About a month ago Dennis and I had an e-mail exchange about the lure (and the lore) of the Boston Marathon. He’s done it; I haven’t. We both agreed that the race is way too hyped. Dennis has decided to carry that virtual conversation onto his blog and I’d love to hear what everyone thinks (as would he, I’m sure).
I think in our need to place order to everything, we had to select one race to be better than the others and the nod went to the storied Boston race. Its tradition, and especially the BAA’s reluctance to fiddle with that aspect, made it a natural selection. The somewhat recent institution of a qualifying time to limit the field (and presumably reduce permit costs) only strengthened runners’ resolve to run it, even if there are numerous ways to circumvent that requirement. Boston has a cache that other major marathons like New York City and Chicago do not, at least not within certain running circles.
But I’ve frequently asked myself why I want to do it. I mean, I commuted by car and train to Boston for years and see no appeal to running a similar route, especially if it’s really warm. Then again, I frequently drive around downtown San Diego and Mission Bay and earlier this month spent five painful hours retracing those streets to prove something to myself. There’s the money too. The stiff price tags and ridiculous registration cut-offs for most big marathons now border on outrageous, but it’s a normal consequence of the distance’s recent mass popularity.
When someone first learns you run, they always want to know if you’ve ever done a marathon. And if they learn you’ve done many, they always ask if you’ve done Boston. To non-runners, they ask because it’s a marathon they’re familiar with. But when another runner asks, you are being sized up. I suppose my real beef with the artificial significance placed on this larger-than-life race is that when I answer, part of me suddenly feels small.
13 comments:
I don't think I would ever make it to the point of running the Boston marathon...EVER. At this point in my running career, I feel scared of it. EEKS. That's just me though. Who knows...maybe that will change in a few years!
Even as a non-athletic kid in the 70's I knew about the Boston Marathon. The only other marathon I'd heard of was in the Olympics. Boston was definitely a big thing. Now some 30+ years later I become a "runner" so of course Boston is on my mind. Now I find out that there is a marathon in every major city world wide, but this wasn't always the case. Even the LA Marathon didn't exist when I was a kid, starting after the 1984 Olympics.
Being of a certain speed or "pack", I was certain that Boston was out of the question for me. Taking 30+ minutes off my best time, no way that's going to happen. Yet something inside (and some people) tell me if I train harder and smarter, etc, that it could be done. The kid in me remembers the bigness of Boston. You speak of its allure today among runners and non runners alike. For better or worse, it has it.
If I set my sights on a BQ and actually get there, will I be a better runner? Only in the sense that faster is better. Will I be a better person, probably not. But I will have set a goal, made a plan and worked toward that goal.
As for Dennis being all bent out of shape about Boston, it seems like sour grapes to me. He's already had his run at Boston (to be fair, I haven't read anyting else on his blog). Part of the allure of Boston is all the screwy things he mentions. Are there better courses, better organizations, better scenery, better whatever, elswhere? Probably, but each marathon has its own personality. I don't know if I'll get there, or even if I really want to pay the price, but it never hurts to dream big.
@ Darrell
I know what you mean about Boston being this ideal in runners' and non-runners' minds; that's how I felt until I ran it. This isn't sour grapes. If anything, it's the opposite, whatever that is. I just find the whole thing to be way over-hyped and built up. Take away the qualifying standard as a goal, and I think they'd have a hard time filling the field every year. There are dozens of other races that are better organized, run on better courses and better experiences overall.
Although I do have to say that the finish at Boston is probably the best finish of any race I've ever seen. It's an amazing thing.
Boston...never run it, probably never will. My husband has run it twice, and I've been a supporter and spectator both times. The energy of the crowd is incredible, there's nothing I can say to describe the experience. Maybe it's because I'm from Small Town USA so the big city and the big city crowds draw me in. Maybe it's because, for whatever reason, Boston is "the" marathon - and you know that the runners have worked incredibly hard to get there, and each of them have achieved a major goal in running it. Maybe it's the history of the race. Whatever it is, it's different than any of the 14 other marathons I've watched. It's something even a back-of-packer, non-marathoner like me thinks about. I wouldn't dream of running Boston unless I qualified for it and earned my spot.
So why didn't we go this year? Eric qualified many times over. More because of economics - we can only afford one or two big trips a year, and we want to see more of the country than Boston. He's already qualified for 2007, but we'll probably choose another destination next year. Maybe we'll go back in 2008...
I'm firmly in the "Boston is awesome" camp. I think it's a great race in a fantastic atmosphere with tons of history, and the day I ran it was one of the most memorable of my life.
That's not to say there aren't other fantastic races out there, but Boston is definitely near the top of the list. I think all those things that make it unique are part of the attraction.
You're not small to me Anne!
I really should read the links before I respond, but anyway, here's my two cents.
I never thought about Boston until I started hearing other runners talk about it. To me, as a relative newbie to running, knowing that someone is "Boston Qualified", means that the person is a serious and really good runner. Not that the rest of us aren't serious or good, but I do give anyone who can make the qualifying time their due respect.
I keep thinking of the friend of mine (bless her heart), who tells people that she did a marathon. She WALKED a marathon - I always feel like butting in. She didn't run a step. It took her 12 hours. This same friend (dear thing) said to me the week before my first marathon, with the all the weight and wisdom of her experience, "I don't know what you're so worried about."
So, what's that got to do with anything? I'm not really sure! Just that there are different experiences of what "doing a marathon" means to people. My friend thinks she's done one, and I bite my tongue. I think I've done one, but some BQer out there is probably rolling her eyes... and some IronMan is probably laughing... it just keeps going... in the end, I think it's really just a measure of how insane someone is willing to get over this!
Just recently a new girl to our Tuesday group asked me if I was working to get qualified for Boston and I replied, 'I'm just focused on not hurting myself for now. Maybe I'll think about Boston after my next marathon.' I think I'm going to keep that as my pat answer, no matter how many marathons I run.
awww...do NOT feel small! knowing how fast i can run now, i have a better chance at running on the moon than running boston. and while i am still a rookie, i have learned this (for what it's worth): you set your own standard. you don't have to "measure up " to anyone else's idea of what a "real", "world-class" or whatever runner is supposed to do.
"... when I answer, part of me suddenly feels small."
I think that's why I'm signed up to run the Calgary Marathon in 2 weeks. Mostly because when non-running, extended family and friends found out I run, they started asking "how is the marathoning going?" So now I've trained for a marathon. I'm going to run it, but I still feel more like a 10k'er. or a Half'er. I'm mostly doing the Big M just so I can say I tested my limits, proved that it's more than what I really want to do with my running.
I'm way too slow for Boston, always will be, don't particularly care anyway, but I understand where you're coming from. This marathon coming up will be close enough to a "Boston" for me!
I'm glad that there are others out there asking this question. To me, the elists mindset that some runners have towards Boston completely destroys the atmoshpere and culture that I enjoy about endurance events in the first place.
Back in April, I posted my thoughts on it: Does Boston Make the Runner?
When I started running marathons I was in denial about Boston. I told people that I did not care about Boston and had no desire to spend that much money to fly across the country to run it. Eventually I caved due to the pressure of being asked by all the non-runners in my life if I had qualified for Boston. I think you're right about Boston giving marathoners somewhat of a complex about their worth as a marathoner and maybe as a runner as well, but I also think the questions from non-runners do come innocently because they are familiar with the race and it may be the only marathon they can name. You'll always be a giant in my marathoning world Anne.
When someone first learns you run, they always want to know if you’ve ever done a marathon.
oh i know ...i suppose it's natural for someone to ask but i always think gee isn't just running good enough? lol
i'll echo donald. running boston was one of the coolest experiences of my life. the coolest thing about it, though, wasn't the cheering, the hype or the history. the coolest thing about running boston was that you were all there with me. each 5k mat i crossed i had this mental image of emails being fired off, phones ringing, people refreshing their browser and i knew that without those people viewing, i would have never ben able to run it.
that said, i HAVE run better marathons. ottawa, for example, puts boston to shame with it's course and organization...and i plan to run other races that i know to be more enjoyable courses. i think, for me though, it was a specific goal that i never thought was attainable that i was able to reach. and that made the experience that much more special.
now, about the 'feeling little', our goals are all relative, and you know how i feel about making sure that goals fit with life. i have much more respect for someone who has raised wonderful kids than for someone who has qualified and run boston numerous times.
you, anne, are huge in my mind. wait, that didn't sound right. um...you're a big influence? dangit...(quit while you're ahead, jeff)...san diego high school rocks! *bangs head*
I know I’m a little late on the subject but I just read your post…great website! Running Boston was the most amazing experience of my life : ) The 110th Boston Marathon was my 1st marathon so I don’t have anything to compare it to (yet) and I didn’t have to qualify because I ran it for Dana-Farber. Overall I think the opportunity to run Boston for a charity such as Dana-Farber only added to my experience. Reaching the finish line marked two significant goals to raise $5,000 for Dana-Farber and completing the Boston Marathon. Looking back I’m still in shock…..screaming fans/supporters lined the entire 26.2 miles...yelling GO RYAN!....Dana-Faber!! Although I’m looking to try a smaller venue down the road..but I will be back next year!
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