Boston Marathon

Today was the 114th running of the Boston Marathon. This is the Super Bowl of running. It's the most prestigious and historic race in the world. Unlike most running races, not just anyone can enter. You have to qualify to get the opportunity to torture yourself for 26.2 miles...and qualifying is not easy. You have to run a marathon under these times within 18 months of the Boston Marathon:

Age 
Time

18-34
Men 3:10:00 (7:15 min/mile pace)
Women 3:40:00 (8:23 min/mile pace)

35-39
M 3:15:00 (7:26)
W 3:45:00 (8:35)

40-44
M 3:20:00 (7:38)
W 3:50:00 (8:46)

45-49
M 3:30:00 (8:00)
W 4:00:00 (9:09)

50-54
M 3:35:00 (8:12)
W 4:05:00 (9:21)

You see the pattern. So for me to qualify for Boston, I would have to run 26.2 miles at a pace of 7 minutes and 15 seconds per mile. This is laughable. I could maybe hold this pace for 4 or 5 miles right now. Let's just say that running the Boston Marathon is not on my list of attainable goals...maybe once I'm in that 50+ age group!

Anyway, today's race was one for the record books. Kenya's (is this country a big surprise to anyone?) Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot won, breaking the course record with a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 52 seconds. This is a pace of 4 minutes and 47 seconds per mile...for the whole freaking race! I can't run one mile this fast...seriously...neither can you.

That was 82 seconds faster than the record set in 2006 by four-time winner Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, who's not related. I'm surprised how popular the name Robert is in Kenya (right). The 2010 champion wins the $150,000 first prize and an extra $25,000 for setting the course record. Not a bad $275,000 day for "Robert".

It should also be mentioned that American Ryan Hall, who finished third last year, fell out of the top 15 near the halfway point but sprinted through the final mile to challenge last year's winner, Deriba Merga for a spot on the podium. He missed by 2 seconds, but his time of 2:08:41 was the fastest ever for an American in Boston, six seconds faster than Bob Kempainen ran in 1994.

As for me, here's what I've been up to:

YESTERDAY'S WORKOUT:
Another brick, similar to what I did on Saturday.
Only difference is that this one consisted of a shorter bike and a longer run.

Bike

Covered 10.33 miles in 32:57 (18.81 mph). Avg HR = 139 bpm. It was a short ride, but had some challenging hills.

Transition

2:28
It was a little colder yesterday (39F) than Saturday, so I had to deal with taking gloves on and off and also taking off the wool socks I had on for the bike and putting on my running socks.
Avg HR = 112

Run

Covered 6.90 miles in 54:21 (7:52 min/mile pace). Things felt pretty good coming off of the bike. The course was challenging with a downhill at the beginning, some rolling hills in the middle, then a big uphill climb at the end. I felt really good and could have continued at this pace. Avg. HR = 154 bpm


Total workout: 
1:29:48
Avg HR = 147
Max HR = 172 (that big hill at the end of the run) 

TODAY'S WORKOUT:
2hr 15min on the bike. Pretty steady riding with a 45min spin class thrown in the middle. The class consisted of some long hills and long flats. There were also 5 intervals at the end which got the HR up into zone 4. Good ride, legs felt surprisingly strong after the two bricks this weekend.