What Boston means to Me

Where do I even begin?
Boston is so iconic and even before I was a runner I would listen to see what the winners time was. Last year when I started running I paid closer attention, what was the pace, when did the "non-elite" runners finish? (To me they're all elite.) I had a voice in the back of my mind telling me I could maybe run a marathon. Fast forward to this year and I am signed up for my first (and maybe only) full marathon. So on Monday I was at work, I had the TV on in the background and was checking twitter between patients to see when Kara Goucher and Shalane Flanagan finished. I was getting ready to turn off the television when the "special report" came breaking in and rocked every runners world. It was surreal, a bomb? At a marathon? At Boston? I was more emotional than I thought I would be, but I've grown to love this community, this tribe of runners. I haven't ever met most of the people I correspond with and follow on twitter or Facebook, but I'm proud when they PR and upset for them when they are injured. You've seen how motorcyclists wave as they pass one another, it's the same with runners. We understand, it's demanding, fun, mind clearing, and we pour our sweat and tears and sometimes blood into it.
Some of the folks I work with said that's why you shouldn't run, bad things happen. I said that's why you should, be united, be strong, be one.
My first half of the year is in 2 weeks, perhaps the biggest 1/2 marathon in the country, the Indianapolis Mini and I'm excited! I'm excited to be with my tribe, the people I don't know but that would help anyone. I am not fast and I won't ever be, I will never BQ. However, I will always run.
I think my mom is nervous, two of her daughters are running that race in Indianapolis, but we can't stop now. That's what the evil wants, they want to instill fear and paralyze us. We won't stand down we won't stop running! I run for Boston, how about you?

Training for the long run:)

So for the last 12 weeks I've been training and there are 4 more to go. This time its for a half. When I started this crazy running thing last January I NEVER thought I'd be preparing myself to start MARATHON training. Last year the opportunity arose to do the Indianapolis Mini Marathon and so I did it, finished it but just barely. A three hour and forty minute finish equals a lot of walking! However, 13.1 is 13.1 and to finish was such an awesome accomplishment!! This year my goal is a sub-2:30 half marathon, at the Indianapolis Mini, the Geist Half Marathon and then at the Indianapolis Womens Half I'm going for a sub-2:15 half. Still not fast but for me it's perfect:). I like to enjoy my runs and observe my surroundings so this is perfect for me. So with 4 weeks to go before that first half of the season I'm happy to say that my pace is right where it needs to be.

Now I'm gearing up to start MARATHON training in June. I have no idea what to expect or how to pace myself. My only real goal is to finish, my thought is that I'd like to finish in 5 hours. I read an article the other week in the New York Times and it had all the power to turn an average runner away from the sport. The interviewed person talked about how slow runners weren't runners at all and made marathons not as special. faster runners have gone on to say that people who run longer than a 4:30 Marathon don't train or put in all of the hard work. I beg to differ, I put in all of the long runs, tempo runs, intervals and I do it by getting up early or skipping dinner with my family, no Saturday fun for me with my kids because I'm running. So instead of turning me off of running that article made me angry and more determined to finish. There is always someone faster than you, you only have to be determined and focused for yourself.

To all of you MARATHONERS who are slower than a 4:30 full, keep running!! This is our sport too!!