Reminiscing About Boston 2004

Apparently, midriff tops were acceptable in 2004.

There have been so many blogs I've read lately that have mentioned the Boston Marathon.  So many runners are starting to get ready for their 2011 Boston training, some are making plans to have a blog meet up there, and so many are just so excited!  I'm so excited for them!

 A shout out to two of my favorite blog friends who will be running Boston :  The Hungry Runner Girl and Elkton Runner.  Reading their blogs tonight got me thinking about when I ran Boston in 2004 and made me want to go through old pictures and remember that time in my life. 

 I was 25 years old in 2004 and I was teaching 3rd grade at the time.  My husband and I were newly weds living in a cute little apartment in a trendy neighborhood in the city.  Life was full of adventure, travel and and possibilities!

When I qualified for Boston at my first marathon, I had no idea what it really meant or what to expect.  I just knew that I should probably  take advantage of the opportunity to run it when I could because who knew what turns life would take and when I'd have the chance again.  I am so glad I decided to run it!  It is one of my favorite memories and tonight I've decided to celebrate my memory of Boston by sharing some pictures to go along with this post. 

But first....HOW did 7 years already pass by since I ran this race??!  What?!  It seems like just yesterday!  I don't feel older than I did at 25.  I don't look any older either.  Ha, okay, so maybe a little bit but I can  tell myself whatever I want, right?  And nothing in life has really changed unless you count the 3 kids I've popped out, our move to the suburbs, our 7 years of marriage, my career change, and just a few major traveling experiences.  Not much at all.  I might as well still be 25! 

 But seriously, life goes by before we know it and it really is too short to not do what we love.  For so many of us on here, Running is a passion and when we can't run, life isn't as enjoyable.  Coming back from injury makes me so much more aware of what a special gift running is.  I understand now (after my first major injury) just how difficult it is for runners who can't run due to injury.  I'm also beyond thankful to be back and I'm excited to train for another marathon and hopefully run Boston again in 2012 or 2013.  I have not run a marathon since Boston.  Portland Marathon was going to be my 3rd and I was hoping to be in Boston in 2011.  I'm okay with everything that has happened though.  In fact, I'm convinced that my injury was a blessing in disguise (as most things in life are).  Because of my injury, I was challenged to truly reflect on my life, think about things I wouldn't have thought of otherwise, and realize the things that matter most.  I also learned some new things in the process, found other ways to exercise that I hadn't tried before, and I started this blog as an outlet!  So glad I did!  Oh, and because of my injury, I have a fire and determination in me that I never before had as an athlete...It will fun to see what I can do with it! 

Enough of the almost midnight ramblings.  Here are some photos of my Boston 2004 experience. 

Getting ready to head to the bus that took us to the holding area before the start.  I wish I still had some of that muscle in my quads!  Oh, and forget the muscle...where the heck did my boobs go?!  The ones in this picture are so far gone it isn't even funny!  Yes, that's right, nursing three kids and not having much to begin with really sucks it out of a girl!  Good thing my husband didn't marry me me for my perfect B cups because those are history folks!

Ha!  Check out those stylin' shorts!  

I'm pretty sure this is at the top of Heartbreak Hill.  My husband had the perfect spot!  I still can't get over how amazing it was to have sooooo many people cheering on the sidelines.  Every single step was filled with so much energy.  My first marathon was The Napa Valley Marathon where I pretty much ran alone on open roads through vineyards so this was such a different experience. 

So proud and JOYFUL to have finished!  3:32:35.   It was so fun to return to my third grade class on Monday.  They thought I was a superstar!  So cute.  The entire school had announced my progress throughout the race as they received news of it from my timing chip.  The librarian even taped it for the kids to watch.  The kids seriously thought that I was waaaaay better than I really was.  They thought that I won it or something and that they would actually see me on the race coverage!  So funny.   Adorable.  I loved seeing those little faces light up and hearing their shouts and cheers when I walked in the room.  It was all icing on the entire Boston experience. 

Getting dressed after the race.  So HIGH on Running!  Before the race, someone was passing around a marker and we all wrote our names on our body.  It was so cool to hear my name being shouted out from people along the sidelines.  It was as if they were all there just for me!

Ewwww, bloody shoes!  Definitely time to get some new ones! Shoes, not boobs. 

 And this is when I should have gone directly back to the hotel to take an ICE bath!  Instead I took a warm bath and went out on the town for the night.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.  I almost had to use a wheel chair in the airport on my way home because I hurt so badly but pride got in the way and I made my way onto the plane!  Next time...Ice bath!

A close up of my shoes.  I'm kind of glad that my toes were bleeding because doesn't the blood just look cool?! 

Okay, we really do look way younger here than we do now.  At least by a few years. 

And this one is just funny because woah, who dresses like that?  What a dork!  Really?  A jean jacket with jeans?  hmmm.  But note that I wore my medal out on the town.  Damn right!  I worked hard for that medal.  Ask me where it is now though and I probably couldn't tell you. 

Thanks for letting me share!  Thinking of all you blogger friends out there that are gearing up for Boston 2011 or working to qualify in the future! 

What is one of your favorite running or race memories?  Please share! 

Amanda