The Boston Marathon: A runner's chocolate factory
As a runner, whenever I hear the words Boston Marathon, I get butterflies in my stomach, and my heart swoons as if I’m about to have a first date kiss...or a Philly Cheesesteak from Tony Luke’s! (Yes, I love to eat and if you don’t believe me check out the about me section to see my former self). To runners, the Boston Marathon is like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and in order to get in, one could equate the process to trying to find a golden ticket in a chocolate bar. At least that is how I think of it. Oompa Loompa doom-pa-de-do.
As some of you know, my goal is to run 50 marathons in 50 states before I turn 50. In Massachusetts, it will obviously be the Boston Marathon (if you could only chose one, you would be crazy to chose any other in the state of MA). It is the world's oldest marathon, which began in 1897, and has a ton of history and prestige surrounding it.
There is one little snag though that comes with wanting to run Boston: you have to qualify in order to even apply. Sure, one could gain entry by running for a charity however something about meeting the qualification standard serves as a challenge that I just can't turn away from. The qualification criteria is based off of gender and age. Running a qualifying race in that time in itself doesn't guarantee entry but permits you an opportunity to submit an application to run the Boston Marathon. Very Bouge! Haha.
From the Boston Marathon's official site
I've known for a while that qualifying for Boston won't be an easy task, but I know in my being that if I continue to develop my training I can get there. Shoot, there was a while when I first started my marathon journey that I thought I would never PR again but as you can tell from my chart (Yes, I plotted all 17 of my marathon finishing times), my marathon times have gotten better over the years. As my knowledge of the sport grows so do my training methods, and I have been better prepared.
My finishing times for Marathons 1-17
Courtesy of Alejandro Belmares. Gamini at the expo drinking water haha
Patriot's Day is tomorrow and the Boston Marathon is run every year on that 3rd Monday in April. I've already programmed my TiVo and can't wait to see the race unfold. I'm happy for some of my friends who are currently in Boston for the race (thanks for the pictures Alejandro Belmares). I want to send a shout out to Gamini Sugathadasa who will be running tomorrow. He is part of the Ninja Endurance Racing Team and one of its fastest runners. I'm sending positive vibes your way buddy; you are an inspiration to me and I know you will do great! Also, I want to send his cheerleader section (the rest of the Ninjas) a high five for being there to support him. I know one day, I'll be there for race weekend and will be lacing up my running shoes in order to take on Heartbreak Hill.
Another training run in the books!
I will continue to put in the work on the running track because that is how this will happen, through hard work. It day may not come this year, it may not come next year but it will come, of that I am certain. The day will come when I get my golden ticket and make it to the runners' chocolate factory!
Best of luck to everyone running Boston tomorrow! Boston Strong!
