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Boston Half Marathon

Sunday was the much anticipated Boston Half Marathon. I was really excited for this because I haven’t yet run a race in Boston. Since I didn’t start running til after college, all of my races have either been in Hingham or down the Cape. Also, in addition to being my first Boston race, it was the 10th annual race on 10.10.10. I’m a huge numbers geeks so I thought that was awesome. My dad was kind enough to drive me in, so I didn’t have to worry about finding parking or anything. The route started in Franklin Park, went on the Arborway past Jamaica Pond to the Fens, back to Franklin Park into the William H. Devine golf course and through the zoo and ending in White Stadium. Doing a mile in the zoo was pretty cool, I ran past ENORMOUS camels and make some lame joke to myself about the usual camelbacks on races are the water backpacks. 

I was feeling pretty good so I was trying to stay under a 9:00 mile without hurting myself. At the end, I realized I was very close to my PR (1:53:10 in the NYC half) and wish I had just gone 2 seconds faster each mile and beaten my PR. Oh well. I learned a lot in this race that I will apply to the NYC Marathon. 
1. Even if you’re freezing in the morning (it was 41 degrees at start) you will warm up during the race. Bring clothes to toss at the start. I also want to grab gloves to throw away because I couldn’t feel my fingers for 2 miles.
2. Always go to the end of the water station. Nobody does and you can easily keep running and drinking.
3. Wrap my ankles, I always get blisters, no matter how good the socks are.
4. Pack my stuff as early before as I can. I forgot my Nike+ iPod sensor and my wristband. Though fortunately not essentials, I missed having them.
Very glad I got to do this race, great preparation for the NYC Marathon. And, I’m very excited because like with this race, my father (and then my mother too) will be at the finish line cheering for me. Their support has been priceless and I can’t wait to do them proud.

Me holding my medal. Huge nerd, Dad made me do it.