Boston Marathon

April 20, 2026

Representing my hometown race shirt

After a nine year hiatus, a return to Boston for the 130th year of the marathon becomes my realty. While the training block in 2025 is successful and results in a personal best qualifying time for the race, the training or lack thereof leading up to the 2026 race is anything but successful. It is amazing what can transpire in 365 days. Sometimes life and the physical body are not on the same page. If only good intentions were enough for actual positive outcomes. A runner can be at peak performance to qualify for Boston and within  months struggle to complete a long run.  A minor dental surgery in June limits running for five weeks to allow for proper healing. That is just enough downtime to derail peak conditioning. The hot summer adds to a loss of my motivation to get back to pounding the pavement. A simple crack, a minor roadblock, undermines my streak of dedicated discipline. It happens, "fall down seven times get up eight."  That is the thing about life the highs don't last neither do the lows. We ride the waves and appreciate it all.

had to document this crazy term "elite"

The 2025 tune up marathon in February prepares me for Mt Charleston's April BQ. My faster than usual time grants me a free entry, thanks to my advanced age, into May's Fargo Marathon in North Dakota and the California Santa Rosa Marathon in late August  My husband and I laugh out loud at this "elite" status as I shuffle through both Marathons. Weeks of little to no running can derail any runner, especially exposing the fragility of mindset. I find myself back to "begin again" status. While I enjoy the race, my performance is less than stellar.

The last ten miles of the Santa Rosa Marathon is most definitely a slugfest. As long as we can keep smiling through races, it is all good.

Still finding it funny

I bust out the motivational speeches with dramatic music that several other struggling runners laugh and appreciate. In the later miles I catch up to my husband and holler at him to keep running when he wants to walk. He does keep running and leaves me in the dust beating me to the finish. The race closes the book on our marathon journey for 2025 with four full marathons completed. We enjoy a family vacation in September on the Island of Maui thanks to Mom. It is a gorgeous resort right on the water with the best sunsets.

A favorite family trip.

This view never gets old!

We spend so much time on the beach and soak in the warm waters. Hawaii is the best way to recover from lots of running. Such a nice reward. Still under the false pretense that a normal training cycle will begin in January with my sights set for faster 2026...  

The new year doesn't start as anticipated, however. Along with our return to marathon running, my spare time is spent improving our yard. My big toe unfortunately slams into a concrete birdbath while I try to prevent it from falling. The swelling prevents shoe wearing for several weeks and more delays to Boston training. No need to worry there is still time to be ready or so I think. My daughter and have a 1/2 marathon on the schedule for the end of February and with limited miles logged I make it to the start line with her.

Running is so much fun when you share the road with family. Although she beats me by a lot, I am feeling more confide that I may be able to salvage my training miles if I have some solid weeks in March and April. Monday, after the half, I catch a flu bug that lasts and lasts and lingers even further. There goes another three weeks of running. At one point I contemplate canceling my hotel and just losing out on the entry fee, but the airplane tickets are already purchased and I really do want to go.  As March comes to a close I log one half marathon and one painful 16 miler which will have to suffice for training. The best laid plans sometimes go astray.

Once reconciled in my mind that we are going to Boston, the only thing that can be done is enjoy the experience and give it my best effort. We make it easy on ourselves and leave from the close airport requiring a stopover in Dallas. It is hit and miss with thunderstorms common in April. Luckily, we have a smooth flight with no delays or issues. The opportunity to watch three movies on the plane passes the time quickly. We also splurge and stay at the Langham Hotel.

Saturday is mostly a travel day, but once we check into the hotel, we have some time to make our way to the finish line before it gets dark.

It is an unwritten rule...runners must go to the finish line and take a picture before race day to soak up all the excitement and nervous energy of fellow runners.

Sunday is busy expo day as expected. They have so many volunteers directing, it is a well oiled machine. Runners are herded on where to go. A few things have changed since the last time. Runners must have a QR code to pick up bibs. I didn't have mine loaded to my phone so I could not get my bib until I got it. The helpful volunteer assisted me on getting what I needed. Very exuberant volunteers are especially excited to cheer and ring the cowbell for first time runners. The expo didn't seem as big as previous years, but there is a board to write a message for the runners and a list of participant names.

The Yellow Go is mine

Find Your Name

My main take away is immense gratitude for my health and that I am still able to pursue my running passions even when not at full capacity. While at the expo, Dave, the race director, is doing a question and answer segment with legacy runners who run Boston  every year. 

Dave on the left 

Dave, himself has not missed a year not even the year he had open heart surgery. This Boston is his 54th time completing the marathon. Dave concludes his segment with a message to all runners regardless of what issue or hardship we may face, "If you make it to the start line take a moment to be grateful!" I heed the message.

The Newton Hills

After some lunch we head back to the hotel to relax. We wear the plush hotel robes and slippers when we take advantage of the pool and hot tub along with several other runners with the same idea. For the prerace meal we need our umbrellas to walk to dinner.

We definitely need our big coats for this year's trip. It is bitterly cold for fair weather Californians. As our chilly day comes to an end, it's time to prepare for race morning. Sleep is still my hardest task of each day, but a pretty good night of sleep is another thing to count as a sweet blessing along with the quiet room.

Running Boston is an all day event. With an 11am start time and staying at a hotel within walking distance to the buses allows for a  leisurely start to the day. My husband graciously walks with me to the bus line. I luck out and approach from the closest access point to the bus line. There were three ways to get to the line and many runners waited two hours to get to the only actual access point. I am on the bus within twenty minutes. In previous years bus loading is as easy as walking up, show bib and get on the bus. This year runners approach one staging area from three points. Once near the announcer each runner is directed to stand in a yellow square before runners are assigned a bus line to walk to and board. I end up sitting next to a runner from New York with a red bib which means he should already be at the village staging area. The 45 minute bus ride always go by so quickly as runners share run stories. Jeremy is a new fast runner this being his first Boston. After running only three marathons, the New York  City Marathon twice both times under three hours and a uphill trail run in Switzerland, he easily qualifies for Boston. I eat my two slices of cinnamon raisin toast and banana while we chat. He explains the new shoe technology to me about how shoes can propel the foot increasing runner speed. The shoes only hold up for 100 miles or less. No wonder I see so many people carry an extra pair of shoes. They don't want to waste even a mile walking in the fast shoes. We each learn something from our talk as I tell him about some of my favorite races. As soon as we arrive at athlete's village, he says he has to bolt for the bathroom and then start line. I tell him to go straight to the start line that there will be bathrooms right before the corrals with no lines.

My slice of heavenly sunshine

Runners must wear disposable clothes to athletes village since bag drop in not allowed. I wear three layers of clothing and part with my Bakersfield Marathon sweatshirt and two zip up jackets from my closet. Many runners hit up Goodwill for items to stay warm. I bought a men's fleece lined jacket at Costco for five bucks in January with staying warm in Boston under the tent in mind. But it becomes my favorite stay warm work in the yard winter jacket. Nonetheless, it is interesting to see the outfits runners have on to stay warm. 

Always seeking the sunshine

I am not nervous, instead I am relishing the experience. I search out a place to sit along the thousands of bodies and I find my perfect corner spot just under the tent.  Like a cat who finds the rays of sunshine shining through the window blinds in a room, I pounce and seize the perfect place to wait for my wave time.  I am not cold as the perfect day unfolds, sunshine with a chill in the air and a tailwind to chase us all back to Boston. Soaking in my surroundings, appreciation for the grandness of the day is the pervasive feeling.

GU or Candy bar

I do not have unrealistic goals for the run, today. I definitely want to be well under five hours and as close to four hours as possible. The facts are the facts, run outcomes are determined by the training preparation. After enjoying a Milky Way with 240 calories of prerace energy, I get in line for the porta potties. It is the least fun part of the day. My wave is called and I make the almost mile walk to the start line walking through the streets of Hopkinton. I should have listened to the advice I gave my bus partner as I stopped for a second potty break right before entering the corral and of course no lines. 

This in not the pacer...just a fellow runner

I run into a fellow pacer from Eureka as we are getting into the same corral. She is the only person I know that is running this year. I am the only one running Boston from my city, usually there are several as we have an active run community. As a green wave runner I get into corral 2 and I am surrounded by blue bibs and yellow bibs. These are the runners that sadly waited in the hour to two hour bus lines and missed their respective start times. Now they will be weaving around slower runners. Bus loading I image will be the biggest compliant by runners in the survey they send to us after the race. Putting all the problems of the world aside, it is time to start running the iconic Boston Marathon. I have been so chill and nonchalant that I forget to turn my watch on. I frantically turn it on and wait for it to connect to GPS...the gun is about to go off and it is still not ready. We all start walking to the start line and I am quietly saying to myself wait wait my watch isn't ready yet. Just as I reach the mat it clicks on and I am ready to run.

Of course the goal is not to go out too fast to prevent dying in the last half, but let's be real I am going to die in the the second half regardless. With only one long run under my belt since August of 2025 expectations are in check. The marathon never disappoints. It is a thrill for any runner to be celebrated and cheered nonstop for 26.2 miles. I have lots of Gu in my pocket and the goal is to take them often to keep my energy up. I drink water and electrolytes often in an attempt to ward of the dreaded wall. 

The first ten miles are wooded less populated areas with a lake around mile nine and yet there are still plenty of people lining the road to cheer us all on. Patriot's Day has to be the most memorable and special day of the year for residents and participants. The holiday is an excuse to celebrate random strangers.

The first half of my run is ticking along fairly well. It is fun to hear the girls of Wellesley a half mile before we actually see them screaming and cheering at mile 12. My goal is to get a sub 2 hour half split. I barely break 2 hours with a time of 159:44 and as soon as my feet hit the timing mat my body immediately slows down.

It's a relief to be halfway through the race and to ease up for the second half as the struggle against fatigue begins. I am so glad I chose to wear my slay the trail shirt. I must have heard slay, slay the trail over 200 times. The spectators are just as much a part of the race with their tremendous enthusiasm. The cheers, encouragement, signs and high fives pull even the weariest among us through some of the roughest miles. Spectators single out runners to personalize their cheers and it is appreciated more than they realize. I want to thank every person who yelled at me to "slay" it helped so much. The Newton Hills were actually hilly. It has been years and I didn't remember how challenging the five miles of rolling hills actually are. When properly trained they are not nearly as tough.

This section of the race is as bad for me as the quality of this picture. Even my phone camera is tired and barely functioning. I staggered through miles 18 to 21 in a daze and tried the GU provided by the race which is so disgusting I can't stomach it. Once I descend Heartbreak hill at Mile 21 I surge a bit at least the pace picks up slightly for a few miles. I keep working to reach the infamous Citgo sign.

Only 1 mile to go...

The crowds are awesome as always. The streets are lined and packed beyond packed which pushes runners to try harder. The last hurdle is climbing up the Commonwealth underpass. Runners veer away from the crowd just before summitting that final hill and reaching the infamous "right on Hereford" and "left onto Boylston."

The final stretch down Boylston is exciting and yet seems to take forever to step on the finish line with my regular shoes. My shoes  are not the springy variety that everyone seems to be wearing, touting to shave 30 seconds off each mile. Run of the mill running shoes carry me through; in spite, of a too tightly tied shoelace on my left foot. At one point during the Newton Hills, I spot empty lawn chairs and momentarily think about sitting down to loosen the laces...actually the pain become quiet noise and my mind blocks out the throbbing in my foot.

The thrill of victory and the agony of the feet. It is an addicting feeling to be apart of the Boston Marathon. I understand why so many come back year after year.  Shhhh...don't tell my husband, but I would not mind being one of the legacy runners, it only requires nine more in a row to meet the milestone. Hopefully, we will return when my husband gets his qualifying time possibly 2028. It is now time to celebrate. My husband lugs around my clothes and jacket for 4:22:27 and he deserves a burger and a beer at Cheers. It will be his second trip there today as he eats there earlier while waiting for me after he watches the professional runners come through hours before.

The bar is full of excited runners and Bostonians enjoying the energy of the day together. Locals are so friendly and warm and fun to converse with while enjoying a few brews. We know the drill by now eat and enjoy because once we walk back to the hotel there will be little incentive to go out again. After a hot shower we make our way back to the hot tub to soak my achy muscles. An extra day in Boston allows for shopping. I buy myself extra Boston apparel something I rarely do...afterall, tomorrow is never promised and we never know when our final run will be. A Boston trip is not complete without some Regina's pizza before heading to the airport.

It has been three weeks since my Boston run and I can attest that the marathon blues is a real thing. My normal solution is to put something else on the calendar. I try to talk my daughter into running the San Diego Marathon at the end of the month, but thankfully she lets me know that may not be wise. For now, I am enjoying some much needed rest as my body needs healing especially my (left hamstring). My mind and soul need some healing as well. The tragic death of Charlie Kirk is a profound loss affecting so many people. His powerful voice and wisdom is missed greatly. He most likely would have been president. We will never get to see his full potential realized.  In the meantime, I will continue to work in my yard, continue to appreciate life and continue to pursue goals.

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