After my missed BQ at Sugarloaf this year it was suggested to me that maybe I could make another go at it at Smuttynose in the fall. The thinking was that with the new qualification standards for Boston, registration wouldn’t necessarily be closed as of September 30th.
I never did sign up for Smuttynose, and truly, even though there is space left, I would have no shot at training properly with only six weeks to go. I do have another marathon on already the schedule. Early November I am running New York. Conceivably, with about 11 1/2 weeks to go, I could consider running New York as a qualifier but that is a tough race to run at that pace. The truth is between studying for my CSCS certification, the girls being home from summer camp and dedicating my Sundays to training runs for the Team Up with Autism Speaks charity runners (if you haven’t signed up, please do —>– HERE –<—!!!) I haven’t had much time to train period. Early mornings are spent studying, days are spent keeping the kids active and entertained and evenings are spent cooking, dishwashing, putting everyone to bed and writing.
I know, I can hear you telling me, well, why not after everyone goes to bed?
Yesterday I wrote about finding your H-Spot – your happy zone. The place where you look at yourself in the mirror and are happy with the physical you that stares back. That H-Spot can be applied to everything. I’ve reached a place where I know I BQ’s once and came close on two other occasions. My happy place with running right now is helping others reach distances they never have before and getting the occasional personal run in.
And I’m finally okay with that.
Boston will wait. Training to qualify for Boston is on indefinite hold.
This satisfaction will not last forever. I know that eventually, I will want to get back to the pursuit of that elusive unicorn; I will want to toe the line in Hopkinton once again as a qualifier. It might be next year; it might wait until I’m 45. Whenever it is, I know I’m in a happy spot right now – plus, there is a certain satisfaction in having no fear of the 26.2 mile distance when I am running just for fun as I will be once again doing in New York.
There’s only room for so much on one’s dinner plate – and right now, I am satisfied with what’s before me.
Run Luau Run 
Vermont 50 2013! Gotta’ get our 9-Handle!
That sounds like a fantastic, challenging idea. 50 miles in under 10 hours…YOU are on!
…maybe I could even think about going barefoot!
Sounds good to me!
Love you,
Mom
I’m so happy to read this post. You deserve to have a little less personal pressure. While for me it is still a struggle that I have not improved significantly on running times nor my waistline, I can prouldly say I finished a half ironman, an olympic distance triathlon, many sprint triathlons and actually placed in 2 of them, ran the Boston Marathon (albeit slowly) and soon I will add the New York marathon. I can’t say that i know anyone in my life that has done the same. Plus I’m a proud mama to two unique and beautiful girls on the Autism Spectrum. I have enough bragging material if you get what I’m saying. I am so close to letting go of my idea of perfection. What I have come to learn over the last 3 years is that perfection doesnt exist and if I achieve something there is always something bigger and better. I’m trying to just enjoy myself and not put too much pressure to be better (only a little, hey it gets me off the couch). My life doesn’t need more stress. So after my last race I decided it was time to just do what I can and enjoy it right now it’s slow but that’s ok because I’m happy. On a side note I set my 2013 goal, next year is ultra year for me. I hope to run VT 50, under 10 hours – no way!