Why I Registered for the Boston Marathon

What: The 122nd Boston Marathon

Where: Boston, MA

When: April 16, 2018

If you’ve had any running-related conversation with me in the past year, you know I was 100% set on not running another marathon ever in my life.  I ran Chicago in 2012 to check 26.2 miles off my bucket list.  I decided to train to race Houston in 2016 to see what I was capable of but I got injured and signed up for Miami in 2017 for redemption.  I accomplished my goal in Miami and was completely satisfied with retiring from the distance.

“But what about Boston?”  

I am not made to run marathons.  A marathon is not what defines you as a runner. The Boston Marathon is not what defines you as a runner.  In fact, I’ve always thought people who run Boston (and train for Boston in the Northeast) are crazy.  I’m a Buffalo girl.  I love New York.  I don’t even really like the city of Boston.

“Boston could be like your victory lap!”

You mean a 26.2 mile victory lap after 16 weeks of training in the freezing, cold winter?

Ok maybe I’m crazy too but the more I think about it… do I really want to let my fear and stubbornness get in the way of an opportunity of a lifetime?

It look a lot of internal debate and motivation self-talk but I did it.  On September 15th when registration opened for my qualifying window, I submitted my entry for the Boston Marathon.

So here we go. These are my top 10 reasons why I registered for the Boston Marathon:

1.  I qualified. 

My goal in Miami was to run 26.2 miles at 8:00 pace which is 3 hours and 30 minutes.  I wasn’t focused on a BQ but reaching my personal goal would put me 5 seconds under the Boston qualifying time for my age group.  Yeah, that’s cool.  But it was never my motivation.

2.  Peer pressure can be a bitch.

Enough said.  You all know who you are.

3.  It’s THE BOSTON MARATHON.

It’s one of oldest and most prestigious running races in the world.  There is so much history surrounding the Boston Marathon.  It truly would be an honor to run.  And even more of an honor to run as a qualifier.

4.  I like even numbers…

2018 is on the 16th and is the 122nd race.  I will be 32 years old and it will be my 4th marathon.

5.  …but 7 is actually my favorite number.

I qualified by 7 seconds.  Was that a sign?

6.  You get a really cool jacket.

7.  You get to eat all the carbs.

8.  I got big goals and I cannot lie.

Actually my goal for Boston is to survive.  Flat courses are my thing and Boston is not.  I will probably run lower mileage in training than my previous marathons and focus less on speed work and more on strength training.  I want to get stronger and FEEL GOOD crossing the finish line.

9.  Two words: Social media.

I’m actually only doing it for the Instagram pics.  (Follow me @jenskiba!)  I also figured it will give me something to do and blog about for those 4 lousy months after Christmas.

10.  As the kids used to say… YOLO.

Let’s do this.  I’m not getting any younger.  Training starts in 2 weeks on Christmas Day!