It’s 26-miles long, 26.2 to be exact.
It often doesn’t matter how good your training has been, how good you feel leading up to a marathon, it’s not always going to work out as planned.
For Bishop Feehan alum and Cumberland native Abbie McNulty the final time on the clock of Monday’s Boston Marathon wasn’t exactly what she was looking for, but it still produced a PR in the end. McNulty grinded her way to a time of 2 hours, 34 minutes, 51 seconds. It was a performance that placed her 31st overall among the top women in the world.
McNulty went into her race with a goal of breaking 2:30, or at least coming close. She could sense right away it was going to be a struggle to achieve that milestone on what was a near perfect day for racing.
“I thought I was ready for it,” she said on Tuesday afternoon. “I just kind of felt a little off from the start. I just didn’t have the legs. Honestly, with how I felt, I was pretty happy with cutting and grinding it out. I ran a lot of the race solo. For how I felt, I was happy. But I definitely wish I ran what I sought out to do. All in all, it was a fun day. Boston is awesome.”
McNulty, whose previous best was 2:36.00, ran consistent sub six-minute splits for the first half of the course. She passed through the halfway mark in Wellesley in 1:15.58.
“I went through the half slower than I wanted,” she said. “I knew the hardest part was still ahead of me. There was a lot of talking to myself, calming myself down. I knew it wasn’t going to be the day I was hoping for. I just wanted to do everything I could to get across the line. It could have been a lot worse. I was really happy with staying calm and finishing strong. It was a PR, so I can’t complain too much.”
The “hardest part” that McNulty was making reference to was the series of four uphill climbs in Newton between miles 17-21. The last of the hills, just past mile 20, is commonly referred to as Heartbreak Hill.
“There was a decent amount of hills, more than I expected,” she said. “Heartbreak was hard. You’re almost mentally ready for that one. You know it’s coming. You know it’s going to be hard. I thought the hills at the beginning of the race were more challenging mentally. I wasn’t as geared up for them.”
Despite not feel her best, McNulty was able to race that final five-plus miles at just over six-minute pace, Her last mile, she clocked 5:48.
“I think I start to pick it up the last two miles,” she said. “I was passing people and felt strong. I had a really rollercoaster (day). I wouldn’t be surprised if my last mile was my fastest. I don’t know if it was the crowds, the energy or just knowing I was close. I felt some life back in me in the end.”
With the throngs of spectators cheering on the runners the last couple of miles on Hereford Street, and then Boylston Street, McNulty said it was hard not to slow down.
“It was unreal,” she noted. “That whole last mile and a half, it’s just a true tunnel of people on both sides. It’s just crazy. You feel so empowered. It’s pretty awesome. I know this is cliche, the crowds truly got me through that race. There were definitely times when I was going, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to make it to the line.’ There were so many times where they are motivating me to the finish. That last mile and a half, it’s something I have not experienced anywhere else so far.”
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The area had a few other ex-high school stars finish with solid, sub three-hour efforts, or close to it.
Jason Reilly, onetime Cumberland star and member of Tracksmith Boston Hares, finished in 2:47:07. Former Cranston West standout Allie Hackett, who also competes for the Tracksmith club, clocked 2:47.37. Just a few minutes from breaking three hours was Aisha McAdams. The North Kingstown alum, who won the state and New England two-mile crown inn 2011, was timed in 3:02.54.
