. . . if someone handed me an entry?
Thanks to Wendy @ Takingthelongwayhome for this blog post inspiration — check out her list of 60 Blog Post for Runners here. I may have to come up with my own list — if I can think of more; Wendy did a great job!
The Pros
Anyone that reads my blog for a while knows that I put a great deal of thought into most decisions. This one wouldn’t be an easy one. So let’s start off with the good stuff:
- Mr. Judy grew up in Wellesley. It wouldn’t be that hard to twist his arm into going to Boston.
- Boston is within driving distance, which makes the logistics a bit easier to handle.
- Crowd support.
- Dave McGillivray, Race Director Extraordinaire.
- You may have to be fast to qualify for Boston, but the course stays open a long time.
- Bragging rights.
The Cons
If I ever run a marathon, which is something I put a lot of thought into, actually, I’d, well, put a lot of thought into it:
- The course. OMG, the hills! Obviously I’ve never run Boston. I did do the one and only Runner’s World Heartbreak Half — there I am in the photo above, drenched afterwards, from an unseasonably hot day and pouring water all over myself during the race. The course was partially designed by Dave McGillivray, and it tried to mimic Boston: start with a downhill, Newton hills (including Heartbreak) towards the end. I remember thinking to myself you have to deal with these starting at mile 20? Are you NUTS?????
- The weather. You truly never know what the heck the weather’s going to do: broiling hot or snowing, yup, it all happens.
- Training through Winter. I may run through Winter, and I have trained through Winter, but not all that often. There’s a reason for that — Winter is tough to run through in the Northeast!
- The crowds. I have done huge races a few times. I’m actually okay with big or small, but Mr. Judy is not fond of crowds. And I’m not fond of not being able to find my own running space.
- The expense. I don’t know how much Boston costs, but I’m guessing it’s a lot. Of course, someone is handing me this entry in this scenario, because it’s for darn sure I’m never qualifying on my own, but still.
If a dream doesn’t motivate you to work hard, to get up early and get to bed early, to sometimes make the hard choices between training and going out — maybe it’s not the right dream for you. — Chocolaterunsjudy
Final thoughts
It seems as though the pros outweigh the cons, but not by a lot. I have to admit it’s not something I’ve ever given a lot of thought to, because I’m not going to raise that many $$$ or qualify. It’s not my dream.
My dream for a marathon? I don’t really know. I still have that feeling that someday I’d like to tackle one. Right now is not the right time for maybe. Maybe it will never be the right time. Or maybe someday I’ll find my own running space in life and see just what is out there after 18 miles.
Would you do Boston if your entry was paid for and guaranteed?
What’s your dream marathon?
Do you think it would feel as satisfying if you didn’t have to qualify?
Linking up with Zenaida Arroyo and Kim @ Kookyrunner
This week I am also joining up with Running on Happy, Suzlyfe, Crazy Running Girl, and Coach Debbie Runs each week for the Coaches’ Corner linkup
Chocolaterunsjudy 
Oh, I would love to run the Boston marathon! However, as you mention, training through the winter is a bit of a tough one.
Having to qualify for Boston makes it something special, I like that aspect.
I think you would enjoy running a marathon one of these days. I am sure you have the endurance to do it!
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Oh, I’m fairly certain when the time is right & I put my mind to it, I could do it (but you never know how your body will hold up). The last couple of years definitely not the right time.
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Hm, good question! There are other US marathons I would want to run before Boston – NY and Chicago. So would I run it as part of me running more than 10 marathons in my life? Maybe!
And I also think that you could definitely do a mara and one day you might choose to.
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The last couple of years were definitely not the right time. I know there never really is, but it would not have been good for me to add that stress to my life.
I haven’t really thought about which one I would choose. Not on my bucket list yet.
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Of course I’d run it if someone gifted me the entry.
I don’t go to races with my hubby for many reasons.
But I’ll never qualify and I don’t enter a race if I have to raise money.
So no Boston for me.
NYC was my bucket list marathon. I feel so lucky to have done it.
No desire to run a marathon just to say I did.
I bet you do someday. I know you could do the distance. But if you don’t, who cares? Running has many other challenges and opportunities.
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I’ll know when & if the time is right.
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we never know for sure… unfortunately.
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I have pretty good intuition usually, and I listen to it (which is key).
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Such a great question! I know I’ll never qualify for the race, and their fundraising requirements are super high, so I never really gave it much thought.
I think that since I’ve done two of the WMM marathons (Chicago and NYC), I probably would run Boston if given a race entry. It would be cool to complete 3 outta the 6 WMM races!
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That would be very cool to complete half the world majors! But then you’d have to complete them all, right? 😉
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Even though I only run half marathons I’m pretty sure I would run Boston if someone gave me a free entry, just to experience it. I know this is going to sound insane coming from someone who just said only runs half marathons but I think it would be so cool to run Comrades Marathon, which is 56 miles in Africa.
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Comrades does not appeal to me! I’ve read about it. But never say never. 😊
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Because of the strict BQ requirements, I don’t think I’d feel 100% satisfied if I was given an entry and didn’t earn it or qualify. But then maybe if given one, I would try to get a BQ time while actually running it? Maybe then I’d feel satisfied? Tough question!
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So interesting reading people’s responses. Pretty sure I wouldn’t try to BQ, it’s just not happening.
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I think I am one of the outliers here who has no dream to run Boston. I think the crowds and the logistics would be too much for me. I hope you do have the option someday to find out if you would run it
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No, it’s not my dream either. If I do a marathon, I’d probably want it to be more scenic.
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Like Deborah, no interest in Boston.
While I’m 100% one and done with New York, there’s a chance I might do another marathon for a milestone bday, Boston isn’t on my interest list though.
I agree on winter training, although summer was no peach either.
I’d also feel guilty taking an entry from a faster runner or one who’d have fundraised
Boston cost is $205, which for a marathon isn’t that high
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Take my word, you had mostly great weather this summer! Training for my 18 miler was pretty brutal last summer; it was unusually hot & humid. So don’t train for a marathon with me. 😊
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This is an interesting topic! So actually the appeal of Boston for me is qualifying. I am not sure I would be as interested in doing it if I raised money or was given an entry. I’ve had the goal to BQ for awhile but I have no idea how long it will take me to do it. Hopefully they stop making the qualifying times faster! I thought that now that I’m over 35 I would have an easier time but then they went and raised the standards…
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I don’t think they’re ever going to stop changing the qualifying times. Doesn’t really matter because pretty sure I’d be nowhere close.
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The whole draw to Boston is the qualifying aspect. In spite of all the things you said, would you run it if you didn’t qualify? Just curious.
And I probably would. I just would want the experience!
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I really don’t know. It’s not my dream. In fact when it comes to marathons, I don’t have a dream. I really haven’t given it much thought. What I do know is I’m not going to BQ even if I ran a marathon.
My parents have taken up a lot of my time the last few years. My mom is still here, and I see a lot of changes in her too (even before the whole process with my Dad really began).
I did think it was a cool topic, though.
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I’d run Boston in a heartbeat, especially if someone else was paying for the registration 🙂 I’d like to have the distinction of qualifying, but I have ZERO desire to train that hard for it. And, like you said, training through the winter would not be my gig. I have considered going the charity runner route…but again, there’s that whole “training through the winter” thing LOL
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I will train for thru the winter if I’m motivated. For the last few years life has just been way too stressful for me to want to put that on top of all the stress. Some of it has lifted with my dad’s passing, but not enough to make me want to train for a full. Yet.
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I think the hills and logistics/crowds alone would scare me away from it!
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If you want something badly enough you figure out a way. Not sure I want that badly enough!
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If someone handed me an entry, I would absolutely do it. I don’t think it would feel less than if I didn’t qualify. There are plenty of “other” entries, either comps or charity slots, so I don’t see a problem. It’s not a bucket list race for me, but I also don’t see turning down an opportunity for something big like that.
NYC Is my bucket list marathon, if I am ever brave enough to run another one.
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I really don’t have a bucket list race. Somewhere in Hawaii, maybe.
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If you decide to do a marathon, I’d recommend Chicago. The course isn’t difficult and it’s a lot of fun!
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I do know a lot of Chicago runners, but I have to admit that one doesn’t really draw me. My SIL lived there a long time ago, so I have been there a few times.
I’ve heard great things about the Chicago Marathon, though!
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I think if you didn’t have to qualify, it would just be another big city marathon. Because you have to qualify to run Boston, it became a bucket list item the second I heard that my friend Miles had qualified. Several years later when I finally decided to run my first marathon, Miles helped train me to get that BQ. Qualifying felt every bit as good as I’d dreamed it would and running my first Boston was such a rush (especially for someone who grew up in the middle of nowhere who watched track meets on TV and dreamed of running in “one of those big races”).
Since I can no longer run that distance, running any marathon would be a dream. I truly loved training for and running marathons. Big Sur was also pretty amazing so perhaps I’ve already run both of my dream marathons!
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I think it’s been really fascinating to see the split, the people who wouldn’t want to do it unless they earned their spot, and the people who would just love to take it on! I really don’t know where I fall. Not expecting it to happen either way.
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I definitely would run the Boston Marathon if given an entry. I’ll probably never qualify and don’t want to deal with fundraising so yes, please, a free entry. 🙂 And yes I would still feel satisfied if I run it whether or not I qualify. I ran it and that is all that matters.
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As I said to Debruns, it’s been really fascinating to see how people split on that question.
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