Why must I do this again?

So, I have 12 weeks to go - I’m out of shape, I’m over weight, I’m a year older and my knee is a huge question mark. I’ve written about my training buddies being on my case - accusing me of becoming a fair weather runner in my rehab this winter (not that I was ever crazy about running in temps below 25 degrees). I attempted to rationalize with them – rehabbing is hard enough by itself – to try to do so in inclement weather will lead to burn out – but finally I had to admit talk was cheap and I had to just prove them wrong.

So I have been getting out there and now I’m starting to get down to business – no more excuses –no more rehab.

But it really isn't about proving my buddies wrong - I don't really care if they think I'm a fair weather runner or not. No, this is about how bad I want to run Boston again. If I want to run Boston one last time then it’s time to train!

So why am I going to go run hills at night with wind chills below 20? Why am I going to get up Saturday mornings and leave my coffee to go run in my club’s 5K when it will also be below 20 degrees? Why am I now pounding out miles on the “dreadmill” in the basement? Why am I soon going to give up my ice cream before bed at night? (I can’t give that up too far in advance!)

What is so special about Boston and why is this how I want to pass the winter?

If you follow distance running you probably have heard that qualifying for Boston is considered the Holy Grail! But why? How did setting a standard back in the 70’s somehow turn into the Holy Grail of distance running? To “Qualify for Boston”!!!

In 1970 runners had to prove or have someone official vouch for them that they could finish the marathon in less than 4 hours if they wanted to run Boston. According to the race application, “this is not a jogging race.” Oh boy! Remember that term, “jogging”? Runners would be so offended if someone made reference to them “jogging”. “Don’t you dare call me a jogger - I’m not a jogger – I’m a runner!!!” Seriously, if you wanted to offend a runner back in the 70’s all you had to do was call them a “jogger”!

Then in 1971, Boston officials lowered the time to 3 hours and 30 minutes regardless of age or gender. But as the popularity of running grew, Boston officials were forced to adjust some more. In the late 70’s, after a rough start for women running Boston (another story for another time if you don’t know it), officials set a standard for women and as the 80’s rolled in they established standards for different age groups. And what happened? Demand skyrocketed!! What nobody realized at the time was that by setting standards to limit the size of the race, they created a goal that a runner could strive for, and inadvertently they created more demand for the race! They created the Holy Grail – a qualifying time for marathoners to judge themselves against others worldwide – a Boston Qualifying time!

But while demand grew and race officials were able to accommodate the numbers, many runners stayed home. Many were satisfied with the bragging rights – to have qualified – and they had no intention to actually run in Boston. Perhaps it was due to work or family commitments, or maybe financial limitations. The world was larger then and travel was harder. But to be able to say they “qualified”……for many that was reward enough.

Up until 2008, a runner could actually qualify in February and still get into that year’s race. But then something happened for 2009 and the race sold out in January. Nobody knows why. Then for 2010 it sold out in November! Again, no explanation as to why. Sure, more people were running and more were qualifying but why was the race selling out? And then for 2011, with rumors flying and anxiety high due to the year prior, Boston sold out in 8 hours and 3 minutes!!!

So what did officials do? They lowered the qualifying standard again and ironically created more demand!!!

And it hasn’t let up since! What is going on?

Why do so many runners from across the country and around the globe for that matter, train for years in their attempts to earn their BQ and then spend thousands of dollars just to come run in it? Isn’t the Holy Grail simply to qualify for it? Why do they also now have to run in it?

Is there something to be said about competing with other athletes who have put their hearts and souls into qualifying and who are considered amongst the best marathoners in the world? Absolutely. But there has to be more to it than that.

Perhaps this is another phenomenon we can blame on social media. Maybe due to social media runners are sharing their experiences and others outside of New England are finding out there is something else very special about Boston.

If you are from New England, with perhaps the exception of south west Connecticut, Boston is your city. The odds are someone in your family lives in or went to school in Boston. And somehow it seems like everyone’s grandparents were from Boston. Everyone in New England is connected to Boston. Your sports teams are the Boston Celtics, the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Bruins. Like the Patriots, they could all be named “New England”.

And the same goes for the Marathon – it represents all of New England. If you are from New England you know someone who has run Boston. You have witnessed them train through the winter, be they an experienced marathoner, a charity runner or a weekend “jogger” who was jumping in as a bandit. (NOTE: at one time it was not considered sacrilegious to run Boston as a bandit – in fact, it was once an honor and the way in which many got their marathoning start!)

And so, on Patriot’s Day, if you are anywhere near the course, you go out to watch those you know run. It’s a tradition for generation after generation of families and college students - going out on Patriot’s Day to watch the runners go by. Patriot’s Day, the 3rd Monday in April commemorating the first battles of the American Revolution. Patriot’s Day – the unofficial passing of winter and coming of spring. Patriot’s Day – a day off of classes for all the students! Patriot’s Day – a mid-day home game for the Red Sox where all the fans then pour out of Fenway Park at game end to watch the Marathon! For whatever their reason, the spectators have come out - for 120 years and counting - regardless of the weather – rain or shine, heat or cold. They come out to cheer on the spirit of athletic competition and they look on in awe of the elites. They come out to marvel at the human spirit and they look on in respect of those in the back of the pack who endure for hours, long after the winners have finished. They come out to celebrate the passing of winter. They come out to party. And after the horrific terrorist act of 2013, they came out even stronger, showing the world their defiance and their resilience - this is their race!

The beauty of Boston is not the outstanding caliber of the “qualified” runners or the world class international field of competitors or even the history of all the great runners and races of the past.

Yes all of those are special. But the real beauty of Boston is the spectators. Twenty six point two miles of roadway, packed with cheering spectators - 500,000 of them! The spectators make Boston, “Boston” – they are the spirit of the marathon.

Runners strive for years to qualify and earn that Holy Grail – a “BQ” time. They then go to Boston to experience it. And they now go back again and again because they did experience it! Runners around the world now know the beauty of Boston is the spectators.

I visit Boston often. I went to college in Boston and I trained for hundreds of miles on Heartbreak Hill. I’ve run Boston 13 times. I know the city, I know the course. Been there, done that.

So why am I putting myself through this and why must I do this again?

The answer is simple - I have experienced the spectators of Boston and I want to experience them one more time.

Time to go for a run!