I received a comment from an anonymous person questioning why I have had this blog for over a year now but have not qualified for Boston so I thought I should answer. First of all, I have never trained to run a 3:45 marathon which is what I need to BQ. I have never given a time frame as to when I plan to BQ. The title of my blog "Boston Bound Brunette" simply means that one day I am bound to get there. It may be when I am 50 or it may be when I am 60! It may never happen for me but who really cares?
My current goal is to run a marathon in under four hours and I can't even tell you when that will happen! I am a pretty busy person, as most of us are, I work a full-time job and I commute 80 miles a day. I am a mother, a wife, a granddaughter to a woman who just lost her husband, and a daughter to a man who is fighting cancer, before I am a runner. That is just where my priorities are at right now. I don't run an incredible amount of miles and I am not a naturally talented runner as many of you are so a BQ will not come easy for me. I have to work really hard to achieve the small things that I do. I know that a BQ will require a much harder course of training than what I am currently fitting into my schedule. I have even considered hiring a running coach when I believe that I am physically and mentally ready to run an 8:30 pace for 26.2 miles.
I apologize if I misled anyone with the title of my blog as I was not trying to display myself as something that I am not or come across in any kind of arrogant way. Do I want to BQ? Hell yeah I do, but for now it is just one of those dreams that I will continue to chip away at and if it happens it happens. Until my day comes, I will continue to run to the best of my ability and do whatever I can do to get myself that much closer to my ultimate goal of running the Boston Marathon!
I hope that answers the question....
Running snobbery is an amazing thing - seriously. It has been my vast experience that runners of all abilities from Olympic Qualifiers to the rest of us midpack mamas are all in it together and have no reason to look down on each other. We are always evolving. The point is that we KEEP running, no matter what our current pace.
ReplyDeleteMy best half is a 1:56. One of my good friends ran a 1:19 a few moths ago. She loves to hear every little detail about my races. It's the experience and camaraderie that bonds us as runners. Not our times.
That being said ... with a 20 miler like you had in your prior post, Boston most certainly is close in sight. Go get 'em!!!
Thank You Kathy for those positive words and encouragement. I am hopeful that one day I will get my BQ but it is not something that keeps me awake at night. Life is good and running is something that I want to continue to enjoy without putting too much pressure on myself.
DeleteOMG, you have nothing to explain or apologize for. No way. Take my blog name, "Getting it done on the run".....there are MANY days where I get nothing done. There, I said it. And yet I still keep my blog. Hmmm.....
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about the elusive BQ is that the older we get, the smaller the gap becomes. Those 5 and 10 mins increments become a great way to celebrate a perhaps otherwise scary milestone birthday into something awesome!
BQ is yours when it's supposed to be. And I can't wait to read that race report right here on Boston Bound Brunette! :)
You are too funny Lisa! It would be great to get to Boston soon but truthfully I don't care when it happens. I just want it to happen before I die! Thank you for your support. It means a lot to me!
DeleteNo need to explain :).... You'll get there eventually! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the support Jose.
Deleteoh my gosh Sandy that is so ridiculous that someone would ever ask you a question like that.
ReplyDeleteYou are a talented runner who also happens to have a million other things to focus on in life (about 100X times more things than I do). You run because you love it, not because you're fixated on getting a certain time.
Can't wait to run Boston with you, whenever it happens (because I know it will)!
Thank You Katherine for the kind words of support. I can't wait to get to Boston someday even if I am 60 when it finally happens.
DeleteThis is making so mad....some people need a life
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe this
I bet they cannot run 2 miles
Seriously.....sorry you had to deal with this... You actually owe nobody any explanations for the title of YOUR blog
Grrrrr
I am not a fan of anonymous comments
The whole anonymous thing is kind of weird. I am not sure why people hide and do not want to say who they are. I guess they must think that there is something wrong with what they are doing/saying otherwise just ask the question openly.
DeleteThe audacity of some people blow me away -- seriously, my mind is blown right now simply knowing someone asked you that. I agree with everyone's comments above and ummmmm, hello anonymous commenter, that is what a blog is for -- to document goals, progress, challenges, obstacles, accomplishments, etc. Sandy, you are not misleading anyone with your title because yes, one day you will run Boston:)
ReplyDeleteThank You Jenn! I have a pretty full plate right now and just haven't really had the mindset to focus on that BQ. I will get there though when it is my time.
DeleteWell, your anonymous and my anonymous need to join a club. My anonymous picked on me for "not paying enough attention to my kids". Funny how they may "know" that, seeing they have no idea what I do on a day to day basis. Anonymous folks need to start their own club of perfection.;) I am perfectly imperfect and happy with that. It is how I learn every day. As for Boston, I understand your blog and you. It has been my journey for 4 years. I promised my dad. I need Boston, but I am taking baby steps there. Will I qualify in October while in Toronto? Who knows? I hope so and I am working hard for it. I am also not a naturally born runner. Some people are blessed with the ability to run fast paces without breaking a sweat. I am not one of them. It has taken me 4 years to work up my pace. I have high blood pressure, even with all of my weight loss and healthy diet. I believe in baby steps. So I say BRAVO to you friend!! Take your time getting there. You have a full plate, much like I do. It is not easy to always juggle it all. Take those baby steps. Your blog name is Boston BOUND Brunette. Another words you are working your way to get there, not heading there tomorrow.:) Goober anonymous folks. Hugs friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jolene for the support. Some people have nothing better to do than to criticize others but what can you do. I will just continue to do my thing and hopefully one day I will live my dream of running Boston. Good luck with your BQ in October. It looks like your training is going really well!
DeleteSad sad comment..........looks like somebody needs to crawl back under their rock!
ReplyDeleteSandy, I love your blog.....I love reading about your races.......and I find inspiration in pretty much every thing you do. For someone I've never met, you've been wonderfully supportive of me in my efforts, and I hope I'm at least returning that to you in equal measure. Why someone would take a shot at you is beyond me......but I guess that's easy to do when you're "anonymous".....hiding behind your keyboard.
You just keep tearing up the road, and when you do get your BQ, know that I'll be cheering out loud for you....and I'll either run the race with you, or be somewhere out there on the course to cheer you on......either way, I've got your back! :>)
You brought tears to my eyes Bill! Yes you are so supportive of every single run I do whether it is good or bad! Yes one day we will be out there running Boston together! Thank you for having my back Bill!
DeleteI love all the nice comments on here, and I love your life balance and your approach to Boston. You WILL get there. And you're doing what lots of other people struggled with: enjoying the journey.
ReplyDeleteThank You Terzah. I am glad that I am not as concerned about it as "Anonymous" is or else I would not be having too much fun. It's a tough road to get that BQ but I know that my time will come soon enough. For now I am just enjoying running and having fun while doing it. Good luck on your BQ since you are way closer than I am!
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