One Month

For the first couple of years that I was running marathons, Boston wasn’t even on my radar. As I worked my way from a 4:42 debut marathon in 2008, to 4:26 a year later, to my breakthrough 3:58 in 2010, achieving a qualifying time did not seem like even a remote possibility.

But then something started to change near the end of 2010 and in early 2011. I was training a bit more “seriously” and seeing significant results. I started clocking paces in brand new territories, surprising myself constantly. Since when can I run this fast? I allowed myself to start thinking that maybe – just maybe – it could happen for me.

… if my training continued to progress the way it had been.
… if everything came together perfectly on race day.
… if I believed in myself.

As the days and weeks and months went on, my confidence grew. Eventually I was able to admit myself that I was training for a BQ. I hesitated to even say the words out loud and kept quiet about it for the most part. Those who knew along the way (including many of you) supported me 100% and helped me to believe even more that it was possible.

At the last minute, I said it out loud.

“When I started believing that a BQ could potentially be within reach, I thought it should remain a “secret” goal; that I wouldn’t put it out there but instead publicize a more conservative goal. I eventually realized that I was hesitant to share my true goal because I was afraid if failing. In many ways, I was afraid to even admit that goal to myself because I didn’t want to let myself down.”

And then I ran the race of my life at the Mississauga Marathon in May 2011. I will never forget how it felt to run to that finish line, arms in the air and screaming for all I was worth. Finding out moments later that hubs had qualified as well was icing on the cake.

I didn’t think I had a great shot at getting into the race with the new rolling registration process, but I held on to hope all the way up until that fateful day when the email arrived.

Unfortunately, hubs’ qualifying time didn’t make the margin for entrants accepted, and going to Boston became very bittersweet. Of course he was 100% supportive, but it just didn’t feel right. Thankfully, the stars aligned and I was able to secure him a spot as a Christmas surprise thanks to a little help from some very good friends.

A year ago if some had told me that we would be running the Boston together this year, I would have laughed and said “I wish!” Well, look at us now… one month from today we will line up in Hopkinton to run the Boston (freaking) Marathon! It sometimes seems surreal – almost too good to be true – I can’t wait to find out what it feels like when we get there.

This just in! Robin gave me the heads up that bib numbers and corrals are assigned:

It just got a little more real…