The call of the Boston Marathon… Every year as it gets closer I google BQ times and am reminded that I will never BQ. The environment and support for the race looks amazing and it’s a fun race to watch even if I’ll never run it. Even more than Boston, I’d like to run the NYC marathon. (I grew up in NYC.) Once I’ve done NYC, I’d be content to be done with road marathons (?probably?).
Good Morning Sarah…..I have never run a full marathon. I have always stuck around the half marathon or 10 miler club. I always thought it would be a challenge to train and run a full but the idea of all the training, especially over the weekends, steered me in Another direction. Last year, I ran the 10 mile Urban run for the Colfax Marathon race series, yup, a Colorado native, and it was miserable. I hurt for two weeks afterwards and that was when I decided to shift to trails. The soft ground, the power hiking, somehow has enticed me more than the roads. I feel so strongly about this that I signed up for my first 50K happening this September! I decided to skip right over the marathon distance:)! I don’t know how that will go but I feel confident that it will be a blast!
I had to think back to remember my road marathons over the past 20 years.
Ocean State (RI)
Mystic (CT)
New York x2
San Fran x2
Paris x5
Run for the red (PA)
Philly
Sugarloaf
Newport
Cape cod
I can’t say that I have an itch to do Boston, I do ask myself that every year but I also recognize how challenging it is to qualify and I just don’t have the mojo to put in the regimented training that would be required. I get it though, it’s prestigious and a true classic. Hats off to those who put in the work.
New York is amazing if you ever have a chance to experience it.
Lately I’ve been enjoying half marathons on the road, they are fast and challenging and I don’t feel beat up after!
My perpetual existential crisis is road vs trail! I feel like I go through seasons, some where road takes more prominence, and vice versa. I'm in a road season now, but like to use trails during aerobic build phases and at least once a week for mental health! I think they can support each other.
I understand your itch when it comes to Boston! And fun thing we have in common, I also ran the 2000 Boston marathon! That was my one and only time running it and I loved every minute (okay not really, it was cool that day and there was a major headwind! It was tough, but we did it!)
Thank you for the shout out, Sarah! Obviously I'm a Boston marathon fan after 20x, but there are so many great road races out there. I like mixing it up and being able to run 10-wide down a highway while thousands cheer, as a way to compliment the more secluded trail runs. But it's all good...whatever motivates you to get up every day and get out there!
Bravo for staying on the colonoscopy...very easy to neglect. 👍
Wishing you all the best at Leona Divide this weekend, Sarah! The last marathon I ran was half gravel/half pavement Peak to Creek Marathon in NC in 2019. I loved its low-key ultra vibe and small field (~ 200 runners). I enjoyed the speed work and marathon pace long runs I did to prep for it, and I would go back except it went away after Covid. I have no desire to run a big urban marathon --- when I ran the 2017 Richmond Marathon I was disgusted with all the paper cup waste that covered the streets at the water stops (I used my handheld bottle and the volunteers must have thought I was a little strange, but whatever). However, I actually enjoy training like a marathoner in buildups to trail ultras. Case in point: this Saturday I'm going for the 60+ women's record of 7:06:56 at the Promise Land 50K ++ which is 34 miles and has ~ 8K of vertical. It will be my 12th Promise Land and I feel good about all the track workouts, road 10Ks, hilly tempo runs, and heavy lifting in the gym that I incorporated during this training cycle. I'll be thinking about you in your race while out on the course -- looking forward to comparing our days! Grateful for it all! XO
I ran my first marathon (Philly) back in 2012 in 4;19 and then had the goal to break 4 hours (as everyone seems to.) It took me 4 tries: 4:02, 4: 02 and then 4:00 2 sec....yeah that 3rd one near killed me! And finally made it to 3:59: 15. I broke the 4 hours which was my goal and discovered that my BQ because I was headed into a new age group the following year was 4:10. To be honest I actually hadn't really had the desire to run Boston (Being a NYC girl). But everyone who had run it told me I needed to. And I am so glad I listened. It was magical, incredible, and truly lived up to hype. But do I want to run it again? Nope! The crowds for one thing and the endless pavement for another. Also, I just don't have that speed anymore. Nor the desire to try and get it back. Although I have been trying for years to get in to the NYC marathon, as I mentioned NYC girl here.... so that would be my exception to the road and crowd rule!
I ran my first and only Boston at 29 years old in 2010. I qualified with my first marathon. I only ran four marathons (toronto x2, NY and Boston) and then the trails called my name and I never looked back. This year more than others I got a pang of 'maybe it would be fun to train properly and see how fast I go'. I even looked up the qualifying times and thought maybe when I turn 45 (I am 43 right now). But like you I have an aversion to being around so many thousands of people. I also have an aversion to what it would cost between entry fees, hotels and travel too. So I think Boston will stay in. my memory and I will always be grateful I got to experience it once.
Side note I just started Katie Arnolds new book yesterday and I am loving it so much, I couldn't put it down yesterday. Hoping I can make the zoom later today
The call of the Boston Marathon… Every year as it gets closer I google BQ times and am reminded that I will never BQ. The environment and support for the race looks amazing and it’s a fun race to watch even if I’ll never run it. Even more than Boston, I’d like to run the NYC marathon. (I grew up in NYC.) Once I’ve done NYC, I’d be content to be done with road marathons (?probably?).
Good Morning Sarah…..I have never run a full marathon. I have always stuck around the half marathon or 10 miler club. I always thought it would be a challenge to train and run a full but the idea of all the training, especially over the weekends, steered me in Another direction. Last year, I ran the 10 mile Urban run for the Colfax Marathon race series, yup, a Colorado native, and it was miserable. I hurt for two weeks afterwards and that was when I decided to shift to trails. The soft ground, the power hiking, somehow has enticed me more than the roads. I feel so strongly about this that I signed up for my first 50K happening this September! I decided to skip right over the marathon distance:)! I don’t know how that will go but I feel confident that it will be a blast!
I had to think back to remember my road marathons over the past 20 years.
Ocean State (RI)
Mystic (CT)
New York x2
San Fran x2
Paris x5
Run for the red (PA)
Philly
Sugarloaf
Newport
Cape cod
I can’t say that I have an itch to do Boston, I do ask myself that every year but I also recognize how challenging it is to qualify and I just don’t have the mojo to put in the regimented training that would be required. I get it though, it’s prestigious and a true classic. Hats off to those who put in the work.
New York is amazing if you ever have a chance to experience it.
Lately I’ve been enjoying half marathons on the road, they are fast and challenging and I don’t feel beat up after!
It’s all good stuff and it’s fun to mix it up!
My perpetual existential crisis is road vs trail! I feel like I go through seasons, some where road takes more prominence, and vice versa. I'm in a road season now, but like to use trails during aerobic build phases and at least once a week for mental health! I think they can support each other.
I have Boston dreams but they seem increasingly unobtainable. My PR is 3:55 and that was awhile ago :(
I understand your itch when it comes to Boston! And fun thing we have in common, I also ran the 2000 Boston marathon! That was my one and only time running it and I loved every minute (okay not really, it was cool that day and there was a major headwind! It was tough, but we did it!)
Thank you for the shout out, Sarah! Obviously I'm a Boston marathon fan after 20x, but there are so many great road races out there. I like mixing it up and being able to run 10-wide down a highway while thousands cheer, as a way to compliment the more secluded trail runs. But it's all good...whatever motivates you to get up every day and get out there!
Bravo for staying on the colonoscopy...very easy to neglect. 👍
Wishing you all the best at Leona Divide this weekend, Sarah! The last marathon I ran was half gravel/half pavement Peak to Creek Marathon in NC in 2019. I loved its low-key ultra vibe and small field (~ 200 runners). I enjoyed the speed work and marathon pace long runs I did to prep for it, and I would go back except it went away after Covid. I have no desire to run a big urban marathon --- when I ran the 2017 Richmond Marathon I was disgusted with all the paper cup waste that covered the streets at the water stops (I used my handheld bottle and the volunteers must have thought I was a little strange, but whatever). However, I actually enjoy training like a marathoner in buildups to trail ultras. Case in point: this Saturday I'm going for the 60+ women's record of 7:06:56 at the Promise Land 50K ++ which is 34 miles and has ~ 8K of vertical. It will be my 12th Promise Land and I feel good about all the track workouts, road 10Ks, hilly tempo runs, and heavy lifting in the gym that I incorporated during this training cycle. I'll be thinking about you in your race while out on the course -- looking forward to comparing our days! Grateful for it all! XO
I ran my first marathon (Philly) back in 2012 in 4;19 and then had the goal to break 4 hours (as everyone seems to.) It took me 4 tries: 4:02, 4: 02 and then 4:00 2 sec....yeah that 3rd one near killed me! And finally made it to 3:59: 15. I broke the 4 hours which was my goal and discovered that my BQ because I was headed into a new age group the following year was 4:10. To be honest I actually hadn't really had the desire to run Boston (Being a NYC girl). But everyone who had run it told me I needed to. And I am so glad I listened. It was magical, incredible, and truly lived up to hype. But do I want to run it again? Nope! The crowds for one thing and the endless pavement for another. Also, I just don't have that speed anymore. Nor the desire to try and get it back. Although I have been trying for years to get in to the NYC marathon, as I mentioned NYC girl here.... so that would be my exception to the road and crowd rule!
I ran my first and only Boston at 29 years old in 2010. I qualified with my first marathon. I only ran four marathons (toronto x2, NY and Boston) and then the trails called my name and I never looked back. This year more than others I got a pang of 'maybe it would be fun to train properly and see how fast I go'. I even looked up the qualifying times and thought maybe when I turn 45 (I am 43 right now). But like you I have an aversion to being around so many thousands of people. I also have an aversion to what it would cost between entry fees, hotels and travel too. So I think Boston will stay in. my memory and I will always be grateful I got to experience it once.
Side note I just started Katie Arnolds new book yesterday and I am loving it so much, I couldn't put it down yesterday. Hoping I can make the zoom later today