Sunday, April 15, 2007

#24923 Tracing History


The weather forecasters were right on this one 'BoomerNation. But it takes more than a 20+ mph headwind, high 30s temps, and a steady rain to keep me from the starting line of the 111th Boston Marathon.

Tomorrow morning I'll start in Hopkington, pass through eight towns, and beg for will to last and muscles to endure to win the privilege of entering Boston. Down slopes, up heartbreaking hills, around corners and through crowds, I'll write my own chapter in this Mecca of marathons. My fight will be individual yet collective along with 22,000 others; motivations diverse but essentially the same. I'll run east, tracing the steps of a century of forerunners, leaving my own tracks for others to follow.

Some ask me why I pin on #24923 and subject myself to such a challenge. Perhaps I'm -- with running shoes on my feet and a number on my chest -- am cursed with an excessive level of adrenaline and must run to release the beast within. Or maybe it's a large beating heart -- both literally and figuratively -- that drives me ahead while others are left behind, curious and perhaps ... just perhaps ... a bit unfulfilled by standing on the sidelines. Let that be me no more.

When I get to the line I'll be confident but more importantly I'll be respectful of the distance, thankful for the opportunity, and humble in my own abilities. That said, my head will be held high and chest puffed with purpose. After all, it's a marathon... it's no time to be timid.

26.2 miles + cold + rain + headwind = NO FEAR.

Stay tuned...

20 comments:

Spokane Al said...

Good luck. Many of us will be following you with best wishes and high hopes as you race this great, historical event.

greyhound said...

Love the Canucky socks. Hope they keep your feet warmer.

Born To Endure said...

Awwwwwww nice socks..where on earth did you get those..hee hee..:-))

Kim said...

i got you on my tracking radar bri, and will keep the blogging community updated! im thinking about you as i sit in my office downtown, as i tell people im so glad im not running this year! :) NO FEAR!

UltraMamaC said...

good luck!! I'll be watching from here in Colorado! Remember, one foot in front of the other, wind, rain and hills be damned!!!

momo said...

good luck!!! its going to be an adventure, to say the least! enjoy it!

Bolder said...

GET 'ER DONE!

rocketpants said...

Good luck! Hang in there with the wind. Looking forward to hearing how things went.

Michael Lardizabal said...

Give it all you've got ! Look forward to the RR .

SingletrackJenny (formerly known as IronJenny) said...

I think you will have fun in that weather. You just seem to like fun.
Good luck!
Jenny

Carrie said...

Hope you are having a blast...oh, and on pace for me to win the guessing game!

the Dread Pirate Rackham said...

No paddle? No oars? No sail? Well, I guess you'll just have to RUN THIS BABY LIKE YOU GOT WINGS ON YOUR FEET!!!

Born To Endure said...

Come on boomer..still going for that 5hrs for me..right???

Ellie Hamilton said...

Yay, Boomer!!!

Kim said...

YOU DID GREAT!!! I tracked your progress on my blog :) congrats boom!

Born To Endure said...

CONGRATS..you're my super hero!! Way to go!!

ShesAlwaysWrite said...

Hope you make it home safe and dry. From what I'm hearing about conditions out there you're gonna have quite a story to tell!

Sonia said...

I followed you through Shelley's blog, it was a very hard race but you didn't give up! Congrats on finhishing in less than perfect conditions! You've run Boston!!! =)

Fe-lady said...

Congratulations...I watched what I could before I went to work- everyone looked in great spirits at the start despite the weather. Glad you finished in a very respectable time for the conditions and hope you are having a hot toddy somewhere this evening with a well-deserved huge dinner somewhere!

Unknown said...

Way to go Boomer!!! (I had the luxury of checking Shelley's blog from Brent's laptop here in Tempe. It was a bonus that we could check in and follow along!)