This is going to be a long one. I had a lot of time on the airplane and also a lot of endorphins while writing this after a weekend of marathoning and girls’ trip fun.
We fit 6 people into one hotel room while in Boston. The night before the race all of us girls were in a really silly mood and ended up laughing for an hour straight so we did go into the race with some sore abs. Worth it. Candice and I shared the pull-out couch and the alarm went off at 5:45 after an uninterrupted 7 hours of sleep.
I took a quick shower and thanks to some lovely timing of cramps I took some medicine to help and laid back down again until I felt better. I then ate my first bagel and got ready for the race real quick. I studied the weather report so that I knew what I was up against and went downstairs for eggs and a hot chocolate.
We left the hotel and used Uber (coolest app ever) to get to where the busses were. We stayed about 20 minutes away from Downtown.
This was my first time to Boston Commons. It was awesome and I wish we could have explored for a while but we had that whole bus thing to catch to make it up to the starting line.
These were our throwaway clothes that kept us extremely warm while waiting for the race to start.
I was guessing that it would take a while to get on a bus but like everything with this race, it was smooth and efficient. I ate another bagel on the bus while laughing with Candice about randomness and then dozed off for a few minutes. I tell ya, I can fall asleep anywhere.
Athletes’ Village. Wow. The energy here was incredible. Leading up to this point I felt a lot of nerves but once we got there it was impossible for me to feel anything but excitement. Surrounded by so many runners that worked hard to get there, the loud music and the mega screen playing videos—> It was like Disneyland for runners.
We brought trash bags to help us stay dry before the race started.
We hung out in the warm tent with Pam and Kristin. These three girls (and the girls that I stayed with) are all such incredible women that support and lift up everyone they come in contact with.
It was then time to make our way to our corrals. We even had spectators cheering us on as we were walking the 1/2 mile or so to our corrals.
This is where I said goodbye to Candice (with approximately 5 hugs), ate my Honeystinger waffle and got rid of a few layers of clothing. I wore gloves with hand warmers in them which totally saved me and kept my hands warm the entire race. PS I AM SOOOO GLAD I WORE A HAT. It kept all of the rain out of my face yet made me feel hardcore while watching the rain dripping off the brim as I was running. PPS I put my phone in a plastic bag and then into my waterproof spibelt and that kept it very dry.
Going into this race there were obviously some obstacles between the weather and how my body was feeling but I decided that those things weren’t going to stop me from enjoying the race and taking it all in. There were actually a lot of points along the course where I would think something like, ‘dang it… I only have 9 more miles of this race. I don’t want it to end because of how amazing this all is.’ It really is hard to not be positive though when you are at your dream race.
If you followed me through the race you saw a pretty huge positive split (2nd half slower than the 1st half). This was my plan (although, I did have a much bigger positive split than I was hoping I would have). The weather report said that with each hour the headwind was going to get stronger and stronger and that the rain was also going to get heavier as the day went on. I wanted to get some speed in at the beginning because the weather wasn’t too crazy and then put in the same effort along the entire course which meant—> slower and slower times towards the end because the weather was getting worse. I just didn’t plan on slowing down quite so much but that headwind got strong (20-30 mph).
I wish I could give you a mile by mile recap but I can’t remember what happened at each mile. The race all kind of blends together now but here are some of the highlights:
-I took gus at miles 15 and 21. I dropped my other gu at the very beginning but two felt like it was plenty. I grabbed a drink at about 85% of the aid stations and would dump out a bit from the cup before attempting to drink so that it wouldn’t splash all over my face. I only stopped once along the course towards the end because I dropped my wireless headphones and I was not about to leave those behind.
PS The next few pictures were sent to me from readers (THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH for these and for the cheers)!
The first half of the marathon had a lot of downhill. But it also still has some pretty great uphills (remember my definition may be a little bit different because I have mainly been training on the treadmill). They were fast, scenic and fun miles and I think I hit the half just a little bit under 1:30.
The crowds were remarkable. There were so many times along the way that I got a random boost of energy just from all of the cheering. Seeing so many people out there to support the runners with signs, food/water, high-fives and smiles. Just wow.
Running through all of the different towns was amazing. The scenery was gorgeous and there was never a boring minute.
The Newton Hills. By this point the wind was getting worse (in my opinion, once again… I’ve been a treadmill runner for a lot of this training cycle). There was a headwind the entire race but I really remember thinking during these hills about how strong it was. I slowed my pace way down and just kept pumping my arms. My legs were pretty shot at this point from the pounding but I completely expected that to happen.
I don’t even know how to rate heartbreak hill. It was easier than I expected but the timing of it made it tougher than I expected. Does that make sense?
Coming into downtown Boston was overwhelming (in a good way). I cried, I smiled, it felt unreal. At this point my pace had really slowed down because of the wind and wasted legs. I was getting passed left and right but I knew I was giving every last ounce of me and that is all that I could do. PS Good thing it is warm enough in Utah to hit up trail running again so I can really work on the hills and get strong on them for the next marathon.
The Citgo sign which indicates just one more mile until the end!
I cried a lot during this race but all for good reasons. I just felt really lucky the entire time to be there and a whole lot of love which was especially nice.
Crossing the finish line felt pretty darn good.
Within a few minutes they gave us these coverings to put on but I was shaking pretty bad from being soaking wet. I actually started getting a little nervous about how cold I was. I ran into my friend David from Utah (that was lucky!) and he helped me get inside to a building to warm up which helped a little bit but it wasn’t until I took a shower that I actually felt okay. After the race I don’t really remember much (until after my shower) at all because of the wetness/coldness but we made it back.
Or maybe it was in the elevator of our hotel where we started feeling great again.
Blue lips (with some random hair across my face) look great on us.
We showered, packed and made it to the airport by 4:15 to get back to our girls.
I think/know I will be wearing this for the next few days! I’m hooked on this race and all of the events surrounding it, I hope to be back as much as possible!
A few more things:
-The people of Boston are incredible. All of the girls I went with and I agree that everyone we met was incredibly nice, friendly and helpful. Everyone in the city made us feel so cool after the race by giving us free train rides, congrats/high-fives and all of the Boston runners even got to board the airplane first! They hooked us up:) The people that we met always asked so many questions, they smiled and they were so interested in our race experiences. Also, being in a town full of excited and happy runners was pretty much the best. It was like nothing else I have ever experienced.
-Even though I didn’t hit my goal time, Boston did something huge for me. I always say that I want a sub 3 but in the back of my mind I doubt myself. After the race yesterday, I know it is absolutely possible and going to happen very soon. If I could do a 3:12 in those weather conditions and with those hills, I know for a fact that I will get that sub 3 (of course with a lot of hard work). I also made it through an entire training cycle injury free (minus the foot scare for 36 hours) and that never happens for me. I finally think I am kind of figuring injury prevention stuff out (knock on wood:) which is beyond exciting and motivating for me.
-My marathon personal record of 3:04 is from about 4.5 years ago and yesterday was my fastest marathon (by 8 seconds:) since then. Time to celebrate with an apple fritter the size of my child.
-Within an hour of finishing I checked my emails and saw that my dad sent out an email to our family and friends about how proud of me he was along with pictures that he got of me crossing the finish line from when he was watching on his computer. Just knowing I a made him proud will help keep me on this runner’s high for at least a week.
-I give you a glimpse into how much my mom has helped me during this training cycle with babysitting for long runs and speed work but she has also done so so so much more than just that. For example—> the amount of texts and the pep talk phone call that I got from her this last weekend when I was doubting myself helped my mental game so much. She sent the absolute things that I needed to hear and read. We runners really couldn’t do it without the support that we receive from our loved ones. Thanks so much mom.
-I was once again reminded yesterday that running is so much more than just propelling our bodies in a forward direction while pumping our arms. There is something almost spiritual about it for me (there were a lot of prayers along the way yesterday). Running changes us. We dig deep and we find out more about ourselves than ever before. We push our bodies to limits we didn’t think were possible and magically at the same time our insides change and we just become stronger and stronger because of it.
Thank you so so much Stonyfield! Everything about Boston was an incredible experience that I will never forget. Thank you to YOU GUYS for all of the comments/love/support/awesomeness and thanks Boston for being the best.
Time to rest, recover, build a base and train hard all over again for a fall marathon. I love it.
234 comments
Jennifer @ JenChoosesJoy
Congrats on an incredible race in rough conditions! I will never forget this Boston marathon!
Jessica @ kiwiyogirunner
So happy for you that you got to crush your dream of running Boston Janae! You did an amazing job and are so inspiring!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
I completely know what you mean about heartbreak hill! I thought the same thing when I ran last year. I tracked you and was cheering you on. You ran a great race and I think based on the weather a positive split was actually a great plan! Celebrate and enjoy the accomplishment, you rock!
Sarah @ SarahRuns26
Congratulations! Yesterday’s conditions were much like the first year I ran it, and I was COLD at the end! You are completely on point about Heartbreak Hill, it isn’t so much that its a bad hill, its more where it hits in the course of the race! Great job!!!
Will
I am SO glad you had a great race. I had no doubts :) You are awesome and inspire me to push harder to reach my goals. I think it is so cool that you got this experience and were willing to share it with us. Thank you so much for keeping us updated!! Have an outstanding Tuesday, and be sure to get that Apple fritter soon! You deserve it!
Flower
What a great attitude you have and what an awesome race and recap. I really hope you get that sub 3 at SGM. I kind of think you will ;)
Karien @ Running the Race
Such a great recap – well done on a great race, Janae!!
Molly @ Motherhood and Marathons
Amazing job!!! You killed it on a tough course in even tougher conditions! I’m so happy for you that you got to run Boston and that you ran such a great time! Now, it’s time to celebrate!!!
victoria @smiles 'n' snuggles
Amazing! I’m so glad you had a great race and an amazing experience! I watched it streaming live at school and I was so excited!
I’ll have to live vicariously through your experience until I finally get there, maybe when I’m 60 and the qualifying time is really high!
Congratulations!
Kristina @ Blog About Running
I am so excited for you!! I know how much this race meant to you and I’m glad that ended up being everything that you wanted and expected it to be despite the bad weather. You are incredible and a total running inspiration I know that the three is right around the corner
Gretchen | Gretchruns
I’m so happy for you! That must have been emotionally hard and physically exhausting to run that race. Even though I always run outdoors, I can never get used to running in wind. It’s SO hard! I know once you set your sights on a race to get sub 3 you’ll do it and I can’t wait to hear all about it! Great job Janae!!
Annie R
It makes my heart so so so happy that you had such a good time here and during the marathon! I missed you out on the course but was creepin’ on you via the app. You absolutely killed it and deserve every single apple fritter and froyo the world has to offer you for at least a month. Keep smiling! You ran Boston! (And kicked some serious butt along the way!)
Susan
Well done, Janae! What an incredible experience. Thank you for sharing everything w/ us. I have zero desire to ever run a marathon but am so inspired by all that do. I was able to watch most of the race yesterday (and looked for you!!). All my respect to you and the others out there going beyond what seems natural to the body. And so awesome to see such a class act like Meb and how he chose to end his race yesterday. Wow.!
Laura @ This Runner's Recipes
So happy for you! Congrats on such an incredible race! A sub-3 is well within your reach because that is an amazing time for the course and those conditions. Enjoy your apple fritter and celebrating with Brooke!
Linda @ TheFitty
Van you rate yourself on a scale of one to ten on how you were feeling going into the race and after the race? Are you wiped out?
I hope I can qualify for boston one day!
christi
Congrats Janae! I saw you out there and you looked so strong! Glad you enjoyed Boston, come back soon!
Alexis Teevens
Yay, what an incredible recap! I’m from Massachusetts, so I’ve grown up watching the Boston Marathon, and I cannot wait to run it myself one day. But cheering is a pretty spectacular experience in itself…nothing motivates you to run more than to see SO MANY PEOPLE just busting their butts to get to that finish line. HUGE congrats to you! Hope you make it back out to Boston sometime again soon :)
Lisa @ Running Out Of Wine
Congrats!! This sounds like such an amazing experience. I am so so happy for you that you had a great training cycle and race. I love your positivity! It sounds like the conditions were tough but you pushed through! Hearing all about Boston makes me want to be there one day even more!!!
Izzy
Huge huge huge huuuuge congratulations on such an amazing race! What a great time. I’m so excited to read about your build up to the next marathon, I’m training for New York and your posts always keep me motivated.
It’s so great to hear you sounding so positive and driven – you deserve 20 apple fritters and a bucket of diet coke.
Well done again.. The miracle isn’t that you finished, it’s that you had the courage to start.
Beth
I had so much fun tracking you! I am down in RI and the weather was atrocious here yesterday. You stayed so strong throughout the race! What an inspiration – you have motivated me to up my training for the Wineglass marathon this fall to try to BQ. We’ll see :)
Rachel Runs Music City
Congrats! I’m so excited that you finally got to run Boston and that it was as good as you hoped. You are an inspiration!
Natalie
Congratulations on an incredible race!! Loved the recap and so glad you enjoyed the race. It is spiritual, right?! We are all so blessed to run.
I was cheering so much for you yesterday and now wishing you lots of rest and recovery!!
Jess Miller
Congrats Janae!! I was cheering at mile 16 and saw you! :)
Hope you enjoy recovery time!!
Jessica @ VEGGIE RUNNING MOMMA
Awe Janae.!! I am so incredibly happy for you.!! Amazing. You did so great. And yes.!! You definitely can get a sub 3 hour. For sure.!
Loved your recap girl, makes me want to run Boston and you inspire me to try harder.!!
:)
Amanda @ Slimplify Life
CONGRATS GIRL FRIEND! You’re so amaze and I love your perspective – running is such a blessing and just being out there is winning in my book.
Kim
Congratulations!!! You did a fantastic job!! Your recap has made me more excited to run Boston next year!!!
Lindsy
Congrats!!! I was cheering you on from my computer at work!!!
Marina
“running is so much more than just propelling our bodies in a forward direction while pumping our arms. There is something almost spiritual about it for me (…)”
You made me cry with this. Totally agree.
I envy you ( in a good way) for the experience. Congratulations! Marina from Spain.
Emily
Congratulations!! You are amazing. :) I have been following your training and the marathon yesterday and you are so inspiring. You should be so proud.
Lesley
Big congrats on the race! Heartbreak isn’t bad as just a hill, but its location on the course and being the last of a series of hills gives it its reputation. Now go get that sub-3 :)
Caroline
Awesome job, janae! Congrats on a great run.
I totally agree that running in the wet/cold/wind was a breeze (no pun intended) compared to the cold that set in at the finish line! My hands couldn’t function!
The support in the city and in each town along the course truly is amazing.
Enjoy your wonderful accomplishment!!!
Kelly
Congrats!!!! Love your dedication and attitude. Amazing…just amazing.
katie
Wow! You are such an inspiring person! Thank you for sharing your journey with us and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Meagan
Congratulations on finishing The Boston Marathon!! You’re an incredible woman and an inspiration not only for other women, but for your daughter as well!! She is so lucky to have such a strong woman for a mother! Congrats!
Sally @ sweat out the small stuff
Running spiritual indeed! I tracked you and nyc running mama on my computer and was excited that you both finished with such fast times. The weather looked brutal. I have run a half marathon in weather like that but so far my fulls have been dry.
Hope you and brook enjoy your reunion and have fun taking selfies with they gorgeous medal.
Kelly M
WAY TO GO! I was paying attention to the live-tweets coming through. It was fun just to watch that so I am sure watching the live tv feed or even being there to watch would have been mind blowing! Reading your recap was making me teary eyed. I was excited to watch your times comes up when looking for individual runners.
I couldn’t get over the elite runners…. I don’t think my body would be capable of doing a 5ish minute mile! So much craziness. Just from reading your blog it feels like I know all these people in real life and I love it! =)
Kelly M
come*
Kim K.
heartbreak hill can be such a byatch! but you dug deep and showed her who’s boss! awesome job on such a crappy weather day. so glad you enjoyed boston; you are welcome back anytime!!!!!!!
StoutHearted
Beautiful update – I may have got a bit teary-eyed! Congrats!!
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie
Congratulations Janae! I loved reading this recap and had a smile on my face the whole time. It is amazing how your hard work paid off in those weather conditions!! I can’t wait to follow you as you train for your next marathon!
Kelly
Congratulation! What an amazing time and what a beautiful recap! I was teary-eyed watching the race on tv and now again reading your blog. Marathons are so inspirational, and Boston is exceptionally special. I love your last paragraph about what running means to you. It is so much more than exercise! Thanks for sharing your training journey and race experience with all of us!
Monica
This is a bit odd, since I don’t even know you, but I have this fierce pride in you, like you’re my little sister! I followed your race stats while I was at work yesterday, super excited for your progress and silently rooting you on, sending you all my speediest vibes! Way to go Janae! So proud!!!
Lauren
Brought tears to my eyes reading the part about how much pride your parents have for you, and their continual support of your dreams. It really is so, so important to have that and it makes me excited for Brooke because she already receives that from you :) (and always will)
Thank you for such a detailed recap! I felt like I was there with you (for better or worse LOL) I have been reading HRG since almost the beginning and I cried for you when you had your cracked femurs and couldn’t go the first time, and just how it was one thing or another each spring till now. Sometimes just finally living the experience means SO much more than hitting a goal time. You will get your sub 3, Janae and I can’t wait for it!! <3
Beks
Such an exciting day! I was thinking of all the runners, and praying that everyone stayed safe. You’re awesome!
Sandy W.
Well done, Janae! Your recap was perfect. Thank you for taking us along on your journey and your words are truly inspirational. You will get that sub 3…no question. When you put the work in and take care of your body…it’s all possible. Enjoy your recovery time…it was well earned.
Camille
Congratulations on reaching such a monumental goal! This recap made me tear up. It’s been so much fun following along as you’ve prepared for this race. You are truly inspiring!
Sarah M.
YOU ROCK, LADY! Way to kick butt under some not-so-ideal conditions. I am so excited for you and so glad that you had such a great experience in Boston. It’s my hometown and, while I’m totally biased, I absolutely love the running community here. Boston gets a bad rep sometimes, but the people really do have a heart of gold – especially on Marathon Monday! Enjoy some rest and time with your little girl!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Wow, you did so amazing! Congratulations!!!!! I seriously and getting chills and all teary eyed reading everyone’s recaps today! XOXO
Bridget
So inspirational! Congrats! Those weather conditions look tough!
Kristine
I thought of you a lot yesterday. You did amazing! You must be so proud of yourself.
Chantel
So many congratulations! What an awesome experience. Way to go giving the race your all – so worth it! And I loved reading the part at the end with all your shout-outs, it made me cry a little. Congrats again, you are awesome.
Anne @fANNEtasticfood
Amazing! I’m so proud of you!! xoxo
Meghan @GetOffYourButtAndRun
Incredible! I got goosebumps juat reading it. Boston has been my goal race for so long and I can’t wait to get there. I think the mental part is the hardest thing to get over. It requires more training than our bodies do. Great job!
Erin
great recap, congrats Janae!!
Charlie
That is so incredible to get so many photos from readers!! Shows just how much support you had on the sidelines. Congrats on running a strong race and I know you’ll smash 3hrs soon!
Allie @ Running Economy
Congrats, Janae! Conditions were really rough – I felt for you guys with those headwinds. Good for you for pushing through! Sub-3 is bound to happen.
Natalie
This was such a beautiful recap, and I am so glad how much you learned from your experience. There is no doubt that every step of the way made you even STRONGER. And you totally earned a monstrous fritter!!!!!
Courtney
I almost cried reading this– so, so happy for you and proud of you and you will get that sub 3!
Shelley
Awesome job congrats! Sounds like it was a great race even with the crazy weather!
Kylie
I was thinking about you all day yesterday! Such an exciting day for you! My friend and I were texting back and forth sending you good vibes. You should be so very proud of yourself.
Jen @ Pretty Little Grub
Congratulations! What an amazing time especially in those conditions. Too bad you had to run off to the airport so quickly. If I ran Boston I would never take my jacket off!
Kristin @ A Mom on the Run
Congratulations Janae, you did an amazing job!! It sounds like such an incredible experience!
Maddie @ Dixie Runs
Wow, it is so inspiring to see how all of you hard work paid off! It’s crazy how much work we put in for one race, but it is sooooooo unbelievably worth it. Soak up this moment and remember this forever! You killed it!!!
Randi
Janae, I am just so dang happy for you! Congrats girl!! You rocked Boston, and I am proud of you!!
Enjoy the post-marathon days and smiles!
Kristine
Congrats on Boston! I have a number of friends who raced yesterday – you guys had tough conditions!! Enjoy your recovery!
[email protected].
Woohoo! Congrats on a great race!
meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles
Congrats on an amazing race! Especially running in those condition plus that time of the month – wow, just wow! Enjoy that apple fritter!
Megan
Congratulations, Janae! I’m not a distance runner by any means…i run a couple of 5ks and a July 4th five miler every year. But I have followed you/read your blog for the past five years because you are so inspiring. Your amazing outlook on life is contagious and it improves my mood every day when I read. I’m so proud of you!!!
Natalie @ Never Serious Blog
This was so emotional! You are SO tough, and you worked so hard for that race. Loved every minute of this recap.
And YES – you definitely deserve an apple fritter the size of Brookers. :)
Gracie
I’m really happy you finally got your Boston experience! Congrats, Janae!
Jenn S.
Congratulations!!!!!! What an awesome accomplishment! I’m so proud of you!!
Ernest Alenya
Congrats Janae!! You make me feel like I was running too! Hope to run a major some day, your blog is inspirational and motivates me to keep pushing hard!
Fingers crossed about Chicago! It’s always a pleasure travel to the USA, and it would be amazing running there.
Heidi
Thought about you yesterday—I knew you were going to rock it!!!! What a fabulous job—very inspiring!
Cheryl
Great job–sub 3, here you come! I have a question–how hard was it to get water at the water stations–I can’t imagine how that works with SO MANY runners!
I think you should wear the medal for a while!!
Valerie
Congratulations! You are incredible.
Lynnette
Well done!!! You rocked it and I’m so glad you had an amazing time!
Jacqueline @ Mam On The Run
Brillant read. I thought I was going to start crying. Why does reading marathon recaps make me feel so emotional? Well done again.
Cari
I loved reading this Janae and am so happy for you! Sounds like you truly enjoyed the race and I admire that so much. Good for you!! Ever since I’ve read your blog (long before Brooke!) you’ve talked about Boston and it is so cool to watch you achieve your dream and do so well! So happy for you!!
Kendra
Loved reading this!! What an amazing day. Way to kill it, especially under those conditions. It’s great to realize you can be proud of a job well done. Running is spiritual, isn’t it? I can only imagine what the course was like this year! Well done!
Lori
Congratulations!!
Kelsey M.
OMG!!! You did so great!! I am so happy for you. Here’s to the next one! Keep up the great work.
Suzy
What a race. The headwind sounds absolutely skullcrushing but somehow you kept a positive attitude about it. You’re an amazing woman, Janae! I can run through anything: rain, sleet, snow, desert temps, but wind? IT IS MY ENEMY. Congrats on a huge accomplishment and I can’t wait to see you get that sub-3.
Sherilyn
Congrats on an incredible race Janae! I followed you via text and thought you did awesome especially considering the rain. I was so surprised to see you pulling a sub-7:00 even at the 30k mark!
Meg
I’m a longtime reader, but I don’t typically comment. I have to say though, you are so incredibly inspiring. I am from the Boston area, and your post makes me so proud that the city gave you such an amazing experience – however your mindset made that happen. You have so much to be proud of! I qualified for next year and hope I run (pun intended ;) into you there!! Congrats on an awesome race!!!
joy
So, so, so many congratulations to you! I tracked you yesterday and it felt like watching a ‘real life’ friend! I was so happy when you finished! You are a true inspiration!
Bets
Congrats again on such a great race! I hope you got your apple fritter
Christina W
Great post! It’s crazy how many people that don’t know you were following you and rooting for you (me included). Congratulations!
Kaitlin
Congratulations!! Boston sounds like such an amazing experience! I know you will crush that sub 3 marathon soon!
Charlotte Li
Hi Janae! HUGE congrats on yesterday!! I’m from NYC and the wind/rain yesterday was a nightmare – I’m honestly so impressed with you and everyone who ran Boston! I’m running my first marathon in 2 weeks in Providence, and your tips, amazing attitude, and words of encouragement have been my rock this training cycle. Keep it up!! :)
Kristy
Congratulations!! I’ve learned so much from you over the years, and found so much motivation and inspiration in your posts, so it was really exciting to catch a quick glimpse of your speedy self around mile 6 in Framingham (you were the only female keeping pace with a pack of men and you looked amazing!). Unfortunately I was so excited that I forgot to take a picture. It’s been really fun to watch you go through this experience, and I’m so happy that you finally got to experience Boston! Hopefully we’ll see you again next year :)
Erin @ Erin's Inside Job
Yay! What an incredible experience. I am super proud of you and am glad to have followed along this whole time training until the end!
Meredith
Boston is truly magical. Congratulations on a great race.
Jen@milesandblessings
AMAZING job!!! You should come run Richmond with me in the fall :)
AmandaM
Thank you for the kind words about Boston! You make me proud to be a native and current Bostonian.
Huge congratulations and great writeup. Thank you for giving us a detailed look into your day and thoughts. I look forward to going to Utah some day for a marathon!
Kelly
Loved this race report. It was so moving with all the emotion behind it. Especially near the end. What an honor to get to run that marathon. Congratulations on all your hard work and perseverance!! You did it!
JC
I love/hate posts like this. Those last few bullets got me teary-eyed. Congratulations again. You did amazing, and as always you continue to be a great inspiration!
Laura
What a great recap! So happy for you that you finally got to experience Boston. You deserve it!
Andrea
I totally teared up reading this :) I have loved reading your posts and following you on this training journey. You have worked so incredibly hard and you are so inspiring. You have challenges in your life but you go at them with a big smile. That is why you accomplished this marathon in such an amazing way. Get it girl!!! Congrats!! <3
Stephanie
Congrats on a great race, and thanks for the great recap! You inspire me to strive for a BQ one day!
Megan D
Hey, that second paragraph under a few more things sounds familiar ;) The experience you described sounds amazing and only makes me want to run Boston even more! Hopefully one day I will. Janae, you did awesome. I am so proud of you and your determination. I have NO DOUBT that you will reach the goals you set for yourself. You work hard, you are positive and you have the talent to do so.
Stephanie
Loved your recap!! I was tracking you and you ran a VERY solid race!!! Boston is the super bowl of marathons and you came out a champion.
I definitely think you should train more on the hills and sign up for a flat or progressive downhill marathon because sub 3 hours is in your reach!!!
Kathryn
Congratulations! Thank you so much for including us in your training. It has been so much fun reading about all of your Boston prep and, ultimately your awesome success. I would say though, that it’s so nice to read that you’re excited to put in another hard training cycle again soon! Most marathoners are read to ‘take a break’ after a marathon , because they are so burnt out. I really appreciate your running blog. Again, congrats! You deserved this awesome win, and I can’t wait to read about your sub-3 in the future.
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries
Love this post so, so, so much! I got a little teary eyed at the end reading about all the support from your family and friends. And you, my dear, are amazing! Way to push through those tough weather conditions and stay strong. Congratulations on a job well done! xo
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West
Hi Janae! You faced some tough obstacles in training and during the race, and you did it! What an inspiration! So glad you had those gloves! :)
Crissi @ runninggirlrn
Woo Hoo Girl You DID IT! You totally just ran BOSTON! Great job. Could not even imagine. I watched from my office at work.. Thankfully I had office day yesterday Yeah. It was awesome watching it. Inspirational for oh so many!
Great work!
Shannon
Reading your recap made me emotional because I can feel your love nd compassion for running. I am so happy that you got to run in your dream race!!! Congrats!!!
Heidi
This is amazing!! Way to have an amazing run and finish, even in those conditions!!
I was in tears by the end of your race recap. You gave me a bit of motivation for my 1/2 marathon next month and maybe helped fuel the idea of running another marathon.
Kristen @ Glitter and Dust
There is so much GOOD wrapped around this post. It makes me want to run, connect with others, and dream big (I WILL make it to Boston). :) Your race experience, despite the poor weather conditions, sounds incredible. You will never forget your first race in Boston. Way to inspire us all, Janae!
Danielle
You did great! Your post made me tear up. I’m certain you can meet your goal of a sub 3 hour marathon. Boston always has tricky weather. Running in the wind is tough!
Andrea
This made me tear up while reading this! You are amazing and should be SO proud of yourself. Thank you for sharing your story- you are an inspiration through and through. Now go have a diet coke and apple fritter!!
Alex
Congrats Janae!! I ran a 3:14, so we were close by each other! I agree about the hills… Not as bad as I had thought, but definitely shredded my quads! The weather was so nasty, but I am so proud of us (all the runners!) for persevering! What an awesome day. Glad we both had great experiences. Nothing like it!
Courtney! @ Redefining Athlete
I got chills reading this! You are a rockstar! I need to print this post out and post it next to my bed as motivation to get out of bed each morning to run!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious
Great job Janae! Now rest up and eat that apple fritter the size of your child but first make sure you take a pic! Congrats again lady!
Kelli at Not Your Mama's Marathon
What an incredible day/weekend! I’m sure you will never forget it :) Congratulations on a great race!
Annette@FitnessPerks
You did so incredible!! How wonderful that you got to run Boston; I know that’s been your dream. And you totally killed it! <3 <3 You should be so so proud!! xo
Sandra Laflamme
What an incredible Boston experience! You are such a strong runner. 3:12 in those conditions is fantastic! Your recap took me right back to the race. I was sad to miss this year but love reading all about it. Congrats!
caitlin
I checked your time yesterday (you were about 3/4 of the way done) and saw your huge time gap! I know that may sound a bit creepy, but I feel like we’re almost friends, so I can do those things ;) Huge huge huge congrats!
Jessica
You are so awesome! congrats!
http://www.lovealwaysjess.com
Karen
You are amazing! Tough weather conditions and cramps and you overcame like a champ :)
Alison (Fueling for Fitness)
Congratulations on a well-fought and hard-earned race medal. My husband and I were tracking you along with our other friends who were there and it was such a relief to see you cross the finish line (and in an insanely fast time given the conditions!). Boston is my dream race as well. I actually ran my third marathon the day before on Sunday and although it wasn’t a BQ, it’s closer than I’ve ever been. I’m crossing my fingers to qualify within the next year to be there for 2017. We’ll see!! Enjoy the apple fritters and recovery :)
Ashley
WAY TO GO!! So awesome!! You are so inspiring to me! I hope to make it to Boston someday soon. Congrats on finishing!
Tayler
Have to say congrats! I am actually so sad this training cycle is over I have loved all of your updates and posts. Just a million congrats and as a long time reader I am so happy you let us see this journey to a dream in your life!
Jane
Your post made me tear up! As a Bostonian, I have always dreamed of running this race and you made it all the more inspiring! Just signed up for Cottonwood Canyon marathon this fall and hope to BQ– looks like the perfect course for a PR! Enjoy your well-deserved rest!
Elena
Great job! Amazing! I’m so happy for you :) I cried reading your post too :)
chelsea @ the new wifestyle
wow! what a moving and intense experience. looks like i’m not the only one who teared up reading your post. so glad it was such a fantastic experience and huge congratulations!!!!
Adrianne
Awesome race! I was “watching” you all morning. : )
Kay
Congrats!!! Hoping one day i’ll be able to put in enough hard work to make it to boston too ! Its been a blast following your journey :)
Christina
Great recap you should be so proud!
Amanda
Congratulations, Janae! I am so proud of you and happy for you! You truly inspire me and I often think of you on my runs. I’m so glad that you got to run your dream race. I’ve been reading your blog for years and I know this has been a long time coming. Way to prepare like a champ and kill it on race day!
Jen W
Wow! I am super impressed and LOVED reading the speedy race recap! I could write so much, but you are just awesome, so so so inspiring.
Melissa
What an awesome recap! Thank you so much for sharing your Boston experience with us!! You are amazing!! :) Now Get some rest.
Katie
AWESOME JOB!!!!
Kate Wicker
Thank you for the amazing recap, and congratulations on such an impressive finish. I’ll continue to be cheering you on as you pursue your sub 3 marathon goal.
Boston is my dream race as well. My running life has had a lot of obstacles – eating disorder, stress fracture in high school during my senior varsity year, relapse of ED in college, 4 beautiful babies that I would never call burdens or obstacles, but the sleep deprivation and long-term nursing did impact me physically, and now after close to 2 years of searching for answers because of hip/groin/glute/hamstring pain the prospect of hip surgery (I see Dr. Byrd in Nashville next week for a second opinion after one surgeon has recommended surgery to get me back to higher mileage and marathons again), but I see all that you have overcome from personal heartbreak to injuries, and I am greatly inspired. Self-doubt is my worst enemy, but I will be out there running Heartbreak Hill one of these days!!!
I agree 100 percent that running is spiritual and changes you. During just a half marathon in Nashville 2 years ago it was rainy and cold and an injury was talking to me and yet, I had this out of body experience (sounds cheesy, I know) that something bigger than me was driving me forward. Keep the faith. Keep the optimism. And keep sharing your journey with all of us!!! Savor the joy of your amazing accomplishment. God bless you!
Cristin Morrow
Great job Janae! I started following you and your blog a few months ago. I love my daily dose of running motivation and Brooke cuteness! I tracked you during the race (how cool is that!) and was cheering you on from 3,000 miles away! Hope you had an amazing experience!
Lauren Astle
Janae-I had run a 2:58 in St George prior to my marathon in Boston in 2007. Conditions that year was practically a monsoon (the news kept threatening hey would cancel the race). It turned out raining and super windy and I ran almost your exact time 3:13. Then the fall of 2007 I ran a 2:51 in STGeorge. You are so close to breaking 3 hrs and I bet you’ll do it soon too!
Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona
Congrats! It sounds like all your hard work training paid off.
Whitney
You’re amazing!!! :) This is a fantastic post!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Traci
So happy for you! I can’t imagine how great of an experience this was. I can somewhat say I know what you feel with the conditions. My first half was 40 & raining the whole way. Thankfully for me there wasn’t too much wind & the course wasn’t hilly. I know how hard 26.2 with all of that had to have been. Always remember what an inspiration you are to everyone!
Kristin
Congrats!!!! Amazing race & amazing recap! Massive credit to you dealing with the horrible weather and hills!
Mary
aaaahhhh you make me want to run Boston again so badly!!! the only way I could get in there is with a charity run, but man. I miss Boston. I’m from there, and I miss it SO MUCH. (Not the winter. I don’t miss winter. but the other stuff, yes.) Congratulations!! I hope the apple fritter was incredible, and don’t forget to take lots of vitamin c/emergen-c etc! don’t get sick!
Kerry @ Half Healthy, Half Nuts
I got teary reading this. I am so, so happy and excited for you! Congrats!!!
Erika
Congratulations!! I was so excited to read this recap and was telling my friends about your finish time (as if we were friends or something…). Can’t believe the conditions you ran in and how strong you finished!
Elisabeth Poe
Congratulations, Janae!!!! I could put a wall of exclamation points up there for you! You killed it!!!! I’m 10 years older than you, but I am so inspired by your marathon and commitment. I’m dreaming of running a sub-4hr marathon; so your time, in such adverse conditions, is phenomenal to me :) Enjoy the high!! You’ve earned it, and I’m looking forward to reading about more of your adventures… xo
Meagan Madere
Congrats, Janae!!! You are incredibly awesome and such an inspiration! :)
Heidi Nicole || run.around.aroo
Love the recap Janae – seriously! You did a fantastic job at the race, you took it all in and you loved your time there! That is incredible. Congrats. So many congrats! I’m truly impressed with your performance and even more so with your mindset as I read this recap…your take on the race is refreshing, I’m so glad you enjoyed yourself!
Michelle
Amazing! So happy for you, Janae. You’re a true inspiration!!! And your Mom and Dad are the cutest!
Annette
Amazing recap – thanks so much for sharing your experience with us and CONGRATULATIONS! You did awesome – I am jealous! :)
Robin
You are incredible and inspiring Janae! Congratulations on an amazing race!
Nona @ RunningHigh
Congratulations! Headwinds are no joke. There was a 20mph one at my last marathon and it is SO hard to keep pushing through it. Way to go Janae. You earned that apple fritter! ;)
Ashley
Janae, you are amazing. You inspire me to run. Congratulations, I know how much you wanted this. :)
jade
I knew you’d be crying lots of happy tears!
I had to work yesterday but told many people that I had a friend running Boston! You are a friend to all of us here, thanks for the awesome recap!