Most runners dream of running the Boston Marathon. I have been blessed to have just finished my 8th. Anyone who runs marathons knows that sometimes you get the day and sometimes you don’t. I have run 20 marathons, healthy and confident in my training. I know I am lucky for that. Number 21 was different. I battled pneumonia for 3 weeks in March and just when I was healthy enough to get back to hills and track workouts, I aggravated an old hamstring injury. I had less than 2 weeks to recover and I knew that was a small window.
I headed to the start line Monday morning just hoping my hamstring would stay together, but deep down knowing it would not. The pain I had felt in my shake out run the morning before was not good, but you don’t say no to Boston. So off I went to the start line hoping for the best. By mile 5 the pain set in, mile 8 it got worse, and at mile 10 I heard a pop and pain like no other. I walked, thought about how this was my worst nightmare, borrowed a spectator’s phone to call my family and let them know I was okay, and thought about how awful the next 16-mile walk was going to be. I’m not sure if it was adrenaline, stubborn, the fact that my son was standing waiting for me at mile 24, or just plain insanity, but I punched my leg a few times, yelled let’s go, and started to hobble, limp, just do about anything I could to keep moving forward. I somehow found strength, grit, and the ability to power through. The crowds were amazing and carried me. I finished with not my best marathon time (far from it) with a 3:49, but surprisingly not my slowest either.
After 40 years of running, I learned a lot about myself in that race. I have had some fantastic races, and I am proud of what my body has let me do when I PR and accomplish a goal. But yesterday was different. I fought hard and not for a PR, but just to finish. It may not have been my best race, and I may have experienced a lot of pain and struggle, but I think it is the marathon I am most proud of. I never gave up. And that means so much.
And to the Boston Marathon. I’ll be back in 2026. See you then. I’m coming for you…
ROBIN G.