This may go down in history as the race of my life, or I may someday surpass it in greatness, but either way it's one that requires documenting.
But first, more exposition. My first three marathon times are as follows:
2005 Philadelphia - 4:29:49
2006 Philadelphia - 4:12:12
2007 Twin Cities - 4:47:47
I didn't bother to dream of one day qualifying for Boston because I honestly didn't think I was physically capable of it (a male in my age group has to run 3:10:59 or better). I figured I would have to hire a coach, hire a nutritionist, spend tons of money on high-tech running gear, quit my job and train full-time, and then maybe I would stand a chance at qualifying. Obviously none of this was going to happen.
Then Philadelphia 2009 happened. Something must have clicked in my training because I ran 3:30:58 that year, shattering my old PR by nearly 42 minutes. Suddenly Boston seemed possible. A fire had been lit and I decided that the following year I would amp up my training and go for it.
November 21, 2010 was a perfect day to set a PR, with cool temps, dry streets and cloudless skies. The first 15 miles felt effortless. After mile 17 I started to feel the strain. After mile 20 it was a dig-deep, Herculean effort to keep up the pace. I swore and muttered out loud and continued to leak snot and sweat all over myself. But I have never been more focused in my life. A few hundred yards before the finish I heard my dad call my name, and moments later I crossed the finish line in 3:09:45 and instantly collapsed onto the pavement, attracting the attention of a volunteer. As the volunteer guided me to a table, the magnitude of what I'd accomplished threatened to overwhelm me.
A month after the marathon, I put together a YouTube video of my 3 months of training. It's pretty long by YouTube standards, but if you're a runner you might get a kick out of it, and maybe even some inspiration. If I inspire just one person to go for Boston and make it, I'd be elated.
Enjoy!
And remember - hard work pays off!
But first, more exposition. My first three marathon times are as follows:
2005 Philadelphia - 4:29:49
2006 Philadelphia - 4:12:12
2007 Twin Cities - 4:47:47
I didn't bother to dream of one day qualifying for Boston because I honestly didn't think I was physically capable of it (a male in my age group has to run 3:10:59 or better). I figured I would have to hire a coach, hire a nutritionist, spend tons of money on high-tech running gear, quit my job and train full-time, and then maybe I would stand a chance at qualifying. Obviously none of this was going to happen.
Then Philadelphia 2009 happened. Something must have clicked in my training because I ran 3:30:58 that year, shattering my old PR by nearly 42 minutes. Suddenly Boston seemed possible. A fire had been lit and I decided that the following year I would amp up my training and go for it.
November 21, 2010 was a perfect day to set a PR, with cool temps, dry streets and cloudless skies. The first 15 miles felt effortless. After mile 17 I started to feel the strain. After mile 20 it was a dig-deep, Herculean effort to keep up the pace. I swore and muttered out loud and continued to leak snot and sweat all over myself. But I have never been more focused in my life. A few hundred yards before the finish I heard my dad call my name, and moments later I crossed the finish line in 3:09:45 and instantly collapsed onto the pavement, attracting the attention of a volunteer. As the volunteer guided me to a table, the magnitude of what I'd accomplished threatened to overwhelm me.
It was one of the greatest moments of my life, having spent months training at such a high level of intensity, only to watch it actually pay off. It leaves me in awe of what the human body is capable of, and makes me wonder just how much faster I can go. Will I run a sub 3:00 one day? Only time will tell.
A month after the marathon, I put together a YouTube video of my 3 months of training. It's pretty long by YouTube standards, but if you're a runner you might get a kick out of it, and maybe even some inspiration. If I inspire just one person to go for Boston and make it, I'd be elated.
Enjoy!
And remember - hard work pays off!
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