Boston Marathon Bib

I awoke to the familiar beeps of my alarm clock at 6:15am, I dragged myself out of bed my legs felt pretty stiff from my first hill workout of months the day before. I sleepily, logged online and sent a message to my running buddy Geraldine to say that I was going to get another hour’s sleep and let my legs recover.

Fast forward to a couple of hours later, when an email called, “Boston Marathon Bib” was sent to me.The email said “I have one BM non-qualifying bib left.. do you want it?” Do I want it!!! At this point I think I actually closed the email and opened it again and re-read it. Damn, I really should have gotten up and RAN this morning.

In 2000 I experienced my first Boston Marathon as a spectator, I was a non-runner in those days and pretty much a sedate person. My uncle was running and while I was not there to see him as such, I was just hanging out with friends enjoying what I thought would be my only time to witness this great event. I was working for a 15 month period in Boston and did not know at that time that 7 years later I would end up with my green card and call Boston – home.

A few years later in 2003 I was conned into running a 5K. I completed it in 28 mins 34 seconds and was hooked. I loved that I just had completed a distance I had never done before. I loved the atmosphere of all the people, male, female, young, old, athletic and not so athletic, out there at the starting line, running for many different reasons.

Since then I have done more 5ks, some 5 milers, a 10k, Half-Marathon and to me the longest distance I will ever try the Marathon. I have discovered that I have lots of endurance, but not great speed. I have watched Boston Marathon now for several more years, and become fascinated with this historic event.I have nothing but respect and admiration for all the thousands of runners, who have lined up in Hopkinton and traveled the 26.2 miles to Bolyston Street.

My home is right in Cleveland Circle about the 22 mile point and my typical run most days is a few miles of the route and back home. While I run I do think of the many outstanding athletes who have run the last four miles of the Boston marathon on this very route. I have visualized the day when I would be running this route as part of my first Boston marathon.

Well it looks like on April 16, 2007 I will be running the 111th Boston Marathon. Typically I am not a fan of odd numbers, but 111 really appeals to me right now!

My dream has been to run Boston, luckily for me dreams do come true.