Boston Marathon Recap

The atmosphere at yesterday’s Boston Marathon was festive and triumphant. Almost 32,000 runners finished the race amid enthusiastic crowds. While the events of last year were never far from anyone’s hearts and minds, the city showed it’s resilience with an amazing day of running and celebration.

Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s races:

The Elite Women’s Race

Unlike last year’s slow start, the elite women’s race began with a scorching pace set by American Shalane Flanagan. She led the women through the half at 1:09:27 (5:17 per mile pace). However Flanagan fell off the pack around mile 21, allowing eventual winner Rita Jeptoo to pull away at Mile 22. Jeptoo, who won last year’s race, finished in a course record of 2:18:57. Ethiopia’s Buzunesh Deba and Mare Dibaba placed second and third, running 2:19:5 and 2:20:35, respectively. Both times are under the previous course record.

Flanagan finished 7th with a three minute PR of 2:22:02. Watch her post-race press conference here. Fellow American Desiree Linden also raced to a PR, covering the course in 2:23:54 for 10th place.

The Elite Men’s Race

This race belonged to one man- Meb Keflezighi. He won the race in 2:08:37 becoming the first American man to win Boston since 1983. At nearly 39 years old, that time is a 31 second personal best for Keflezighi.

By mile 8, Keflezighi was 8 seconds ahead of the rest of the pack, a lead he never relinquished for the entire race. The only significant challenge to his lead was made by Kenyan Wilson Chebat, who came as close as 6 seconds behind Keflezighi near the race’s end. But, with many a backwards glance, Meb was able to find the strength to hold on, fist-pumping to the crowds as he ran down Boylston Street. The excitement and triumph of Meb’s victory could be felt around the entire city. Watch his post-race remarks here.

Chebet would finish second in 2:08:48 and fellow Kenyan Frankline Chepkwony finished 3rd in 2:08:50. Nick Arciniaga was the second American man to cross the finishin line. His time of 2:11:47 was good for 7th place. Jeffrey Eggleston finished 8th in 2:11:57.

The Women’s Running Team

After the elite races, the start of a warm day could be felt Boston. Despite temperatures almost in the 70’s, our Women’s Running team raced spectacularly. Editor-in-Chief Jessie Sebor ran 3:18:13, which is just around 7:33 per mile pace!

Last year, both Contributing Editor Allison Pattillo and former Web Editor Kara Deschenes were not able to cross the finish line due to the day’s events. However nothing kept them from completing what they started this year! Allison ran 3:56:38 and Kara finished the race in 5:20:12.

Want more Boston coverage and recaps? Check out Comepetitor.com!

Did you run the Boston Marathon? Tweet your #RunBrag race photo to @Womensrunning or email it to runbrag@womensrunning.com. And tell us how your race went!