My deep respect for the Boston Marathon blossomed in 1997. As a freshmen at Boston College, I would traverse the Boston Marathon Newton Hills and envision myself as a Boston Marathoner. So it was then at age 18 that my intention was set. I would embrace the energy of this world renowned race, as a Boston College Senior. I LOVED Marathon Monday. I couldn’t wait to cheer on the wheelchair competitors, followed by the world-class elites, and the thousands of resilient runners making personal journeys from Hopkinton all the way to Boston. I stayed very fit from freshmen to senior year of college, as I played Division I field hockey for the Boston College Eagles. Playing a college sport kept me structured and focused, so when it came time to qualify for Boston I was game! Field hockey ended in late November of 2000 and I was running the Walt Disney World Marathon the first weekend in January. I had 8 weeks to prepare for a qualifying time. Luckily I was rolling right into marathon training from a rigorous field hockey schedule, so I was well beyond a training base. I didn’t really know how to effectively train for a marathon during these eight weeks, but I knew I had a goal – QUALIFY for BOSTON. I ran my first marathon in early January 2000. Mickey Mouse sounded the starting gun at 5:00 am and we were off! I will forever cherish this first marathon experience, as my best friend and BC teammate, Lisa Roth Fleming and I crossed the finish line holding hands in 3:36 and were Boston Marathon Qualifiers. We had turned intention into reality. I ran Boston in April 2001, as a Boston College senior. My heart and soul fell in love with everything about the marathon that day and during all the training to prepare for it. The marathon started courting me and then it swept me off my feet. I was smitten with The Boston Marathon for nine years in a row (2001 – 2009) and dabbled in expanding my love fair by adding in some extra marathons ( NYC, Philadelphia, Marine Corps, Ultra Around the Lake). I couldn’t imagine not running the Boston Marathon after nine years in a row, but come the 10th year, a long-time work commitment shifted my attention. In 2010 I spectated Boston, as a running cheerleader. I yelled and supported runners for hours and then by a twist of fate, not running a 10th year in a row became the best marathon day of my life. I met the love of my life on Marathon Monday 2010. Have I mentioned that the Boston Marathon is a magical day? I love my Boston Marathon Day Man. This year will be my 11th year running Boston. It will be my 17th marathon, overall. The miles of training and marathon day running are one of life’s greatest metaphors. You learn quickly to deal with the conditions, as they are, or you will face more struggles than you need to. You accept that you will have runs, where you feel like you are part cheetah, and others, where you will feel like your body is enveloped in thick mud. You experience some of the most stunning sunrises and sunsets and find a deeper sense of gratitude for the weather, you most love. You develop unconditional friendships through the training runs, as you support one another to grow stronger and yet, more humble. Your awareness of your body deepens, as you recognize its desire to keep you moving, but its need to slow you down when you don’t listen to its “red signal flares” for rest. Most importantly running teaches us that we can’t control others and the conditions, only how we respond to both. The unfortunate events of last year’s marathon remind us of our inability to control our conditions. Yet, the choices that the Boston Marathon Community (which extends worldwide) has made in response to last year’s events, speaks louder than the devastation that took place. The extended Boston Marathon Community has responded with grace, humbleness, fortitude, perseverance, and more. I am running Boston 2014 this year for the deep respect I have for the Boston Marathon Community. Running Boston has also brought me the gift of yoga, which I am deeply committed to bringing to more runners. We all run Boston for many reasons, yet regardless of our reasons, we want to avoid injury and feel fluid and “at ease” in our running. I focus on teaching Yoga for Runners classes and workshops to teach runners how adding yoga to their training routine will greatly benefit their running. I work with individual runners, run clubs, charity teams and more to help runners stay fit and healthy through all the miles they put under their feet. You can learn more about my classes and workshops by visiting fitfaststrongyogathlete.wordpress. If you are a runner who has never dabbled in yoga before, you will be amazed at the incredible benefits your runners body and mind will experience from this practice. I attest my current injury-free runners body to yoga.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 17:00:01 +0000
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