Beyond Boston: Sherry Lee

A mutual friend introduced Sherry and I, and I related to her in many ways!  I remember running in 2003 when there was very little information online about how to train for anything, which is quite hard to imagine now.  She started running then in order to cheer for P. Diddy running the New York City marathon, and like most of us, was soon hooked for good.  She has been Boston streaking since 2015, after also running it in 2009 and 2010, and she plans to be part of history by running the first virtual Boston!  She checked breaking 3:00 off her list at CIM 2018 and plans to try to OTQ someday, but her biggest achievement may be her outlook, "I never want to be ungrateful for my health and ability to run." 

Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.)
Hi, I'm Sherry Lee, a Christ-follower who loves running, surfing and traveling responsibly. I teach middle school PE and live in Cupertino, California, birthplace of your Apple products ;). My husband and I love adventures in our California backyard and around the world; running in the mountains and snorkeling and surfing in the ocean.

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?
Although running the Boston Marathon is usually a tradition I cherish, I think it was the best and safest decision for Boston 2020 to be cancelled. My husband and I still ran our own marathon in April so our training wouldn't go to waste, but it was just a leisurely run. I had a strong feeling that the initially postponed race would be cancelled, so I didn't get my hopes up. I honestly didn't mind because training in the hot, dry summer is rough. I just took the time to enjoy running our gorgeous San Francisco Bay Area trails and still continued my speed work, although the mileage was shortened.

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?
Yes, I plan on running Boston 2020 virtually although not at race pace. I want to keep up my Boston streak tradition. My first Boston Marathon was in 2009 and then 2010. An injury took me out of running for a while and I had to work my way back, but haven't missed Boston since 2015. The race reminds me to be grateful for each day that I am healthy enough to run. Also, I want to be a part of history by running the first ever virtual Boston Marathon!

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?
Yes, I plan to if I feel it's safe and to continue my Boston run streak tradition.

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present.
I swam in high school and only ran a little bit as part of training. I didn't start running until I was in graduate school in New York City and I wanted to cheer on P. Diddy in the New York City Marathon in 2003. I thought if a "non-runner" like him could run a marathon, so could I. At that time, there was very little research I could do online to find any kind of training plan. In the words of Forrest Gump, "I just started running." 

I signed up for the half in the 2004 San Francisco Marathon. My goal was to run the half and be done with running. I finished in 1:56 and had so much fun, I signed up for my first full marathon. After running one marathon (more on that later), I was pretty content with just running the distance and never thought I could run any faster. It wasn't until I almost qualified for Boston when I realized a BQ could be a realistic goal for me. 

After qualifying in 2008, I went on to run 2 Bostons in 2009 and 2010, where I broke 3:30 but got injured and was unable to run the next 2.5 years. That was when I started dating my then boyfriend, now husband. Once I could start running again, I had to start from square one. My husband started coaching me and introduced me to speed work, fartleks, lactic threshold, and hilly tempo runs. Before I knew it, my personal bests in every distance started dropping and I started winning local races. I also joined my husband's Pacific Association USATF run club, Excelsior. 

My goal each year has always been dropping my marathon times, but I always thought breaking 3 hours would be a very lofty goal. In 2018, I finally broke 3 hours at CIM (another annual race on my racing schedule), finishing in 2:59:30. In the last few years, I also started a running club at the middle school where I teach. The club schedules weekly fun runs in between cross country and track season. I'm shocked and so encouraged at how many pre-teens want to run! It's a joy to share my passion with them.
                                                    
Why did you decide to run your first marathon?
After I ran my first half marathon in 2004, I decided to add “running a marathon” to my bucket list. I thought that after that, I would be done with running and be satisfied. After crossing the finish line at the 2005 LA Marathon in 4:15, I was instantly hooked on the marathon distance. I dedicated each mile to something or someone in prayer while running. It was very meditative for me, so the goal wasn’t about time. I loved running the long distance, the spectators cheering for random strangers, and runners sharing in the suffering. I truly embraced the pain afterward. I loved being sore and knowing that my body could be pushed to its limit.

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try?
When I lived in New York City, I visited my cousin a few times who was attending Wellesley College. She was the one who actually told me about Boston and the Wellesley scream tunnel. After I ran my first marathon, she told me that I should try to qualify, but I told her that there was no way that I could even get close to the qualifying time! It wasn't until December 2007 when I accidentally broke 4 hours for the first time and ran 3:48 at CIM, that I realized I could probably qualify for Boston in my next marathon. Back then, the qualifying time for 18-34 year olds was a bit easier, 3:40 for women and a guaranteed entry if you ran under that time.
What was your journey to BQ like?
Before 2007, my goal in each marathon was just to finish and enjoy each step. After CIM 2007 where I shaved 25 minutes off my prior PR, I thought I was really close to a BQ. I decided to set the goal and train to BQ in early 2008. GPS watches weren't that common yet, so a lot of my training was around a 2-mile lake where I would just estimate what my pace was using my classic digital watch. The biggest part of my journey was the support of my friends, who really encouraged me in my training and celebrated with me when I finally qualified at the 2008 San Diego Marathon in 3:38.

Why did you decide to run Boston 2020?
For the same reasons why I would run Boston 2021, but also, of the 37 marathons I've run, Boston is by far my favorite and most memorable. The city transforms into a running mecca and the spectators make you feel so special. Since I'm probably more likely to be struck by lightning than to ever make it to the Olympics, Boston will probably be the closest I'll ever get to feeling like an Olympian (although if my aging body lets me, I will attempt to OTQ one day!).  Being surrounded by other runners, who also had to train so hard to qualify, gives me a sense of camaraderie and understanding for one another.
How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020?
It felt great to be running my 8th Boston, albeit virtually! Each year I feel it’s such a privilege to be accepted and I don’t take it for granted. I still get goosebumps on the day I receive the official Boston letter of acceptance in the mail. I never want to be ungrateful for my health and ability to run.

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?
I used to burn out by the end of every Boston training cycle and just couldn't wait for the race so that I didn't have to push my body so hard once it was over! After Boston was postponed, I could have taken a rest but found myself continuing to train at a high level with hard quality workouts. I usually take the time in between training cycles to just run leisurely, but now without knowing when the next race will be, I'm realizing I want to keep my speed so my body doesn't forget what it feels like!

You can learn more about Sherry's running on her awesome YouTube channel!

Beyond Boston: Devra Leach

Richard White, another runner featured in this series, connected me to Devra (they ran a virtual Boston on Patriot's Day together!), and she mentioned she recognized my name from when we went 1-2 in the 2015 Bass Pro Marathon.  Small world!  Devra has run 5 Bostons and expresses that the experience is like no other!  She plans to run 2020 virtually (again!) but also hopes to go back in 2021.

Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.)
My name is Devra (Gower) Leach and I’ve lived in the Branson/Hollister, Missouri area most of my life. I am the Group Benefits Department Manager at Connell Insurance as well as a Group Benefits Consultant. I also “serve” as the wellness “inspirerer” (not sure that’s a word) within our organization and for some of my groups. I have been married for 3 years to a husband who is very supportive of my (running) habit and we have dog, Jaxson who is like our child. In my spare time, I am a Group Cycling Instructor at the Cox Fitness Center in Branson. I love running but also do a lot of biking and will hopefully be participating in my 11th Bike MS this year. I participate in 2-3 marathons and several charity biking events each year.

What are you thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?
Now, I “get it” but when the announcement came 5 weeks prior to the Boston Marathon, I was angry. I honestly thought people were blowing all of this COVID stuff out of proportion. I and a couple others that I train with had been training for months and working towards a PR. I had been pushing myself with speed work to try and achieve a 3:17. 

When the news came, besides being angry, I felt lost. What do I do now?? Not only had I been preparing and training so hard to reach a goal, I was looking forward to a long weekend away in one of my favorite cities with my husband as we don’t get a lot of time to travel or really spend together. 

But I decided I was not going to let all that training be for naught. I had a goal, I had put way too much blood, sweat, tears (literally) and time in to just quit. So I continued training and ran the "Boston Marathon" in Branson on April 20th with Richard White. Well, we started at the same time and same place but had our own course we felt comfortable with. I did not run a 3:17 but a 3:23. There was nothing pushing me other than my determination and knowing that I worked for this. There were no crowds to cheer me on to push me faster to that finish line. And there were hills! More hills than in Boston! (editor's note: the Branson area is extremely hilly!)

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?
I do plan to run the Virtual Boston even though I feel like I kinda did that back in April. 😜 But I will be joined by thousands of runners across the country or even the planet for this accomplishment. I honestly never got the appeal of running a virtual race but It’s BOSTON! You still get your medal, a shirt, your bib AND counted as completing the 124th Boston. I am hoping I’ll get my 2020 sticker too. I have all 5 of my Boston stickers on my car. I actually totaled my car when I hit a deer back in November and I was so upset I would lose all my stickers. I reached out on FB through the Boston Buddies page and so many people responded willing to give up their stickers from past years that I was able to replace all of them and even ended up with a few extras. How cool is that?! Boston runners unite!

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?
I sure hope so! My qualifying time from the NYC Marathon was good enough to get in this past year (even though it was a disappointing time for me) and as long as they don’t “tweak” any of the timing qualification for this year (which I can’t imagine with this situation, why they would), I should be able to get in. 

There is something so exciting about filling out your entry right at the second it opens and hitting that send button and the anticipation of actually getting in. I’ve had my husband and a friend two different years ready with my info and card number at the exact second registration opened as maybe I was in meetings or on the road for work. Haha! 

There is something so special about Boston! It’s the marathon of all marathons! It was a goal of mine to qualify for years but that just isn’t enough. And people don’t even realize that just because you qualify, you might or might not get in. You’ve got to be better than the best and better than you were the year before (until you hit the next age bracket). 

If you’ve never been there or never experienced the Boston Marathon, there is just no explaining it. I tear up anytime I’m there or watch a documentary on it. My first year there was the year after the bombing and the city was so welcoming and so happy people came back. I was surprised at how friendly the people were and was not expecting that the next year I returned thinking it was because it was that first year back. But no, they love the marathon and the runners. The excitement and the energy of the weekend is unexplainable.

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present. Why did you decide to run your first marathon?
I had a couple of friends I met at the gym who were casual runners. When they tried to get me to sign up for my first marathon I thought, why would anyone pay money to do something you can do for free?? Then the day came that they went to run the marathon and I felt so left out and regretful. That was maybe early 2000’s. I ran my first half marathon, yes my first race ever was a half in STL in 2007 (I think) and that was it, I was hooked. Crossing that finish line was like crack! I have since run close to 30 marathons, 24ish half marathons, one ultra (50K) and several other smaller races in between. I ran Chicago once and was supposed to last year again but had to defer to this year due to an injury. I am sure Chicago will be canceled as well this year, unfortunately. I ran NYC in 2018 which was also a bucket list marathon but honestly I was so disappointed compared to Boston.

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try?
I’m not really sure when I decided but it had to have been after I ran the Disney Marathon in 2009 with a few weeks left to train after I had suffered a stress fracture and I still beat all my friends by a long shot. I qualified in 2012 at the Kansas City Marathon with a 3:28. I was ending a long term relationship and I guess I just had the determination and drive to set new goals and push towards something huge – Boston!

Why did you decide to run Boston 2020? How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020? 
Now that I’m older, it’s a bit easier to qualify but I don’t just want to BQ each year now, I want to shatter that qualifying time so I have the cushion I need to guarantee my entry. It is so exciting and still shocking each time I’ve gotten the news that I’ve been accepted. It’s like I’m going to the Olympics – it’s kind of a big deal. 

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation? ?
This journey has taught me to not sweat the small stuff. I’m not the only one that got their Boston Marathon canceled. There are those that this was to be their first time after taking years to qualify. Now that would be disappointing. I’ve been very pleased with how BAA is handling it and offering refunds and the opportunity to still earn our spot next year as well as earn our medals and recognition for completing the 124th Boston. There are far worse things to deal with right now. I just wish I could get my airfare back!

Beyond Boston: Jenni Sherman

A friend directed me to Jenni, another fellow Missourian!  COVID-19 affected her in more ways than the Boston cancellation; her husband is currently deployed and was unable to return home in April as scheduled.  She got her start in running in high school, when a friend's recommendation resulted in her signing up for cross-country thinking that she was going to literally cross into Mexico from Texas (this is the best misinterpretation of cross-country I have ever heard!). She ran her first marathon to BQ at the encouragement of friends and achieved that goal! You'll find her running Boston virtually in September to celebrate running.

Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.) 

I am Jenni Sherman, 31 years old, and currently live in St. Robert, Missouri. I am a expanded functions dental assistant and I love my job.  I have an 11-year-old boy named Brandon, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4, and he and my husband Justin are my life. I have a 14-year-old dog named Godzilla.We are a military family, as my husband serves in the Army. I was raised and born in El Paso, Texas, and I've been in Missouri since 2012. 

What are you thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically? 

My husband is currently deployed in Saudi Arabia. He left last September, and April was the month that he would of been able to come home for R&R; however, when COVID-19 happened we first found out that he was not allowed to travel. Then the announcement of the postponement happened, so that was a big bummer because we were supposed to go together, and since it was my first time qualifying I was very excited to get to share that with him. I can’t lie, it is scary times and I am very understanding, safety first. I felt discouraged for a few weeks because of all the training I put in during the months before April, but luckily I have a very supportive group of people in my life that just don’t let me quit and kept me motivated to run. 

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not? 

I do! It's my first BQ, and I planned to go run it and celebrate that I was able to accomplish a BQ on my first attempt. I know it won’t be the same as actually running Boston but I still love running very much so I am very happy to be able to do it virtually. 

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not? 

I would love to.

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present. 

I started running in high school. A friend told me about cross country and I had no idea what that was. It was in El Paso, Texas, which is a border town and I was so clueless that I thought we were actually going to cross the bridge and go to Mexico, but it turned out to be long distance running. I remembered the first time I went to practice we did a 2 mile run and I was dying but kept showing up because I wanted to do something amazing, We went to State and came in 2nd place my sophomore year and kept going to state my junior and senior year. Senior year I was offer scholarship to continue running but I decided to stop. I took a long break and in 2013 I started running again. 

Why did you decide to run your first marathon? 

To qualify for Boston, A good friend who ran with me in El Paso Texas invited me to go to Washington state to qualify. I honestly didn’t believe I would ever be able to BQ, but when he showed me a video of the race I said yes right away. It is a beautiful and super fast marathon course in Snoqualmie Pass, WA. 

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try? 

I set the goal last year, there is this running quote that I just love which is “ the real purpose of running isn’t to win a race, it's to test the limits of the human heart”. My inspiration is my dad, son and husband. I just want my son to know that he can do anything he sets his mind into 

What was your journey to BQ like? 

A little overwhelming because I am very competitive so that what kept me going, but also it was bittersweet because I hate taking time away from my family to train. I am very blessed to have my husband who would follow me in bike or car and just support me in any way he could for me to be able to train.

                                                 

Why did you decide to run Boston 2020? 

I honestly never thought I would be even close to qualifying, and if it wasn’t for my friend encouraging me to do it I would of never gone to a qualifying race. I don’t race very often because I work weekends, but I took a chance and I am very blessed that I was able to do it. 

How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020? 

It was a beautiful feeling, I felt like all that hard work and time I took away from my family paid off. I felt very proud.

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation? 

Running isn’t canceled. We will get through this and there will be light at the end of the tunnel. We have to stay positive and keep running.

Beyond Boston: Tabatha Dickey

My friend and occasional training partner Elise directed me to Tabatha, who is also a Missourian.  Tabatha started training for Boston 2020 (the April edition) at 6 weeks postpartum, which as you can imagine was extremely challenging.  She loves taking her kids running and they love it too!  She makes a very good point with, "Embrace every race and every run, you don’t know when it will be taken from you, even if temporarily."

Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.)

My name is Tabatha Dickey, I’m 29 years old, wife, mother of 2 (6 months old and 3 years old), and a physical therapist and athletic trainer. I’m from Fayette, MO.

What are you thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?
My situation is pretty unique, I was actually relieved that Boston was postponed then eventually cancelled. I had a baby in December, so my original training plan was set to start 6 weeks postpartum. I started my training plan on time, trying to build up my mileage without getting injured. I wasn’t too concerned about my speed at that point. About a month into training I sprained my SI joint, causing me to miss a few days of running. In those few days Boston was postponed, therefore I was grateful for another 6 months of training. Between that time and the cancellation, I struggled to train due to returning to work full time and caring for my kids. The most difficult part was not ever getting a good nights rest. I usually get my running done in the mornings while my husband is home and the kids are sleeping (hopefully), so I was pushing my body to the limit to get up early and run on empty day after day. Once Boston was cancelled my training came to a screeching halt, and I was mentally and physically relieved that I didn’t have to train in order to finish the marathon this year.

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?
I am still undecided. As of now I run 3-5 times a week depending on how much sleep I’m able to get, as my now 6 month old still is not a great sleeper. If I’m able to increase my mileage soon then I would like to do the virtual race.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?
I am still undecided on this as well. Especially not knowing what the world will look like next year as far as the pandemic, plus my kids still being so young. I may wait and try to qualify again in the fall next year. Third times a charm, right? (See my story below)
                                                     
How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present, and how it led to your BQ and plans to run Boston 2020.
I started running in middle school, mostly to be with my friends. The coach suggested I try distance running, and I thought she was crazy. I gave it a shot and turns out I was decent, and I enjoyed it. I ran competitively through out high school and college for cross country and track. I was All-State all 4 years in high school cross country, qualified and raced at the NAIA national championship cross country meet my junior and senior year of college (2011 and 2012). 

My senior year during track season I ran my first half marathon which qualified me to run the marathon at the national meet (editors note: I love that NAIA nationals has the marathon option!). That was my first marathon (2013). I just ran the race my coach laid out for me and ended up with a Boston qualifying time, which wasn’t the goal. My goal was set based on time. I trained to run a 3:15, but I ran it in 3:24. 

After that marathon I fell in love with the marathon. That fall I started PT school and that September decided to register for the Boston marathon. I got accepted, but when it came time to tell my professors I would be missing 2 days of classes, I was guilt tripped in to cancelling my plans because to a couple of the professors that would be detrimental to my school work and career, so I cancelled. 

After PT school, my husband and I were ready to have a baby so I didn’t train for any races during that time. We had our beautiful daughter in 2017. I then set my sights on Boston again. When my daughter turned 1, I started training. I ran the Kansas City marathon in October 2018 in 3:24 (somehow the same time as my first road marathon 5 years earlier). My plan was then to try for another baby and ideally have the baby before Boston 2020. We did just that. 

I got accepted for Boston 2020 (was so excited to experience that marathon as it is on my bucket list of marathons to run), had my son December 2019, and was excited to get back to running just in time for April, but we know how that turned out now.

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?

Be flexible with your training.

Listen to your body.

Don’t skip out on strength training (that what I contribute to being fairly injury free throughout my running career so far).

Embrace every race and every run, you don’t know when it will be taken from you, even if temporarily.

Beyond Boston: Rachel Shuck

Rachel is someone I have the privilege of running with from time to time - we don't live very far apart from one another.  The marathon has taught her a great deal over the years, and Boston being postponed and then cancelled was more experience to learn from!  She is planning on Boston 2021, and whether or not that works out you'll find her enjoying the process!  Her attitude is admirable and I know she will see longevity in the sport because of it (her knowledge in nutrition certainly won't hurt either!).

Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.).

I'm a teacher of my two greatest passions, which ironically aren't what one would consider connected subject matter. I teach high school Spanish and at the college level, nutrition. I also work with athletes to help improve their performance through better nutrition. I wear the hat of mom and wife, although now that our kids are grown and gone (editor's note: but she still looks like she is in her 20s herself!), I've mostly switched over to taking care of farm animals instead of kids. 😂

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled?  How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?

While I'm disappointed that Boston was eventually cancelled, I'm also at at peace with it. Initially I was oddly excited about the postponement, the thought of running Boston in the fall was much more appealing to me than the thought of running it in the spring. While summer training can certainly be grueling, I feel like it makes people much tougher for fall races so I was excited about what kind of results that would bring (editor's note: I agree with this 100%).

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually?  Why or why not?

No, I do not plan to run Boston 2020 virtually. For me, the Boston experience was getting to be with 30,000 other runners that had all worked towards this same goal. I thrive off of crowds and the general energy and enthusiasm that come with them. Running 26.2 miles solo around town just seems sad.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021?  Why or why not?
I do plan on registering for Boston 2021 and hope I have a big enough window to be able to get in. Even though I have qualified for Boston more than once, I have yet to run it, and would love to have the experience at least once in my lifetime.

How did you get started in running?  Tell us a little about your early running career through present.

I got started truly running in my 30's. Although I did a brief stint of cross country and track my freshmen year in high school, I was literally the worst runner on the team. It was beyond pathetic but I'm proof it's never too late! I got back into running as an adult to help my sister get out and meet people since she was working from home at the time. She eventually moved away and I kept running, mostly with the Nixa Running Group. That was where I would say I became a truly consistent runner. Through consistency and practice, I really started to see improvements.

Why did you decide to run your first marathon?

I honestly don't remember why I decided to run my first marathon. Probably just ignorance lol. I had some really great training runs with my running group and thought a BQ was probably in my near future. I couldn't have been more wrong. Like so many, my first marathon was a painful learning experience, but I survived it and signed up for the next one thinking I could do better. Fast forward through several marathons and many more learning experiences (as my good friend Jen says, "no teacher like experience, it gives you the test first and the lessons later") I eventually figured out what worked for me, and what didn't. Having a great training partner, a good coach (I actually had a total of 3 coaches over the course of several marathons and learned something valuable from each of them), and perfecting my nutrition were all part of the formula that helped me finally find success.

How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020?

I was pretty thrilled to be accepted into Boston 2020, but it didn't feel real. Now with it being cancelled guess that feeling wasn't too far off! Who knew?!

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?
What I have learned from all of this, from finally qualifying, to being accepted, to having it canceled is that absolutely anything is possible, from what the body and mind are capable of doing, to never being too sure of anything because there really are no guarantees, and to just enjoy the moment, but most importantly, enjoy the process because that is where you will spend the bulk of your time (editor's note: completely agree here too!).

Beyond Boston: Ken Mason

I met Ken through The Loop, a community that was originally on Runners World that he mentions several times below.  His story really illustrates how helpful community is in achieving goals.  Ken puts in very impressive consistent mileage, and it's really paid off for him: he ran a 3:14 PR in his mid-50s and doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.)

I’m Ken Mason, 57 years old from Maryland outside of Washington DC. I’m a systems engineer having worked on designing and building software systems for Federal, foreign, and local governments.

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled?
I was both relieved and sad about the race being first postponed and then cancelled. Sad because Boston has been such a great experience – being able to hang out and run with so many great runners, being cheered on by awesome fans/spectators, and having a whole city being completely caught up in the whole race weekend is fantastic. A big part of my relief on the initial postponement in the spring was due to having gotten sick back in February with a chest cold. While I had recovered from it, I was not feeling as fit as I would have wanted to so not having to push myself through March was a welcome relief. I had also run a PR marathon at the beginning of December at Rehoboth Beach and pushing into Boston training after a short recovery had also probably tired me out more than I had realized at time. The relief felt for the fall was around the continuing risks associated with COVID-19. While there are a lot of places in the country that have not been hit particularly hard, Maryland, especially the DC suburbs, have been hit extremely hard.

How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?
It was nice and, probably, necessary to be able to back off of training last spring and really recover for a while. Also being able to relax a little made it a little bit easier to deal with everything else that was going on. I know that, eventually, there will be races and that serves as some motivation, but I have also been able to focus on running for the sake of running.

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?

Yes, I do. For me, running Boston is more than just the race, it is about celebrating the journey to get there. That journey includes not just training for the race but training and racing to qualify for Boston. The fact that it will be “virtual” will be a little bittersweet, but I’ve already seen some messages from the local race team about coordinating (safely of course) our virtual Boston races. I’ve already done a couple of virtual races (Cherry Blossom 10 Miler and Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon) so I’m thinking I may need a special place to display the medals from these virtual races just to commemorate this time period.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?
Yes, I’m really hoping that I can. As a said earlier, Boston is a very special experience – not just the actual running but also everything else going on during that extended weekend. I’m also looking to run Boston well; my previous two attempts at Boston (2018, 2019) were less than stellar. I ran okay times but well off my PR and each attempt included some walking after bonking on the infamous hills. This year’s goal was to just run a solid, smart race and I’d still like to check that box.

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present.
I ran a couple of years of track in high school. I wasn’t very good but did enjoy the experience. I ran sprints (100m to 600m) because I couldn’t imagine racing over anything longer. To be honest, my motivation was to be able to add a line to my college applications (I don’t think it made any difference for college itself but it may have played a role in getting awarded an Army ROTC scholarship). I ran occasionally in college just to stay fit enough for Army ROTC. After college, I was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Army and for three years on active duty I ran a few miles every day. After getting out of the Army I ended up taking a 20 plus year break from running. I was in my mid-40s and would walk occasionally to get some fitness and on one walk decided to try running a little. That little bit of running eventually led to a little more running and things kind of started to snowball from there. Looking for information about running I quickly found Runners World and eventually the Loop. Finding the Loop was important because I started learning about racing and that racing was for everyone. After finding the Loop I ran my first 5k and then the next weekend my second; guess I was hooked.

Today I’m still friends with a number of people from the Loop. I’m also a member of the Montgomery County Road Runners Club (one of the largest clubs in the nation but with a great feel of being a local community). Being in the club has gotten me involved in a number of regular group runs and being able to socialize with club members at different races (including Boston where we have some great representation). This last year I was able join the club’s competitive racing team which means being able to represent the club at races.

Why did you decide to run your first marathon?
I stepped up to the marathon in pretty much the conventional way of racing 5k to 10k and then some half marathons before I was able to convince myself that a marathon might be a possibility. A big reason for starting to think that I could do it was seeing some of the news coverage of the Marine Corps Marathon and realizing that a lot of the runners weren’t that different from me. Another big reason was reading people’s race reports on the Loop and again realizing that it was achievable. My first marathon was the 2010 Marine Corps Marathon. I really enjoyed the whole experience and the MCM is still one of my favorite races to do – there is something incredibly special about getting handed a cup of water or Powerade by a US Marine every couple of miles.

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try?

One of the inspirations to try was certainly reading about people’s BQ’s and Boston races on the Loop. The other was the bombing. At the time I didn’t feel like I was ever going to be fast enough but in the spring of 2014 I was able to set a huge PR that started to get me where I could think about it.

What was your journey to BQ like?
The journey was rocky and filled with a fair amount of frustration. This was pretty much due to getting in a bunch a solid training having some good shorter races and then getting injured right before a marathon. Prior to finally getting my BQ, there were at least 3 marathons that I was signed up for that I did not make it to starting line for. I was able to BQ in January of 2017 at the Louisiana Marathon. At the time I needed 3:40:00 to BQ (that’s been since changed to 3:35:00 for my age group) and I ran a 3:31:25. Since that first BQ, I’ve run 6 more marathons all under my BQ time and have lowered my PR to 3:14:24.

Why did you decide to run Boston 2020?
Despite not running the race very well, I have really enjoyed the experience each time. I also really wanted to run the course well. The course is historic, remarkably interesting and can be pretty tricky – about 16 miles of downhill (mostly) that can really beat you up, the infamous Newton hills, and the final stretch into Boston.

How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020?
I knew that I was highly likely to be accepted, I had about a 15-minute buffer on my BQ time, but it still a thrill to be able to enter and then get the acceptance.

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?
I’ve really been able to reinforce the idea of running for the sake of running and training not just for the one big race day but for what you can get out of the process each week and month.

Not being able to race (or even run with a group of people) other people are missing out on some really special moments – my oldest niece graduated High School this spring and the graduation consisted of the family driving through the parking lot of the school to get her diploma (the school is hoping to do another ceremony in July).

Anything else you'd like to share?

I’ve been actually starting to wonder about what the qualification for Boston 2022 will look like. That qualification window should open this fall, but you must wonder how many races will take place, especially the large races like New York, Chicago, or the Marine Corps Marathon. The lack of fall races could mean that executing in the spring will be even more critical.

Beyond Boston: John Efthimiou

John's journey from a person with severe obesity to BQ is a great reminder that by consistent work over time, we can accomplish big goals.  John chipped away at fitness for 4 years, and while he lost weight he gained more and more passion for running.  He has run over 350 races in the past 7 years - yes, that's an average of 50 per year!  His two children have run over 150 races each!  He started running as a teen to increase his fitness for motocross - in the 1980's he won the Greece national title and ranked as high as 10th in the world in motocross.  Prepare to be inspired!

Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.)

The Boston 2020 Marathon was the furthest goal imaginable, as my starting point was almost zero fitness and morbidly obese at 270 pounds when I started my current passion of running in December 2012.  I couldn’t run 100m without stopping with dagger-like pain in my calves, and cramps and joint pains persisted. By July 2013 I entered, embarrassingly my first NYRR race after 25 years, finishing not so bad in 1:13 for the 10k. I had a weight problem, which yo-yo’ed and that I couldn’t shake off, and it took 4 years of persistence and increased volumes and race frequency to make a significant dent on my weight and fitness. At the time I was 49 1/2 years old and facing two lose-lose scenarios, weight and age, as the 50’s are a decade of rapid decline and high mortality rates, I took the high road.

I’ve run over 350 races over the the last 7 years, and between 2013 and 2020, I ran 35 marathons, 50 half marathons, with frequent PRs in all distances, superseding my 1987 results (NYRR race overview can be seen here). However, for a couple of years I could barely get under 6 hours in the marathon and I was virtually last in my age group at every race.  A gradually increased volume, fewer injuries, persistence and tenacity helped me improve dramatically, culminating in my Boston qualifying time of 3:33:05 in Duluth’s Grandma’s Marathon (results here) last June 2019 at 190 pounds, an 80 pound decrease and lots of miles as you can see on Strava and on Athlinks race results.

Athletics has been a big part of my life. I was born and raised in NYC, and as a child lived a half year in San Diego and often visited Greece where I became more sports oriented. I moved to Greece in the 80’s and won the Greek motocross championship, and ranked as high as 10th in the world at a world motocross championship event. To be successful in motocross requires extraordinary cardiovascular fitness, hence I ran very often, usually in the 10k range. I entered my first running race in 1984, a NYRR Midnight Run with my family and grandfather, then raced again after retiring from motocross in 1987 when I resumed my college studies in NYC. I entered the corporate world after receiving a BA from Columbia in the 90’s and gradually lost fitness and gained a substantial amount of weight. I maintained a weekend warrior fitness status, occasionally riding my motocross bike and a jog or two, here and there, but weight crept up and up. In 2012 I stepped on a scale, and realized I was 100 pounds heavier than when I was in my early 20’s and was horrified when my doctor in 2012 stated I was morbidly obese at 270 pounds.

I met Harbert Okuti of the Westchester TC at one of my first races back in 2013.  He brought me into the Westchester TC, and I learned a lot about high mileage, the need for recovery, and other common running practices through him and his coach Mike Barnow.  Harbert is from Uganda, has a PR of 2:13:01 (at Grandma's Marathon), and he is a good friend of my family for over 7 years now.

I worked for over 20 years in the banking industry and for the last 13 years worked for a French Bank BNP Paribas, with many peers who love running. I am married to Ina with 2 children, Michelle, a 21 year old girl and Peter, a 13 year old boy, and we all go and race together as a family.  The kids have over 150 races each.

How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?
I opted into the September 14 option, and when that became cancelled, acquiesced for the virtual, more as a very long training run, but was utterly devastated mentally for a day or two. I regrouped, and just keep plugging away at higher goals and hope to qualify with an even better time at the next opportunity.

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?
I initially thought this was a poor option, but I will run it and treat the Boston virtual event as a very long training run, with no time goals other than a good training pace.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?

I plan to race it, however, I think the odds are against me, as I need to dramatically improve my times to be more than the 2’ off the cutoff time. I think the cutoff times will be further reduced for the allowable quota, given the expectation is that the Boston post-COVID running field will be further limited in size.

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present.

I started running as a teen to be in better shape for motocross, now I run because I love the euphoria, the inclusive nature of the community of runners, the exhilaration associated with running races, and the health benefits.

Why did you decide to run your first marathon?

I decided to run it the same year I began racing in 2013, but because of persistent injuries, dagger-like jolts of pain in the calves, I opted to wait till the 2014 NYC marathon.

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try?

I rapidly began to improve as a combination of increased mileage and improved diet management using a caloric intake app, and times started improving and from 6 hours, the 3:35 goal got closer and closer, still seemed impossible at over 4 hours, but then I had 6 consecutive sub-4 hour marathons in the time span of a few months, and I knew it was possible, but unlikely at Duluth, Grandma’s.

In the hotel room shortly after the race, with my roommate who finished 3rd overall, Harbert Okuti, after realizing I BQ’d in 3:33:05 at Grandma’s I cried for what seemed eternity. You see, my grandmother supported me in all my motocross and academic pursuits and was a key inspiration for much of the extra effort I put into the last half of Grandma’s that arguably enabled me to BQ and a 13 minute PR over my previous marathon in Paris 2 months earlier.

What was your journey to BQ like?
BQ journey has been the odyssey of a lifetime, highly recommended, and I feel like I’m 20 and have a lifetime ahead of me to BQ again.

Why did you decide to run Boston 2020?

I decided to run Boston 2020 because it is the epitome of marathon racing short of the Authentic Marathon in Athens Greece, where I hope to race one day. Running Boston means you’ve made it in the marathon world and it is a significant Marathon Majors event.

How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020?

Euphoria, it felt like I graduated with a PhD, and embraced by the running community for success.

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?

Life’s setbacks should never deter us from pursuing goals, even if deferred, persistence pays off.

Beyond Boston: Erica Green

Erica's reaction to the cancellation was very real - then after some tears and wine she focused on the positive and is planning for 2021!  She calls herself a "late onset runner" (she has been running competitive for 2ish years), but she also ran her first half under 1:30 and her first marathon in 3:04!  Her advice to those who are mourning Boston 2020: "It’s totally okay to be upset, disappointed, and angry about the cancellation of Boston; these feelings are all 100% valid. But letting these negative thoughts consume us is not healthy. If anything, that should just inspire us even more to fight even harder to get there in the years to come."

Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.)

My name is Erica Green and I am an occupational therapist working and living in south Jersey. I am a late onset runner and have only been running competitively for the past 2ish years - but I am hooked! Running is truly what keeps me sane - especially in these weird and uncertain times.

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?
Initially, I was admittedly glad that they had postponed it. Although I was thinking selfishly, I had just been getting back on my feet after an injury and knew that I wouldn’t be in the best shape when April 20 rolled around, so when they made the announcement to postpone it, I honestly wasn’t that upset. However, when they cancelled it altogether - that’s when the wheels fell off. I may or may not have shed a tear (or two), and poured myself a glass of wine (or two...or five). However, after the initial shock, I told myself that I was going to allow myself to be sad about it for 24 hours and embrace these valid, disappointed feelings - but in the end I knew that my sadness would not change the outcome so I did not want to dwell on it. I decided to then shift my mindset and started to focus on the positives. After all, I now have a full YEAR to train for next years race.

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?

No, I don’t. I trained to run Boston IN Boston, and although it would be “cool” to be a part of history and run it virtually, it just isn’t the same for me. I want the full Boston experience. And with my injury history, running a full marathon virtually just isn’t worth it. I want to make sure I am 100% ready to go by the time April 2021 rolls around.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?
Yes, I do! Luckily, I have a pretty solid qualifying time and shouldn’t be in jeopardy of not being accepted for the 2021 race. I think being a part of Boston 2021 is going to be an extremely exciting and inspiring experience, especially because it very well might be the first “big” race that occurs post-pandemic. I am really looking forward to running it next year and getting to enjoy the experience that was robbed from us first timers this year.

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present.
I have always been an active individual, but never really took running seriously until about 2 years ago when I signed up for a 10 mile race on a whim. The course was hilly, the weather was awful (torrential downpours and heavy winds), and I almost dropped out before the race even started. BUT - I’m glad I didn’t. I ended up surprising myself (and everyone around me) by getting first female overall, and from there, my journey took off. I then went on to run my first Rock n Roll half marathon in Philly and ran sub 1:30, which is when I knew I was onto something. From there, I just continued to get stronger, fitter, and faster, and I am so so grateful for finding this outlet in my life.

Why did you decide to run your first marathon?
I love to challenge myself. I remember running a half marathon and thinking “I am dead - there’s no way I could run twice that distance!”. But that thought inevitably kicked off my competitive side, and I decided to sign up for a marathon shortly after.

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try?

I may sound a bit pretentious here - but bare with me.  I signed up for my first (and now only) marathon to date without having a goal other than to finish. I thought it would be cool to BQ but didn’t want to put that much pressure on myself during my first marathon, so I just decided to run it for fun. Low and behold, I ended up running a 3:04! After that, I got hooked on the idea of running Boston (as well as other world majors), and really hope I get the chance to in the future.

How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020?

Boston 2020 was going to be my first Boston, and it’s truly the pinnacle of every runners career. I’ve watched it on TV many times, have had friends who have run it and have heard amazing stories about the experience, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. To be accepted after only running one marathon was truly a dream come true.

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?
I learned that there are a lot of things that are out of our control - but that we can control how we respond to them. It’s totally okay to be upset, disappointed, and angry about the cancellation of Boston; these feelings are all 100% valid. But letting these negative thoughts consume us is not healthy. If anything, that should just inspire us even more to fight even harder to get there in the years to come.

Anything else you'd like to share?

Thank you so much for this opportunity to share my story!!

Beyond Boston: Tennille Taylor & Ryan Niehaus

Tennille was gracious enough to share her story along with some of her husband's, because they are on this Boston journey together (adorable!).  She may run Boston virtually but not as a race effort - I wonder if it could be a part training for her next ultra (she has done two!).  She has a great outlook on running that will certainly contribute to her longevity in the sport:  "Running is such a part of our lives now that we definitely don't do it for the racing....the training is what I love the most and getting out and sweating in the morning is truly a great way to start one's day." 

Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.)

I am from Farmington, New Mexico...born and raised. I went to Arizona State University and studied Music. I am a violinist and returned to Farmington after school to begin a teaching studio and play with the regional symphony orchestra.

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?
I was certainly disappointed about the Boston cancellation but I completely agree with it because marathons are probably the BEST place for a virus to survive and get passed around (snot, spit, sweat, heavy breathing, all combined with high fives and hugs).

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?
I am considering running the virtual race but certainly not as a "race". September can be pretty warm in New Mexico but it'd be fun to be part of such a strange "Boston" event....and honestly it might be the ONLY thing happening in 2020! Obviously all my concerts, church gigs and wedding gigs were cancelled since March so I have only had my teaching and really don't have a lot else going on.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?
I do plan on running Boston 2021 as long as things seem safe.

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present, including why you decided to run your first marathon.
My husband, Ryan, and I started running together in 2011. We had both been swimmers. He swam in high school and really enjoyed it. I swam in high school and went on to swim all four years at Arizona State (as a sprinter....so distance was NOT in my blood at all). A friend referred the book "Born to Run" to me so Ryan and I both read it over spring break 2011. We literally finished reading the book and said "We have to run a marathon". 

Just to clarify, I did not know how far a marathon was until I read this book. My little brother was a swimmer and also ran cross country for a few years in high school. He had also done numerous sprint distance triathlons and even a half-ironman. When we mentioned to him that we were going to run a marathon, he said he already had one picked out and he wanted to do it too. So, we ran a 5k in April, a 10k in May, a half in August, and a full marathon in November of that year. 

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try?  You've run Boston previously - how was it?

On the car ride home from that first marathon, we realized I had qualified for Boston....I didn't have any intention of doing that, nor did I really have a time goal. Ryan had run pretty well, as did my brother, but they had not made Boston cuts. A few marathons later, Ryan made his cut, so we ran Boston 2015. 

The day before Boston 2015 Ryan got massive food poisoning and was throwing up. On race morning, he got a decent amount of calories in but they only lasted until mile 16. His first 16 miles were beautiful splits and then he was freezing (it was raining) and he dropped to 9-10 minutes per mile pace and was walking at times shivering. He literally hated the experience because he felt so bad. 

Why did you decide to run Boston 2020?

Finally, last year Ryan said he wanted redemption and wanted to do Boston again. I was totally in because I have been dreaming about the croissant cinnamon rolls from Cafe Madeline in Back Bay since the day I ate one in April 2015. So we signed up. 

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?

The postponement felt so weird because it was only 5 weeks away at that point so it felt very much like having the carpet pulled out from under you. September was the dreaded reschedule time because summer training just sucks, but we changed our hotel reservations and chose to go ahead with it. When the cancellation happened shortly after, I really didn't feel much. We had just started training and so many other things had been cancelled that I honestly expected it to be cancelled. Now we are just running for running. We get the miles in and do some hills or fast runs every now and then but we just love running so much. Running is such a part of our lives now that we definitely don't do it for the racing....the training is what I love the most and getting out and sweating in the morning is truly a great way to start one's day.

Anything else you'd like to share?
Since we started running I have run 2 ultras (a 50k and a 55k), 11 marathons, 7 or 8 halfs, and a handful of local 10ks and 5ks (editor's note: that's a solid 5 years!).

Beyond Boston: Da'Rel Patterson

I was directed to Da'Rel by my friend Shawanna, who will also be featured in this series.  He is the fastest runner I've featured so far, with a 2:37 qualifying time - this should also be an inspiration to all runners, because he debuted with a 3:57 in 2014 and kept improving by about 15 minutes per marathon to get to his first BQ (2:58) in 2016, and he has since taken nearly 20 minutes off for his speedy current PR of 2:37!  In this interview, he pointed out the financial sacrifice the BAA made with offering full refunds, which I think we can all agree was very gracious considering how much of their budget they'd already likely used.  He has a great website that details his races and accomplishments, and I enjoyed learning more about him!  

                                         
Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.)

My name is Da’Rel Patterson. I was born and raised in South Jamaica, Queens, but I have lived in Atlanta for the past twenty years. I work as a financial statistician at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?

I am certainly not surprised that the Boston Marathon cancelled. Covid-19 has placed a lot of pressure on public resources, including police officers and medical providers. I imagine that it would be difficult to stage such a large-scale event, particularly one that would place additional pressure on already strained resources. Given the state of the world at this time, I handled the announcement with great understanding. I am also thankful that the BAA stepped up and offered full refunds to all participants. I am sure that decision came a significant cost.

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?
I am still waiting to receive further details before I make my final decision on the whether I will participate in the virtual Boston Marathon. My inclination, however, is that I will participate because this will likely be a once in a lifetime opportunity. I doubt that there will be another virtual Boston Marathon, at least not any time soon, so it would be cool to have the medal and paraphernalia from such a unique experience – at minimum, it would make for a cool story to tell in future years.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not? 
I will likely participate in Boston 2021. I believe that it may be one of the first opportunities to return to large-scale big city marathons. Assuming the BAA is able to pull it off, I think the energy will be electric, and I want to be a part of that.
                                                 
How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present.
I got started running by participating in the 2012 Inaugural MLK 5K in Atlanta. My company was a co-sponsor of the race and, as the youngest person in my division, I was asked to participate on behalf of the company. I had never participated in a road race of any kind before, and it proved to be a humbling experience. In hindsight, I was dressed completely inappropriately – I wore air force 1’s, super long (and heavy) basketball shorts, and a university hoodie. It also didn’t help that the course was pretty hilly. I ended up jogging and walking my way to a 37:31 finish time. I felt proud to complete the race, but simultaneously disappointed in my performance as compared to others on the course. This race ended up serving as a wake-up call to how unhealthy my lifestyle had become, in general. From that day forward, I committed myself to a healthier diet and regular exercise. With this change is lifestyle, running became easier. I also joined Black Men Run, which introduced me to a larger network of like-minded individuals; it also let me know that the running community was much larger and more pervasive than I had previously imagined. Things escalated quickly from there. I returned to the MLK 5K the following year (2013) and shaved nearly 10 minutes off my time. Over time, my finish times continued to drop and my preferred distance lengthened. Today, I finish 5Ks in less than half the time it took me when I first started in 2011.

Why did you decide to run your first marathon?
I decided to run my first marathon out of a combination of curiosity and peer pressure. Once I started matriculating within the running community, I quickly learned how many people were running marathons. The familiar adage of “if they can do it, so can I” quickly settled in, and I found myself running my first marathon in 2014 at the Rock n’ Roll Savannah Marathon.

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try?
I set the goal to run the Boston Marathon after learning about it from a friend of mine – Margo Gregory. She was the first person to tell me about the race, and she made it sound magical. The fact that qualifier times were required only made the appeal greater, as it motivated the competitive side of my personality. I remember expressing the idea to a few people; one in particular expressed clear doubt in my ability to do it. Naturally, that only made me double-down on my effort.

What was your journey to BQ like? Was your qualifying time for Boston 2020 your first BQ, and if not have you run Boston before? 
My journey to a BQ was relatively quick, but it was extremely demanding. I ramped up my mileage and intensity and set a goal of cutting 15 minutes off each successive marathon. My debut marathon time was 3:57, so I figured I could get a BQ in two years if I ran two marathons per year. I ended up sticking rather close to that schedule – I worked very hard and very consistently. It took me about 19 months before I eventually qualified with a 2:58 in July of 2016. That first BQ is, to this day, my most memorable race experience. I left everything that I had on that course, and the reward of hearing the announcer say that I had just run a Boston qualifying time moved me to emotions that I didn’t even realize I had been holding. Since then, I’ve run bigger races and faster times, but none of them top that initial BQ. My qualifying time for Boston 2020 was a 2:37, which is also my current PR.

Why did you decide to run Boston 2020?  How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020?
I wanted to run Boston 2020 to improve upon my current Boston PR (2:57) and to support a friend and training partner who was set to run his first Boston Marathon this year. We have logged a lot of training hours and long runs together as he advanced towards this goal, and I wanted to be there when he crossed the Boston Marathon finish line. I was excited about this race, and I was excited about my qualifying time, which I thought would put me in wave 1 corral 1 for the first time.

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?
I have learned that nothing is guaranteed and flexibility is key – in both my training and my race plans.

Beyond Boston: Carissa Liebowitz

I met Carissa though The Loop, an online blogging community that was previously hosted on the Runners World website, many years ago (2009?). While we have never met in person, we've followed each other's running journeys throughout this time. She has so many BA accomplishments to her name, but even better she is an extremely positive example of the running community. You can't help but smile about running when you read her blog posts or see her photos (seriously, see below!) - plus she is very real with the ups and downs she shares ("Running will give you the highest highs and the lowest lows"). Once you read her whole story, you won't be surprised that she went straight to the marathon (no 5k, 10k, half, just all in!).

                                                     
Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.) 

I'm Carissa Liebowitz, 38 years old, and live in the Atlanta suburbs with my husband Adam and 3 Boston Terriers. I am an account executive with US Premium Finance and lend money to businesses for their commercial insurance.  

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically? 

Honestly, I'm happy that they made the decision they did and as quickly as possible. Yes, I was sad that they had to cancel just 6 weeks prior to the April date, but it just didn't seem possible at the time to hold an event safely. And with 20 weeks to go to the September event, I really hadn't started to do any marathon-specific workouts yet. Physically, I was actually kind of happy about the April decision as I was dealing with some tendinitis after the Atlanta Marathon the first week of March. It was a relief to just take 10 days off and not worry about it. However, not running was not good for my mental health so I'm glad this was just a short amount of downtime! 

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?
I do! I have run the race the past 5 years so it seems only fitting to carry on the tradition even though it won't be quite the same. Plus, I love the long run and have run the marathon distance in training so assuming I'm healthy come September, I will be happy to go at it solo. 

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?
Yes. Assuming I get in and that they are able to have the event, I would love to run in 2021. It has become so synonymous with my spring and it really is such a privilege to run it each year I've qualified. I think it will feel really, really special if they are able to hold the event in 2021. 

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present. 

My first memory of running was in 4th grade when I was the 2nd fastest girl in the mile in my grade. I ran for fun in middle school and then joined track in high school as a 1600 and 3200 meter runner. I didn't run competitively in college (I went two years early - nerd alert), but I did run for fitness. After college, I found running again attempting to get ready for a ski trip. I assumed you needed lots of fitness to go skiing (I had never been before) and got hooked again after doing a run/walk plan.

Why did you decide to run your first marathon?
After 4 years of running for fun and fitness in my twenties, I decided that I wanted to try to run a marathon. Never mind I had not raced a 5k, 10k, or a half marathon. I just skipped right to the full. I had read a lot about how to build up with long runs and targeted Thanksgiving Day 2009 for my first marathon. It was a humbling experience and I hit the wall at mile 16. I wore lots of cotton and had no idea you were supposed to consume something other than water and Gatorade. But, I finished in just over 4 hours and decided after the pain subsided that I wanted to try to break 4 hours (editor's note: amazing how common that "finish a marathon --> decide you will run a faster one" thing is!). 

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try?
In 2013, the year of the Boston bombings and running a 3:43 on a hilly Atlanta course, I decided that I wanted to try to qualify.

What was your journey to BQ like?
I needed a 3:35 to qualify in 2013 and had 8 minutes to cut off my best time. I targeted a flat and fast course with consistently good weather and found a training plan that would add a bit more mileage and more workouts than what I had been doing. Luckily, on my 6th marathon and first BQ attempt, I was able to run a 3:33. This was despite my Garmin dying halfway through the race and I had no idea what my time was until I spotted it in the finish chute. 

2020 would not have been your first Boston. Why did you decide to run Boston 2020?
I love the tradition. There is no other marathon I've run that comes close to the prestige of Boston. The caliber of your fellow runners, the incredible spectators, and just the whole pomp and circumstance of the weekend. It just feels so special each step of the way. I've always said that as long as I've been able to qualify and as long as I have the financial ability to go, I will keep at it! 

How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020?
It never fails to give me goosebumps. I just still cannot believe I get to go. 

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?
It's just part of the running journey. Running will give you the highest highs and the lowest lows. I'm a recreational runner, not a pro. I'm lucky to just do this as a hobby and honestly, there are bigger things to be concerned about right now. I can't change it so I"m not going to spend time worrying about it. 

Tell us a little about the awesome ultra-marathons you've done.
I did my first ultra in 2015 and surprise, surprise, became hooked! I have run 20+ ultras now, including three 100+ milers (editor's note: three 100+ milers, people!!). I love pushing my limits and seeing just how far I can go. Ultras have taught me to have a lot of mental strength and I like to think I have been able to use that in marathons. 

 
Anything else you'd like to share?
Just really grateful for people like you (Sara) for always bringing positivity to the running community (editor's note: likewise, 100%!).