This post is part of the “My First Boston” guest post series I started leading up to my first Boston Marathon! I asked few of my favorite Boston veteran bloggers to write guest posts about their first Boston Marathon experience or to share some advice for other first timers leading up to April 18th. If you missed the first one make sure to check out Susan’s First Boston.
Hi everyone!! I’m Dorothy from Mile Posts. I’ll be running Boston this year [with Runner’s Rambles!! YAY] for my 2nd time!!
My Story:
In 2008 my personal marathon best was 3:59. I had set my sights on Boston and knew that this year was going to be the year I would finally get my BQ. That October, 6 months after my 2nd baby was born I ran the Marine Corps Marathon. I just knew in my heart of hearts that it was going to be my 1st BQ. My friends and family were supportive, but in all honesty most of them had the heart to tell me that they thought it was impossible for me to take over 20 minutes off my marathon PR! The day before the race my best friend Ashley gave me a book of quotes – in the front of the book she had written. I believe in
you. That’s all it took for me to know that there was no way I was going to let any amount of pain get to me – I would BQ! The next day I ran a 3:36:41 for my first BQ.
I tell you the back story because the road to get to Boston is what makes Boston so special. I had run marathons before, I had wanted to Boston qualify before, and even had run marathons believing I could get my 3:40. I came up short a number of times and so when I crossed that finish line and knew that I had in an instant made it into that special club of people who qualify for Boston, I felt that my life would never be the same. It wasn’t!! I will forever carry that pride in my heart.
Who knows how many times I will have the awesome opportunity of running Boston. The fact that you can’t just decide to run it and sign up makes it all that much more important to enjoy everything about the race.
The Expo:
Just walking around the expo makes you feel cool. After I picked up my race number and bag, my husband offered to hold it for me. I looked at him and said I don’t mind carrying it – I wanted everyone to know it was ME running the race – that I had qualified!
The most important things to remember to bring to the expo are an ID and your number pick up card that gets mailed to you. In worrying about everything to pack for myself and my baby I completely forgot this at home. I started to cry when I walked up to get my number and the volunteer asked me for my card! Luckily I was able to get another one, but it wasn’t an easy process, so make sure to pack it and have to ready when you get your number and race bag.
If you see some Boston gear that you like, don’t hesitate – buy it! With thousands of runners, family members, and friends attending the expo – stuff sells out. If you see something you like at the expo and they don’t have your size left, be sure to check out places like City Sports or authorized street vendors. The gear is the exact same and less people buy theirs from these places. I treasure my sweatshirt from my 1st Boston. It’s not technical running gear – but I love how every time I put it on it somehow makes
me feel like a legit runner. Another cool sweatshirt is on my must-buy-list for this year!
If at all possible go to the expo on Saturday. With all the cool vendors to check out, runners to meet, etc. it’s easy to get caught up and spend way too much time walking around. If you go on Saturday then you will have Sunday to rest your legs for the big day.
If you are like me and are flying to Boston make sure to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. In all the excitement you might forget to drink – you are running one of the most exciting marathons of your life. You want to enter into it feeling good so you are able to enjoy it all.
Race Day:
Ride the bus. Yes there are other ways to get to the start, but there is something so awesome and exhilarating standing in line with thousands of other runners, who have worked as hard as you have for this moment. It was crazy looking around at everyone and realizing that I was surrounded by nothing but fit, fast people. I felt a sense of peace being around so many people who loved running as much as I do.
Make sure to use the ‘facilities’ before boarding the bus. Mine didn’t stop once on the hour long trip and when you have been hydrating for days, an hour can feel like an eternity. Don’t spend the whole time on your phone – tweeting and emailing – make new friends with people on your bus!!
I’ll never forget walking into Runner’s Village – I felt like I was in a dream. That’s when it really hit me that I had qualified and was running the most prestigious marathon ever. Rather than stressing about all that I had to do before my start time, I just looked around at everyone’s numbers. For those of you who don’t know – Boston is the only marathon [that I am aware of] that your marathon bib number is based on how fast your qualifying time was. It was literally amazing seeing people 10,000 numbers lower than me. It’s humbling knowing that though you feel fast, that there are tens of thousands of people faster than you are. It was on that day that I said to myself – I will qualify again – I will make it back here one day – once is just not enough for me. My goal for the day became to simply have fun, enjoy the course, take in all the history, but also to try to re-qualify so I could feel this moment again someday.
Use the restroom early before heading to your corral. Being a runner I have a time or two [or more] made my own bathroom when I couldn’t find one. GASP 
. There is something about Boston that you can’t disrespect. You can’t and won’t want to mess up the town of Hopkinton in any way, so finding a port-o-potty is a must. You also certainly don’t want to be standing in line, on your big day, moments before the gun goes off. So like I said, head to the bathrooms earlier than you want to.
WOW – what to even say about the race itself. It’s amazing. It truly is worth qualifying for. I know that some are discouraging with the new harder qualifications times, but don’t let it force you to quit. Rise to the challenge – I promise you can do it and I promise it’s worth it!
While running I was exhilarated thinking of all the millions of footsteps that have run the same roads I was on. There is no other race that I’ve ever run that has the same course year after year. It’s one of the many things that makes Boston so special. Any runner who has ever run Boston before knows the course – knows the kids handing out oranges, the Wesley girls, the high fives, the amazing towns, the deafening cheers from spectators and more. When you first see that Citgo sign, it’s hard not to think that you have made it in life. While running I thought to myself, if this is as good as my life gets, it’s pretty darn good. SOAK in the moment – you have earned it.
The single moment I remember most during the 26.2 miles was making the turn onto Boylston Street. I saw the finish ahead and knew that in less than 2 minutes I would become a BOSTON FINISHER and that no one could ever take that away from me.
AHHHH it all makes me excited just thinking about it. I am so looking forward to all the many amazing moments that Boston has to offer. I look forward to making new friends and seeing old ones. I look forward to that butterfly in my stomach feeling as I see the finish line and know that am about to become a 2 time Boston finisher. Oh and I look forward to once again celebrating with my mom. Yes my mom! I forgot to mention the whole reason I’m running this year is to be with my mom. We ran it together in 2009 and I made a pact with her that if she re-qualified in 2010 that I would attempt to run
my 2nd Boston with her 5 months after my 3rd baby in 2011. Not many people can brag that they have run Boston twice with their mom – wink wink.
Best of luck to Runner’s Rambles and all the other amazing and unique runners that will be running the Boston Marathon. I’m proud, honored, and humbled to be part of the ‘Boston Qualifiers Club.’
Love ~ Mile Posts
This is amazing! I love this part “While running I thought to myself, if this is as good as my life gets, it’s pretty darn good. SOAK in the moment – you have earned it.”
Best of luck to everyone running Boston this year!!
definitely makes me excited for the 18th!!! i just want to experience it for myself!
I’m going for a Boston qualifier in May, which is 8 months after my second girl was born! Now I know it can be done! Great story!
Katie — You go girl
It CAN be done and you WILL do it!!!! Best of luck with your training and race!
Great Idea on the 1st Boston Recap.. guest writer.. I did something similar in a re-post of my own first adventure last year. Here -> http://www.recoveryrun.com/race-reports/boston-2010-believe-da-hype/
It really gets you pumped for the upcoming weekend in Boston! Thanks.
Gotta Run,
Mike
http://www.facebook.com/WhyMarathon
Great Boston recap…. this makes me even more determined to focus on my time and qualify again, and go back to Boston one more time to redeem myself. (my first Boston, I was sick) Now that my First Ultra 50 miler is out of the way, maybe I will be able to focus more on time… thanks for the inspiration.
Coming over from Dorothy’s blog. What a great idea to have these posts!
all the best to you for your Boston story!!!
AHH I CAN’T WAIT FOR MY FIRST BOSTON!!
I want to be featured too 
great idea! i love love love it. and it’s getting the excitement going for what’s going to happen in, oh, say less than THREE WEEKS
great post! The fact that Boston is filled with fit and fast people from around the world probably is the closest feeling to the Olympics for average joes like us!
another truly fantastic story! I love the tips on how to get people in the moment to enjoy boston… i agree with the get off your phone for most races
What a great story, especially about working to qualify because I know it resonates with you!
Another fantastic post! Thanks Aron and Dorothy – this keeps putting more fire in my belly!
AWESOME post!! So excited to see you all.. and to run BOSTON!!
I want to know more about the difference between the marathons where you fell short of your goal and the one where you actually first qualified.
Very excited for your run in a few weeks!
awesome guest post! I love reading about people’s journeys and it makes me so excited to keep working toward a qualifying time
thanks for sharing Dorothy and thanks Aron for such a great guest post! Good luck to both of you ladies in a few weeks – we’ll be cheering for you!!!
Amy – I did a couple of things, changed the way I trained, started doing speed work, stopped walking on training runs – which enabled me to run the full 26.2 miles without stopping, I also figured out what gels/etc worked for me to help prevent me from hitting the wall in the later miles, I also started carrying my own water with me – so I didn’t get dehydrated and also so I could run through all the water stations and not waste any precious time. That’s the quick version! On my blog there is a post called My Progression As a Marathoner that details it out better. Hope that helps!
Thank you for the inspiration!! I am running my first Boston on Monday. Can’t wait to hold those memories forever!!