Finding Inspiration: Boston Marathon Edition

I’m not going to lie –  the BAA and I haven’t been on the best of terms lately. First (for the second year in a row), the race filled up before I was able to register. Then, they changed the qualifying standards (though I guess I showed them!), and finally, to add insult to injury, they rejected the {ontherun} application to be volunteers during the event. Which, if you ask me, is ridiculous – I mean, who wouldn’t want these faces representing the BAA??

Don’t answer that.

So you’d think that by the time Marathon Weekend rolled around, I’d be bitter and want nothing to do with the race festivities. Right? …or not. The truth is that there’s no place I’d rather be on Marathon Monday then in Boston, celebrating the Marathon. Whether I’m in the race or on the sidelines, the BAA can’t keep me away.

Honestly, the wonderful thing about the Boston Marathon is that you don’t have to be an actual participant in order to experience its magic (though it’s pretty darn amazing if you are!). Whether you’re a serious runner or a weekend warrior,  a causal jogger or someone who just likes watching sports and drinking beer – being a part of the marathon weekend is sure to leave you feeling inspired.

Here are just a few of the ways I experienced the magic of the marathon this weekend:

1.) Waking up early on Saturday to watch one of my running idols, Kara Goucher, speak at Niketown.

The {ontherun} girls made an early trek up to Boston to see Kara Goucher on Saturday morning. And even though our drive was about 3 times as long as the actual event, it was completely worth it. I find this woman so incredibly inspiring! Not only did she run through her entire pregnancy, but yesterday she ran a marathon only 7 months after giving birth. If only I have a fraction of her hardcore-ness someday….

 

Bonus: getting Kara’s signature,

(and meeting Susan!)

and getting interviewed for a brief piece in Competitor Magazine about the amazing Kara Goucher!

 

…though I’m not sure what happened to my eyes in that clip…

2.) Going to the Boston Marathon Expo, where I was surrounded by thousands of inspiring runners.

Some famous…

Oh, hi Ryan Hall!

and some who are just like you!

3.) Finding some neat new running gear amidst the endless tables of free samples.

…including the same phiten necklace that Kara ended up wearing during the Boston Marathon! (I plan to write more about this necklace in another post.) And whenever I’m feeling discouraged or unmotivated, I’m going to put on this shirt as a reminder.

4.) Hanging out with some pretty amazing runners from all over the country.

Susan and I hanging out with the Boston Marathon runners, Aron, Page and Noel

Lizzy and Kimmy threw a great event at Cambridge 1 near Fenway. Not only did we have delicious flatbread pizza (which I inhaled as though I had something to carbo-load for), but they also handed out tons of goodies. My favorite – a pair of New Balance Technical Elite NBX socks. I busted these things out on the trip home and have already gone for a run in them. I think it’s time to replace my hole-y socks with more of these!

5.) Channeling my inner Picaso to make signs for Marathon Monday.

Not wanting a break in all the marathon festivities, Becky and I got together again on Sunday afternoon to make signs for the inspiring runners who would be passing us by on Monday.

 

Can you tell I majored in Art and Graphic Design in college??

 

6.) Screaming my lungs out!

By 10:30 on Marathon Monday, Becky, MomOnTheRun, and I had staked out our spot near Mile 20. For the next 4 hours, I proceeded to look like this:

 

Yes, we wore the same outfit – complete with our {ontherun} shirts

Our Bondi Bands (also picked up at the expo) say “will run for ice cream” – which got quite a few smiles from runners!

…as my favorite runners ran by. I knew so many people running this marathon – other bloggers, friends from previous relays, and even a few childhood friends who had traveled all the way up from Ohio. The time passed unbelievably fast as we watched one after another run by.

 

Becky and I knew that we were at a really tough spot on the course. Mile 20 is hard in any marathon, but after running miles of hills through Newton with Heartbreak Hill looming up ahead and the hot sun beating down on them, I figured the runners must have had a tougher time than usual. Yet I was so impressed by how good each of them looked despite the conditions. And I was so happy to be there to cheer them along.

And finally…

7.) Being there for a friend who needed an extra boost.

As much as I loved cheering on the sidelines, my favorite part of the day came when Lizzy passed by. This girl was running Boston after only a few short weeks of training, and Becky and I wanted to help her complete her goal in whatever way possible. So when she reached us on Monday, we threw down our signs and our cowbells and hopped right in. I know she was hurting at that point, but Lizzy was so determined. The miles flew by as people screamed her name, guiding her into the city.

 

I’ll let her tell you the story in her own words, but I was so happy to be there with her, to run her to the finish. It was such a special thing to be a part of. I know Becky and I were both extremely proud of our runner that day!

—

The weekend festivities left me incredibly inspired and with a runner’s high so great, you’d think I actually ran the marathon. Congratulations to all of the amazing runners who completed the 115th Boston Marathon, especially Aron, Corey, Emily, Jane, Justin, Kim G, Lizzy, Matt, Noel, Page, and Sarah! You all are incredibly inspiring!

I already can’t wait for 2012