My Marathon Experience

All my life I’ve been watching the Boston Marathon from the sidelines.  When I was a child I would go to Wellesley Center to watch the runners with my family.  When I was in college I’d bike from Bentley University to Boston College to watch.  After Bentley I’d watch the runners on Beacon Street.  Each and every year I told myself I’d run.  This year was it.

I started training in the wintry cold of January and after a month and a half started experiencing IT Band issues.  Not wanting to quit, because of all the money my friends and family had donated Accelerated Cure Project to find a cure for MS to support me I went to physical therapy 2x a week for the month leading up to the race.

Come race day I was feeling good; the energy that morning was incredible and I was thinking positive thoughts, expecting a great run.  I was no longer focused on time, but on finishing.

The start of the race was incredible.  The crowds along the route are amazingly energetic and fun.  You run by a biker bar with singers alone the road, a sign that says, “Short-cut here”, which you hope is true, and then you get to Wellesley.  Running through Wellesley was fantastic - SO much energy.  Without thinking about it, my pace increased while I gave high fives to every girl cheering me on! After Wellesley College my family was waiting for me in Wellesley Center.  I was feeling so good I stopped to say a quick hello - it was great seeing them.

Going into mile 14 it happened.  My knees caved; seeming to be refusing to go on. Because of my injury my longest run leading up to the race was 13 miles with very little training the month before the race.

From mile 14 until mile 22 there were many points where I thought about giving up.  I would run or walk past a med. tent and question going in to see if I could get a ride home.  I looked longingly at the T on Beacon Street as it beckoned, “Get in” from it’s Cleveland Circle Station.  No, I had to keep going.

Thankfully, I made it to Brookline where my friends were waiting for me.  Upon getting there they began running with me getting the crowds on the sidelines riled up.  It was an incredible feeling having the people on both sides of the road cheering for me.  I couldn’t stop! After 3 miles with the Citgo sign in sight I made THE turn onto Boylston Street and there it was; the finish line was in sight! I went into a sprint. (A sprint in my mind anyway - it may not have been very fast at all, but at that point it seemed it.)

Then it happened. This is why people get addicting to running marathons.  When you cross that finish line after 26.2 miles you experience one of the best feelings in your life.  It’s over. You did it! The wonderful volunteers wrap you up in a marathon foil and rest the medal on your neck and you want to collapse being the happiest person in the world at that point in time.

As I write this post, a few days after the race, I find it unbelievable, but I’m already thinking about giving it another go next year.  Hopefully next year I won’t have an injury.  Next year I will beat my time!

To anyone who has said, “I want to run the marathon some day,” but hasn’t, you should. Let me tell you that you can do it and should do it! Start today, this weekend is going to be beautiful.  Wake up early and get out there and run!

I’ll see you out there!

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I want to give a sincere thank you to everyone who helped me prepare for this marathon.  Thank you to all my friends and family who donated to the Accelerated Cure Project to help find a cure for MS on my behalf.  (Today we have raised an incredible $3,884.00, only $1,116.00 short of the $5,000 goal. ) Thank you to everyone who gave me tips on how to prepare for the race.  Thank you to everyone who trained with me on those long runs.  It was all this incredible support from all of you that enabled me to do this.

If you wanted to donate but didn’t have the chance or want to donate more there is still time for us to reach the goal of $5,000. Your help is much appreciated http://expansion.acceleratedcure.org/jobeymarathon