As a runner, today is like SuperBowl Sunday is for football fans.  It’s Boston Marathon Monday.  The most heralded event in distance running.  The granddaddy of marathons.  The big B.

I got up early to watch the last half of the elite race.  There’s been a lot of hype built up around the U.S. runners, Kara Goucher and Ryan Hall, both of whom I really admire.  And since a U.S. woman has not won Boston since 1985— for Kara to win it would be a huge moment for every female runner in America.

And maybe it was the fact that I can’t run right now, or maybe just the joy that overwhelmed me as Kara led the pack to the finish, but I cried.  Watching a running event.  On tv.  How silly or lame is that?  

And then I sighed as she dropped back and crossed the finish line in 3rd place.  Still a huge achievement, but when they showed her husband comforting her, I completely lost it.  Again, with the crying….what is with me?  

It’s been a dream of mine to run Boston someday, and I felt like this would be a good year to qualify for 2010 or 2011.  Granted, the only full marathon I’ve ever finished ended badly and took me 6 hours. BUT, up until this stupid knee injury, I’d been feeling great during my training runs and improving my pace.  Excited to attempt the 26.2 again.  A 3:40 marathon would definitely require me to push myself, but it’s certainly a realistic goal.

Whatever happens, I fully expect to be running Boston sometime in the next 5 years.  I’d prefer sooner rather than later, but right now, that’s the unrealistic dream.