tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post435698553110980656..comments2024-03-26T18:32:50.307-05:00Comments on Taking the Long Way Home: There Goes My Dream of Running Boston..Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-77277777800075911952018-10-15T12:21:27.995-05:002018-10-15T12:21:27.995-05:00Yes, that is very different and upsetting. Yes, that is very different and upsetting. LyzzyBeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16398604923871095647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-62670624587711429682018-10-09T19:25:38.065-05:002018-10-09T19:25:38.065-05:00I always thought that it would be easier to qualif...I always thought that it would be easier to qualify once I got older. 4:10? No problem. Ha! Boy was I wrong...Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-91356945801231198412018-10-09T15:39:37.437-05:002018-10-09T15:39:37.437-05:00Ugh, I feel your frustration. I saw data recently ...Ugh, I feel your frustration. I saw data recently that showed that the older age groups have much fewer participants. So making it easier for them is not going to result in more than, say, an extra couple hundred people. Never say never, but I can understand if you don't want to run a marathon again.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06265175590096078175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-2224444944515551212018-10-05T19:34:06.711-05:002018-10-05T19:34:06.711-05:00The way you've been running through your pregn...The way you've been running through your pregnancy makes me believe that you can do it!Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-37368238606395494452018-10-05T19:33:32.559-05:002018-10-05T19:33:32.559-05:00You have to wonder. I think it would be interestin...You have to wonder. I think it would be interesting to adjust the finish times proportionately. I'd love to run Boston too. Clearly.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-81942634391804897572018-10-05T19:32:38.266-05:002018-10-05T19:32:38.266-05:00100% agree with you about the standards. Selfishly...100% agree with you about the standards. Selfishly, I'd love for them to relax the older woman age standards. It's hard to run that fast when you're lacking hormones!Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-30980534158902462412018-10-05T04:27:25.411-05:002018-10-05T04:27:25.411-05:00I just moved to a new age group so basically my qu...I just moved to a new age group so basically my qualifying time stayed the same (3:35). I've always said I wanted to BQ and at my last marathon I ran a 3:41. I just have no idea if I'll want to train for a marathon after having a baby or if I'll have time...and who knows how long it will take to get back to where I was a few years ago. I kind of think my best shot will be in my early 40s when I would have to run a 3:40. I totally understand the need for the change in times, and at least this way people can hopefully get in just by running the qualifying time. I just hope they don't keep making it harder to get in!Lisa @ Mile by Milehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12739298325369206085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-58634539271526926082018-10-04T22:22:40.338-05:002018-10-04T22:22:40.338-05:00Yeah, the qualifying change was a bit disappointin...Yeah, the qualifying change was a bit disappointing. I will be in a new age bracket and thought I would be able to run that qualifying time but 5 minutes is a lot of time. And I don't know how fair it is that it should be across the board. I also don't know how they breakdown that 80% qualifiers. I think it would be fair to look at the age groups and adjust according to what everyone is accomplishing. Is Boston trying to push older runners off the running course? Anyway, it is what it is. I still hope to run it one day. But they are going to really make me work for it. :) Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09976169118251595581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-56243473301635546562018-10-04T20:26:48.826-05:002018-10-04T20:26:48.826-05:00The Run The Year forums are generally wonderful, b...The Run The Year forums are generally wonderful, but the disdain toward charity runners (only way I'd run it) is palpable. I think it soured me on the race. Would it have been different if I ever had an interest? Maybe. Nothing would deter me from New York. If I did a second marathon it would be Marine Corps (domestically) or London (Internationally). I'm not sure what I'd do about those -- but there's also just SO MUCH about Boston in any foraTravellingCarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18191515720716670681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-1584229074875194142018-10-04T18:23:13.499-05:002018-10-04T18:23:13.499-05:00I was a bit frustrated at the change in standards,...I was a bit frustrated at the change in standards, since I am coaching runners who were hoping to BQ in October or December... and now aren't sure if they will be able to because 5 minutes can be a lot of time. That's just a huge disappointment that close to a marathon.<br />I might have an unpopular opinion, but I think the standards are too harsh on young men and older women and too easy on young women. It seems far more common for a 30-year-old women to crank out a sub-3:30 or faster than it is for some of the other age brackets like 50+ women. I feel like I've heard a joke even that all the Boston crowd consists of is young women and older men. Laura Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12733300278691735528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-28257536401331595262018-10-04T16:51:33.004-05:002018-10-04T16:51:33.004-05:00You just made my day! I never thought running woul...You just made my day! I never thought running would be so hard but once menopause strikes, it's like someone flips a switch and says "no more endurance for you". I'm sorting out some thoughts about this and I'm sure eventually it will turn into a blog post. But yep, I'm still doing what I can and having a ton of fun!Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-54455845569277757902018-10-04T16:49:56.395-05:002018-10-04T16:49:56.395-05:00I probably could BQ if I wanted but it would take ...I probably could BQ if I wanted but it would take over my life. Even when my BQ was attainable, training that hard was a struggle with work and family obligations. I don't know how other people do it.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-53476805964714735362018-10-04T16:48:53.223-05:002018-10-04T16:48:53.223-05:00I just don't have a marathon in me anymore. I&...I just don't have a marathon in me anymore. I'm at peace with it.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-63933408744718765412018-10-04T16:48:27.304-05:002018-10-04T16:48:27.304-05:00I agree with everything you've said here. I do...I agree with everything you've said here. I don't like the ugliness either. There's no glory in pushing for a BQ at a hilly marathon. When I ran Big Sur, I was shocked at the number of runners who pushed hard! That's a race for the memories. But hey, we're all different.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-11961822663592902532018-10-04T16:46:46.252-05:002018-10-04T16:46:46.252-05:00That's exactly what I plan on doing!That's exactly what I plan on doing!Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-60874091770102371392018-10-04T16:46:21.282-05:002018-10-04T16:46:21.282-05:00That and the cheaters who steal spots from legitim...That and the cheaters who steal spots from legitimate qualifiers--instead of discouraging people, it seems to have fueled the fire!Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-80439042364360960652018-10-04T16:45:04.458-05:002018-10-04T16:45:04.458-05:00I hope you do it!!!I hope you do it!!!Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-22988303757462229422018-10-04T16:42:33.629-05:002018-10-04T16:42:33.629-05:00Really? It's kind of refreshing to hear this, ...Really? It's kind of refreshing to hear this, yet it's Boston!Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-58629924927717857392018-10-04T16:31:58.590-05:002018-10-04T16:31:58.590-05:00Me too! I don't have the desire to push that h...Me too! I don't have the desire to push that hard anymore.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-27847306461587655202018-10-04T14:37:25.187-05:002018-10-04T14:37:25.187-05:00I know you already stopped by my post and read my ...I know you already stopped by my post and read my thoughts, but I'll share again anyways :) I ran Boston in 2012 and thought once was enough... then this year I registered on a whim with the idea of returning with my hubs this time (my mom and I went last time). Surely enough, I didn't make the cut, but maybe that's okay! Personally I know I would like to travel to a few other "big" races in my lifetime - hopefully New York, Chicago and maybe CIM some day! Bucket listers :)<br /><br />Boston is cool but I can't imagine how hard it is to train at 50+. Training in this season of pregnancy, postpartum, then pregnant again, postpartum, pregnant again,... you get the picture... is hard enough! Throw in age and the stress of life that comes as the kids get older (and we get older too, I suppose), I'm sure it's an entirely different beast. Wendy, I think you and Holly are so hardcore - Boston or no Boston!Amy Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05683913769197406757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-28152475682144438462018-10-04T05:41:04.470-05:002018-10-04T05:41:04.470-05:00It's amazing how many people have been aiming ...It's amazing how many people have been aiming for Boston since the bombings- the field has gotten so much faster! FWIW, I think you could totally do it if you wanted to. The motivation is key... it takes a lot of work, and sometimes year after year until the marathon day clicks! <br />I'm leaning away from a fall marathon for that reason- the motivation isn't there right now and when it doesn't sound fun, it definitely isn't worth all the work.Mommy Run Fasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02172007555251749935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-1930862262301003542018-10-03T21:02:55.239-05:002018-10-03T21:02:55.239-05:00At one point I was interested in a BQ. Now, not s...At one point I was interested in a BQ. Now, not so much. Well, maybe a little. :-) For now I am focusing on smaller races and to finish my goal of running a half marathon in each state. As of now, I need 3:50 to qualify. Oh well.Zenaida Arroyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18137949290555784656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-36310451904028870572018-10-03T14:07:22.154-05:002018-10-03T14:07:22.154-05:00I don't know. Some parts of the running commun...I don't know. Some parts of the running community have been so ugly about it. Whether a downhill marathon counts as a BQ and questioning the disparity between the time different between men and women when the elites don't have as big of a gap between genders. It's just become an ugly thing and it's not about fun anymore. I like to be challenged when I run, yes but I also do it because it brings me joy. I don't think slogging for Boston would bring me joy. Virjinia @ With Purpose and Kindnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17584377013630291266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-28688046127220683082018-10-03T11:23:33.321-05:002018-10-03T11:23:33.321-05:00I'm just not that fast on a good day so I'...I'm just not that fast on a good day so I've never really thought I could run Boston, which I'm fine with. I also doubt I'll run another full-- although I am looking forward to getting back into running after the twins and maybe even getting involved in local racing again. <br />There is something about Boston that any runner still kind of dreams about- even if it is a long shot. The idea of it sucks your heart in even if your brain knows it's not that big of a deal to not do it... I get it. I'd say focus on races you can do and even shorter ones! I've found they can be just as fun.julie Wunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06266558547048650273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-22855712369395957132018-10-03T11:22:13.589-05:002018-10-03T11:22:13.589-05:00I was never in a position to BQ so I didn't pa...I was never in a position to BQ so I didn't pay much attention when the new times came out, but I do think it's a good idea. I always think of the runners that technically get a BQ time, but then are still denied because they weren't "fast enough". I can't imagine how pissed I would be if that happened to me! Hopefully this won't happen anymore with the new times.KookyRunnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03687318401455266836noreply@blogger.com