Ever since I became a runner, I have heard tales of running Boston. The history, the legends, the mystique filled me with yearning. Part of the allure to be sure is the prestige; you have to earn an entry to the Boston marathon by meeting the qualifying standards. Getting a BQ is the quest of many marathoners. The Lord has blessed me with many fine qualities: good looks, wit, brilliance, modesty, stubbornness, and a capacity for hard work, but he skimped a bit when it came to running talent, specifically speed. Realizing this and discovering there was a back door to Boston, I pursued my dream by applying to be a charity runner entry. I was accepted and began raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. This was an ideal cause for me because my father had MS, and I knew first hand what a heartbreaking disease it is. On Monday April 21, I joined over 22,000 runners and boarded a bus for the athlete’s village in Hopkington. I milled about and people watched and headed for the start line like I was in a fairytale. The gun went off somewhere far ahead and slowly the crowd of runners made it to the start line and I was off! I was doing it! I was running the Boston marathon! Everything I had read about the course and sights along the way I began to live for real; the turn at the firehouse, the screaming girls, the children reaching out for their hands to be slapped. It was all vividly alive and yet still like a waking dream. I felt strong and powerful and I ran all the way. I climbed the hills and flew down the downhills. Coming into the fabulous city of Boston towards the end I recognized someone standing on a corner. It helped me to recognize him that he is only about 6’5” tall. I called out “hey HighHeat!” and kept running. He probably wondered whose froggy voice had called out to him. At the final turn, a hand came over the barrier and grabbed my hand and I looked up and it was my darling Fast Forward. I squeaked “hi!” and grinned and kept running down the road finally to the finish line! I just want to thank all of you who so generously donated to the MS cause through me. Your contributions will change the quality of life and give hope for the future to so many. And you made my dream come true.

Ilene - Congratulations on running the Boston Marathon and raising money for a wonderful cause! It was great to meet you, if only for a moment or two.

I have been wondering where this report was!! Yeah for you!! You experienced probably the best marathon around - and did a good deed in the process. Speed is highly over-rated and the fact that you helped others gets you bigger angel wings!!! I am so glad you had a good time! I bet it was asesome to see Mr. FOrward at the end - I can imagine the beautiful smile on your face! Congratulations!!!!

Thanks for this report....Ilene.. I can somewhat relate because about 12 years ago I walked in a fund raiser done by the Jimmy Fund and the Cancer Foundation in New England along with 6,000 others. It is/was the only other organization allowed to use the exact Boston Marathon route. This was back before I was running and I forget how long it took me to finish it, but I did it. MS is a great cause to have run this Marathon for. I had an aunt who died of the disease many years ago. I am thrilled for you, to have gotten this opportunity to "do Boston". Congratulations.

Thank you, Ilene, for your charity work. And congrats on running the Boston Marathon!

I was so looking forward to meeting you in Boston! What a wonderful opportunity for us to finally get together with the multi-talented Ilene and her hunky DH. You're right - it was like a fairy tale and we'll have those memories for a long time. Thank you for your efforts in raising funds for MS - you, and the other runners dedicated to helping these causes, have made a lasting contribution.

One thing about not being the fastest runner, you get to experience MORE of everything! Congratulations on fulfilling a dream and also on your fundraising efforts for the MS society. It was good to see you and FastForward albeit way too briefly on Saturday. Barb

Ilene, I joined RA just so I could comment on your race report. I'm so glad you finally got to realize your dream. I'm just bummed that I didn't get to meet you while you were in the area. Next year for sure. Tom