But there's really more to my sudden desire to run Boston again. I ran in way back in 2012, and it was, uh, toasty. It was also an ordeal, and as much as I enjoyed the history, nostalgia, prestige, and atmosphere of the race, I didn't think I would want to go through all the travel and planning again. I've changed my mind this year. The reason for that is that my running group, the Power Milers, all ran the Houston Marathon in January while I was trudging around in a walking boot with one stress fracture and one very sneaky, hidden stress reaction.
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| Marathoners! |
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| No marathon for me. |
They're fast people, and they all BQ'd. And most of them plan to run Boston. I don't want to miss out! I had so much fun in Houston, just attending as a spectator, that I don't want to miss another group race trip.
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| Fun, even with a broken foot or two. |
I don't need to PR to run Boston; I just need a solid BQ. I'm an old lady, so my BQ time is 3:40. I figure 3:35 to be on the safe side, but really, I hope I'll be significantly faster than that, even though I'm doing a very abbreviated training. My sights are set on (drumroll) - the Buffalo marathon!
Why? Two reasons:
1. Packet pick-up the morning of the race
2. Easy flights the night before and the afternoon of the race.
Other than that, I have no good reason for selecting Buffalo, except that it falls within a time frame in which I can be marathon-ready. By the time I picked Buffalo, I had eight weeks to train. And eight weeks is enough, if I'm careful and don't get greedy (famous last words). I've sorted out my training plan, so now I just need a goal! BQ, here I come!
"I mean, after a Boston like that, who wouldn't want to BQ?!"
ReplyDeleteAhahahahaha.
I get it though. Good luck in Buffalo!
If anyone can do this, it's you! Good luck, have fun!
ReplyDeleteYessssss! I love all of this. I think you can probably run a 3:35 with your eyes closed, even coming back from injury. Hopefully see you in Hopkinton next year!
ReplyDeleteOh, the irony; I'm very much in the camp of "Oof, glad I did that, but realllllly don't feel the need to do it again any time soon!"
ReplyDelete(Though, probably at some point. Maybe the next time I age up. ;) )
Watching Boston had the opposite effect on me -- I ran it on a great year and so many other years (yours and this one included) have sucked, I have no desire to roll the dice again!
ReplyDeleteI know you can do this with your eyes closed. ;) I bet it feels good to have a race to train for, though. Now hopefully your feet cooperate!!
ReplyDeleteI was there in 2012 and haven't been back since. How miserable was that?! I cringe when I hear people say that it's been a "hot year at Boston," in the years since then. Nope! Like you, I (for whatever crazy reason) have the bug to go back now and am planning to be there in 2019!
ReplyDeleteI know - I see these "hot" 70 degree days and I'm like... try 90?!
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