From Blueprint to Finish Line: My Boston Marathon 2:40:08 Journey

As I crossed the finish line of the 2025 Boston Marathon with a time of 2:40:08, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions - pride, relief, and the sweet satisfaction of seeing months of dedicated training crystallize into those precious 26.2 miles. For me, this represents the culmination of one of my most consistent, well-executed training blocks ever. Pushing the limits of what I once thought was impossible, I’m now eyeing down what the next 4-5 years could look like if I remain consistent. 

The Training Blueprint

Looking back at my training journey that began in December 2024, I can see how methodically my coach and I built toward race day. The plan wasn't just about accumulating miles - it was about strategic progression, carefully balancing intensity and recovery, and preparing both body and mind for Boston's unique challenges. In the beginning of the training block I was dealing with hip issues. I was diagnosed with a torn hip labrum from an MRI. With the help of my coach and PT, I have been able to run this entire block virtually pain free, which is win number one. 

The numbers tell part of the story:

• 4+ months of consistent training

• Peak weekly mileage reaching 80+ miles

• Long runs extending to 23 miles

• Specific Boston course simulation runs

• Progressive workouts that built confidence in race pace

Building the Foundation

December and January focused on establishing a solid base. Starting around 50 miles per week, I gradually built volume while introducing controlled speedwork. Those early track sessions - 16x200m repeats, mile repeats at 5:30-5:40 pace - weren't about pushing limits but about developing rhythm and efficiency.

By late January, I was hitting 70+ mile weeks with increasing confidence. My body was adapting to the load, and the lactate measurements I tracked showed promising physiological adaptations - readings consistently in the 1.2-1.8 mmol range during steady runs signaled excellent aerobic efficiency.

The Heart of the Build

February and March represented the meat of the training cycle. The workouts grew more Boston-specific:

• Long runs with substantial marathon pace segments

• Hill simulations targeting the infamous Newton Hills

• Tempo runs that practiced controlled effort on tired legs

One workout that stands out came in mid-March: a 21-miler with structured blocks of progressively faster segments, culminating in 4 miles at 5:54/mile pace with a heart rate of 161. My coach's comment: "WHAT A RUN!" These breakthrough sessions built not just fitness but confidence in my ability to handle race pace when it mattered.

The Boston Recon

In late March, I traveled to Boston for course reconnaissance - perhaps one of the most valuable components of my preparation. My great friend Tommy Martin and I got to experience the course firsthand, feeling the undulations of the terrain, and visualizing race day scenarios provided mental imagery I would lean on during the actual marathon. Luckily that day we had warm weather with a high of 67 degrees, slightly warmer than race day.

That 23-mile run on course was more than just miles - it was a mental rehearsal for the challenge ahead. I studied the critical points: the early downhills where restraint is essential, the Newton Hills where patience pays dividends, and the final stretches where mental fortitude becomes everything. I knew exactly how I wanted to execute the race at that point. 

The Taper

The three-week taper was meticulously planned to maintain fitness while allowing complete recovery. Weekly mileage dropped from the peak 80s to the 60s, then further down as race day approached. Workouts became shorter but maintained intensity - like the 8x400m at 70-second pace ten days out - keeping the engine primed without exhausting it.

The final week was all about rest, visualization, and confidence-building. A few short runs with marathon-pace segments reminded my body and mind what race pace felt like without creating fatigue. Massage therapy, yoga, sauna sessions, and acupuncture helped me feel recovered and ready to go for race day. 

The Execution

Race day execution matched the disciplined approach to training. That 2:40:08 represents so much more than a time - it's the product of over 1,100 miles of preparation, countless early mornings, workouts in challenging conditions, and unwavering commitment to the process.

We arrived in Boston Friday night, and Saturday is when the race began for me. Carbohydrate loading and hydration is such a critical part of racing endurance events and making sure the body is primed for performance is the last brick that needs to be stacked to complete the process. For me carb loading was between 700-800g per day 2 days prior to the race. 

Morning of the race, I woke up at about 4:30 am, I took 1 liter of water with 2000mg of sodium in an electrolyte pack, 1 liter of water with 90g of carbs of maurten 360 pack, and 1 bagel doused in honey. Arrived to athlete village and 90 minutes prior to the race start I ate 1 banana, sipped on electrolytes and had a red bull for caffeine. Then 30 minutes before the race start I had 1 maurten with 100mg of caffeine and 25g of carbs. 

During the race, every 25 minutes I alternated between 50g and 25g carbohydrate packs totalling 75g per hour and had 100mg of caffeine at around 100 minutes. I also knew from my recon day that I needed to sip water and gatorade early on in the race to avoid any cramping so slowing down at each aid station to make sure I take that in was crucial. 

As for pacing, I wanted an even split race, with a slight buffer for the newton hills. I broke the race up into 4 parts of execution: 5 downhill, 15 riding the line, the Newton Hills (16-21), and the real race (21-26.2). The first 5 downhill miles are all about not wasting energy and following the tangent line.

Mile 1	6:24	HR 139
2	6:06	150
3	5:57	153
4	5:52	156
5	6:03	161

From miles 5-16 are flats and undulations, it’s important not to burn matches here and control the effort. If I felt like I was working too hard I backed off and knew the time would come back on the slight downhills. 

6	5:55	160
7	5:47	164
8	6:04	162
9	5:59	163
10	6:02	163
11	6:00	164
12	6:04	161
13 (Wellesley)	6:01	167
14	6:03	165
15	6:02	167
16	6:03	163

Running the Newton hills on effort rather than pace is so important because lactate builds up faster on uphill running, and I knew once I go past my second lactate threshold there would be no way to come back from that. So I kept my effort in check and didn’t let the echoing chants get me fired up just yet. 

17	6:10	167
18	6:09	169
19	6:03	170
20	6:07	171
21 Heart break	6:23	172 (LT2)

The real race started for me here, I knew I could pound my quads on the downhills because I was confident from my strength programming. I knew I could go into my LT2 effort because it was less than 40 minutes of running and my pain tolerance could handle it. I knew I was hitting my goal here. 

22	5:34	176
23	5:52	176
24	6:01	174
25	5:55	174
26	6:19	173

I'm celebrating the journey that made this performance possible - the consistency, the adaptations, the mental growth,the connections and the invaluable experience gained along the way. The Boston marathon is the greatest race in the world, and it is the pinnacle of my athletic career. I’ve crossed many finish lines and played in high stakes basketball games at the high school and collegiate level, but nothing compares to running through the 8 towns of the Boston marathon. It is such a privilege and honor to be there and truly can’t thank my family, friends, and team around me for helping me achieve my dreams. All the glory goes to God, with God all things are possible. 

Looking Forward

With this Boston campaign behind me, I'm savoring this accomplishment and the journey that led to it. I’ve already been asked what's next. The training log shows Chicago Marathon penciled in for October, but for now I will be basking in this one. 

The beauty of marathon training isn't just in the final result but in the person you become through the process. This Boston cycle has made me stronger, more resilient, and more confident in my ability to pursue ambitious goals with patience and purpose.

To anyone out there targeting their own breakthrough race - trust the process, embrace the journey, and remember that the finish line is just one moment in a much richer story of growth and transformation.