by Larry Eder
Caroline Rotich wins over Mare Dibaba, April 20, 2015, photo by PhotoRun.net
Our dear friends, and writer and photographer for Racing South and Running Journal, Steve and Carolyn Mather were at home, with Steve recovering from some health issues. Carolyn wrote this piece for RunBlogRun from her view on the world of the web.
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE BOSTON MARATHON
My husband and I have been in Boston for a week for most of the last three decades. It is our annual springtime ritual to go to Boston to run, to work or to cover the race. It is a time when the city where we resided in the late 80’s comes alive with spring and the arrival of thousands of runners and fans to take part in the Patriots Day running of arguably the world’s most prestigious marathon. We made our arrangements last October never knowing that our trip would not take place. Steve was diagnosed with bladder cancer and had major surgery on March 27th. But being ever optimistic we truly believed we could still take our trip and the doctor agreed. But severe surgical complications set Steve’s recovery several weeks and we are at home watching the marathon.
It is a different feeling not to be right in the thick of the action. But thanks to social media I have been present at most of the events. This morning I am assembling computers to see what it is like for the average runner to watch it at home. This will be my take on viewing the marathon from north Georgia.
Despite the dire weather predictions, the weather and wind at the start were nearly ideal. A pack of twelve formed by mile one passed in 5:28. Various women including Bizunesh Deba, Duliba and Desi Linden have taken the lead of the pack.
The men went out fast with a 4:39 first mile. They were at 28:40 at six miles and 29:41 at 10K. All of the contenders are still in the race. The men stay on a 2:05 pace.
At 17 K Desi Linden leads the pack with a 1:00:07. They are averaging 3:28 a kilometer on a 2:26 pace.The men’s and women’s races are fairly identical as no one has broken yet the men are on a much faster pace. The pack of eleven led by Linden remains together through 14 miles but Lelisa Desisa has made a move on the field of men but the pack has come back.
Desi Linden usually comes from behind but she is keeping the pace honest today as she continues to stay in the lead of the pack of twelve. All of the women in the pack have to be considered contenders. Amy Cragg and Shalane Flanagan remain in the pack up front. At the 25K elite fluid stop the women got separated a bit and the pack got down to ten with Linden about 20 meters back. Linden has managed to make her way back into the pack as the ladies get ready to make the turn onto the Newton hills. At 1 hour and seven minutes into the race Dathan Ritzenheim has taken the lead in the men’s race. Tsegay has gone with Ritz. It looks like the men have picked up the pace but the women ran 5:45 from 16 to 17.
Believe it or not the race on the internet is just as exciting as being there except for the crowd of press. I can feel the excitement as Ritz and Desi are leading. They are adding much excitement to the day. On the second hill Shalane has started struggling and is falling back as has Amy Cragg. The women’s pack is down to nine as Ritz is running the race of his life. I have never seen an American woman and man leading at the same point in the Boston marathon. This is truly a once in a lifetime vision The men are in the 15th mile and the women in the 19th mile as Americans continue to lead. Ritz just stayed away from the elite fluid station and took a gel and some water from the regular water station at 25K.
Nearing two hours and over heartbreak hill there are nine ladies in contention. Dibaba, Kilel, Deba, Demise, Chepkurui,Rotich, Kebede and Cherop are in the mix. This could be any woman’s race but Desi is still leading. Two runners who hail from Michigan still have the lead. The BAA coverage which is going worldwide is exceptional. The other coverages really disappointed and were not even feasible to try and watch. Many kudos to the BAA.
Deba, Dibaba and Rotich have broken away with Desi still trying to stay in touch as Meb took the lead in the men’s race as Ritz is till in the lead pack along with several contenders. This is an incredible race watching Americans in the lead pack this late in the race. The men’s race is speeding up as Ritz and Meb struggle to keep up. The women’s last mile was 5:07. That is what separates the pack. Desi falls back.
What an absolutely incredible finish as Caroline Rotich races Mare Dibaba to the finish. Bizunesh Deba comes in 3rd and Desi hangs on for 4th. What an absolutely amazing women’s race this one was. It was so exciting watching from my computer. You could hear me cheering!! Americans took 4th and 9th place as Desi held on for 4th and Shalane recovered and made a ninth place finish. Two Americans in the top ten is incredible. Caroline stated “I want to do this and not let it go in the final stretch”. She proved herself a true champion for the 119th edition of the marathon
The men’s race is heating up with a fast mile at 24. Desisa reached 40K in 2:02:38. He won in 2013 and donated his winning medal back to the city of Boston to honor the city after the bombings. Desisa is leading by 11 seconds and crosses the finish line in 2:09:17 becoming one of only four men to win Boston twice. Desisa said he made a move at 25K but knew at 35K he would win the race for a “strong Boston”. He is a true champion. Desisa said the weather was very cold and windy. He pushed after 35K to come home alone.
Ritz and Meb finished 7th and 8th in strong races. It was an fantastic race and many more participants will be fighting the increasing wind and rain. Watching from home means I will not get to the post race press conferences but again many kudos to the BAA and Larry Rawson for a stellar broadcast.
