More Thoughts on Boston

It's a glorious 20 degree day in November, there are Christmas drinks at Starbucks and we gain an extra hour of sleep this weekend... There is really no reason not to feel great today, but I'm having one of those exhausted, burnt out, cannot go on for another second - moments. This happens to me periodically, I am thrilled with all of the things in my life that keep me busy and going for every waking moment - but I still have my moments. I think ultimately the shift work gets to me from time to time. I can't imagine doing an office job, or a mon-fri bankers hours type job, but the change over from nights to days, days to nights, late evenings to early mornings, 12 hour shifts to 8 hour shifts... takes its toll on my body. I may loose 10 years off my life (as studies have shown) thanks to this, but it's a worthy sacrifice, so I do my best not to complain very often. Today, I'm drawing very deep from the abyss within me to find some positivity... However, I believe the solution may be for me to take this time to meditate and reflect on the finer things in life... Primarily, Boston.



I've already documented my border-line obsessive lure to Boston, my passion to rule the roads with a Boston title, my dream for the last number of years. But there are more reasons that I am drawn to Boston. This is a top 5 list of reason's why Boston speaks my love-language:



5: I live for a challenge: Boston is a tough course, the weather is unpredictable, the 4 Newton hills are killer, Heart-Break Hill is named appropriately. I need something to keep me going, and a challenge like this is just what I need! I find that I have a certain type of personality, I like to refer to it as Type-J personality. This personality may require professional help at times, due to this sick and twisted need to accomplish random, painful yet self satisfying things. I recently purchased a book by Michael Connelly called "26 Miles to Boston" (by recently, I mean today), and as I cracked the cover with a flutter of excitement (perhaps that same flutter that I still feel after the successful procurement of blood when I do an arterial poke), my eyes welled up with fresh tears when I read the foreword by John "the elder" Kelley. Mr. Kelley is a spectator of Boston, two-time champion, 61-time participant and Grand Marshall of the race. He says this "The Boston Marathon in its present form is the greatest marathon in the world....No other marathon in the world can match the race for its color, longevity, glamour, prestige and history. This is the race that the best runners in the world want to win even above the Olympic Marathon". Dear John Kelley - I love you. You just spoke the most romantic and purposeful words that my heart has ever heard. Boston Marathon Challenge - Bring it on! Heart Break Hill - Eat your heart out!

4: The trip: Not only does April 18th, 2011 appeal to me, April 16, 17, and 19th also bring so much excitement. Much like my Ironman experiences, it's not just the day that means something, its the whole trip. I am so excited that Alison and I are doing this together, it is fitting, and perfect in so many ways. Of course, I would LOVE it if all of my favorite people could come, that I could share this history making day with everyone in my family, but reality is, travel can be pricey, it's not the most ideal time of year, and it is what it is. Craig continues to be my biggest supporter, in fact, he deserves his own Ironman medal (x2) for managing to survive living with me and all that I have to offer (aka "my moods"). His support will always be one of my hugest motivations - But Craig and I will be saving our joint trip to Boston for a more NFL season appropriate date, where we can wear matching his/hers Tom Brady jersey's and cheer like maniacs at a New England Patriots game all while getting drunk on stadium Heroin Beer. The Boston Marathon trip must be reserved for my biggest supporter since the first day I laced up a pair of Asics. Alison, who has recently taken to understanding the finer things in life, like running, understands what draws me to Boston, she talks in runners lingo, and her day of Boston spectating is as serious an accomplishment as running the course. Aside from that, we shop the same (and there WILL be shopping), we eat the same (and there WILL be eating), we both like 6am (well... I like it, she tolerates it), we have similar interests (must get a picture of us at Harvard), we finish each others sentences (which makes conversations go so smoothly) - all around, she'll be my perfect travel buddy.

3: The Food: This sort of goes without saying much more (but...I will). Boston Cream Donuts. Never had one, I've been waiting for the real things for a real long time. It's gonna happen, and it's gonna happen soon. The truth is, I'm not really a donut person, for a few reasons (health, calories, fat content, blah, blah, blah), but I'm especially not a "cream/custard/jelly - filled" donut person. I just don't like em. This will change. I WILL be eating a Boston Cream Donut, and I WILL be enjoying it. I will also be finding a way to transport a fresh one back for Craig. Aside from the Donuts, there are so many other food related events that will be shaping our holiday in Boston - Alison and I LOVE markets, coffee shops, sushi, sandwich/salad/deli bars, health food stores, desserts, etc, etc, etc. A new place, new food, new places to go - I just hope that we have enough time to cover all of our bases. It's fine if we don't - we'll make the most of every available moment that we can. I must also find a way to smuggle some real, fresh, New England Clam chowder across the border (and on a plane) to bring it home for Craig (I'm a good wife like that!).

2: The Bragging Rights: I'm going to have to put my humility on the shelf for this season -it's gonna be tough, but I'm up for the challenge. Boston is common knowledge, there are pretty few people out there who aren't familiar with the road race. So, when I say I'm registered, it's hard not to sit back and enjoy the moment. Not just everyone is familiar with an Ironman, so it doesn't always mean much when I say I've done it. In fact, there was a time once when I was training for an Ironman, and some said this exactly "Oh yeah, my sister did one of those once, it took her 2 hours!" Ummm.... that's a sprint triathlon, they don't really compare - but is it really worth sounding like a total snob and correcting the unfamiliar? I don't think so. On this note, I am actually quite thankful that there is no "Boston Tatoo" that comes with this event. If there was, I would HAVE to get it, and as it stands, I already have two tatoo's (one being the Ironman tatoo, that I HAD to get, and the other being the result of 18 year old peer pressure that I HAD to get to fit in...). This is two tatoo's more than I ever intended on getting, it's not really my style and there are only so many places that I can tastefully get inked (that are also easy to hide), I've maxed out (x2) - I really don't want to HAVE to subject myself to more permanent body art. And... now the World Wide Web is aware about the secret snob that exisits in me... darn, I've been trying to keep that a secret.

1: The Jacket: I have coveted this article of clothing for a very very long time. There are very few set things on our Boston agenda, in fact, there are only two. One - 10:30 am, April 18th, be at the start line, two - absolute first stop upon arriving in Boston - John Hancock Race Expo, Boston Athletic Association attire booth, purchase the brightest, most obnoxious Boston Marathon Jacket (by brightest I mean, most neon shade of pink available). I will be wearing said jacket in a permanent fashion from that day onward. I've seen people with these jackets before, I've been tempted to dis-robe and lay my clothes on the ground for these individuals in a sort of "Jesus entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday" type way. It is finally my turn. Finally! Don't worry, I won't expect the red carpet (palm tree) entrance - but I won't reject it either. I'll have to bring my dad a Boston Jacket back as well - he's kind of a jacket horror, so it's only fitting.

Yup, I'm feeling a million times better already!