RACE RECAP OF THE 2024 BOSTON MARATHON

[@MyFatAdaptedLife]

Well done, Matt. Very comprehensive recap. And I thought I was metrics-driven. 🙃 I remember 2017 when it was 86 deg F. The aid stations were littered with bodies. Oof! 🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Michael! I skipped 2017, which was a great decision in hindsight! That was a miserable day to run a race! Funnily enough, 2018 was also a miserable day but for the opposite reason! ☔️ Do you remember how you did in 2017? Not your time, but how you performed compared with what you expected?

[@MyFatAdaptedLife]

@@its_Matt_B_ Sadly, I remember both 2017 and 2018 well. I was recovering from PF in 2017 and a hamstring in 2018 (don't get old, Matt), and had already paid the entry fee. So, I ran them both for the experience.

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@MyFatAdaptedLife oh boy! You really “experienced” Boston during those two races! 🤣

[@MyFatAdaptedLife]

@@its_Matt_B_ indeed

[@RunningGeekGirl]

🤳 Thanks for sharing all the data and congrats on the finish! 🤓

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Heather! It was a fun day! Thank you also for putting in the time on this video! 🙌🏽

[@BrianCarter-mc1pb]

Matt I was in Wave 2 Corral 3 with you. Congratulations on a beating your bib ranking by over 3000 runners. Well done.

[@its_Matt_B_]

Hey Brian! It sure was a tough day out there, but still a ton of fun! Congrats to you too on the finish! 🙌🏽

[@markfleeman]

🤳so there is so much to consider there that I don’t even know where to begin. I do think that starting out slowly and not being too stressed out at the start helped. Sounds like you were probably in better shape than you gave yourself credit for also. But you’re right if it had been cooler you would have done better especially at the end when it matters most but to make up that 5 minutes to a 3:15 would have been a stretch even with it cooler. This has been so much fun watching these videos focused on Boston. As always thanks so much Matt!

[@its_Matt_B_]

You're right about there being a lot to consider. There are a lot of variables and changing one would change everything. I was very chill about this race and felt like I could have gone out considerably quicker and been ok. I actually felt like I was running easy for a good part of the race, and there have been other races where it felt like I was "racing" from the gun! 🤣 As you well know, every race is an experiment that we learn from! I can say that I enjoyed the actual race this year and recovery has been a lot easier than previous years!

[@TolunayOrkun]

🤳 Hi Matt, I do like these analytical videos so for an engineer runner they are not boring at all 🤣 According to Stryd folks on their Facebook group, we should set the calibration factor of the foot pod at 100.0 and turn off auto calibration of FP. However, for me 101.9 was the right value. It was fairly correct at The Woodlands marathon. It is currently at 102.0. I will experiment some more at the track. Secondly, stride suggested power is way too much for me for the downhills. I am sometimes struggling getting to the power they suggested while maintaining sense of control. I don't have "reckless abandon" of a a couple decades ago and I am probably not as efficient in the downhill sections. They assume about the same efficiency throughout. I wish they had something like PacePro but for power so they would create a specific workout for race according to the course. I definitely run better in the cold. Being a heavy runner, I probably lose a lot of energy to cooling myself. In my latest marathon, The Woodlands Marathon, the temperature rose towards high 70s in the end and I was totally dehydrated in the last 5k and wheels came off. I hear a lot of otherwise fast runners had to drop to walking in Boston 2024. So, your 3:20:00 is a great time. Did you hear that the 3rd place man in London Marathon (British) was using a simple Casio watch. No GPS, Stryd anything of that sort. Old school pacing! 🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

I’ve actually been surprised at how many people have watched this vid, so perhaps people like days…or, like you, they’re all engineers. 🤣 Wow! I didn’t know it got so hot when you ran Woodlands. That must have been tough! Like you, and I suppose like most people, I love running in the cold. I would choose low to mid 40°s anytime! Well, not anytime. If I had my way it would be low 70°s before and after the race but drop to the low 40°s while I’m running! 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@derekcyrph.d.4750]

🤳Great video, Matt! I enjoyed seeing all the race data! It was definitely a warm day but I did enjoy the weather much more than last year! One of my highlights last week was meeting you heading into the corrals. Hopefully I’ll randomly run into you again next year!

[@its_Matt_B_]

It was great meeting you, Derek, and like you, I thought the weather was better this year than last. It was tough but also so much more comfortable!

[@justoutlaw6423]

I've been following your paces on checkpoints (and some other runners) on my 🤳. Good effort and another one in the books. I guess all that buzz and events leading up to the race take it's toll (if you would have gone for PB). All in all, great experience to take us who would probably never be able to run Boston on. Thanks

[@its_Matt_B_]

WTG incorporating the emoji into the comment! 🙌🏽 Yes, all the events in the days leading up to the race definitely take their toll, but are 100% worth it!

[@dougmatthews8469]

🤳 That heat was no joke, a lot of people struggled with it, I suppose being from Florida helped. You ran a pretty steady effort which was smart and you got a good time for the conditions, congrats!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Doug! Yes, the heat played a huge part in most people's slower times and I think you're right about me training in Florida helping with it, although it never feels like it! 🤣 Still, from the results I saw it seemed to me that, relative to peak marathon potential, I may have slowed slightly less than other runners. 🤷🏻‍♂

[@sheldonwitney-or4my]

Great video Matt - I ran Boston for the first time last week and this and your earlier ones really resonate with me! Held back on the first Half, felt great and then those hills, dang! The constant sun was more of the issue than the actual temp I agree - any sort of shade felt incredible. Stryd had me on for a sub 3, but came in at 3:07 + change. Which I was delighted with given the day. And just the most incredible experience. Congrats on your run and all the content, personally I love stats! 🤳🏼

[@its_Matt_B_]

Big congrats, Sheldon, on an epic race! Boston really gives runners what they want, as far as experiences goes! Your Stryd was incredibly accurate considering the +/- spread they give you AND the warm weather! Great job holding back in the first half! That’s so hard to do on any day, but it being your first Boston makes that even more impressive! Thanks for watching. I’m always happy when another stat-fan is part of the channel! 🔢📈

[@eric-running-to-chamonix]

🤳 One of the advantages of road racing is this kind of apples vs apples comparison and planning. I miss it a little bit. Good thing you didn't try to hit the power target on the early downhills.

[@its_Matt_B_]

🤣 Following power on the downhills!!!🤣 I learnt that lesson the hard way!

[@brokenfreddy1262]

Nice race..every race is an adventure and I love that..8k pretty much Florida flat and very cold and spitting snow at 34f on Saturday..then 5k thru a vineyard that doesn't have a flat spot anywhere on Sunday with sunshine and 54f..beautiful when out of the wind..for me that is the variety I really like in races...the Boston qualifier I'm going to do this year is pretty much a straight out and back with a few hills and a couple of miles thru streets at start and at end..good for pace but pretty boring and more than 20mi of it is out in the country..if you need the adoring fans it's definitely not for some people..I like that quiet cruising along with nothing but my music..sounds like a very good race you had..congrats 😀

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Freddy! I also like that kind of race where you can just focus on effort and pace! It sounds like a great course to BQ at!

[@JPiazza791]

Great recap Matt! I definitely think you would have been faster in cooler weather but still a great performance! Cheers! 🤳🏼🤳🏼🤳🏼

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Jen! Yes, I’m pretty sure I could have easily run 5 minutes quicker in cool temps. I wish I would have run London this year! Everyone there had ideal racing temps!

[@stevebailey1682]

🤳Hey Matt...nice run. We have talked about the Stryd pod before. I have one that I now only use when on the treadmill. It just can't compete with multi-band GPS for distance/pace accuracy (in my experience). Good you figured out what was going on. 3:20 is a great time!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Steve! As I don’t live in an area that GPS struggles, there is no need for me to use Stryd for anything other than power data (and a few other metrics, but not distance).

[@stevebailey1682]

@@its_Matt_B_ Hi Matt...what I was trying to say (poorly) is I find multi-band gps to be both more accurate and consistent than Stryd pod for distance and pace.

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@stevebailey1682 Yes, I get it, although in my experience (until I reset everything), Stryd was almost exactly the same as my GPS. You're right though, multi-band GPS has made our watches more precise than ever!

[@stevebailey1682]

@@its_Matt_B_ My Garmin FR255 (which I just bought in January) is my first Garmin that gives me useful (real-time) pace. Before that, lap pace (or average pace over some distance ) was the best I could do.

[@ivarchr.bjergpedersen1202]

Thanks again again for your great videos - I simply love your ever positive attitude. Such an inspiration! I will run the Boston Marathon next year. I am going with an international tour operator all the way from Denmark.

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks so much! I’ll plan to be there next year, so I hope we can meet! 🇩🇰

[@JohnCadigan-ym2lh]

🤳 Love the data. Thank you, Matt! Congrats on a great race on a not so great running weather day.

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, John! Yes! The weather was less than ideal, but it could always have been worse! 😁

[@Jay-sd9ye]

Nice pace. Nice marathon time. 🎉.🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Jay! I’m happy with how it all went! 👊🏽

[@kouvang6256]

🤳 appreciate the walk through.

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks for watching! ✌🏽

[@paulmurray6972]

🤳 Enjoyed that Matt.

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Paul! 👊🏽

[@Allancrossac]

Some effort big man! Well played! 💪

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Allan! It was a good day for a run!

[@mrgroundhog9790]

Congratulations 🎉 and I appreciate the breakdown! 🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks so much for watching (and leaving the 🤳)!

[@runningwithjane]

"As runners we love to complain about stuff" LOLOLOL Complain if you don't get in, complain if you do get in and the jacket or medal is bad... 🙄 Love your data dig-in here. Congrats on managing the day amazingly well, definitely think that conservative start really helped you keep the positive split to a minimum on a very warm day. You're amazing!!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Jane! You're right about the complaining! It's the bond that links us all! 🤣 I'm happy with how the race went! Now if I can just remember to start conservatively next time, in better racing conditions, and possibly run a negative split! 🤞🏽

[@matthiassventoest6800]

awesome recap

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Matthias! 👊🏽

[@paulimes3760]

Come to Colorado in June and run some hills. Garden of the Gods 10 mile June 9th. 🏃‍♂️ ⛰️ 🏔

[@its_Matt_B_]

I would love to get my butt kicked by some CO elevation!

[@mwhite202020]

Good job Matt🤳🏿

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, mate! 🤩

[@Joe_Souza]

🤳. Great recap Matt. Interesting to see the data behind the tech and that it’s not perfect. Have you run all 6 majors?

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Joe! I find it fascinating too! I’ve only run Boston, NYC, and Chicago…..so far.

[@wetzky]

🤳 Here for the relatable quips and unnecessarily detailed analysis. Obsessed runners, unite!

[@its_Matt_B_]

🤣 Unnecessary details are my bread and butter! ✨💫🙌🏽🫶 (as well as unnecessary emojis).

[@gavinbraiden5985]

🤳my London race recap is not quite as detailed as this but is something along the lines of; start>26.2 mile slog>finish😂😂 congrats on another great marathon

[@its_Matt_B_]

😂 it still tells the story! 💥 Welk done, Gav!

[@mikeleonard8684]

Great work! Congrat's!🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Mike! 💫

[@annewright3486]

Congratulations again on a great race Matt! It was so hot. Amazing you got a BQ again! 🦄 🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Anne! It doesn't get much closer of a BQ than this! 🤣

[@annewright3486]

I still think you can subtract a couple of minutes for the filming!

[@largeeddie]

Well done, Matt!🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Eddie! (and thanks for the 🤳)

[@iLoveLucyy]

🤳🏽 congrats. I hope I get to do Boston one day. Do you have any thoughts on the Hal Higdon marathon plans?

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Ricky! I like Hal Higdon's plans a lot. I used to use them more in years past than I do now, but I looked at the Advanced plan before this race to get a better idea of an extreme taper. HH's plans cut WAY back in the final week, and I felt like that was what I needed this time.

[@parinne_runs]

🤳Great race!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Parinne! 🙌🏽

[@williamcass68]

🤳 Great job!

[@its_Matt_B_]

🙌🏽 Thank you!

[@MelRunsThings]

Well fone Matt 🎉

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@MelRunsThings 🙌🏽 Ty!

[@MrJermson]

Cant find the emoji with arm holding a stop watch?

[@its_Matt_B_]

Just looking for it is a win! 🏆 Thank you!

[@TheLoneRunner298]

Bruh, it was hot 😂. I too analyzed my data over and over again. I think we did well.

[@its_Matt_B_]

Agreed! We did well, and will do better next time! BIG congrats again on your 2:49!

[@SantaCruzRunner]

🤳 Made it to the end

[@its_Matt_B_]

Impressive feat! Thank you! 💫

[@andrewhammonds4907]

🤳I didn’t even know this emoji existed. Great recap and race! Well done!

[@its_Matt_B_]

It’s definitely an underutilized emoji! 😂 Thanks for watching! 💫

[@Scorpio111111]

🤳well done bro

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Scorpio! ✌🏽

[@willem-janageling3907]

🤳 nice job

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Willem! ✨💫

[@Drew.Whitcomb]

This was fun 🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Drew! I'm surprised how many peeps watched this video! 🙌🏽 Have a great time in Herzogenaurach.

[@bpg201]

🤳 Ironic emoji because this year I'm making a conscious effort to not walk around outside looking at my phone. If I need to check something...I'll stop and check. But no more walking while staring at my phone. (I recognize for youtubers it's part of the gig sometimes :) Ps, great race!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Brian! I 100% support that decision! I definitely have to cut back on that highly-annoying, and potentially dangerous, behavior!

[@TimJOMalley]

Super effort Matt. Garmin predictions have historically been overly ambitious. They seem to be pretty middle of the road for you. Do you think they are more realistic these days? 🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Tim! Yes, Garmin has got a lot more realistic for me over the years. About 10 years ago it seems Garmin would always predict my marathon at about 15 minutes quicker than I was capable of.

[@jasonsharples]

🤳 My head hurts with all that data.

[@its_Matt_B_]

If you were able to get through that video with just a headache, it means I need to dig into more data in the next one!🤣 Way too many people watched this whole video!

[@caderik1386]

🤳🤳 this is a cool analysis of these predictors. you did a great run anyway. only small details, I'm surprised that you are not conditioned to run in the hot weather, isn't 70 a cold temperature for Florida? lol

[@its_Matt_B_]

It's funny you bring this up because I spoke about this exact thing with other Floridians and a friend from the Bahamas. I think it has to do with the direct sunlight, making it feel warmer, and running at marathon effort. Going for a chill run would be wonderful in 70º but a 3+ hour run at race pace is a bit more...taxing. As far as being heat adapted, it's too early in the season for that. I always run before sunrise and it has been relatively cool (

[@brentgrover255]

Couldn’t find that emoji. 🙈

[@its_Matt_B_]

You looked for it! That’s enough! 💫🙌🏽

[@williamonate3172]

🤳 oh I ran 3:20 at Boston this year too! 😅 Congrats! Do you plan to go back for 2025? 🧐

[@its_Matt_B_]

Wow! Nice going! Yes, I plan to go back in 2025, unless I get into London, then I may still go back and just do both.

[@ian7328]

Getting famous

[@its_Matt_B_]

Who, me?

[@christinedurand9080]

🎉😊🤳🏻

[@its_Matt_B_]

😁 Thanks, Christine! ✨

[@kuraimakumbe3762]

🤳🏿, nice recap Matt, but did I just hear you say that your medals are put somewhere on the drawer 😢, with the way marathons are hard, they should be displayed, well at least the ones that mean soo much to you (since you may have several hundreds)😉!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks so much, Kurai! I’m not much for medals. I have kept a few (and all my Boston medals) but most go to the charity shop after I get them. If I had my way we would do away with medals all together, but that’s a very unpopular opinion! 🤣

[@kuraimakumbe3762]

@its_Matt_B_ 🤣🤣 very unpopular some of us are aiming to frame certain medals!

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@kuraimakumbe3762 I get it! I may frame my medals if I ever do the 6 stars!

[@paulodonoghue509]

🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@paulodonoghue509 🫡

[@traceyhoyle4145]

🤳🤳🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

🙌🏽💯🙏💫

[@st.peterunner8758]

🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

🙌🏽 Thank you for making it to the end! I REALLY appreciate your time! 🤟🏽

[@IkarosAi33]

😎🤳🏃🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Javi! 💫

[@d.av.s2798]

🤳🏼

[@its_Matt_B_]

Nice! Thanks, mate! 🙌🏽

[@StefanSager]

🤳 😂

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Stefan! 😄

[@Nyelands]

Maybe you are at that age where you should start running ultras. Longer and slower.

[@its_Matt_B_]

🤣 Perhaps, but I’ve already been through my ultra running era.

[@victor.v23]

🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Victor! 🙌🏽

[@victor.v23]

@@its_Matt_B_Great race and congrats! See you in 2025 🦄 P.S. Love the data :)

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@victor.v23 For sure! I’ll be there! 🙌🏽

[@ivarchr.bjergpedersen1202]

🤳🏽

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, mate! 🙌🏽💫

[@cowman82]

🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Bryan! ✨

[@adrianhorvath2092]

🤳🏼

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Adrian! 💥

[@KevinBasey]

🤳

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Kev! 🙌🏽