In August 2014, my husband Dan and I were fortunate to travel out East to beautiful St. John’s, Newfoundland. During that time, we attended George Street Festival, an awesome music extravaganza! We were lucky enough to see Dropkick Murphy’s on one of the night’s mid-festival, and had a prime spot….front row of the patio at Rockhouse. The show was awesome, every last bit of it. The crowd was ecstatic. A lot of songs I had not heard before, but many I had. I was patiently waiting for one song to be played, though. And it was almost like a “Name That Tune” moment, when I heard the first chord, I know exactly what it was….Shipping out to Boston! 
I recorded a video. I took lots of pictures. I have listened to the song lots. I then I ran the Edmonton Marathon a few weeks and bonked at mile 21. I cried. I cried a lot. I felt defeated. I started training again specifically with the goal of hitting a Boston Qualifying time at the Vancouver marathon in May 2015. I made THAT SONG my ringtone as motivation. I wanted it so bad. I ran Vancouver today as hard as I could. And I finally can say….
I’M SHIPPING UP TO BOSTON!!
I will write a recap very soon. There is a lot to recap. But I wanted to write a general note of sorts to indicate that YES, I reached my goal! And I didn’t just squeak by; I hit it hard! I needed a 3:35.00 to qualify and I ran a 3:24.56! My personal best before that was in fact that Edmonton Marathon, where I ran a 3:44.59. The training paid off and I have so many people to thank.
My dad. What more can I say. Dad, I love you. You were with me this whole race. I know you are so proud. I can’t even put anything more into words right now; I am just smiling. You would be telling everyone you know, and random strangers too, that I qualified for the Boston Marathon. I can’t wait to go to there in April and run for you. For us.
My husband, for handling my crazy schedule and putting up with days I was probably a complete pile or bitchy crap. Yes, I know those happened. I used you as a punching bag many times when I was upset and training days didn’t go as planned. I love you; I hope you still love me after these six months of training!
My mom, who also heard the frustrations and anger sometime, but who was also there to congratulate me….after she would freak out and be anxious before I finished any event, of course. She had never seen me run a distance road until spring of 2013, when I came home to run the Waukesha Trailbreaker Half, and beat my old half marathon best, running a 1:52.53. She said she cried at the start of that race. She is going to be a mess in Massachusetts.
And of course, I love me some local YQL people/organizations/businesses/professionals. Runners Soul Lethbridge, for a fantastic marathon club program and a fantastic store full of support and camaraderie. Shawn & Erin Pinder are fantastic people who will bend over backwards for the running community. And speaking of camaraderie….Bob Higgins, fellow marathon club runner and friend, who ran with my during Vancouver full marathon to help me qualify. Wow! Thank you so much! You my friend are an inspiration.,,.everything you have done over these last years of running is amazing. It was an honour to run with you for 20 miles of the race….until you had to pee. I am proud of the fact you never caught back up!
To Dean Johnson, who wrote me an incredible training plan and edited it partway through to reflect the changes in my race times. Anyone in Lethbridge looking for personal gains in running, please talk to Dean! To my doctors, Dr. Michael Galbraith & Dr. John Power (the best in the sports med business) who have helped me with knee issues and the stride problems over the last year. I am calling you both in the morning and leaving voicemails of me freaking out. So when you hear my Wisconsin accent blubbering, I hope you smile. Or at least laugh. My friends, family, coworkers….you all have handled me obsessing over this quite well. Thank you for still being my friend. Or at least pretending to be. You may have to fake our friendship even longer because the next year leading to Boston I am going to be very, very annoying. Probably close to obnoxious. You may block me on Facebook or unfollow me on Twitter. I won’t be offended. That being said, I am so fortunate, lucky and happy to have moved to a city with such support and love….to have family and friends from all over be by my side. Thank you!
#BOSTON2016 !!!!!!
Je Me Souviens-To Infinity & Beyond! 