Just Missed Boston

By 6 seconds....

First world problems I know, but still a tough pill to swallow. I worked my butt off to get my first ever Boston qualifier a year ago. I ran a 3:07:57, which was 2:03 under my qualifying mark of 3:10. I admittedly did not think that would be enough, given that it required 2:28 under the previous year to get in. However, as fewer qualifiers came in, the statistics showed my time might very likely get me into the 2017 race.

I was about 99% certain going into the big notification day that I would be receiving an e-mail from the Boston Athletic Association congratulating me on my acceptance into the 2017 Boston Marathon. I instead, however, sat with a sinking feeling in my gut as I glanced at the message "All those who ran 2 minutes and 9 seconds under their qualifying time were accepted." Crushing...6 seconds. That's a big hill, a mile into a headwind, a few slow water stops, a few high fives, a missed workout, who knows. Not sure where I could have shaved the time, but I'm trying not to second guess. I ran as well as I could on a fast course in ideal fall weather. No complaints there.

It's the waiting that sucks. I had waited 11 months to apply to Boston, and now I wait yet another year to do it all over again. Back to train for yet another BQ in hopes that I can lower my time again and secure a spot. The reality is needing to run at least 3 minutes under the BQ time, and 5+ under for essentially a guaranteed spot. But, my talent is on the bubble. It's what makes it so much work just to get a BQ, no less a time a few minutes faster. It has literally taken years, if not an entire decade, to go from running a 5 hour marathon, to a 4 hour, to 3:33, a 3:10, and finally a BQ. But, the improvement margins are getting smaller and harder to achieve and I am getting older.

I admit, not running Boston was much easier to accept when I was a 4 hour marathoner or even 3:30 marathoner. I wasn't close enough to entertain the notion of running Boston for it to bother me. But, now that it's in reach, it's like getting a faint grasp of that starting line, online to get pushed back again. It tough being on the fringe, but rest assured when I finally do get into Boston, it will mean that much more knowing I didn't get it easy.

And worse case scenario, my BQ goes up to a 3:15 in five years, but only time will tell. Another good year of health and running is hardly a certainty these days. A heartfelt congrats to everyone on the other side of the looking glass that got in, and especially to those that got in by mere seconds. Here's to Boston 2018.