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A year ago this week I wrote a series of blog posts leading up to the 2010 Boston Marathon. Those posts were about Doubt, Belief, Faith and Hope. Each one was written to keep me focused on the upcoming marathon with the effect hopefully being that I would BQ at Boston. Looking back, I realize that it is what I needed at the time to justify my presence.
To a degree, I had no business being there – my bib had practically fallen out of the heavens. I was neither a charity runner nor a qualifier. In retrospect, my training had been haphazard at best. I wanted to believe I was capable of running a 3:20 in that race, but I knew it was unlikely.
In the end, the last 10K of the marathon was able to hold me down long enough to dash my BQ hopes. I finished with a respectable 3:32 – a 22-minute PR. I was happy and disappointed.
***
This year is different.
I earned my spot through qualifying back in October. My training for this cycle has been disciplined. I have run more miles in the last 4 months than in any other 4 month stretch in my life. I have no doubt that given good conditions, I will re-qualify (3:20) with room to spare, and may vastly improve my position in the rolling registration process for next year by taking a shot at 3:10. I have a burning desire to finish strong and fast, but like I said, this year is different. I don’t have the doubt. I don’t have the worry. If the weather doesn’t cooperate and the temperatures shoot up to 80°, I am not going to run in despair. I will still run hard, but I will also know that I won’t run a 3:10 or a 3:15 or maybe even a 3:20. But that’s okay. I know what I am capable of if the conditions are right.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not resting on my laurels of qualifying. The truth is, if I don’t improve on my time from October, the likelihood is that I will be shut out of the marathon in 2012 because of the new registration process. My desire, my strong burning desire is to run Boston every year, but I know that if I don’t make it back in 2012, I will in 2013 or 2014 or 2015.
I don’t have to convince myself this year that I belong. I know I do.
What a difference a year makes.
***
No matter the conditions, I will run hard. No matter the time, I will take satisfaction in knowing I did so. In the end, isn’t that all we can ask of and expect of ourselves?
Did you run hard?
Did you leave it all on the course?
If I can answer yes to both of those questions, no matter what happens, I will be happy.
Best of luck to my fellow 2o11 Boston Marathoners.
May you run hard.
Run Luau Run 
So impressed with your committment, dedication and desire to do your personal best. I am confident (always)that you will get your goal of 3:10. Faith never fear!!!
If the conditions are right, I’m gonna take a shot.
You can do it. 😀 Go get em Tiger!
😉
This is my second Boston too (the first being last year) and I feel just as nervous as last time around. It’s such an amazing course with so much history, it just seems more important than the other races out there. But, you’re right, knowing that you’re coming in off solid training is a big help. Good luck chasing down the new qualifying time.
Thanks Robert! You have a great race as well!
Did you run hard? Did you leave it all on the course? Questions to reflect on not only for the Boston Marathon but for the marathon of our life’s journey and Luau – you sure do – every day in the way you live your life! You know that Sheila and I will be praying for you and I will see you at the finish line as you look up and see the clock 3:10!!!!!! (I will be at the finish line thanks to a very dear friend).
Whatever my time, I will see you at the end!
I love this post!! Run hard Luau!!! I know you can do this, go out there and leave it all out on the course! I know what you mean about telling yourself that you can do it compared to actually being disciplined and putting in all of the work, and KNOWING that you can do it. Best of luck preparing for your final week! I am really excited to see you kill it in Boston!
Thanks Swimmykimy! Looking forward to meeting you at the blogger get together!
Congrats on qualifying. You are among the elite, perhaps more so because you climbed from the pits of the venerable Bandit to the top of Olympus. Run on!
You have a fantastic way of putting into words feelings and thoughts that have crossed my mind while running. This past weekend I was already to run my fastest 1/2 marathon in St. Louis. Alas I did not plan for the heat and posted my first DNF. My stomach threatened to reveal its contents during the run unless I stopped so I listened to it instead. My pace before I dropped out at the 6.5 mile marker was 7:30. Just where where I wanted.
I say that to say yes I agree with what you wrote. Even though I had to drop out of this 1/2, my desire will keep me training harder and longer to be better in the next run.
Keep up the wonderful work and best of luck in the upcoming marathon. U GO LUAU!!!!
Love this post. I asked someone to help me with mantras and someone wrote: someday you will not be able to do this: today is not that day. Can’t wait to meet you Saturday and hope to see you before the race in hopkinton!