I am having a hard time finding the right words to fully express this day, I just want to do it justice!
I really tried to go into this race without a ton of expectations, but with a race like Boston that is pretty much impossible. It gets so built up from everyone who has run it, then is seriously everywhere when you get into town, plus I had been waiting years to get to experience it for myself. Needless to say I was a little nervous to see if it would actually live up to the hype.
Long story short: it definitely lived up to the hype and much more. Want the long story? Continue reading, because it is long.
Background Posts
My Road to Boston
My Training
My Goals
In Boston and the Expo
The Details
Thankful
Marathon-Eve
Marathon Morning
I actually slept really well the night before the marathon and hopped out of bed right when my alarm went off at 5am. Even though the race has a late start (I was in wave 2 at 10:20), the busses shuttle you to the start line much earlier. It is quite the process!
I did my usual pre-race routine and took a shower, got dressed, had some coffee and ate a little breakfast, then I packed the rest since I had a number of hours before the race would start. I met a teammate of mine in the hotel lobby and we walked the almost mile walk down Boylston to the Boston Commons where the busses were picking us up. There were lots of runners out and we passed the finish line on our way there. I thought to myself “see you in a few hours finish!” It was actually all becoming real. This was happening!
There were tons of runners in Boston Commons already but we met up with a big group of teammates and boarded the busses. I was pretty quiet the whole trip, staring out the window and just was lost in my thoughts and taking in everything around me. The bus took a while and it seemed like so far to have to run back, but eventually we were at Athlete’s Village!
Athlete’s Village
I met up with Page and huddled together with her chatting away about how it was finally here! Cate eventually found us and it was fun to chat with her too. Dorothy came by and said hi, which was so great to meet her in person if only for a minute. There was a ton of energy with all the runners around and it was fun to watch it all.
The sky was clear and the sun was shining which made me nervous, it’s no secret I like to race in cold cloudy weather. The wind was blowing pretty hard which made us cold as we waited, but I was nervous about how warm it would be once we started running. There was nothing I could do about it so I just tried to keep warm as I waited.
Time went by pretty fast and before we knew it, we were using the porta potties one last time, dropping off our bags and making the long walk to the start line with thousands of other runners. Boston has busses that are labeled with your bib number, so you find your bus and hand them your bag and your bag gets a seat on the bus for a ride back to Boston. It was really organized! I wore a throw away sweatshirt until we got to the corrals and just had on my tank, shorts, arm warmers and gloves which could both be tossed.
Eventually we were at the corrals, I found mine and hugged Page good bye. I found my friend Melissa (who I ran Oakland with) easily, which was so great, it was so nice to have a friendly face to start off this epic day. Melissa and I both qualified on the same day back in December 2009 (different races), so we had both been waiting a while for this day.
Race Time!
Not very long later it was go time! I couldn’t believe it was actually starting. It still took a bit to cross the actual start line and I got irritated that people were running before the actual start, but we were there before I knew it and there were already big crowds cheering us on.
The course starts off on a pretty steep downhill for about a half mile and then climbs a little hill and pretty much just keeps on rolling after that. My plan for this race was to just run by feel the first couple miles to let myself warm up and just go from there depending on how I felt. A PR would be fantastic but my number one goal for this day was to make sure I enjoyed this race and soaked it all up. This was my victory lap and I was very set on making sure that that’s what it was.
A mile in I was already warm and peeled off my gloves. Around 2 miles I was getting even warmer so took off my arm warmers and lost my Gu I had shoved in there in the process – oops. I still had 5 on me, so I just planned to space them apart a little more than I originally planned.
I had decided to carry a handheld water bottle during the race and was so glad I did. The first few water stops were madness and knowing it was going to be a warmer day, I was happy to have my own water. I made sure to start my hydrating right at mile one and continued to drink at least every mile throughout the race.
I was trying hard to find a good pace where my legs felt good, but they just didn’t really feel that great. I kept on running and reassessing my effort as I went without paying much attention to my watch, I was really just looking at everything going on around me. Before I knew it we were at the 5k mark with the first timing mat! I thought of everyone out there who might be tracking me and I smiled.
Mile 1 – 8:41, Mile 2 – 8:32, Mile 3 – 8:24
As we wound through all the small towns I have heard so much about I was still surprised at the number of spectators that were out. Little did I know this was nothing compared to what I would see later. I was having fun checking out the scenery around me and listening to the other runners as well. I could see thousands of runners ahead of me and it was pretty awesome. I took my first Gu at mile 4 and since it was going to be warmer than I was used to I also carried some salt caps that I have used in training before and took one around the 6 mile mark just to be safe. Next think I knew we were at the 10k mat!
Mile 4 – 8:20, Mile 5 – 8:37, Mile 6 – 8:31
The miles were just flying by at this point. It seemed like things were happening so fast. I could tell today wasn’t going to be a speedy day for me and just decided to dial back my pace and pay attention to effort. I REALLY wanted to conserve energy for the Newton Hills and the later miles of the race. If I wasn’t going to have my fastest time, I was going to run a strong race and run the whole thing. I took another Gu around mile 8.5.
Mile 7 – 8:26, Mile 8 – 8:37, Mile 9 – 8:39
Around mile 10 we came into Natick and this was really the first big pack of spectators we came into. There had been spectators pretty much the entire course so far, but here you ran through this big town square with the intersections closed off and you just felt like a rockstar. I just kept on smiling and everyone out there just cheering their hearts out for the runners. These spectators in Boston are no joke!
Mile 10 – 8:45, Mile 11 – 8:48, Mile 12 – 8:48
I have had visions of this course and what it would be like in my head for a long time. I knew you could hear the Wellesley College scream tunnel before you got there and I definitely could. For some reason this part of the course didn’t match at all what I thought it would look like. It was kind of between things and you could hear it coming, but there was nothing around and before you knew it, it was just there.
The screams were incredible and the girls were out there with all their “kiss me” signs and it was fun to watch. I was reading all the signs taped up on the fence because a reader had one made for me but sadly I never saw it. I knew it was there though! I got choked up at this part of the race, just really being in the moment and experiencing it for myself. I had to pull myself together a little bit and enjoyed the bit of silence after we passed through.
Once we hit the half marathon mark, I finally turned my Garmin over to the total time screen to see where I was at. I really had no idea what kind of time I was running at the point and I saw 1:53 and was happy with where I was. I wasn’t completely cruising but I wasn’t all out gunning it either. I hoped I would have enough energy to be able to finish strong. I took another Gu around mile 13.
Mile 13 – 8:47, Mile 14 – 8:44, Mile 15 – 8:51
The crowds just kept getting thicker and thicker at this point and I just couldn’t get over all the support from everyone and how much fun they were having. People had music blasting and twice on the course I heard YMCA playing and the crowd and all the runners joined in, it was a big party!
Just before mile 16 there is a long downhill and then you enter Newton, where the series of “Newton Hills” begin. I had done a lot of my training specifically to tackle these hills at the end of the race and had done a lot of “Boston Simulator” routes that were supposedly tougher than the actual race route – I was about to find out if it was true or not.
Chris had planned on coming out to mile 16 so I was on the lookout for him. Somehow I had missed every other person I was looking for that morning so I really hoped I would see him. I was running along and somehow happened to look to my left side and there he was! I was so happy to see him and gave him a big smile and wave. It was just the boost I needed before heading off into the tough hills.
![DSC_0183[1]](http://www.runnersrambles.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC_01831.jpg "DSC_0183[1]")
![DSC_0186[1]](http://www.runnersrambles.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC_01861.jpg "DSC_0186[1]")
The Newton Hills are a series of 4 hills starting in mile 16 and finishing with “Heartbreak Hill” in mile 20. I got through the first one and was happy to have one down. The crowd support through this section was so awesome and really helped me get up and over these hills. The second one came and I thought it was the toughest of them all, but I got up and over it without my pace dropping too much.
I was getting low on water around here so I would take off the lid to my bottle and dump cups into my bottle while running which worked great. I took another Gu just before mile 18.
Mile 16 – 8:40, Mile 17 – 8:58, Mile 18 – 9:05
Mile 18 is always one of the hardest spots for me in a marathon. I am tired but still have 8 miles to go. I got through it feeling ok and was happy to still be feeling strong and that I was still having fun soaking up everything around me but I knew I still had a couple tough hills to go.
Around mile 20 I was Becky and Lauren cheering and gave them a big wave. I was really happy to see them on the course and loved their screams! I had heartbreak hill coming up and I was determined to make it up and over it without walking even though my legs were getting pretty tired at this point. There were tons of people out and everyone was screaming for you. Heartbreak was tough, but I got up and over it and was so glad I was done with the toughest part of the course. I took my last Gu at mile 21.
Mile 19 – 8:49, Mile 20 – 9:08, Mile 21 – 9:23
Mile 22 is when the spectators really start getting thick. If you think you saw spectators early in the course you really had no idea. I just couldn’t get over the masses of people out cheering! This part of the course goes through Boston College and all the students were out screaming their heads off, it was insane! People are just having so much fun out there and make you feel like you are so amazing to be out there running.
I continued to fill up my water bottle when needed and was definitely getting tired at this point. Around mile 23 the Citgo sign came into view but it was still a ways away. The spectators continued to be insane and even though my legs were getting really tired and really just wanted a walk break, there was no way I was walking in front of all these people!
![DSC_0194[1]](http://www.runnersrambles.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC_01941.jpg "DSC_0194[1]")
![DSC_0199[1]](http://www.runnersrambles.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC_01991.jpg "DSC_0199[1]")
I kept on running and before I knew it I was climbing the little hill just before the Citgo sign. The next thing I knew I saw a sign with one mile to go. I really had no idea where I was time wise, but with one mile to go I switched over my Garmin to overall time and saw 3:43:xx. I knew I would beat my nemesis time of 3:57 by a good chunk and this made me happy.
Then we went under the short underpass where things got very quiet for a few moments. I remembered hearing about this part and definitely took in those moments before the real madness began.
Mile 22 – 8:54, Mile 23 – 9:00, Mile 24 – 9:08, Mile 25 – 8:55
I knew how far my Garmin was off and I knew around how far the run down Boylston was going to be, I just didn’t realize it was all going to happen so soon. Before I knew it, we were turning right onto Hereford, the street I had ran on this week leading up to the race and many times when I was there in June. I had imagined the day I would run on that street before the famous left hand turn onto Boylston. It was happening.
The only way I can really describe these moments are bittersweet. I was tired and really wanted to be done running so badly but I did not want this to end. There is nothing like that feeling of turning left onto Boylston. The number of people out there screaming are just insane. You can see the finish line straight ahead but it’s still about a half mile away. I remember all the people, the deafening screams and all the runners around me, but it was also so quiet and so surreal at the same time. I was about to cross the finish line of the Boston Marathon, something I had been looking forward to for so long and counting down the days to.
Before I knew it, I was there crossing that big blue line. I threw my arms up in the air for the first time ever in a marathon and just smiled. I had done it and it was absolutely amazing.
Mile 26 – 8:48, last .47 (per Garmin) – 3:40 (7:48 avg)
Garmin time: 26.47 miles/3:51:57/8:45 avg pace
Official time: 26.2 miles/3:51:55/8:50 avg pace
We had to walk for what felt like forever, getting water then the space blanket and finally I got my medal. This whole time I just kept getting choked up and my eyes would fill up with tears. I was completely and utterly happy. I had done it, I was a Boston Marathoner.
I got my bag and texted with Chris to where we were meeting and then called my mom and just cried. I was so happy and so proud of myself for this race. I soaked up every single bit I could of the marathon and it’s spirit that I could, and I am so happy I ran the race this way.
I found Chris and gave him a big hug and just couldn’t stop smiling. I proudly put on my jacket I had been waiting so long to put on. There were people everywhere and we weaved our way back to the hotel and I was beaming.
Post-Race Thoughts
This race absolutely exceeded every expectation I had for it, and there were a lot. I am so glad I ran the race the way I did and was able to have fun and soak everything up. I definitely think that is the best way to take in a first Boston. This race was worth every second of hard work I put in to get there and it made me 100% certain I want to BQ again to come back in a few years. Tougher standards? Bring them on! This race is so worth it, I will be back.
People aren’t lying when they say this is a tough course. The first half is all rolling hills with lots of downhill, but there are plenty of uphills in there to keep it interesting. The Newton Hills are definitely tough, although the ones I trained on were a bit harder, the ones in the race still will get you. The last 4 miles have a couple of tiny hills that hurt at that point in the race too.
Thank you again to everyone who tracked, emailed, called, texted, facebooked, tweeted or just routed for me from wherever you are. Your support means the world to me and I don’t know if I would have been at this race without it. I channeled you all every time I crossed that timing mat and loved knowing everyone was getting an update at that moment.
I am now very proudly a Boston Marathoner. I know this smile won’t fade off my face for a bit and I will never ever forget this amazing day.
Lots of pictures and more recaps of our trip to come!
so neat reading this and reliving it again. it’s all i’ve been thinking about since i finished!! my first recap is up with pictures…i have a ton more of the actual race which will go up next. great job and congrats!
I think you managed to capture that you ran this marathon with joy
Congratulations Aron. I’m so glad it lived up to everything and more!
I loved reading this… you captured everything about the race so perfectly! Congratulations on beating your nemesis time (by a lot!) and running a smart race!
You had a great run! I agree about Wellesley. I thought there would be more to it than what it was but still – it was a terrific segment of the race.
It also was surprising at how rolling the course was. I was expecting to have sore quads from all the down hill but, because of all the ups and downs, my legs were fine.
Great run Aron! Not sure I want to do it again…I’m more of a once is enough person. Maybe Big Sur will be in my future
Great race report. So happy for you.
Epic race report for an epic race! Congratulations girl. Proud of you in every way!!
Congratulations Aron on a spectacular Boston Marathon. I knew you would do great and you really did. Great race report.
The funny thing about Boston is that while it is this epic legendary event, it is still a marathon, and it’s still very difficult. That bittersweet feeling of wanting to to be over, but never wanting it to end is very unique to this race I think.
Congrats again.
Congrats!
Running your own race (rather than worrying about time) was certainly the best way to fully enjoy the course.
You were able to take it all in and share it so well!
Aron, so glad you wrote this all down, it is fun to read, and somewhat live through it with you.! You did a great job and I am so happy for you! Even though I cannot imagine running for that long, I am proud you can! Love you
You are not supposed to make me cry at work!
I am so so so happy for you that you enjoyed yourself sooo much out there and really soaked it all in. THAT is what it’s all about!
Now I want to go even more.
Congratulations again!!!!! Keep smiling, you earned this!
I loved reading this! Congrats! So inspiring
Congrats! You’re amazing… and inspire me to one day run the Boston Marathon. All I need to do is learn how to get faster hehe
You’re my hero, I remember not too long ago reading the marathon recap in which you Qualified for.
When I read this, I felt like I was running the race with you!! I can picture the route in my head and I’m so glad you got to soak up everything as you ran. Amazing accomplishment!
xo – Marie
Chocolate & Wine
wow, what an amazing experience. i have pretty much given up on the boston dream, but this post kind of makes me want to give it a shot! congrats, such a well deserved race, so happy for you
Thanks for sharing this! What a special day. Your report and thoughts are so inspirational. You are right – you will never, ever forget this day!
Thank you for sharing your first Boston experience with us!! And congrats on such a great race
Oh man…I am so proud of you! What a wonderful accomplishment and celebration to have run Boston. It’s crazy to think I’ve been reading your blog for a long time and following all your hard work to achieve this goal – how inspiring to meet you in person the year of your first Boston!! YAY! Congrats
I’ve been waiting to hear about your experience! It is such a great race, and I think there’s a magical element when you’ve been hearing about it and know what is coming up. Boston was definitely a victory lap, and you still had a great time! Glad you remembered the little underpass…it’s one of the secrets that I loved since it can so easily be passed by without any thought.
Boston was the only marathon where I’ve put my hands up at the end……and then smiled for a REALLY long time after. I’m sure you’ll be doing the same.
Congrats again, and see you in California!!
Wow. I am so happy for you, and SO proud of you! I love the bring it on attitude for the coming years! Although, you have now just cemented the fact that I need to run Boston even more than before. Greast work Aron, and congrats on such an amazing race!
congrats on YOUR boston marathon aron. it was so much fun to be cheering for you from here. you’ve worked so hard to get there so I’m glad you had found out on the course.
p.s. I love that your nemesis time is my goal time for Fargo.
I can’t begin to express how happy & proud I am of you & for you! You are the encourager, the inspirer and the amazer! You have brought tears to my eyes so many times throughout your life but few have brought such pride as this! You express your path getting to Boston, and through it, as well and completing it SO well! Your Dad & I are so happy for you and your wonderful accomplishments! Relish in all that you deserve my dear! Can’t wait to see you! Love you!
Wow, what an amazing race report, I felt like I was with you the whole way! I hope you are reveling in your success all week, what a fantastic race!!
Congrats Aron!! You totally rock! your story is so inspiring, i’m so happy for you and your first Boston Marathon!
Great race report! I can definitely feel the love you have for this race through your writing. You did awesome! Congrats! I know it’s bittersweet when it’s over but those memories will be with you forever.
Congrats! This is a great race report – thanks for sharing all of the details!
This was a great post, Aron. Thanks so much for sharing your experience.
I think you just inspired me to aim for Boston
CONGRATS!! I could certainly feel your emotion, what a great race recap! I am new to running and will be doing my marathon on 5/1. I will try to remember to do as you did and feel the race, enjoy the journey. Thanks for that! And yea to you, forever now a Boston Marathoner!!
Congrats! Well done! Looking at your splits, the Hills didn’t prove to be much of a problem for you, did it?!
Awesome race report and race! I’m so excited for you that you had the victory lap you wanted and got to really experience ever second of that 26.2. Enjoy a few days of well deserved rest and I’m excited to see you do it again in a little over a week!
What a fantastic recap, it made me smile to read it. Sounds like you had a great time!
Btw, your name in the mirror spells the name of my bestie, lol!
Congrats!! Your recap makes it sound like 26.2 miles of awesome with a smattering of hills. I’m happy your first Boston went so well!!!
Great post Aron! I’m so proud of you! You worked hard and lived your dream. goosebumps. I have goosebumps.
You’ve also made me want to run Boston more than ever. One day I’m going to train my ass off and be right there next to you at the starting line!
Aron, this race recap is amazing! I’m just SO SO SO happy for you. If anyone deserved that day and those moments, it is you. I’m so glad that Boston exceeded your expectations and you had a great race. It was so wonderful to meet you after tracking your journey. I love your blog and it seriously makes my day every time I read it! I’m looking forward to taking the trip out to YOUR city & running the hills of SF w/ you & Page
Great work & I’m so proud of you!!
Awesome race recap! Yours is the first Boston recap I’ve read so far out there!
Sounds like overall the race went perfect for you! Running Boston seriously sounds like the Olympics, the amount of spectators sounds insane, haha And that sounds like a special moment at the half marathon mark when you got choked up – running Boston with tons of spectators cheering, and you reached your goal of running Boston Marathon.
And did a lot of people scream your name since you had it on your shirt? I think that is a great idea, I might have to steal that idea for Chicago Marathon, haha
I loved reading everything in that post. I am so so proud of you and happy to have the experience of following you throughout this journey
(missed you at Run Club last night,so see you next week!)
I LOVED reading this report, my favourite post on your blog yet!! I kinda teared up a little. Very inspiring Aron, congratulations!!!!!!!!!
You rock, Aron! Congrats!!
What a wonderful recap. Congratulations!
great recap! wonderful job! congratulations!!! So glad you enjoyed it so much and had such a great time!! Funny because one of your pictures has one of my dear friends in it, he’s right next to you in the picture!!!
YEAH!!!! You are a Boston Marathoner! You ran a great race on a tough course even though you said your legs were tired.
Enjoy the post-Boston glow…you deserve it!
Wonderful Run and great Experience for sure!! Congrats on on all the hardwork in making your dream a reality.
great race report! Congrats on being a Boston marathoner – the experience sounds so awesome.
I have goosebumps reading this. I have had so much fun following your journey to Boston and I’m so glad you had such a perfect day. You deserved it
Congratulations, Aron! Your Boston experience is truly magical. It has been incredibly inspirational to follow your steps to the finish line. What a journey! I hope to run Boston someday and when that day comes, I will think of you and the joy your felt on the course. It’s so great that you were able to soak in every special moment and savor the race. This was your Boston!
You are a ROCKSTAR! Awesome recap!! I hope you have a fantastic relaxing week, cos you deserve it
CONGRATS Aron! I love that you had such a positive race experience! And your recap was amazing. I didn’t think it was possible, but you made me want to run Boston even more!
I loved reading this recap. It was so inspiring and made me wish I had gone to spectate. Congrats on qualifying for and finishing Boston!
Congratulations! It must have been amazing to soak in everything and really feel the crowd support.
Love, love, love it! This is exactly what I was hoping for you for this race. You went there and gave it your all, AND had a fabulous time. I’m so incredibly happy for you and proud of you! What a great race report – the best ever
Congratulations, Aron — I loved reading your recap and posts leading up to Boston. You worked so hard, but had a blast throughout your journey. I can’t wait to see the goals you conquer in the future!
Wow, wow, wow!! I’ve been waiting to read this and now I’m in tears at work! I’m so so happy for you!!!
congratulations! i’m sitting here in the library (should be working- ha) and tearing up…so exciting! i’m definitely going to revisit this right before my marathon in may. i’m hoping to BQ and need some motivation.
sounds amazing and i hope to be there in the future!!
Congratulations! Your race report brings back so many memories for me. I’m so glad that you had a wonderful race. You were clearly able to enjoy every moment of it which is wonderful. Here’s to the next BQ!
SO awesome to read this! Congrats again!
Awesome race report, Aron. I would totally be sobbing afterward as well. What an exciting accomplishment!
I couldn’t wait to soak up your report. You earned that jacket! Wear it often, and with pride!
I’m just gushing with emotions for you! You ran great!!! That course is no joke, add in all the emotions, all the spectators and you just never know! But you did amazing! It is worth all the hard work to qualify! So happy you enjoyed it, well earned girlie!!!
I didn’t think it was possible, but this post just made me want Boston even more!!!!
great race report!! Loved your approach to the race. What an experience!! CONGRATS!
Absolutely love your recap girl, I can just hear your smile beaming in the words! You ran a smart race during a warm day and made every step count! Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome race report. Congrats again!!!
Congratulations!!! Your race report gave me goose bumps:) So PROUD of you
So glad you had such a great race and truly got the “Boston experience” – what a great, detailed recap. I’m so happy for you!
Congratulations Aron!! Your recap made me cry!! It brought back so many emotions for me and I think you did a wonderful job capturing the amazing-ness of Boston. I remember crying quite a few times during/after Boston when I did it – not because I was sad, but just because I was so overwhelmed by emotion during the entire race.
I am so proud of you for all the incredibly hard work you’ve put in to get to this point, and for the strong race you ran. It has been inspiring to follow you on this journey and I’m so happy Boston exceeded your expectations. It was so good to see you around mile 20 and you really looked great!!
You are a Boston Marathoner!! Such an exciting title
I hope you are basking in the pride from this race for a long long time.
1. i was way hot by mile two as well. way warm out!
2. every mat we passed i thought of everyone tracking us
3. mile 18 sucks. every marathon.
4. but the crowds did rock
5. boylston = chills.
so in short: you are a rockstar! i am so glad you had a great experience and this was sooooooooooo much fun to read.
I loved reading this! Felt Like I was there! I am happy that this was a great experience for you!
congratulations on your race and on making it there!
Congrats aron! Im glad boston was everything you dreamed of and more! Live it up and bask in the marathon glory! You earned it!
Gah, I feel like I just ran this with you! This is deifnitely the most detailed recap I’ve yet so far, and I can only imagine what it’s like to have that kind of crowd support throughout the entire race!! I love how you just soaked it all in to really get the full experience, and then get ready to come back for more
Congrats, Boston Marathoner!!!
Yay! What an amazing day, what an amazing race!
Ladies and Gents…the SECRET is out:
“Aron..YOU ARE A BOSTON MARATHONER!”
Enjoy the medal, the jacket, the glory and the smiles…you deserve it =)
Hi! I am so proud of you! I think you took that race and made it yours. For now, I’ll leave you with a quote:
“How am I? The race is the answer, the only answer. The runner is truly a man dissatisfied with the status quo. His object is to reach goals that are continually being reset.”
(George Sheehan in Dr. George Sheehan on Running )
So Aron, what’s the new journey?
this is beautiful aron! i don’t think i’ve ever seen so much dedication towards one goal. it really was a journey for you and i am so glad you had such a good day! can’t wait to hear what’s next for you! xoxox
Your recap gave me chills!
It’s all so exciting!! I was tracking you and cheering for you the whole way!! I wish to someday make it to boston to either 1) run the marathon or 2) spectate! 
Great race Aron! 
So glad you enjoyed the experience. From being a spectator I know that the city of Boston loves hosting this race—it’s like a giant city party.
Great race, great attitude and you will get back I know it.
So glad you got to run Boston! Congrats!
Awesome race report, and what a great race – you can tell how happy you are from the pictures and from you report. Congratulations!
Your recap brought tears to my eyes! I have been reading your journey since you BQ’ed and I am so proud of you!
Amazing, Aron, amazing. To say that I am jealous would be an understatement. I’m so glad that all of your work paid off and you were able to enjoy the race!!
Reading your recap only further cements my goal of the elusive BQ. Great job and thanks for taking us along for the run with you.
freaking loved this recap.
Awesome job.
Amazing race.
I
Love
Boston.
Aron, I loved loved your recap. Its so amazing to hear your story through these years. I’m so proud of you! What a great time too!!!
You need to run NYC. The crowd support in Boston is great but in NYC its even more insane!!!
I practically cried reading this!! Great report-so glad you had such a memorable experience. I remember just being overwhelmed with emotion crossing that finish line! And then walking 40 miles to get my bag…Awesome job, awesome recap! YOU ARE A BOSTON MARATHONER!
Your recap was fabulous. Great job- sounds like SUCH an amazing race!
I’m so glad that Boston managed to exceed all your expectations. That’s hard to do when it’s a race that you’ve been dreaming about for a really long. I enjoyed reading your recap and I hope that I can be there someday in person (even if it is just to spectate)!
epic race report! it made me feel like i was almost there, and inspired me to get there one day!! congrats on having a fantastic race!
Congratulations!!!!! I loved reading about all the little details. You rocked that course! I ran it last year, but at a much slower pace. You’re such a strong runner. Really glad you loved it! Congrats!
Congratulations! I’m so glad that you had such a wonderful experience. It sounds like a really special day.
Congrats Aron! It sounds like you had a truly amazing race and enjoyed every minute of the course!!!
congrats aron!!! woohoo, boston marathoner!!! you ROCK
Congratulations, Aron! I really enjoyed getting the text message updates. Sorry I haven’t commented sooner…I am SO behind on reading blogs.
I loved your race report and can’t wait to have a similar Boston experience someday.
Hi Aaron, you did amazing girl, congratualtions! It has been awesome watching you achieve that BQ and follow through with a bang Boston marathon!