Boston Marathon weekend is arguably most Bostonians’ favorite weekend of the year: spring is starting to feel REAL after months of cold and snow, and the sun shines bright for our Boston Marathon guests from around the world.

Since I’m a charity coordinator for a Boston Marathon team and have plenty of other work obligations in April, I am so busy that I typically let my running fall by the wayside. This year I decided to make training a priority, especially knowing I have to stay in good running shape for my first marathon – the 2018 Walt Disney World Marathon! As a result, I signed up for the B.A.A. 5K, on Saturday, April 15^th. This was a particularly special day to race, as April 15^th is also known in Boston as One Boston Day, a tribute to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. It is a reflective day, but also one of hope and togetherness.

B.A.A. 5K Race Recap

Me, my friend Rebecca, and 10,000 of our closest friends arrived at the Boston Common for the race. We were able to pick-up our t-shirts and check out some of the vendors before the race even began. Since this was a Boston Athletic Association event, it was well organized and there were plenty of volunteers at the ready to assist- along with plenty of porta potties!

2017 B.A.A. 5K starting/finishing area

Many Boston Marathon runners use this race as an opportunity for a shakeout run before Monday. Others consider this race perfect for a 5K PR- it’s a fast, flat course, which allows elites to give it everything they have. Two years ago Ben True (13:22) and Molly Huddle (14:50) both set the American Record in this race and won in their divisions. I was excited to see that they would be returning this year, along with other special elite runners- some of whom were Olympians! To think I would be sharing the roads with these giants in the running world!

Much as I expected, many of these elites were finished by the time I even set foot on the starting line. Ben True was the winner of the Men’s Division, running a new PR of 13:20 and setting a new American Record. Gah! Molly Huddle came in second, with this year’s winner of the Women’s Division, Ethipian runner Buze Diriba (14:54).

Top 3 Men’s Division Finishers (left to right): Ben True (13:20), Stephen Sambu (13:22), James Kibet (13:28)

Top 3 Women’s Division Finishers (left to right): Molly Huddle (14:56), Buze Diriba (14:54), Kalkidan Gezahegne (15:04)

After oogling the elites and the B.A.A. media cameras interviewing the winners in the finish line shoot, I set off at approximately 9:45AM with my fellow runners and proceeded down Commonwealth Ave, turning around via Charlesgate West to the inbound side of Commonwealth, taking a right on Hereford Street, and then left on Boylston Street. It’s important to note that this marks the end of the Boston Marathon course: “right on Hereford/left on Boylston”, the single moment runners look forward to all day with the roar of the crowd from the sidewalks to the tops of the buildings.

Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston!

We proceeded to run down Boylston Street and through the Boston Marathon finish line. It made me so excited for my runners and for their glory on Monday as they pass this line for themselves.

This was a beautiful moment.

Past the finish line we continued down Boylston Street and took a left on Charles Street for the finish in the Boston Public Garden and Common.

For me, it wasn’t a PR but I did feel much faster than I anticipated! Not my best work at 30:56, especially while weaving through some groups of walkers and taking some time for photographs, I still felt as though I had pushed myself to run fast.

After the finish line, we were met with water bottles, Gatorade, and bags of random sponsor snacks, including Wise Potato Chips, Craisin Blueberries, and my favorite- King’s Hawaiian Rolls (so random.) I proceeded to fangirl all over the top men and women elite runners as they received their awards (photos above) and not-so-secretly took their photographs during the ceremony. The sun was so bright my angle wasn’t quite right for photographs, but it felt great to be in the presence of such incredible athletes.

Rebecca and me sporting the new apparel and new bling in beautiful B.A.A. blue and yellow!

Overall Thoughts: this is a fun, fast race. The medal and t-shirt are quality made and participating in my first B.A.A. race was exhilarating. To anyone in town for the Boston Marathon, or wish to participate in a B.A.A. race, I highly recommend it! It’s a celebratory race to help kick-off a legendary, celebratory weekend in good old’ Boston town.

Until next time, #willrunfordisney