The Final Countdown (2014 Edition)

Two years ago, two days before the marathon, I had a blog entry titled "The Final Countdown"  at that time I had 36 hours until the race and I wrote about my excitement leading up to my first Boston.  Now, with only about 14 hours to go until my second, I'd like to do the same.

As I have always said, Boston is my dream come true.  With the "luck" of waivered entries, I'm able to run it for my second time.  When I finished the last one, I said I wouldn't go back unless I actually qualified.  That thought went out the window with the events of last year's marathon.  At that time, I was determined to go back.  I luckily received an entry through the Mass. National Guard.  I had already been training for the Disney Marathon when I applied for the entry, and didn't find out until I returned from Florida in January.  This left me about three months to recover from one marathon and prep for another.  Am I crazy???  Well the short answer is "YES".

Luckily for me, one of my friends also received an entry and we trained together.  For those from New England, you know how terrible this winter was.  As I HATE treadmills (and feeling like a hamster), I forced myself to run in single digit temperatures with wind chills in the negatives.  It was brutal, but I was able to keep my "hamster" runs to only two.

Now it's the evening before the race.  I feel nervous, but that's normal.  I believe that all my training has been enough, but only time will tell.  Tomorrow when I run, I will be doing it in memory of the four innocent people who lost their lives in the tragedy last year.  When I take the final two turns (Right on Hereford, and Left on Boyleston) I'll be able to see the finish line with a quarter mile to go.  I will pass by the two locations of the bombs, and I know my emotions will be out of control.  Boston is a strong city, and hopefully that strength will get me to the finish line.  #BostonStrong,  #WeRunTogether

Today's totals  -  0.00 miles  /  360.15 total for the year.