Boston was everything I’d hoped it would be and nothing like I expected. The crowds from Hopkinton to Boylston Street were relentless in the best way — a wall of noise that carried me through the worst of the Newton hills.
Race strategy
My plan was conservative: bank nothing in the first half, run even through the hills, and use whatever was left for the final 10K. It worked better than I dared hope.
First half: 1:37:22 — deliberately patient, letting the downhill opening miles pass without getting swept up.
Second half: 1:35:22 — the negative split felt earned. Heartbreak Hill was hard but manageable. The roar on Boylston was something I’ll never forget.
Lessons
Trust the training. Trust the plan. And when 50,000 people are screaming your name, trust the crowd to carry you home.