My Decision not the run the boston marathon part 2

Part 2 Re qualified and marathon breakthroughs

After Boston in 2018, I felt defeated. This had been my issue with racing for a long time. I decided not to run in college for several reasons. Despite having scholarship opportunities, I felt I needed a break—I wanted to have fun. The grind of running had really taken its toll on me.

I learned a lot from my high school running coach. We had a solid program, but I didn’t make much progress my junior and senior years; I was running the same times as in my freshman and sophomore years. It was confusing and frustrating since I was putting in the work.  In hindsight, I realize that plateauing during puberty is very common for females. I wish someone had told me that. I had the notion that if I wasn’t getting better, this was the best I could ever be. Now I know that’s far from the truth. No one explained to me that failure is part of the process and that plateaus are normal.

So when I finished Boston in 2018, my second marathon, feeling that I hadn’t improved my time was disheartening.  I decided to take a break and focus on running less and strength training more.  Looking back, that setback put me on a path to grow stronger.

After about a year, I decided it was time to return to Boston. I was going to the gym 5-6 days a week and running. For most, that seemed like a lot, I felt like I needed more. That’s why I gravitate towards marathons; they provide a significant goal, something “big” to go after.  So I began training for my third marathon.

I self-coached with a generic plan, showing up for every workout. That’s just how I am—I have to check that box every day. I picked a low-key marathon in Baltimore called the NCR Marathon, which was an out-and-back on a rail trail. I felt great during that training cycle and showed up to the marathon with a goal to requalify for Boston, needing a sub-3:40 at the time.

On race day, everything aligned perfectly. It was beautiful and cool, starting in the upper 30s and finishing around 50. I highly recommend this race; it starts at a boarding school with a gym to wait inside, and the bathroom lines aren’t too crazy. My husband was right next to me at the starting line, so I didn’t have to shed my warm clothes until just before we started.

In my usual fashion of my amateur day’s in marathoning, I started the race way too fast.  I remember knowing this but had felt so good through the first half of the race I knew I’d just need to hang on.  O remember the race getting really tough around mile 16, and I found myself thinking a lot about my grandma, who had passed away earlier that year. She was from Maine and loved New England. I kept thinking about wanting to take a trip up to Maine while in Boston. Her memory truly helped carry me to the finish. 

I finished with a time of 3:14, taking 20 minutes off my marathon PR. I was completely shocked and blown away by that time. It was an incredible day, and I easily securing my spot for Boston 2021.  That was when the dream to run a sub 3 was born.  I decided that if I was going to pursue a goal like that, I would need a coach. Oh, what a journey that has led me on.