When you tell someone you’re a runner, often the first question is, “have you run a marathon?” and the second, “have you run the Boston Marathon?” The Boston Marathon is not only the oldest annual marathon, it is New England’s best-attended single day sporting event, a pinnacle of the sport. There are legends and lore, stories of heartbreak and triumph. From the first person across the line to the last there is pride in saying, I finished the Boston Marathon.
Hell, there’s pride in saying I started the Boston Marathon. You can’t just sign up for this thing, you have to earn it. You’ll hear runners throw around the lingo “BQ”, it means Boston Qualifier. They strive for the BQ. And when they earn it they get to line up and run from Hopkinton to the Boston between lines of screaming fans.
I dream of running Boston. There is no question whether I’ll do it, the only question is when. Until then, I just watch from a distance and soak in the thrill of the day.
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