate. Wearing my participants shirt and medal we headed downstairs where everyone was sporting the same look and enjoying their spoils.