It may not look like it, but you are looking at a very happy man to the left. After years of attempts at trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon, I FINALLY DID IT!! It took seven marathons. Lucky 7 as it turns out. That and a fast course like Chicago with temperatures that were nearly perfect. When I nearly missed in Philadelphia in 2007 I remember thinking that the stars had aligned that day. I was at peak physical fitness and the weather completely cooperated. My biggest fear leaving the City of Brotherly Love that day was that I might never have the stars align for me again quite like they did that day. But align they did. With a starting line temperature of 29 degrees, it might have been just a tiny bit too cold, but I'm a cold weather runner. Whether I like to admit that or not it is true. And so for one fateful morning in the midwest along the streets of the Windy City, the stars once again aligned for me.Setting a blistering pace from the get-go (6:10 first mile), I felt pretty good despite going out too fast and knowing that's not how to run a marathon. Still, as the miles clicked by and I kept having sub-BQ paces mile after fateful mile, I sensed that this might be the day. When I crossed the halfway point in 1:32 and some change I quickly determined that it would take a monumental collapse to lose my first ever BQ. I needed a 3:20 to qualify for the 2011 Boston Marathon (since I will be 4o that day). I could have qualified in my current age group with a 3:15 but qualifying has always been the goal. Some might think it's "backing in", but Boston sets the standards. I simply follow them. Anyone who feels as though that's "backing in" should go run a marathon and see for themselves that it's simply not true.
As the BQ miles continued through the first 21 miles I was feeling pretty good. My legs did get weary and just past mile 23 I felt sluggish to the point of stopping. I did stop and walk for a short time (about 25 seconds). During that fateful 25 seconds I spoke to myself. I asked myself why I was walking. I asked myself if I was blowing it. I determined that I was so close in Philadelphia and all I could think was, "don't let that happen again". I remarked outloud (to myself, although I'm sure others heard me), "You either want this or you don't. Make your decision and get moving." So I did. I started to jog again. I figured at a minimum I just needed to keep moving forward. I was watching the sands flow through the hourglass before my eyes and I decided that today was going to be the day. There were too many people following my progress. Too many people to disappoint. And yet, I only cared about one person. Me. I did not want to have to live with myself if I let this slip away.
With one mile to go I looked at the watch and saw that I had just under 12:00 to get it in. I can walk a 12:00 mile. I knew I had it. I tried to enjoy that final mile, soaking in the crowd and the moment I was about to experience. For a brief moment I completely enjoyed knowing what I accomplished. So many things ran through my head. One thing I could not forget was the pain and suffering and mental anguish I experienced last year when I broke my foot. The uncertainty of whether running this far again was even going to be remotely possible. And here I was, just under a year later, not only running the distance pain free but qualifying for the Boston Marathon. In the days leading up to this race I remarked often that so few people ever get this close to a dream. I was living it and appreciating it. I worked hard. I suffered and deprived myself all summer and it paid off on October 11, 2009. Chicago, Illinois will forever live in my heart as the place I reached out and grabbed a dream. I will definitely go back someday.
My mind quickly shifted to my next race. When will it be. I'm certainly not waiting for April 18, 2011 (my Boston Marathon). So yesterday I officially signed up for the Pittsburgh Marathon. The disappointment I endured not being able to run it this past May needs to be put to rest. I will run Pittsburgh with a relaxed mindset that I don't know that I've felt since my first marathon in Cleveland. I don't have the pressure of having to qualify for Boston. I'm sure I'll set a time goal, but it won't be a BQ pace. And yet, I feel as though I can do it again. I feel as though a 3:00 marathon is a possibility.
Upon returning from Chicago I took no time off. I have not missed a run in months. I have maintained the speed I had and took to Chicago with me. Faster in a lot of ways. Today I ran the Red Cross Vampire 5k and the benefits of my marathon training and fitness level paid off big time. Today I set a 5k PR by 39 seconds. It was my first sub-19:00 run as I crossed the finish line in 18:51. Once again I can only think that my running can still improve. I believe I can and will get faster. My body continues to adjust and improve and become more efficient. I am amazed at how far I have progressed in a year.
Below is a short photo journal of my trip to Chicago:
