By Ty Velde, Boston.com Contributor

Heading into the marathon, I had my doubts as whether or not I’d be returning to Boston next year. Not because I didn’t want to, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to re-qualify.

In my last race, the Marine Corps Marathon in October, I ran a 3:18:36. I’d trained as hard as I ever had, ran the best race I could, but yet I still fell short. Additionally, I also realized that my 2012 backup plan, the forthcoming Chicago Marathon, would occur well after 2012 Boston Marathon registration dates, which are now in mid-September, so that was out the window as well. Fall marathons have been a key part of my Boston success, but not this year. Therefore, I had never gone into a Boston race knowing that there was no other buffer. (Could I have looked at another marathon between now and September? Of course, but without a ton of spare time, this was not looking like a completely viable option.)

In heading out to Hopkinton, I realized that Monday's race was pretty much “it”. However, Boston has always been a very tough race for me. In the 9 times I had run Boston prior to Monday, I’d only had four qualifying times and my three slowest marathons on record have been run in Boston (2003, 2004 and 2007). Therefore, I felt the odds were not in my favor.

I wondered to myself, do I still have it in me? Can I hit the 3:15:00 mark, so that I will have the chance to at least register for next year’s race?

In prepping for the race, one thing that was in my favor was the weather. Not too hot, not too cold; just enough sun. Good for runners, but also good for spectators. This dual factor is something I always take into account on race day, as I favor weather that not only is good for runners, but will encourage spectators to line up and cheer us all on. Fortunately, Monday was one of those days, and the crowds were out in full force, which is just so incredibly motivating.

While I was certainly a bit anxious, my body also felt good. I was able to keep a good pace throughout the race and fortunately did not experience any major cramping or discomfort. While I had certainly trained hard, you just don’t know how your body will react on race day due to the pure amount of stress that running a marathon puts on it. In my experience, some days things click, and other days they don't. Fortunately things “clicked.”

A key factor was that my mind remained clear. Instead of focusing on my body, I was really focused on all that was around me and thoughts of “why” I was running. I distinctly remember that around mile 17, just after the Power Gel area, I started thinking about my kids. I envisioned an image of me holding both of them in my arms, wearing my medal. I thought to myself, “this is why I’m here”, and that single thought just pushed me. In hindsight, the fact that this occurred just prior the Newton hills was true blessing, as I was able to tackle them with vigor.

As I crossed the bridge into Kenmore Square, the clock hit 3:00:00 and at this point, I knew I had made it. I was going to re-qualify. The only question to me at that point, was would I be able to shave enough time off so that I could register early? As I ran down Bolyston Street, and the finish line came into view, I soon saw it inching toward 3:09:00. At point, I realized that I had not only accomplished my goal of running a sub 3:15:00 race; I exceeded all my previous expectations. Due to a slightly delayed start, my official time was 3:06:59. I had just recorded my best time marathon time since running Boston in 2006!

Monday once again showed me how the marathon is more than just a race. Yes, I’m very happy and proud of my time. But more importantly, it made me believe in myself and my abilities. My doubt was replaced with confidence. Questions were replaced with answers. Monday’s race was a true test of my will and I won!

See you in 2012.

By Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff

Two legendary women returned to Boylston Street for the 115th running of the Boston Marathon today.

Joan Benoit Samuelson, the 1979 and 1983 women's record-setting champion, returned to run Boston for the first time in 18 years. The 53-year-old Freeport, Maine native finished with a time of 02:51:29, good for first place in her age group.

Samuelson, who's back seized up Thursday, did not decide until this morning whether or not she would run the marathon, but the 1984 Olympic gold medalist ultimately decided to give it a go.

"I did it on a wing and a prayer," Samuelson said after finishing the race. "I wasted a lot of energy in the last couple of days wondering if I was going to get to the starting line and I decided with the forecast and the tail wind, that I'd regret not at least trying. I've never dropped out of a race. That was on my mind. I tried to put that out."

Samuelson set an American record of 2:23:15 in the 1979 Boston Marathon and in the 1983 race, she set a world record finishing in 2:22:43.

Samuelson's daughter Abby, who ran Boston for the first time, greeted her famous mother at the finish.

Uta Pippig, the Boston Marathon's women's champion for three straight years (1994-1996), was on hand to help the team from the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge.

"Those runners are having a lifetime experience," Pippig said. "To run a marathon, come on, in any condition. It's getting warm now, but they had a good time, many actually ran PRs (personal records) today."

By Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff

Once the elite runners have crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon, it's time for the rest of the field to have their moment in the sun, and enjoy a little fun.

The video embedded above captures today's scene on Boylston Street, which included everyone from the US Army to the Solo Cup guys.

Glen Raines, from San Diego ran the race as a caveman... barefoot. "It was awesome, I felt so good the entire time," Raines said after he finished. "It was the best race, worked the crowds, the crowds in Boston are amazing."

Jeff Bennett, from Coppell, Texas ran the race in a gorilla suit. "It was a good day for it," he said after he crossed the finish line. "A little bit of wind out there kept me cool."

Firefighter James Gefke, from Milwaukee, Wis., ran the race in his work gear and joined a host of enthusiastic finishers. "I felt pretty good until 22 [miles], starting losing fluids," he said. "Mentally and [my] cardiovascular I feel great, but my legs started locking up."

Richard Webster, from Boston, ran the marathon dressed as Robin. He said Batman was "a slacker" that took the day off.

Globe reporter John Powers provides his observations about the 115th Boston Marathon, which featured the fastest time ever recorded in a marathon as well as a thrilling duel right to the finish line in the women's division.

"You now understand you can run fast here in Boston," Powers says.

Our time lapse cameras recorded the start sequence of the Boston Marathon, from the 9 a.m. start for the mobility impaired division to the third and final wave of runners.

Then we crunched it into a presentation that lasts fewer than three minutes.

By Chad Finn, Globe Staff

Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai ran the fastest 26.2 miles in history today, finishing the 115th Boston Marathon in a time of 2 hours 3 minutes 2 seconds.

Yet it is not a world record. Why? The explanation is pretty logical, actually, and it turns out "have the wind" at your back isn't the best advice in such matters.

Because Boston features more downhills than uphills and is a point-to-point Marathon course rather than a loop, it is not eligible for marathon records.

Further, a course that is point to point can have its times significantly affected by tailwinds, which is exactly what happened today.

The first four finishers -- including American Ryan Hall (2:04:58) -- surpassed the course record of 2:05:52 set last year by Kenya's Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot.

There are no wind or elevation advantages on a loop course, which is why the world record of 2:03:59 set by Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie in Berlin in 2008 still officially stands.

Mutai has no complaints, however. He picked up $150,000 for winning the race, and the Boston Athletic Association will pay him another $75,000 for his course record and "world-best" performance.

It's always interesting to note the various reactions you see at a marathon finish line. While some runners look wiped from exhaustion, barely able to articulate much in the form of a conversation, others cross the finish line appearing as if they just put their bodies through little more than a Back Bay jog.

Despite appearances though, the Boston Marathon enacts its physical toll on all who choose to try and tackle it.

"My legs are very thankful. My quads are very happy right now,"  Calgary, Alberta native Dana Hansen said after her finishing her first Boston Marathon, which she said delivered the atmosphere the Hopkinton-to-Boston race has become famous for.

"Awesome crowd support," she said. "I just wish I wasn't hurting so much so I could absorb more of it."

For Kip Wiles, the inspiration to finish the race sat on Boylston Street, where she immediately sought out and embraced her 7-year-old son, Griffin.

"The last four miles I just kept saying, 'Two miles to my baby boy...One mile to my baby boy,'" the beaming Denver native said. "You just feel so good. You accomplish it, you're done. It's a great reward after a lot of training."

Yoshitaka Naruse's reward came from the heightened cheers his "Rise Up, Japan" shirt (above) - a popular sight at the finish line - received from the thousands of spectators along the race route. The Japan native now lives in Rochester Hills, Mich. 

The clearly exhausted Naruse offered few words, yet they could be applied satisfactorily for the thousands of runners crossing the finish line.

"So tired," he said.

Meet Carl Lacroix, an Ottawa native who just celebrated finishing the Boston Marathon by flaunting his Montreal Canadiens jersey at the finish line.

Lacroix's Canadiens lead the Bruins in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, 2-0, with Game 3 on tap tonight in Montreal.

Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai admitted that he thought he could win the 115th Boston Marathon today even though it was his race debut. But the all-time fastest marathon time in any conditions? Turns out that was just a bonus that came along with his fulfilled goal.

Mutai won the Boston Marathon in an official record time of 2 hours 3 minutes and 2 seconds today, breaking the previous Boston record set last year by countryman Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (2:05::52) by more than two minutes.

While Mutai's time bested the world record, it will not be recognized as such internationally because of today's strong tail winds on a course that has frequent downhills. The world record, 2:03:59, was set by Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie in Berlin in 2008.

"I was not having ideas about the course record," said Mutai, who credited his marathon success to cross-training in events such as cross country and the 10,000-meter race. "I knew I could run well because I'd trained hard and I was confident, but the record was not on my mind."

While his record may not be sanctioned, Mutai received a couple of additional prizes to go with the victory itself -- he was awarded $225,000 in total bonuses for the unofficial world record as well as the course record.

Kenya's Moses Musop, who stayed with Mutai over the final five miles and ran stride for stride with him as they turned on to Boylston Street and until the final 600 meters, finished second, four seconds back.

Musop's showing was more than impressive considering it was the first official marathon he's ever run.

"I thought maybe I could do 2:08, 2:07, a time like that," he said. "But not 2:03, 2:04."

Gebregziabher Gebremariam, winner of this year's New York Marathon, took third.

When Mutai was asked how much lower marathon times can go, he said 2:01 might be achievable, but emphasized that fast times are a product of teamwork rather than individual glory.

"[If you run in a pack] of three or four people who help each other, that makes it faster," said Mutai, whose previous personal best was a 2:04:55 runner-up finish last year in Rotterdam. "If you are strong in a group, you can push it."

Pushing it was exactly what Ryan Hall appeared to be doing while taking the lead for much of the early race en route to a fourth-place finish in 2:04:55. It's the all-time fastest marathon time by a US runner under all conditions.

"I knew right away [it was going to be a good day]," said Hall. "I knew early as I was running through the streets and getting high fives and encouragement that it was going to be something special. . . . Everyone was out there was like my brothers and sisters cheering me on. It was awesome."

Hall, who ran a blistering 1:01:58 over the first half of the marathon, said his fast pace wasn't entirely by design, but that it's a strategy that he recommends in Boston.

"I was actually very comfortable, very relaxed out there, just enjoying the neighborhoods and all of that," said Hall. "But when I give people advice about running here, I do tell them to get out fast, to use the hills to their advantage.

Hall, a native of Big Bear Lake, Calif., speaks with a mellow cadence more befitting a surfer than a distance runner. But he feels like he's found a second home in Boston.

"It's just so enjoyable here," he said. "I don't know, maybe I should move here, because every time I do, I feel like the hometown boy."

By Chad Finn, Globe Staff

It should come as no surprise that Caroline Kilel is already hoping she gets a chance to run the Boston Marathon for a second time next year.

After all, the Kenyan's debut here couldn't have gone any better. Kilel fended off Desiree Davila of the United States to win the women's race today with an official time of 2 hours 22 minutes 36 seconds.

"I'm happy because I won a close one," said Kilel. "I love Boston. I would love to run here many times if they invite me. I feel very happy."

Kilel wasn't exaggerating when she called it close. She edged Davila, a Michigan native who was urged along by chants of "USA, USA," and at one point briefly raised her arms to encourage the crowd, by just two seconds.

"It was just a perfect day for me . . . other than not winning," said Davila, who set a new standard for US women in the Boston race.

The Arizona State product led for much of the latter half of the race. She swapped leads with Kilel twice in the final minutes, first turning on to Hereford Street, and again during the final stretch, leading with roughly 200 yards to go.

But Kilel, who said her legs felt great even with 100 meters to go, kicked past her and held on to win her second marathon this year, the first coming in Frankfurt.

Davila said she had nothing left in the tank by the end.

"At the end it was just about trying to keep contact," Davila said. "If I could keep contact I thought I could give myself a shot down the last straightaway. Before that, I felt like the [lead pack] would pull away and then I didn't do anything special to catch up. The main thing was to let it settle and don't let it get too slow so that hopefully when we went down the last stretch everybody would be on dead legs."

Davila said she felt like she had a chance of winning right up until the final strides.

"I thought maybe there was a little more left in my legs, but I just couldn't pull it off in the last couple seconds of the race. My legs were just shot. That was all I had and [Kilel] was just better today."

Sharon Cherop was third, falling behind Kilel and Davila with a mile to go.

Kim Smith, a New Zealand native who now lives in Providence, set a rapid pace from the start, and led by 50 seconds at the halfway point. She was still ahead with a time of 1:38:14 at mile 18, but suffered a calf cramp not long after that marker. The pack of elite runners that trailed her quickly made up the deficit, though she did run with them for a while. Smith dropped out of the race with several miles remaining.

"I though during the race that there was . . . a lot of emotional running, I guess," Davila said when asked about Smith's early pace.

Kara Goucher of the US, who finished fifth in 2:24:52, said that for her, Boston is always an emotional experience. She was third in Boston two years ago but did not run here last year after giving birth to a son, Colt.

She said after the race that she will not run any marathons in the near future, instead focusing on the 10,000-meter race, but said she will dearly miss Boston.

"They make you feel like a rock star here," Goucher said. "They do it for all the US athletes. I love it here. I love the culture, I love Patriots Day, I love the atmosphere here. It's awesome."