12 Reasons I Can't Wait to Run the Boston Marathon

With all due respect to the NASCAR fans out there, tomorrow is the true day of the Great American Race.

The 119th running of the Boston Marathon is less than 24 hours away, and for the 119th consecutive year I won’t be taking part in the race.

Eventually, come hell or high water, that streak will be coming to an end and I will be toeing the line for the Boston Marathon. There aren’t many races that I am hellbent on running, but this one is.

And here are a few of the reasons why.

12 Things I Love About the Boston Marathon

Qualifying–I don’t know what it is, but there is something about the need to qualify for this race that makes it even more special to me. There is no lottery. There is no first come first served. The requirement is that you run a race faster than a certain standard if you want to run our race. Some might call that kind of uppity, I call it exclusive. And I want to be a part of the subset of runners that have qualified for this race.
Pre-Race in Hopkinton–I’m not really one to get to the starting line any earlier than I have to, but I love the idea of hanging out in Hopkinton for a few hours before the race. Maybe it’s the romantic in me, but being around a bunch of fellow runners before this race just sounds awesome. I might even try to get there extra early just to take it all in.
Running Through the Towns Before Boston–I’ve got a few friends that leave along the Boston Marathon route, and they all say that each small town is just a huge party on the day of the race. I can’t wait to experience each little town along the way and be a small part of their party.
The Finish Line–Is there a more iconic finish line for a race than the Boston finish line? Doubtful. And even thought I’m not much of a picture guy, you can bet I’ll be posing at the finish line for those looking for visual proof that I made it.
Experiencing the City–I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there is no better way to take a tour of a new city than by running through it. I’ve never been to Boston, and I’d love to take a tour. So I might as well run the race at the same time!
Not Worrying About My Time–While I’m usually very particular about my times and trying to always improve as a runner, you can bet your bottom dollar that when I run Boston I won’t be worried about my watch at all. I want to take it all in, experience the parties along the way, and not miss a thing. I can guarantee I won’t be one of the people that BQ during Boston, because I’ll be taking my sweet time.
Wellsley Girls–Speaking of taking my sweet time, I’ll probably stop for a couple of pictures with the Wellsley Girls because, why not?
The Jacket–I’m usually not one to get caught up in status symbols, and I’ve never bought any race-specific memorabilia, but I’ll be buying a Boston jacket and wearing that thing everywhere. I don’t care if it’s 100 degrees, there’s a good chance I won’t take that jacket off for a few months after the race.
Heartbreak Hill–Most people dread Heartbreak, I’m actually really looking forward to it. After running the Blue Ridge Marathon last year, I know it can’t be worse than any of the mountains we ran. And I actually like running up hills, especially if I’m passing people along the way. So bring on the Heartbreak!
Striking Another State Off of the List–In my quest to run a marathon in every state, I really hope to make Boston my Massachusetts race. I don’t know that I’ll go out of my way to avoid running in Mass before I run Boston, but let’s just say I’m not going to be looking for a race there any time soon.
Turning Onto Boylston–So, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll be bawling my eyes out when I make the most famous left turn in all of sports. I can’t wait to hear the crowd, see the finish line, and make it happen!
Taking Part in History–Honestly, running in a race as historic as Boston has to be a pretty powerful feeling. I may not win the race, but just completing it guarantees you a place in the history of the sport of running that no other race can measure up to.