The elections are finally
over, and I am clearing the dust from my desk and my joints. I received a call
November 5, the day after the elections that I was accepted to the Girl Scouts
of Eastern Massachusetts Marathon Team. After working crazy hours for the past two
months, this was amazing news! I would run my consecutive 10th Boston Marathon
and be a streaker!
I had run 8 times as a
qualifier and my ninth time in 2014 on the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts
Marathon (GSEM) Team. In 2013 I finished 13 minutes before I heard the bombs go
off. In 2014, it was important for me to run and give back to the Boston Community.
Running on the GSEM team was an amazing experience as I connected my love of
running, inspiring and giving back to others. I was reminded of why I run and
what I love about running.
There was a whole
community running with me from my training runs to the finish line. On so many levels, it
was an amazing journey. I was a scout growing up and I learned more in those
years than I realized. So many friends and family shared their scouting stories
with me as I fundraised. It was an honor to be on the team and it reinforced my
commitment to serving and inspiring others.
Running Boston is an
amazing experience. My first Boston, I was starry-eyed and could not believe I
was running the same route as world champions. I've met my running idols and
seen Olympic athletes warming up. As a streaker, I still have to qualify, but
get an early entry. Streaker status had been a pie-in-the sky goal.
2015 would be my 10th
consecutive Boston Marathon qualifying me as a streaker. I planned on
qualifying for Boston 2015 at Grandma's Marathon in June, but that was not the
case. I missed it by 79 seconds. I have asked a lot of my body over the years
and didn't have anything in the tank when I ran Grandmas Marathon last
June.
Years ago, I DNF'd (did
not finish) one marathon and I promised myself that unless I was pulled off a
course, I would complete every marathon I started. The weeks leading up the
race were not ideal for training and recovery, but I got the workouts in (for
the most part.) Race morning, I felt rough and wooden, I got to the start and
began running through fog, It was tough and I wanted to drop out, but my
boyfriend Andy was at mile 20. After DNF'ing years ago, I also had made a
promise to Pat my friend and former boss, who died the weekend of the Boston
Marathon 2014 that I would not be a wimp and quit a race. So for Pat, whose
funeral I went to the day after I got home from Boston, I kept running. When I
saw the Andy at mile 20, I felt better, I knew I would finish. I tried to pick
it up for a BQ, but my legs couldn't. The final mile, my leg was numb and I
felt a pop when I turned into the finish. 3:46:19- too slow for a qualifier of
3:45 I finished and went straight to the med tent. A physician said I hadn't
torn anything. Relieved, I was thankful to finish without major injury. I was
sad at the thought of my streak ending. I also wanted to run Boston 2015 as
"normal." Not that it would be normal after 2013, but it would be the
new normal.
I applied to the Girl
Scouts team and put my heart on my sleeve.
With the acceptance, it
was time to lace up my shoes and start building my base miles. My work schedule
had made regular workouts a challenge. Unfortunately, this continued to be the
case until the post-election reports were filed in December. I still managed a
10 mile trail race with friends wearing my Girl Scout singlet as I ran over
logs on a crisp day. I was slow, but I had fun and I got some great comments by
fellow runners about being a Scout. Very cool!
I'm kicking off my
fundraising this week, reaching out to friends. I know it will be a challenge
as I humbly ask for support, but am inspired by the greater mission of giving
back.
Please consider supporting me by donating online at
Any contribution would be appreciated, even $10 for my 10th Boston or $25 for my 25th marathon.
Back Yard Burn 10 miler- Happy to be running!
