4 weeks until Boston. 4 weeks until I run the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boylston. 4 weeks until a 6 1/2 year goal is achieved. 6 1/2 years. Yikes. I can't think of anything else that I spent that much time trying to achieve. Good thing I like running.
Back in 2007 (you know, last decade), I decided to attend a Team in Training informational session about upcoming endurance events. I was slightly hungover and ended up winning a free entry into any race that season. This is what I blame for the start of my marathon career–residual alcohol in my system and free stuff, which affected my judgement. So I signed up for the Anchorage half marathon. I figured a half is easier to do than a marathon. Also I pronounced repeatedly that only crazy people do marathons. Except, in the middle of the training cycle, with a mix of peer pressure and my competitive nature, that half turned into a full. I bit the bullet and decided that this was a one-and-done sort of thing. Something to check off my life list. And I did it. I saw a moose, made my way to the finish line, and said "no more" shortly thereafter.
Fast forward a year, and again, with a little bit of peer pressure, I decided to mentor and run the Marine Corps Marathon. After taking my time down from 4:14:19 to 3:47:48, and while I was out celebrating with friends later that evening, people started asking me about the Boston Marathon. Apparently it was within reach. This wasn't even something that had crossed my mind. Remember, I said one-and-done. But now Boston was in sight. The marathon. The one everyone wants to run, but only a few get to. I could possibly make that happen.
That was the turning point. A year after that race I ran NYC, and then again the following year, then Amsterdam, and then Chicago. Each year I tried to qualify for Boston–unsuccessfully. Here's what went down:
After Chicago 2012, I planned to take a year off, focus on some shorter distances, and try again the following year. I also prolonged the inevitable and joined Central Park Track Club. I was too intimidated to join before, but after a year of what I thought was me trying my best, I decided I needed the support of a team. And what other team to join then the one my sisters and friends were on?
A few months later, April 15, 2013 rolled around. I was at work regularly checking the progress of the marathoners. During a meeting a co-worker mentioned that there was a bombing. The rest of that day was unreal. I could barely concentrate on anything. I still get a bit angry and upset about the events of that day. But I was determined to run Boston and not let these bombers ruin something that is so special and important.
I decided to run Wineglass later in the year to attempt Boston again. I worked out with CPTC and had a pretty good training cycle. In the week leading up the race, the weather forecast wasn't promising. It was expected to pretty humid, which is abnormal for upstate New York in October. Then I got sick 72 hours before. I won't get into the details, but it wasn't pretty. Race day didn't looking promising. I hydrated and managed to consume some food in order to carbo-load. Since I trained in the hot and humid summer of NYC, I was hoping I hadn't acclimated to the fall weather yet. With my family present screaming my name, being my own personal race photographer, and keeping me company in the last few miles, I managed to get a big PR and finally qualified with a 3:31:44. I was ecstatic. Of course, I just missed the registration period for 2014's race. Now I had to wait until 2015. Which seemed like ages away.
Soon enough, April 2014 arrived. I went up to Boston to support my sisters, friends, and the city of Boston. It was a day highlighted with pride, resilience, and excitement. A lot of special things happened that day and I got to see it unfold at mile 25. I was anticipating how it would feel to run the following year.
Before the year was done, I still had to squeeze in one more marathon for good measure before Boston 2015. Which turned out to be the best one (so far). I crushed my PR with a time of 3:19:55 in Chicago last October, which actually moved me up an entire wave for Boston. Very helpful since the race is a late-starter.
We are finally in 2015. I've spent the last 12 weeks preparing myself for this historic race. All the miles, sub-freezing mornings, extra laundry, and hills have been paying off. On Saturday, I raced the Sleepy Hollow half marathon to assess my fitness level and came out of it with a big PR for a finish of 1:33:15. I was 5th overall female and first in my age group, which was pretty cool. Given the hilly course (and the unexpected cold and snowy weather), I was really pleased and excited for what this means.
I, of course, have some goals and I feel like I can now formalize them a bit:
Can't wait!
Back in 2007 (you know, last decade), I decided to attend a Team in Training informational session about upcoming endurance events. I was slightly hungover and ended up winning a free entry into any race that season. This is what I blame for the start of my marathon career–residual alcohol in my system and free stuff, which affected my judgement. So I signed up for the Anchorage half marathon. I figured a half is easier to do than a marathon. Also I pronounced repeatedly that only crazy people do marathons. Except, in the middle of the training cycle, with a mix of peer pressure and my competitive nature, that half turned into a full. I bit the bullet and decided that this was a one-and-done sort of thing. Something to check off my life list. And I did it. I saw a moose, made my way to the finish line, and said "no more" shortly thereafter.
Fast forward a year, and again, with a little bit of peer pressure, I decided to mentor and run the Marine Corps Marathon. After taking my time down from 4:14:19 to 3:47:48, and while I was out celebrating with friends later that evening, people started asking me about the Boston Marathon. Apparently it was within reach. This wasn't even something that had crossed my mind. Remember, I said one-and-done. But now Boston was in sight. The marathon. The one everyone wants to run, but only a few get to. I could possibly make that happen.
That was the turning point. A year after that race I ran NYC, and then again the following year, then Amsterdam, and then Chicago. Each year I tried to qualify for Boston–unsuccessfully. Here's what went down:
- 2009 NYC (3:49:19) – Didn't eat enough food before the start and almost fainted at the finish
- 2010 NYC (3:48:49) – Learned my lesson, but was still off of my 2008 PR. Maybe there were too many bridges?
- 2011 Amsterdam (3:39:04) – Had a really crappy training season (pretty much lived in hotels, was working too hard, and barely slept), but managed to have a good race, which lead to a PR under the coveted 3:40 qualifying time. However, Boston changed their standards to 3:35 a few months prior, so it was a no-go
- 2012 Chicago (3:40:20) – Put in the proper training and with perfect weather, I expected a PR on the pancake flat course, but didn't quite pull it off. If I were to pinpoint anything, maybe I was too tired from traveling and spent too much energy the day before when I should have been resting, but who knows
After Chicago 2012, I planned to take a year off, focus on some shorter distances, and try again the following year. I also prolonged the inevitable and joined Central Park Track Club. I was too intimidated to join before, but after a year of what I thought was me trying my best, I decided I needed the support of a team. And what other team to join then the one my sisters and friends were on?
A few months later, April 15, 2013 rolled around. I was at work regularly checking the progress of the marathoners. During a meeting a co-worker mentioned that there was a bombing. The rest of that day was unreal. I could barely concentrate on anything. I still get a bit angry and upset about the events of that day. But I was determined to run Boston and not let these bombers ruin something that is so special and important.
I decided to run Wineglass later in the year to attempt Boston again. I worked out with CPTC and had a pretty good training cycle. In the week leading up the race, the weather forecast wasn't promising. It was expected to pretty humid, which is abnormal for upstate New York in October. Then I got sick 72 hours before. I won't get into the details, but it wasn't pretty. Race day didn't looking promising. I hydrated and managed to consume some food in order to carbo-load. Since I trained in the hot and humid summer of NYC, I was hoping I hadn't acclimated to the fall weather yet. With my family present screaming my name, being my own personal race photographer, and keeping me company in the last few miles, I managed to get a big PR and finally qualified with a 3:31:44. I was ecstatic. Of course, I just missed the registration period for 2014's race. Now I had to wait until 2015. Which seemed like ages away.
Soon enough, April 2014 arrived. I went up to Boston to support my sisters, friends, and the city of Boston. It was a day highlighted with pride, resilience, and excitement. A lot of special things happened that day and I got to see it unfold at mile 25. I was anticipating how it would feel to run the following year.
Before the year was done, I still had to squeeze in one more marathon for good measure before Boston 2015. Which turned out to be the best one (so far). I crushed my PR with a time of 3:19:55 in Chicago last October, which actually moved me up an entire wave for Boston. Very helpful since the race is a late-starter.
We are finally in 2015. I've spent the last 12 weeks preparing myself for this historic race. All the miles, sub-freezing mornings, extra laundry, and hills have been paying off. On Saturday, I raced the Sleepy Hollow half marathon to assess my fitness level and came out of it with a big PR for a finish of 1:33:15. I was 5th overall female and first in my age group, which was pretty cool. Given the hilly course (and the unexpected cold and snowy weather), I was really pleased and excited for what this means.
 |
| Sleepy Hollow Half Marathon Finish |
- Enjoy Boston from start to finish
- Get a PR
- Get as close to (or surpass) 3:15
- Running with my friends (all 30,000 of them)
- Having my family on the sidelines cheering
- Getting the coveted Boston medal
- Conquering Heartbreak Hill
- Chasing down Shalane, Meb, Desi, and Ritz (in my mind at least)
Can't wait!
