On Easter weekend, Robin Guy of Newport & District Running Club was out in the United States to take on the Boston Marathon, one of the seven “Major” marathons that take place over the world every year, and also the oldest annual marathon that currently takes place anywhere in the world, having first run in 1897. After he returned to the UK, he was kind enough to send us this report:

The 129th Boston Marathon took place on Easter Monday, and I had to be at Boston Common for 7:30am, where we were all then transported in a convoy of around 15 classic US-style yellow school buses to the start at Hopkinton, which takes about an hour. There were “wave” starts, and I set off in the 3rd wave. 

The weather was bright sun, and it was already starting to heat up at my start time of 10:25am; in hindsight I should have taken advantage of the free sunscreen, but I thought I’d be fine! The support was amazing, and it became stronger the closer to Boston we ran; the first 16 miles were a very gradual downhill, then minor hills until 18 miles and the infamous heartbreak hill at 20 miles, which is around three quarters of a mile in length and reduced many runners to a walk; I kept on pushing. 

Robin Guy at the Boston Marathon

Unfortunately, I dropped a gel within the first few miles, but decided four should still be enough to get me round. My pace was consistent up until mile 18 at sub 7-minute miles, then started to slow down after hitting the hills. I drank water at most of the water stations, and towards the end I had a couple of the Gatorade drinks. Running down the finishing straight the support was electrifying and though to the finish my time was 3 hours 5 minutes and 31 seconds. 

Great support particularly from Clare who travelled over with me, we got back to the hotel a few stops out of the city, changed and straight out to the post marathon party with live music and Samuel Adams beers.  We also visited the Cheers prior to the marathon party bar, where anyone with a marathon medal got a massive cheer when they walked in the door! It was an all round great experience.