The biggest surprise ever, well kind of

I got bit by the marathon bug last year. After doing a bunch of half marathons, I figured it was time to tackle a full. After Rock n Roll San jose 2009, Meb was kind enough to take a photo with me. (he won the NYC marathon a few months later) This was the first spark towards completing another full. (My first full marathon was the 2002 NYC marathon. That experience is a story for another day. SUAR, you've totally got the Boston with your current level of fitness. I know what it is like to "run" a marathon without any training whatsoever. I finished and didn't die. You are in much better shape now than I was then...)

In January 2010 my dad and I went to Phoenix to do the Rock n Roll Arizona half and full marathons. This race was his BQ. I was so lucky to have finished the half in enough time to run over to the car, get my good camera, and then run back to the finish area for the marathon and wait for my dad. I got nervous when the 3:40 pace group went by. A few minutes later I saw him run the final 200 meters to the finish- and I knew he had BQ'd.

 We were both so happy he could fulfill his life dream/goal of running Boston.
He is from the Boston area and was always into running- he just fell short of the crazy qualifying time standard to get into Boston 30 years ago. (he needed a 2:50 marathon) Again, watching him finish made the urge to run another full very present in my mind. I ended up getting into the Nike Women's marathon for 2010. My goal was to go balls to the wall in training and BQ too. My best friend Tribu was also going to run the Nike and try to BQ.

Long story short. I had to abandon the BQ training very early on. I was working full time, going to school full time for my second bachelor's degree, and had to have some time for my wonderful, wonderful and my puppy CB. I trained, but not hard enough. My goal was to remain healthy- and that was achieved. I finished my 2nd marathon with a smile on my face and Tribu BQ'd. I remember seeing her on the course as she only had 2 miles to go, and I still had about 6. I screamed at her "TRIBU TRIBU! You're going to BQ!!!!!!!" I was so happy for her. (it was her first marathon. She is a badass!)

So what does all of this mean? Well, this april 18 I had planned to go cheer for my dad and Tribu and everyone else at the 115th Boston Marathon. Change of plans.
Back in February Beth at SUAR held a contest- and I was one of the lucky winners. I entered it thinking I had nothing to loose, and everything to gain if I was picked. Regardless, I had to enter. I wrote my heart out and meant every word. It was a surprise up until a few weeks ago when my dad searched the entrant database for the Boston Marathon and found me. (We are the only 2 with our last name running it) I had to come clean and tell him that I would be running the Boston Marathon with him this year. He was/is shocked. (Im glad he found out so we could talk about training and share in the pre boston excitement together)

I went to Boston for July 4 last year. I took a photo of the Boston finish line for my dad to motivate him because he was having knee trouble and was going back and forth about even doing Boston, His dream. Little did I know or even dream that a little less than a year later I would be joining him in Hopkinton. This is  a dream come true and the best gift I ever could receive. I do feel a little weird about not qualifying. But my dad has reassured me I am no "Bandit" I am forever grateful to Beth for picking me and making this a reality. 8 weeks is short for marathon training, but Im in better shape now than I was in for Nike after 16 weeks of training. (and I graduated with my second degree- well finished the coursework. I officially graduate with my accounting degree in 2 weeks) I was able to train hard and put more miles in because I finished the classes for my 2nd degree about 2 weeks in. Timing could not have been more perfect.

This Monday my dad, Tribu and I along with 27,000 others will descend on Hopkinton to take on this sacred course. Everyone of us has a different story on how we got there and our reasons for doing "Boston." For me, I get to share my dad's lifelong goal of running the marathon that was in his backyard for so many years. He is proud of me and I am proud of him for making his dream a reality. Now only if I could get him to join me in wave 3 so we could run it together... Or perhaps I will just have to catch up to him and his 20 minute head start! :)  

I am so excited for this moment. It has been a journey the past 8 weeks, but well worth it.

See you in Boston!!