Unlike a focused marathon-specific block, my training for the Boston Marathon was spread out over the entire year, as I was preparing for and running various races throughout. While there wasn’t a dedicated build-up exclusively for Boston, I maintained a consistent monthly mileage of around 300 to 350 km, which helped build a strong aerobic base.
In the last couple of months leading into Boston however my training took a more structured turn. I included frequent track workouts, focusing on speed and intervals, while my weekend long runs were often done at tempo pace to simulate marathon effort. As part of the build-up, I ran two half marathons followed by an additional 10K each, alongside a fellow Boston-bound runner. Three weeks before race day, I peaked with a 100 km week before beginning a gradual taper.
Strength training was also a regular part of the routine, with 3 to 4 sessions each week—either at the gym or through Cult group classes. I supplemented this with one or two sessions of yoga and stretching every week to stay flexible and aid recovery. To further support recovery, I made it a point to get a sports massage once every 2 to 3 months.
I created a WhatsApp group with a few fellow runners running Boston so that we could coordinate. I went to the US 10 days before the race to overcome jet lag and adjust to the change in sleep pattern due to the time difference. I went with my family and stayed at my cousin’s place. We did a few road trips and reached Boston on Friday, April 18th, as planned.
I met fellow runners from the group, went to the Expo, and collected the bib on Friday. The expo was very well organised with bibs being distributed by 4 waves (colour coded) and 9 corrals. We explored the stalls and checked into our hotel, which was 25 mins away from the finish line. Idea behind the choice of hotel location was to go to the finish line, check in the baggage & take the bus to the start point on the race day. But this whole process meant we would need to get up 6 hours before the race, walk, and wait in the cold.
Luckily another runner from the group was staying in a friend’s place which is very close to the start line. We got an invite to stay along with them. We went there the previous day. We did a recce of the start line and entry to the waves & corrals. Effectively this meant that we saved above 5 hours commuting and waiting on the race day.
We prepared the race day gear, planned our morning breakfast before going to bed. Thanks to the host for tasty South Indian lunch & dinner, quality carb loading was taken care of.
Got up at 6:30 a.m., and finished my morning routine including breakfast and got geared up. We got a drop to a point which is about a mile from the start line. It was cold in the morning, so we had layered up with the throwaway clothes we brought.
The holding area was much beyond, a mile away from the start-line, so we continued walking further. Joined the other runners waiting in the corral; the atmosphere was electrifying with runners warming up, and some late-wave folks resting on the ground. That probably eased me up and I did not feel any anxiety.
An announcement was made for runners from the Red (first) wave, and we started walking to the start line by corral. It was pretty well organised with no pushing or jostling. Used the restroom one last time and waited in the corral for about 10 minutes.
By 10:00 a.m., the Red wave began corral by corral. By the time the 5th corral reached the start line, it was 4 minutes past 10, and we started off.
Started off the race with a sea of runners. The first half km was a steep downhill, so I controlled the pace and ensured I avoided contact with other runners, so as not to fall or push. I took the first kilometer easily to settle my nerves.
Crowd support started right from the first kilometer. People from the neighborhood lined up the streets, cheering us on and wishing us well – and this continued all the way to the finish line. Crowd support was amazing and really lifted the energy.
My plan was not to go too fast as the first 6 kilometers were downhill. I kept checking my watch as the pace was still faster than what I perceived, wondering if the GPS was off. The pace however was comfortable thanks to the downhill.
Between kilometers 6 to 8, there was the first noticeable climb of about 10 meters, which was actually welcome as it activated different muscles.From 8 to 15 km it was downhill again, and I maintained a steady pace. My average pace was around 4:10/km, and I was feeling strong, right on plan.
The weather started getting warmer, and the early cold breeze had faded. I had to pour water on my head multiple times to cool down. The weather remained tough for the next 10 kilometers.
From the 15th kilometer, the elevation started. I dropped my pace by 2 to 5 seconds over the next 3 kilometers, followed by a few downhills. I made sure not to push hard on the climbs and focused on maintaining even effort, keeping in mind to conserve energy for the Newton Hills.
I was expecting steeper and more brutal climbs at Newton and Heartbreak Hills, but surprisingly, I realized I had already crossed Heartbreak when I saw the banner congratulating runners. It felt overhyped — perhaps because runners push hard on earlier climbs and are exhausted by the time they reach Heartbreak hill.
I had planned to push from the 35th kilometer onward, as the course flattened or went downhill from there. But I felt the first signs of a mild cramp in both adductors at the 36th km, so I immediately dropped the pace by 10–15 seconds/km over the next few kilometers to see how it felt. As I progressed I continued to see several runners limping, cramping, or walking. I didn’t want to risk cramping and ending up walking, so I kept things steady and held back, even though I still had some energy.
Once I was sure that a sub-3 finish was still possible, even with some conservative pacing, I pushed a bit in the final stretch. If not for the cramp scare and the patchy weather earlier, I had planned to push hard in the last 7 km and could probably have shaved off 2 more minutes.
Overall, I’m happy with the race — it was a negative split by ~30 seconds.
Unlike other races where you’re often running alone after a few kilometers, Boston was different. There were runners around throughout the course, but it wasn’t overcrowded unlike the many races in India at the start line.
Crowd support was amazing from start to finish — with high-fives, kisses, hugs, beer, water, chocolates, salt, oranges, and even Vaseline (with a humorous sign saying “don’t eat it”) on offer. In some places, the cheering was deafening.
Hydration support was spot on, with Gatorade and water cups every 2 kilometers, though I would have preferred bottles — cups spill easily, and I had to be cautious around the stations. Maurten gels were available in 3 locations. I was taking GU gels every 6 kilometers, alternating between Roctane and regular versions.
Tip: Print your name and country — or whatever you’d like to be called — on the front and back of your t-shirt. You’ll have people calling out and cheering for you by name.
After the finish, water bottles and medals were handed out about 100 meters away from the finish line to prevent crowding. A little further along, a blanket was provided to help keep warm.
I was waiting at our pre-decided meeting point, looking for our host. Overall, I felt fine, barring the mild cramping sensations in the adductors. About two hours later, even that sensation disappeared and I felt completely normal.
I met a few fellow runners from India, took some photos, and after thanking our host, we parted ways and headed back to our respective hotels.
IMHO, every marathoner should try to run the Boston Marathon if they get the opportunity, especially if they qualify. It’s worth the experience. The experience is truly out of this world and lives up to all the hype and euphoria.
Train specifically for elevation, especially in the second half of your long runs, aiming for about 250 to 300 meters of elevation gain. Practice using Gatorade and Maurten gels if you can.
I’m immensely grateful to the MG Runners tribe, the Team Miles Ahead group, and my running partner Pavan for their support throughout the journey. A special shout out to the Mandur runners for the great company on long runs. Huge thanks also to Uday Shankar, Satish Jayanti, Srini Gadde, Bidappa, Swara, and others for their camaraderie and support during Boston—it made the experience all the more memorable.
My next major race is Berlin on September 21st, where I’ll be aiming for my personal best. I plan to hit weekly mileage of around 100 km during August, with track sessions leading into the sharpening phase.
Murali is a Principal Consultant at a French bank & dedicated runner. Over the past 13 years, he’s logged an impressive 25,000 km, with 8 years focused on marathons and strength training. As the coach of MG Runners near Indiranagar, Bangalore, he helps fellow runners set and achieve their goals.
With multiple podium finishes and five sub-3-hour marathons to his name, Murali has also been an official pacer, guiding friends and participants toward their target times. Follow him on Instagram (@gmurali91) to connect for pacing requests or structured training support.