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!
******
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
Soxology: Very cool gear for the upcoming Sox Season
There are many great things about living here in Boston, but come Spring time there’s one thing that towers above the rest; the Red Sox! (And, yes, on April 20th you’ve got one of the best races in the country; the Boston Marathon.)
Being a part of Red Sox Nation is one of the best things about living here in Boston. Whether our team is doing good or bad we’re all in it together routing for them! It’s great.
Over the years we’ve had some very cool additions that have allowed us to enjoy and celebrate our love for the Red Sox even more. Bleacher Bar has opened it’s doors allowing patrons to see inside Fenway Park from their table while they grab a bite to eat or a cold drink. We also now have Soxology!
Soxology could be called the unofficial gear of the Red Sox for every Sox fan here in Boston and around the country! I’ve personally own a Soxology t-shirt and love it!
Recently, I spoke with my friend Jackye, the founder of Soxology, about the Boston marathon because I’m running it and she’s very active and into marathon’s and triathlons. I told her that I’m running it to raise $5,000 for Multiple Sclerosis under the banner of the Accelerated Cure Project. After our conversation she has decided to offer you and all your friends an incredibly generous deal, which will support me and my efforts to help the Accelerated Cure Project beat MS.
For every Soxology t-shirt, sweatshirt, or hat you buy Soxology will donate 20% towards the Accelerated Cure Project and give you 20% off your purchase when you use the code “OBEY”! You can buy everything securely at www.Soxology.com.
Thanks in advance for supporting the cause - lets see how much we can raise together!
If you want to donate directly here is the link: http://expansion.acceleratedcure.org/jobeymarathon
Props to the Runners
So up until this year I’ve always been on the sidelines cheering for all the dedicated people who choose to run the marathon for either time or some incredible charity. I’ve always been on the sidelines cheering and partying with my friends while never really realizing how much dedication, time and energy they’ve put into the run.
This year I’ve chosen to get off the sidelines and join in on the race by running the Boston Marathon this April 20th. I’ve already had some frustrating knee issues and have 100% realized that what seemed easy is quite difficult. It’s a race about the journey and the experience and when it comes to race day you’re actually running a victory lap. (It means you’ve made it.)
I just got back from a 8 mile run and I wanted to commend the hundreds of other runnners out there today. Just on my own run I saw at least 100 people out there. So props to you! Your constant commitment to waking up and running for hours is inspiring! Cheers to you!
Happy Holidays
Like many of you, I’m spending this holiday season with my family. (I’m currently getting ready to spend Christmas Eve with my family and writing this post from my I-phone.)
I wanted to take this quick moment to wish you all a safe and happy holiday and all the best in 2009!
Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!
-Justin
Hello and Welcome!
Hey,
How’s it going? I’d like to welcome you to my blog and tell you a little about myself and why I decided to join the blogging community.
My name is Justin, and I’ve lived here, in the Boston area, my entire life. I’ve traveled around the country, to parts of Central America, Europe, and have lived in Vienna but have managed to settle back here in the beautiful city of Boston, which I call home. After playing sports all my life, organizing events at Bentley, marketing for Red Bull and graduating from Bentley College with a degree in Finance and Economics, I co-founded Social Boston Sports with a few friends while working at a Commercial Real Estate Lender when I was 22.
I’ve always believed in living an active lifestyle through sports, (individual, team, and adrenaline sports) meeting as many great people as possible, and taking advantage of what life has to offer. Social Boston Sports is a combination of all this and more!
So where did Social Boston Sports (SBS) come from?
After graduating from college I wanted to continue staying active in Sports Leagues, continue to meet new people, and get involved in the community. Meeting new people was easy; meeting new friends was a little harder. Getting involved in sports leagues was easy; finding them for reasonable prices was harder. Getting involved in the community was easy; deciding how do get involved was harder. Then it came to me…why not create a company that fostered an open and welcome community for young professionals (21-35) allowing people to get involved, stay active, while meeting new people? Social Boston Sports was born.
It’s called Social Boston Sports for a few reasons. Social because whether its a party, networking event, class, adventure weekend, or a sports league we design everything with a strong social aspect. Boston, well, I think you get that one. Sports, because there is no better way to get out and stay active while meeting new people! Social Boston Sports is the community for young professionals who live, work, and play in Boston!
Since founding the company, Social Boston Sports has grown from 50 of our friends to a rapidly growing 2,000 plus members. We have taken the full plunge and quit our day jobs making SBS what we do from sun-up to sun-down. We have hosted 100+ highly attended and successful events. We still have not ever looked back with any regret.
Throughout my blog I won’t really discuss Social Boston Sports in much detail other than how it is a part of my life. I will talk about what it’s like to live an active lifestyle here in Boston, what I believe living a successful life means, and my adventures and experiences living in Boston while starting a company.
Cheers,
Justin
