Boston: Forget You

And although there's pain in my chest
I still wish you the best with a...
Forget you!

Since the Boston Athletic Association announced its new qualifying rules and times a couple of weeks ago*, I’ve felt a few different emotions, but one feeling has dominated: relief.

Still 17 minutes shy of achieving what’s now the old qualifying time in my category, I had a long road ahead of me to achieve this goal. And I have to be honest. I didn’t know if I had it in me. It’s not that I don’t think I could run a sub-4 hour marathon, if I was willing and able to put in the time and effort. I just didn’t know whether I was willing or able, given the kind of runner I am and living the kind of life I do right now.

And while chasing the brass ring of Boston has been, at moments, fun and invigorating, it has also been, at other times, frustrating and demoralizing. And you know what? I’ve gotten tired of finishing 20K, 30K, 42K distances and feeling like a loser because I wasn’t happy with my pace. (Yeah, I know, boohoo.)

I won’t ever stop trying to be faster, and if Boston ever seems with in reach, you can bet I’ll be chasing pavements again trying to earn a spot at the start line. But for now, I’m going to concentrate on reconnecting with the joy of running just for the hell of it.

Take it away, Cee Lo:

 

* For the record, this runner thinks that changing the qualifying times was absolutely the right thing to do. One of the defining features of the Boston Marathon is that it is run by those who achieve a high standard of excellence among their running peers. The qualifying times and process should ensure that those who have achieved that standard are able to run the race. It’s only fair.

Comments

[Elizabeth]

I hear ya sistuh...I never had much hope for qualifying, and now I have even less hope. But I totally understand their changing of the qualifying standards. It's a race for the really talented runners and so should be really hard for which to qualify. It's BAA's race and they should be able to run it the way they want to.

[Trevor]

Well said, and I like your attitude. Plus, you might surprise yourself while running for the "joy of it".

[aka Alice]

If I keep at it, I think I might be able to qualify for Boston when I'm 80...so you are my hero...and I think you will qualify one day (or at least well before you are 80)

[Kathy]

Hey Reluctant Runner, I'm impressed you put up the cleaned up version of the Forget You song and not the original version containing the more powerful F.You words.

[Laura]

I totally agree with you. I couldn't qualify for Boston even under the old standards, but I would much rather have tougher standards so that it's the best of the best. Besides, how much would it suck to "qualify" and THEN have a lottery to see if you'd actually get to run?