An opportunity to do Boston (Read 573 times)

Hi Jeff- I did Boston in 2006 with a charity number, in a similar situation. From checking out your log, I definitely had much less miles under my belt than you. But I had always wanted to run Boston, and in late January got an opportunity from a charity that I volunteer for. I trained as hard as possible for the next 3 months, and got to the starting line in the best shape I could given the timeframe (I did a 20-miler, a few 17s, a half-marathon race...and not much more for distance runs). I think you definitely have the running base to get to Boston in shape to run 26.2 miles. But when I finished, I felt like I hadn't earned the right to run Boston. Not being a serious runner at that point, I didn't realize how much prestige and pride there was in the running community for QUALIFYING for Boston. Not sure if you'd feel the same way...but that was my reaction. I definitely think that you can finish Boston as a charity runner and still feel accomplished...but from your post I think you have a similar view as me, that you'd be much more proud of your finish if you had the proper time to train, and run it the best you could, not just finish the race. If I had trained for maybe 6 months, I would have been much more happy with myself, even though I still wouldn't have been able to run a 3:10 qualifier. Because I would have felt that even though I didn't run a qualifying marathon elsewhere, I still had trained hard and long enough to respect the Boston marathon (as cheesy as that might sound). Just my thoughts. Right now, my goal is to run a qualifying marathon for Boston, someday. I've done a 1:36 half-marathon...if I can shave off a minute, and keep that pace up for another 13.1 miles...I'm there! Good luck either way! -Mike

Yeah, I am kind of veering towards Mike's sentiments on the race. I think I could probably get in shape enough to finish the race and maybe even post a decent time if I had a good day, but right now I'm just not feeling that I would have trained as hard as i could have for it given the time I have left. My best marathon is a 4:32 that I ran the first year I started running (2003). I was pretty well trained for that and felt good about my effort when I finished. I have run a few since then but never got in the training that I had wanted to adn never felt fully prepared. And the times showed it - all slower than my first. I dont have any problem with people (myself included) running Boston with a charity or otherwise (through running club, sponsors, etc...) attained official number, though I am a bit put off by bandits in the race. It's just hard to pass up a number for the Boston marathon as they are not easy to come by. But right now I am veering towards not doing it and maybe waiting till next year when I can do it right. And who knows, in a year or two maybe I can qualify - and if not in a year or two, at least I'll get an extra 5 minutes when I turn 40. Thanks Jeff

Thanks for the thoughts. I have passed on the number. I talked it over with my coach and while we both thought I could get there and finish, we thought it best to be as prepared as you can be when hitting the starting line for a marathon. So, back to trying to get faster in my 5K and then on to a marathon in the Fall