Plans for the Boston Marathon

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! Marathon Monday is in less than three days - EEKS! I feel like I have been waiting for this day FOR-EV-ER... And maybe that's because I have been... I mean, I qualified for the Boston Marathon on October 1st, 2016 and will finally head to the starting line of the world's oldest annual marathon on April 16, 2018 (not to mention all of the time I spent prior to my first BQ race attempting to qualify)! But, nonetheless, THE DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED!

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For a lot of my big races I lay out a few goals for the day. Well, this one is a little different... I will have ZERO time goals!

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You see, I only plan on running the Boston Marathon once. It's a #OneAndDone for me. The race itself is a pretty penny (upwards of $200 once fees are tacked on), and that's before everything else that has to be added (accommodations, airfare, etc) which also cost an arm and a leg. Not only that, but I want to give other runners the opportunity to experience the magic that is Boston. Now I am not saying there is anything wrong with someone who runs the marathon more than once, but for me, I don't want to take that spot away from another runner who worked their tail off if I've already been able to do it. (PS I totally reserve the right to change my mind in the future, but at least for now this is my current stance.)

I'M BOSTON BOUND, BABY!

Since I only plan to run the Boston Marathon this one time I want to enjoy every single second of it. Don't get me wrong, I normally try to do my best to soak in the moment, but I want to make sure it is my MAIN focus during the miles on Monday. I worked incredibly hard to be able to qualify and run this race and I don't want to rush and miss anything.

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You may remember that even though I qualified for this race (two ways to run the Boston Marathon are to run a qualifying time or run on behalf of a charity after raising a boatload of money) I am still running as part of a team to raise money and awareness for Rett Syndrome. Not only am I one of seven lovely ladies running #Boston4Rett, but each of us are running our miles specifically for 27 girls battling this debilitating neurological disorder. We're running #UntilSheCan!

If you would like to see the 27 girls I will be dedicating my 26.2 miles to (because, let's be real, if you've run a marathon you know the last 0.2 miles feels the same as a full mile), you can check out the Girl Power 2 Cure Facebook Photo Album HERE. I will also be wearing a bib on my back during the race with each of their pictures. 

Source: Girl Power 2 Cure's Facebook Page

If you are feeling a little tug on your heart strings and would like to give, you can donate to Girl Power 2 Cure HERE.

And if you want to follow me on Monday, there are a couple options. First, head to Boston (JOKING!). If you're interested, you can sign up for alerts by texting "RUNNER" to 234567 or registering online at ATTAthleteAlerts.com (and received updates via social media or email). The updates will be sent from the 10K, Half, 30K, 35K, 40K and Finish Line.

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You can also use the Boston Marathon App (available on iPhone or Android). Although, truth be told, it's pretty glitchy...

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Finally, if you want to watch for me (and all of the other amazing athletes) on the live stream, you can head to either CBS Boston for live local coverage or NBC Sports for live national coverage. I will be rocking lucky bib number 13694 ;)

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Although I may not have a goal time in mind, I have plenty of goals... In no particular order, my plan for the Boston Marathon is to: have fun, raise awareness for Rett Syndrome, enjoy every step, be grateful for the opportunity and ability to tackle another 26.2 miles, give out as many high fives and "thank you's" to the volunteers and spectators along the course as I can, encourage the runners around me, take ALL THE PICTURES so I can remember every moment and finish with a smile on my face (but, let's be real, there's a high possibility I'll be ugly crying when I cross that finish line!).

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And I couldn't conclude this post without giving a HUGE THANK YOU to YOU! So many of you have followed along on my journey from the jump and I can't even explain how appreciative I am. Know that this race is not only the culmination of all my hard work, but it's also a celebration of YOU and your support! YOU ROCK MY FREAKIN' SOCKS! Running may be an individual sport, but it's definitely the community that has been instrumental in turning this hobby into a passion!

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What is the biggest goal you have ever been brave enough to chase?