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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Boston Fever

What is it about the running of the Boston Marathon that always makes me so darn anxious to get there myself? Um because, you guys, I have a confession to make: I REALLY want to be a member of that club. There, I said it. I want to be a cool kid. I want to know what it's like to finally prove to yourself that you've made it in the world of running. I want to know what it's like to run past the screaming ladies at Wellesley. I want to know what it's like to take on the Newton Hills. I want to know what it's like to be able to tell people that you have, in fact, run the Boston Marathon.

I have no doubt that some day I will be at the start in Hopkinton; but until then, I'm trying to be patient. You see, my body is beat up, you guys. It's really beat up. Years of intense, high-level soccer have left me with the rickety joints of a eighty year-old. In fact, when I was in college, I thought it just might be impossible for me to complete a round of marathon training, let alone finish a full marathon. I've disproved that theory, and there's no stopping me now. Well, except for my joints. I have to be nice to my crappy, fragile joints. I have to take it slow.

First things first, I'm going to get through my "second first marathon." I call it that because I don't really count my first marathon. Or let me rephrase that . . . I count it; it just wasn't a good indication of where I'm at with my running. Conditions that day were such that I couldn't run my race. I finished over an hour slower than expected as a result of some wicked heat exhaustion and a lot of walking. So I'm starting over again. I'm training for my second first marathon, and it's important that I keep that in mind throughout training. I've had silly sub-4 hour ideas floating around in my head, but I really just need to go out there and do my best. Then, I'll use that result to gauge where I'll go next.

Until then, my Boston dreams will have to wait.

Congrats to all the fabulous Boston finishers out there! You are all an inspiration--more than you could ever know. I look forward to joining you . . . some day.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Seen your awesome runs, I would say you are well under way to being prepared.

You will totally run Boston, I am sure

Lindsay said...

you will bq! keep working hard and it will come. i didn't get mine until my 5th try! keep running the miles and pushing yourself!

Rachel said...

Love the goal! I know you'll end up at Boston someday!

Marathonman101108 said...

If you want it, you'll get it. You seem like a person who achieves whatever she sets her mind on doing. As you know, running is a lot of "mind over matter." So, forget about the "rickety joints of a eighty year old" and just "Do It." You're 20 something and a beer drinker. That's 2 things you have in your favor! :-)

EmLit said...

The first time I read your description of your joints I thought you had said you had the joints of an eight year old. That was sort of confusing. Then I reread and understood.

I share your (no longer) secret dream. I would love to BQ someday. You will definitely do it!

Aron said...

i want to be there too!!!!! just keep working hard, it will definitely come!!!

Lisa said...

You'll get there! I am sure that if you put your mind to it... it'll happen.

I am like you in that I almost don't count my first marathon. I am actually hoping to take close to an hour off my time. A sub-4 is not out of the question for you!

Spike said...

you can make it, you can BQ! lots of 80+ people qualify and run Boston! seriously, keep training hard and you can make it happen. but, you are already a part of the cool club--we all are!

Running and living said...

You can do it, I know it. I, too, have bad joints, in fact my muscles are rarely giving me trouble, it's my knees who ache after every speed and tempo run. This is why I love the FIRST program. With only 3 runs a week, I did not get any injury during this training cycle. As Aron said, keep working hard, and when it comes, you are going to enjoy it even more!!! It is an unbelievable experience! Ana-Maria

sRod said...

I have a hard time with my first Marathon too. It was not the race I wanted to run at all. If it was my first distance race I would have been fine, but I considered myself a veteran of the Half-Marathon by that point. Unfortunately, because of the veteran spirit I ran this Marathon like a Half--and paid the price.