My 14-Year Goal to Run the Boston Marathon
Happy Sunday!
Depending on how long you’ve been here, you may or may not know that I’ve had a goal to run the Boston marathon for 14 years now.
And it’s been quite the dramatic journey:
How My Running Journey Started
My timed mile time in middle school was 12-13 minutes. I couldn’t run without walking. I started running to lose weight & get over a long term boyfriend, then got hooked on getting better at running.
My First Boston Qualifying Attempt and Setback
In 2014, I collapsed at the finish line of CIM yards before the finish. I would have qualified for the first time and instead I missed my time by 27 seconds, after being helped across the finish line by my husband and volunteers. I got pregnant a month later.
Qualifying for Boston Marathon (But Not Getting In)
In 2022, 4 years after having my twins, building my coaching business to full time after leaving my accounting job, and surviving the pandemic, I qualified for Boston for the first time. I cried tears of joy when I crossed the finsih line and I celebrated the heck out of achieving a 10 year in the making goal (& bought the BQ shirt!).
Why Boston Marathon Cutoff Times Matter
But my 2:30 buffer didn’t hold up (if there are too many applicants, they take the fastest runners first, and create a “cutoff” time- anyone slower than the cutoff doesn’t get in).
Another Boston Qualifying Attempt and More Challenges
In 2023, I qualified AGAIN, but this time a mix of illness in the final weeks of travel and the over-reliance on Spring Energy gels (which had 1/4 the carbs claimed on the package), led to marathon slower than my fitness indicated, but another
BQ, but by only 1:30 this time. Again, I was rejected.
When the Goal posts Keep Moving
And then what happened? The qualifying times changed yet again, getting faster by another 5 minutes. It felt like no matter what I did, I just wasn’t quite fast enough. And it was stealing the joy from racing.
Letting Go of Pressure and Finding Joy in Running Again
Last year, I released the pressure on myself to get to the Boston Marathon starting line. I run because I LOVE it – and I won’t let something steal the joy from it.
I know I’m a hard-working and fit runner. I have an (over) abundance of knowledge.
Realizing Something Was Missing in My Performance
But I felt deep down know there was a piece of the puzzle I was missing. It wasn’t my mileage, or my fueling or the type of workouts I was doing. I knew it was in part my mindset – being too hard myself, not being “tough” in the hard miles of the race, but I also had a stronger feeling something else was going on.
How Pelvic Floor Health Can Impact Running Performance
Long story short, after putting a lot of puzzle pieces together, I’ve started working on my pelvic floor function with more earnest – and I’m starting to see exciting changes (Garmin V02 max went up 2 points in a short time – that’s related to increased efficiency, not just better workouts). Not many runners are aware of the fact that pelvic floor health can directly impact performance – NOT just leaking and bathroom breaks on runs.
Why Finding the Missing Piece Takes Time
I’ll be sharing more about what I’m doing to work on my pelvic floor in the coming months, but for now I wanted to leave you with this:
Sometimes the answers you need aren’t obvious. And sometimes it takes a lot of trial and error and finding the right provider or coach (or working with multiple to come at it from all angles, this is my 3rd time working on pelvic floor). But if you give up before you get your missing puzzle piece, you’ll never know.
Renewed Hope and Future Boston Marathon Goals
And is this a magical solution? Of course not.
But what this improvement has really given me is renewed hope and has gotten me more excited to eventually take that Boston Marathon goal off the shelf again.
Will I go for a BQ in Chicago? That’s not the plan for now – right now my plan is to race Chicago and get the fastest time I’m capable of that day and have no regrets.
But, I am setting my eyes on a BQ attempt down the road.
Why This Goal Still Matters to Me
Not because I feel pressure from anyone to “prove” I’m fast or fit (which honestly, was part of my “why” for this goal for many years), but because that goal IS still meaningful to me. It’s about being the gritty runner who loves a big goal and doesn’t let the failures stop her.
What Failure Has Taught Me as a Runner
I already know what it feels like to try to BQ and fail.
I know what it feels like to give it my all and collapse and it still not be enough.
And you know what was is worst? Giving up without even trying.
A Reminder: It’s Okay to Fail
Last weekend when I saw American record holder Keira D’Amanto speak she said:
“It’s ok to fail. So you might as well go for it”
Final Reflection: Don’t Give Up on Your Goals
Do you have any dreams you discarded for fear of failure? What if you decided to go for it anyway?
Happy running,
Nicole Dobransky
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