Notes
Still unable to connect my 310XT so I have to enter runs manually. Here are the splits:
7:18, 7:07, 7:00, 7:00, 7:06, 7:01, 7:06, 7:06, 7:06, 7:05, 7:11, 7:05, 7:17, 7:18, 7:17, 6:52 (mile 16) , 7:42, 7:39, 7:35, 7:42, 8:11 (mile 21), 7:49, 7:56, 8:11 (mile 24), 8:03, 8:09, 7:41 (partial mile).
This was the first time I had difficulty getting up to pace because of traffic. In the past, I have always managed to get up to pace within the first quarter to half mile. But this was my first wave 2 start, and I went back to Andy's corral (#4), where he and I met Dave Saltmarsh ("Salty"), who went back to #4 from his corral (#3) to start with us. Based on my 3:09 pace band, our first few miles should have been 6:56, 7:06, 7:06, 7:06, 7:18, 7:11, ... with a 7:12 average pace at the finish. I was concerned when I saw our pace was around 7:45 after a quarter mile. So I decided to start weaving through the traffic, looking back occasionally to see if Salty and Andy were in sight. Eventually, they were not, but I figured they would find me, as Salty did around mile 3 or 4.
Apparently, Andy held back, probably because he thought (correctly) that 3:09 was too aggressive. I can only wonder how he would have finished if he had stayed with me and Salty. Would he have finished earlier? I think he might have, because I'm not convinced that I would have finished earlier if I had held back as he did. History tells me I would have, as I consider my finish in 2010 and 2011. While I was younger then, logic tells me this should not matter as far as relative pacing goes. My takeaway from this year is that negative splits at Boston are extremely difficulty because of the Newton hills beginning at mile 17. It makes sense to put some time in the bank on the downhills, which I comfortably did in the first 12 and again at 16, a nice downhill.
Salty's experience is worth considering. He held back to run with me through the first half. Several times I told him that I knew I could not hold a faster pace than we were running through the first 12. He had us at 7:07 for many of those miles. After 13, he did as planned and picked up the pace. Or maybe I just slowed. It was probably a combination of both. In any event, he told me after the race that he felt strong up the hills, which might have been a first for him. Still, he did not run negative splits. This underscores the significance of Cremer's accomplishment last year, when he ran an even pace with a 3:09 finish.
Happily, I did not have any problems, but I was glad to finish (as always). Actually, I think I may have experienced some exercise-induced asthma, as I had difficulty breathing during the last 6 miles. Maybe I was just getting tired, but it seemed like I could not fully inhale or exhale, and my airways were tight for several hours after the race.
To my surprise, finishing after the wave 2 start did not increase the wait-time for the post-race chiropractic and massage. There was less of a wait this year than in previous years. I think this is because runners can no longer retrieve a bag of dry clothes on the way to the massage and chiropractic area. This actually started last year with the new security procedures, but I think its effect this year was more apparent than last year.
Although I survived the race without any injuries, I tweaked my knee the following day. I thinked this happened because my quads were sore and they were not working as usual. In any event, that explains why I have not tried to run since the race. I hope to start today or tomorrow. I'm also considering a run at Sugarloaf this year because I'd like to see how I do with a downhill second half.