Run, Sacramento

Once again, there is a large Sacramento-area contingent heading to Monday's Boston Marathon. Know that at least one person, Sacramento blogger Stephanie Papas, will be thinking of you all on Monday morning.

So, without further ado, we turn over the rest of this blog pot to Stephanie:

   I have Boston envy. It happens every year at this time. Just when I should be packing my bags, and picturing myself at the start line, reality hits and I remember - sigh - I am not heading to Boston.

   Instead, I read people's blogs about their taper. I inhale the course tips, maps, and stories featuring Bill Rodgers (a 4-time winner), Johnny Kelley (who finished Boston 58 times, took second seven times and placed among the top-10 finishers 18 times) and Katherine Switzer (the first woman to officially enter and run the event). And I think about how I need to get off my lazy arse try harder to get faster so that I qualify.

   Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. So true, literally, and for Boston in particular. They say that work productivity is reduced by 30 to 60% during March Madness, the college basketball finals. For me, all productivity stops on the Monday the Boston Marathon is run. With the time change (I'm in Cali), the race starts at 8:00am, meaning the elites finish between 10 and 10:30am. I picture myself waiting patiently in Hopkinton (note to self: when have you EVER waited patiently for the start of a race?), seeing the Wellesley girls kissing others, running up Heartbreak Hill, crossing the finish lineon Boylston, having a Sam Adams post-run.......sigh.

   This is a seasonal affliction, kind of like spring allergies. It starts right around April 1^st, with 3 weeks to go before the race. But I experience minor flare ups throughout the year - when I read of others BQing, or when I see someone roaming around a race expo with their BAA jacket on.

    I am not whining here. I realize if I wanted this badly enough, I would get serious and really dedicate myself to getting faster. That said, it's been nice to run and race just for the fun of it. It's a luxury to wake up when I want to, instead of at 4:30am so that I get that day's assigned mileage done before heading off to work. I'm even able to stay awake past 9:00pm, since the alarm is not ringing and I am not pounding the pavement then heading off to work.

   I've yet to commit to a fall marathon, so qualifying is certainly possible. In the meantime, best of luck to those running Boston this year. I'll be with you in spirit, sitting in my cubicle, cheering you on!

 

P.S.: If anyone else wants to guest-blog on "Run, Sacramento," feel free to email me at smcmanis@sacbee.com.