My splits were as follows:
| mile | split | total |
| 1 | 8:37 | 8:37 |
| 2 | 8:20 | 16:57 |
| 3 | 8:23 | 25:21 |
| 4 | 8:12 | 33:33 |
| 5 | 8:18 | 41:52 |
| 6 | 8:13 | 50:06 |
| 7 | 8:09 | 58:15 |
| 8 | 8:25 | 1:06:41 |
| 9 | 8:19 | 1:15:00 |
| 10 | 8:28 | 1:23:28 |
| 11 | 8:24 | 1:31:52 |
| 12 | 8:18 | 1:40:11 |
| 13 | 8:17 | 1:48:29 |
| 14 | 8:17 | 1:56:46 |
| 15 | 8:25 | 2:05:12 |
| 16 | 8:18 | 2:13:30 |
| 17 | 8:42 | 2:22:13 |
| 18 | 8:41 | 2:30:55 |
| 19 | * | |
| 20 | 16:43 | 2:47:48 |
| 21 | 8:35 | 2:56:14 |
| 22 | 7:41 | 3:03:55 |
| 23 | 7:51 | 3:11:47 |
| 24 | 7:09 | 3:18:56 |
| 25 | 7:05 | 3:26:02 |
| 26 | ** | |
| finish | 9:09 | 3:35:12 |
*I missed this split, but I would guess that I ran mile 19 in 8:22 and mile 20 in 8:21
**I missed this one too, but I would guess I did mile 26 in 7:37 and the last 0.2 miles in 1:32
The start of the race was very hectic and the first three miles couldn't have been run at any other pace due to the press of all the other runners. After that the field started to thin out and Lisa, her sister Aimee, and I were able to average about 8:15's all the way to Heartbreak Hill (about mile 17). We were obviously slowed by the hill and sometime around here we lost Aimee. This was also the time that both of my quads started to hurt rather intensely. My cardio was great and my legs didn't feel fatigued, but my quads felt very very tight.
At the top of Heartbreak I was feeling great and started pushing the pace (mile 23 and 24). Somewhere near Washington Square Lisa told me to go ahead and I pushed the pace down to almost 7 minutes per mile. I flew through Coolidge Corner and South Campus, but started to slow down on the last mile.
The final push down Boylston was the hardest part of the race. All of the runners I was with had condensed to make the turn from Commonwealth Ave. to Hereford St. and had maintained that tight formation for the turn onto Boylston, but when we arrived on Boylston the formation broke apart and everyone spread out. The sensation was bizarre, because it was the first time all day there had been any sort of clear space in front of me. I had a clear sight to the finish line and the huge banner above it, but it seemed so far away, and the pain in my legs made it feel like forever before I got there.
After I crossed the line, my legs nearly dropped me on the ground. The moment I stopped running whatever had been keeping me upright and moving stopped working and the best I could manage was a slow, shaky walk forward. I received a space blanket, some water, and a banana before making my way to the Commons where Laura and my family were waiting.
Laura and my family were really supportive during this entire ordeal and I don't think I would have been able to do it if not for them. My parents drove out to Natic with signs to cheer Lisa and I on, and Laura made countless cups of tea and scheduling concessions for my training. I gave my mom a kiss in Natic and it was wonderful to see them all at the end of the race.
The after party was delicious and a ton of people came to say that they had seen me, or tried to see me, or just to say congratulations; it was a great way to top off a day that had already been phenomenal.
Including the marathon, here is the final tally of runs, miles, and time from my 128 days of training.
Total number of runs: 85
Total number of miles: 573.81
Total time: 79 hours, 22 minutes, 41 seconds
That averages out to 6.75 miles per run and 8:18 per mile (which was about what I averaged for the marathon).
Overall, the experience was phenomenal and I can't wait to start training for my next marathon. I don't know where it will be, but my goal is to run a 3:10 or faster and qualify for Boston in 2009.
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