My training block leading into Boston was 13 weeks long. Before the marathon-specific phase began, I had been training for shorter distances, so I already had a decent base. I also ran the Chennai 20 Miler, which served as a base-setting race before the full marathon build.
The training comprised hill repeats, intervals, and longer tempo runs. Every week had two quality sessions, while the rest of the runs were easy and focused on consistency and recovery. I did seven weeks of 100 km cycles, structured as two peak weeks followed by one down week. Strength training was a key part of the block as well, and I did that two to three times a week.
The last three weeks were my taper phase. During this time, I also swam once or twice a week as part of recovery. My nutrition was simple and consistent throughout the cycle: home-cooked meals with a clear focus on carbs, protein, and micronutrients.
As a marathon demands a lot from runners, I know I am not the easiest person to deal with when an interval, tempo, or long run is not going well. This journey would not have been possible without Ajay, my husband, and Satish, my friend and mentor, along with my huge friend circle at KTPO, Team Miles Ahead. Getting through a marathon block is tough enough, and getting through it with support makes all the difference. Getting in there is tougher than ever before 😜.
I travelled five days before the race to get acclimatised. I was lucky to stay with friends, which meant my nutrition was well taken care of and I could focus on settling in well.
I attended the Expo on day one, and bib collection was a breeze with no waiting at all. After that, I bought the much-awaited Boston jacket and met friends from Bangalore, which made the whole experience even more special.
Over the next few days, I did a few shakeout runs with strides to get used to the weather and terrain. There were no heavy workouts, just enough running to stay loose. I also made sure to walk well and stay hydrated before race day.
I reached the venue a little over an hour before the start. Thanks to my friends, I could get dropped directly at Hopkinton. There are participant buses from Boston Common as well, which take runners to the venue.
Before leaving for the start, I did a few drills and mobility exercises at home. Once at the venue, I kept moving and did a few more running drills to stay warm. The venue was extremely well managed, with clear signs and smooth logistics throughout.
It was a chilly race day, so I layered up with thermals, a jacket, and lowers. One thing to remember about Boston is that it is a point-to-point race, so whatever is brought to the start line needs to be discarded there. It is advisable to keep oneself warm till the race starts, especially for runners from India, where the weather and wind are not this chilly.
Being my first World Major, I was struck by the sheer scale of it all. The crowd, the energy, and the extremely well-managed logistics made the experience feel special even before the race had started.
Pro-Tip
Keep the warmers on till the race starts. Runners have plenty of time in the holding area, and the weather can be very unpredictable and chilly.
The top warmer or hoodie should preferably have a front zipper, as it can be removed easily while running. Keep gloves, headbands, a rain poncho, and, if the weather predicts rain, an extra pair of shoes and socks.
There are plenty of porta potties just before the start, so runners are taken care of well. The start is strictly by runners' corrals, and there is no way for other corrals to start early.
My plan was 10 miles-8 km-8 km-10 kms
First 10 miles (first 16 kms) - Avg pace 4:42/km
The race starts from a hilltop at Hopkinton. The first kilometre is a steep downhill, followed by an undulating road. Keeping calm on fresh legs was my mantra. I kept reminding myself to slow down through this phase.
Boston is one of those races where excitement can get to you very early. The crowd support and the runners around you keep you company from the start, and the downhill opening can trick you into running faster than you should. I stayed aware of that and kept my effort in check.
I kept sipping Gatorade every 3 to 4 kilometres, as that is what works for me. I took a gel between the 6th and 7th kilometre and continued with my gel plan through the first 30 kilometres.
Pro-Tip: The first 16 kms should be run slower than you think you should. The crowd support and runners are enough to carry your energy for free.
Next 8 kms (17-24 km) - Avg pace 4:46/km
As I got closer to the half marathon mark, the race started getting real. The cheering at Wellesley College gave me a sudden bounce in pace, and I had to calm myself back into a more conservative rhythm.
Hydration on course is supported by Gatorade, and Maurten supplies energy gels later in the race. So if you do not want to carry hydration, that is manageable. However, Maurten comes in later in the race, and I would still advise runners to stick to the gels they are used to in training.
I carried a total of seven gels: three non-caffeinated and four caffeinated. However, I did not consume the last two fully.
This stretch too was undulating, but I knew the real hills would come in the next section.
Next 8 kms (25-32 km) - Avg pace 4:48/km
This is the notorious Newton section with four hills.
The first one comes around the 27th kilometre and is about 800 metres long. The second arrives around the 29th kilometre and is about 600 metres. The third comes near the 31st kilometre and is again about 800 metres. The last one is just before the 34th kilometre and stretches to around a kilometre.
Conserving energy till here is important, as these hills come later in the race, when fatigue is ready to kick in.
The crowd support and fellow participants were enough to encourage me through this patch. My family was also there cheering for me. They were able to spot me, though I could not see them. They had a good laugh later, mimicking me and my laser focus at Heartbreak Hill.
Heartbreak can be daunting not because it is very steep, but because of when it comes in the marathon. It checks whether you have respected your strategy till then.
Last 10 kms (33-42 km) - Avg pace 4:45/km
Once I crossed the 34th kilometre, it turned into a steep downhill, followed by rolling and downhill sections. The end was getting closer, and I started counting the kilometres backwards.
These kilometres were excruciating for me. Questions which I had not asked myself till then started surfacing. This is where the marathon becomes deeply mental.
The crowd support helped me take every step forward. There was no way I could stop, especially after taking a 17-hour-long flight to get there 😅.
At the 41st kilometre, I saw the signboard of “Boston Strong”. Do not be fooled, as the finish is still a mile away with an underpass. After taking the last left onto Boylston Street, I still had around 750 metres to go. I still do not know how I managed to run those extra metres.
In those final metres, I had nothing much going on in my mind. The clock was ticking, and I had just one goal: to cross the finish line strong.
I took my medal and stared at it for a few seconds longer. The medal was heavy, I was a bit weak, and the walk from there to meet my family was long and chilly.
Meeting my family, having the first coffee, followed by an ice cream, felt like heaven.
Aditi Pandya is a life long athlete. She was born to run and play sports. Aditi is the co-founder of geeksonfeet.com.