It’s Marathon Monday!…as if you didn’t know. As a former Bostonian and graduate of Boston University, the city that sits a mere 120 miles or so from my home, is very close to my heart. Boston is like one of my best friends; it carries a lot my secrets, it’s always there for me, and we’re guaranteed to have a good time whenever we get together. Well, maybe except for that one time when I ran the marathon in 2007. That was the year it was almost canceled.
In lieu of my regular rundown this week, I’m brining you the Boston edition with some old and some new events that the Commonwealth has provided me with over the years. Plus, I’m in taper mode for the Long Branch marathon on April 26(.2) and it’s snoozeville over here.
WEEK OF APRIL 13, 2015
RUNNING: Way back in 2007 I wasn’t even sure I was going to be running the Boston Marathon right up until the night before. A spring Nor’easter had blown into town and with it came downed power lines, ice, wind, sleet and freezing rain. Ideal conditions for your dream race, right?
The 2007 Boston Marathon gave new meaning to the words “water station!”
Luckily (I think?) it was held, the rain stopped but the wind and cold were biting. I crossed the finish line in my slowest time ever – 3:47 – and ended up in the medical tent because I couldn’t find my family, who had all my dry clothes. After that crisis was averted, I was all smiles because I had just run the freakin’ Boston Marathon!
Me and my dad (who ran up Heartbreak with me!) at the finish in 2007.
CYCLING: As a college student at Boston University from 19993-1997, I rode my bike all over the city. As a result, everything that could have been stolen off of it was! I once had to walk several miles back to my apartment, carrying my bike, because someone stole my back tire (my front one was locked) in the time it took me to run into a store and return a video.
Remember when you used to rent videos? #ImOld
CROSS-TRAINING: Most of my cross-training in college was drinking and sleeping. I didn’t even run, and if I happened to not sleep through Marathon Monday, I would look out at the runners and think they were completely insane. Hard to imagine, right? If someone had told me in 1997 that someday it would be my dream to run that marathon I would have laughed my ass off.
Graduation day 1997! My stepmom, me, my dad and my brother. Can you tell I wasn’t a runner back then?
FUEL: You must have a Sam Adams beer when in Boston. One of my most favorite hangouts, and a great place to have a Sam and some chowdah is right on Boylston Street. It’s a gritty Boston-esque bar/restaurant called The Pour House (get it?) where I have spent many nights and many meals.
RACING: The marathon of course is the main event! There have been so many memories made and dreams realized over those 26.2 miles. Of course, there has also been tragedy. It’s important to remember and honor the memory of those who lost their lives or had them forever altered because of terrorism.
This year I’m rooting for so many of my friends who will be running down their dreams: Denise Pantason, Michele Gonzalez, Angela Bekkala, and Laura Peifer! GO GET IT LADIES!
…and I seriously hope Meb wins AGAIN, two weeks shy of  40 (suck it 40!) and either Shalane or Desi take home a much needed win for the American women!
THINGS I LOVE: In two weeks, after eight years, I will once again try to qualify to run the Boston Marathon! The thought makes me giddy. I have a bone to pick with that race and I want to return in 2016 and run it with all the experience and power this 40 (and at the time of the race, 41!) year old body has!
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH: The weather on so many of my important race days! My first marathon ever? Pouring, driving rain the entire time. World Championship Duathlon in Spain? 85 degrees at the start. I can not even begin to recount all the races I’ve run in horrible conditions. Yes, it makes me stronger and all that BS, but please let this NJ marathon be 40 degrees and clear! Please?
READING: My Boston marathon story on RunHaven and what you can change about the weather. Hint: Your attitude!
MUSIC: Whatever other song you hear during a race, you can count on hearing Eye of the Tiger at least once! It’s the runner’s national anthem. You know you want to hear it…
RANDOM QUOTEÂ RACE SIGN OF THE WEEK:Â I’m sorry (not sorry) but this is hilarious:
Do you have a special connection to a city or state?
Are you rooting for any Boston Marathon runners today? Give them a shout out!
IM SO SO SO PITTSBURGH PA.
born and raised.
left for college and came back for masters degree.
moved soon thereafter but am SO SO SO PITTSBURGH PA.
<3 <3
Love it!!! I drove though it once – beautiful city – hope to go one time and actually stop!
I’m so excited for you to qualify in 2 weeks! You’d think it was me qualifying 🙂
Your energy is contagious!
You are so great Jill!!! Thank you so much!
I was there that year too! So my record there is this: 2007 in the rain and 2012 in the heat. You know what? The rain was sooo much better! Even the torrential downpours at Cim in 2012 were so much better than that hot year. Marathons are just not meant to be run in heat. But you’re right: you can’t control so you might as well sit back and enjoy it. I’ll see you there in ’17 (my friends and I do the 5-yr plan at Boston).
As for cities–cannot blame you for loving Boston. Aside from the race, it is one of our country’s best cities all around. I think if any city has my heart like that it is probably Baltimore. I’ve been here so long that it really is home, with all it’s quirkiness. And that makes me laugh b/c I didn’t like it when I first moved here.
It’s funny how a city can grow on you like that!!
I love the Boston 5 year plan and I love that you also ran it in 2007. I have to agree with the heat! I’ll take hurricane winds over heat!
So very excited for you and can you believe that I have only ever been to Boston once when I was younger myself though! 😉
Thanks Janine!! You need to go back and bring the family. It’s a great city for kids – museums, parks, food, you name it.
You already know I’m so Brooklyn! Man I remember your story of how crazy 2007 was! I can’t wait to see you get your vengeance next year!! I’m excited for today’s race. I’m a little sad I can’t watch it live but I’m rooting on all my favorites!!
Of course I know that, and I love it about you!!
The race was a great one, even without an American winner. I was watching the women’s finish at a local cafe and I was crying. Just amazing!
I didn’t know you were doing a marathon in Long Branch! That is one of the coolest places, totally changed my perception of “dirty jersey” after I had to spend a few days there for a business trip many years ago. Saw Bruce Springsteen’s house and met Bon Jovi’s brother in a bar. Such a neat and fun place!
That is awesome!!! From what I’ve seen online, it’s a beautiful place with gorgeous ocean views. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it all AFTER the grueling 26.2. Thanks Jess!
I love Boston! I grew up 45 minutes from downtown so I always will consider it home.
Besides Boston, I have a special connection to Sydney because it is where I met my husband and it is the best city! Also NYC because it is where I graduated law school, where I got engaged and married and where I had my first child.
I can’t picture you as a non-runner! It is part of your identity!
You’re just so worldly and well traveled my friend! I love that about you.
It’s even weird for ME to think about the days when I didn’t run. Just goes to show you how much people can change!
You look like you haven’t gotten one bit older since that pictures from 1997. I do have a soft spot for Boston. Went to high school outside of the city and then back for grad school in the city. But it’s a little love-not so love since my heart will always be in NYC and well, Boston-NYC have a bit of a rivalry, don’t they? I can’t wait to for you to rock it in a few weeks and then next year in Boston!
Only when it comes to sports. I think you can somewhat equally love both cities because they are so, so different 🙂 Thanks Christine!
Love this, Allie. You are spot on with “Eye of the Tiger.” Tweeted. 🙂
Congratulations on your many amazing accomplishments, and thank you for sharing your 2007 run. What a day!
Thanks Kelly! It was a day I will certainly never forget and hope to never repeat…at least weather-wise.
I also feel like I’m routing for so many people this year….loved the recap and your old photos! Fun post. And since I’m already in my 40’s, I can very confidently say it’s the best decade yet !
Fantastic!! Thanks so much!
As a woman who is already in her 40’s (41.5), I can honestly say it’s the best decade yet….I hope you do get to do Boston in your 40’s! Good luck in 2 weeks.
I just love the old photos and the sign at the end made me laugh out loud at my desk! Good luck to all today and here’s to your qualifying for 2016!!
Yeah baby!!!
The Pour House!!! Wow, that brings back some memories. I too went to college in Boston, my dorm was on Marlborough and Comm Ave. I spent my 21st birthday at the Pour House and that they did! There was another place we used to go, Daddy’s? Ah, can’t remember. So Awesome of your dad to run heartbreak hill with you!!!!
So many memories! Too funny that you celebrated your 21st there. Love that place.
I loved this rundown! I always wanted to go watch this marathon and take a tour around Boston. So cool!
You absolutely should! It’s so inspiring and the city is so great and fun.
Well, I missed the marathon but you can bet your ass (can I say that here?) that I will be watching when you run in it next year!
You can say ‘ass’ all day long here. It’s a swear friendly site. Thank you Dana!!!!
Texas is the state that has my heart – no matter where I live I will always be a Texan!!
Can’t wait for your race in a couple weeks – you are going to kill it!!
Of course you are and that whole giant state should be proud they have YOU as a representative!
The race is this Sunday!!!! So far, good weather is predicted, so let’s hope it sticks…
So cool that you are going for a BQ next week!! You’ll get it for sure 🙂
I ran the LA Marathon once in a total downpour and it was crazy, but I’ll take that over heat any day!
I went to college at UC Santa Barbara and that city it is so close to my heart. An amazing, amazing place to run!!!
Have fun tapering! 🙂
I visited Santa Barbara a few times when I lived in L.A. after college and it’s gorgeous there!
Thanks for your encouragement!! And I agree about taking rain over heat – absolutely!
I definitely have a strong connection. My entire family is from there!! I went to college there, lived there and I consider it my home despite technically growing up in NH. I used to go to spectate the Boston Marathon every year. I would usually go to part of the sox game, get wasted and then head to spectate, LOL. Some proud moments. I even got my belly button pierced in Kenmore Square on Marathon Monday one year 🙂
I know! I love that you love Boston as much as I do 🙂 I got my nose pierced near the swan boats in the park one day in college when there was a “piercing station” there as part of a festival. I’m probably lucky I didn’t get an infection!! Oh to be young…
i so love the Boston Marathon even though it is a tough day for me now. Was missing running it this year for sure! So fun to track friends though! I’ll be cheering for you in two weeks as you go for that qualifier! You will rock the run for sure!!
I had so much fun tracking friends too and, I’m beyond pumped up for my race this Sunday!! I hope I can keep this momentum going…
Good luck on BQing again! Since I’m fairly new to your blog, I enjoyed reading your Boston story!
If a city holds my heart, though, it’s a toss-up between St. Louis where I was born and Seattle/Redmond, WA. I’ve never actually been to New England, though, so that could change once I make it to the Boston Marathon.
And Sam Adams beer is the best beer.
At least we can agree on Sam Adams! I have never been to St. Louis or Seattle but those are two places I would love to visit. Someday!! Thanks Laura.
As a MA resident, I was holding them all in my heart and crying at all those finishing videos! I have a special connection to Boston, but mostly San Francisco! Surprisingly not NYC, which is where I’m from more.
Isn’t it amazing the emotion seeing that race can evoke? I was sitting in a cafe, watching the women’s dramatic finish and just crying. The effort, heart and athleticism of ALL the athletes is just something so inspiring.
I love how connected to San Fran you are! I hoping to make a trip out there in the fall and I haven’t been since I was about 25. 🙂
You are proof that age makes things better 🙂 (compliment, I promise, it’s a compliment)
I will try very hard to take it as one 🙂
The Pour House is one of our “places.” Mike and I spent many a night there when we were dating! Can’t beat the cheap beer and food in Boston!
That’s awesome! I absolutely love that place.