Boston Marathon - Boston
Open Races
Day - Monday
Date - 17/04/2023
Distance - 26.21 Miles
Jan McArd knocked 4 and a half minutes off her best marathon time at the Boston Marathon finishing in an excellent 3:28:07.
After the race Jan said "The 127th Boston Marathon was amazing and Boston is a really cool city, even if it is the third most expensive city in the U.S (apparently)!
I loved the race and I even enjoyed the rain. There was no pre-race donut, instead I had to make do with 2 blackberry and lemon pies - sugar overload!
I trained for sub 3:30 following Hal Higdon's Marathon plan and it worked as I finished in 3:28:07, my fastest marathon time (out of 3) and first time under 3:30.
The support on the course was superb 'Great job Jan, you've got this' will forever ring in my ears! Heartbreak Hill isn't huge, it just comes at the wrong time! The Expo and organisation was super efficient and everyone was soooooo friendly. I bought lots of merch to remind me that I've done it (I doubt I'll run it again although I have qualified for 2024!)
I was overwhelmed by the kind words and encouragement from my friends, family and the wider running community. It was lovely spending time with Neil and the UTS Run Club crew. And also the LW who puts up with my running chatter 24/7. I have a million photos so I'll just share a few.
FINALLY, don't ever say, 'I couldn't run a marathon' because in 2015 I couldn't run from one lamppost to another! You just have to take it one step at a time. And I wouldn't have achieved what I have without everyone at Wallasey Athletic Club - thank you and a big thank you to those special few who helped with the training for Boston, you know who you are!"
Neil Toner completed the race with an achilles injury and posted this report. "Boston Marathon 23 - The City On A Hill.
The past seven weeks have been really tough for me both mentally and physically due to the passing of my dad and developing an Achilles injury that stopped my training for what is arguably the world's most prestigious marathon due to its history. To keep the engine ticking over I started punishing (for me) watt bike sessions at the gym pushing myself to the limit in order to maintain a level of fitness.
Anyway, let's get back to Boston. I was still injured going into Boston and if it was any other marathon I would have simply pulled out. I wanted to do it in my dad's memory. I tested the Achilles out two days prior to the marathon in the B.A.A 5k starting at Boston common and running around the streets. It hurt start to finish but didn't worsen afterwards but 10 miles of walking after it wandering around didn't help the cause forcing me to limp at the end of the night.
I had serious doubts that I would make the start line and had to rest all day Sunday with constant icing of the Achilles mixed with painkillers to reduce the swelling (not ideal or recommended).
Monday Morning Race Day- you had to drop your stuff off at near to the finish line in order to collect afterwards to get changed into. You then boarded a bus which took about an hour's bus journey to a little town called Hopkinton. It was a freezing cold misty morning and doubts had really set into whether I could do it.
Honestly from the very start my Achilles was killing me on every foot strike. I thought I'd get to 4 miles and then run/walk the rest. However, I just tolerated the pain and kept going. 3 stops for a wee in the portaloo (too much info I know!) and I was face timing home throughout whilst running and put FaceTime on the final straight so my family could see me finish. I had to run that pace as any quicker and the pain was too unbearable. I just wanted to get through it. I had a great time/laugh with the spectators who kept shouting GO DAD (name on tee shirt) He was with me all of the way as there is no way I would have finished it otherwise. Achilles is mega sore and swollen but doesn't really seem to be any additional damage and since I've rested after arriving home last night the swelling has reduced.
Thank you to my family and all of the people who have offered me support and advice the past seven weeks and last but not least the Boston crew I went with and others who we met there."
I loved the race and I even enjoyed the rain. There was no pre-race donut, instead I had to make do with 2 blackberry and lemon pies - sugar overload!
I trained for sub 3:30 following Hal Higdon's Marathon plan and it worked as I finished in 3:28:07, my fastest marathon time (out of 3) and first time under 3:30.
The support on the course was superb 'Great job Jan, you've got this' will forever ring in my ears! Heartbreak Hill isn't huge, it just comes at the wrong time! The Expo and organisation was super efficient and everyone was soooooo friendly. I bought lots of merch to remind me that I've done it (I doubt I'll run it again although I have qualified for 2024!)
I was overwhelmed by the kind words and encouragement from my friends, family and the wider running community. It was lovely spending time with Neil and the UTS Run Club crew. And also the LW who puts up with my running chatter 24/7. I have a million photos so I'll just share a few.
FINALLY, don't ever say, 'I couldn't run a marathon' because in 2015 I couldn't run from one lamppost to another! You just have to take it one step at a time. And I wouldn't have achieved what I have without everyone at Wallasey Athletic Club - thank you and a big thank you to those special few who helped with the training for Boston, you know who you are!"
Neil Toner completed the race with an achilles injury and posted this report. "Boston Marathon 23 - The City On A Hill.
The past seven weeks have been really tough for me both mentally and physically due to the passing of my dad and developing an Achilles injury that stopped my training for what is arguably the world's most prestigious marathon due to its history. To keep the engine ticking over I started punishing (for me) watt bike sessions at the gym pushing myself to the limit in order to maintain a level of fitness.
Anyway, let's get back to Boston. I was still injured going into Boston and if it was any other marathon I would have simply pulled out. I wanted to do it in my dad's memory. I tested the Achilles out two days prior to the marathon in the B.A.A 5k starting at Boston common and running around the streets. It hurt start to finish but didn't worsen afterwards but 10 miles of walking after it wandering around didn't help the cause forcing me to limp at the end of the night.
I had serious doubts that I would make the start line and had to rest all day Sunday with constant icing of the Achilles mixed with painkillers to reduce the swelling (not ideal or recommended).
Monday Morning Race Day- you had to drop your stuff off at near to the finish line in order to collect afterwards to get changed into. You then boarded a bus which took about an hour's bus journey to a little town called Hopkinton. It was a freezing cold misty morning and doubts had really set into whether I could do it.
Honestly from the very start my Achilles was killing me on every foot strike. I thought I'd get to 4 miles and then run/walk the rest. However, I just tolerated the pain and kept going. 3 stops for a wee in the portaloo (too much info I know!) and I was face timing home throughout whilst running and put FaceTime on the final straight so my family could see me finish. I had to run that pace as any quicker and the pain was too unbearable. I just wanted to get through it. I had a great time/laugh with the spectators who kept shouting GO DAD (name on tee shirt) He was with me all of the way as there is no way I would have finished it otherwise. Achilles is mega sore and swollen but doesn't really seem to be any additional damage and since I've rested after arriving home last night the swelling has reduced.
Thank you to my family and all of the people who have offered me support and advice the past seven weeks and last but not least the Boston crew I went with and others who we met there."