Hello everyone!
If someone had asked me three short years ago if I would be running the 2014 Boston Marathon, I would have 1.) laaaughed and laughed, and 2.) asked, “No seriously, who else wants nachos??” To be honest, running just wasn’t even on my radar for the majority of my life. Growing up in Massachusetts, Marathon Monday was a day I always had off from school; depending on the year, it might include a trip to Lexington to watch a reenactment of Revolutionary War battle that gave Patriot’s Day its name, or perhaps a train ride into Boston to see a bunch of crazy people in short shorts cross a finish line. As a student at Boston College, the day became an excuse to wear Superfan t-shirts and drink Busch Lite out of solo cups while cheering people on Comm Ave as they passed Heartbreak Hill. In my adult life, I continued to take the day off from work every year, and stood on the side of Beacon Street in Coolidge Corner to cheer along friends and strangers who were brave and stupid enough to run 26.2 miles – on purpose! But would I, Meghan Butler, ever do it? The idea honestly didn’t even cross my mind.
However, something changed around the time I turned 30: I started running. First I ran a mile, then a mile became 5k. 5ks quickly led to 10ks, and eventually to my first half marathon. Eventually, I realized that I was ready for my ultimate challenge: a marathon. I always knew that it had to be Boston; this is my home, and it happens to be home to most difficult and famous marathon in the entire world. After last year's tragic events, the 2014 Boston Marathon has more meaning than ever, for me and for all Bostonians. I feel truly honored to be able to participate and represent a small piece of Boston Strong.
I am very lucky to have obtained a bib number through my charity, Massachusetts General Hospital. As a former employee and lifelong patient, I know that the hospital’s pediatric oncology patients will be a huge part of my motivation for completing my own 26.2 mile “jog” this April; they are one of the biggest reasons I will move my feet forward on the pavement every day this winter!
In fact, there are a lot of reasons for me to run; so many, in fact, that I decided to start a blog to write about them. Every week during my training, I will post a new reason. The first post will appear in January 2014, and the last will post the week of the Marathon itself. Until then, please donate. Thanks in advance for everyone’s support!
-Meg
If someone had asked me three short years ago if I would be running the 2014 Boston Marathon, I would have 1.) laaaughed and laughed, and 2.) asked, “No seriously, who else wants nachos??” To be honest, running just wasn’t even on my radar for the majority of my life. Growing up in Massachusetts, Marathon Monday was a day I always had off from school; depending on the year, it might include a trip to Lexington to watch a reenactment of Revolutionary War battle that gave Patriot’s Day its name, or perhaps a train ride into Boston to see a bunch of crazy people in short shorts cross a finish line. As a student at Boston College, the day became an excuse to wear Superfan t-shirts and drink Busch Lite out of solo cups while cheering people on Comm Ave as they passed Heartbreak Hill. In my adult life, I continued to take the day off from work every year, and stood on the side of Beacon Street in Coolidge Corner to cheer along friends and strangers who were brave and stupid enough to run 26.2 miles – on purpose! But would I, Meghan Butler, ever do it? The idea honestly didn’t even cross my mind.
However, something changed around the time I turned 30: I started running. First I ran a mile, then a mile became 5k. 5ks quickly led to 10ks, and eventually to my first half marathon. Eventually, I realized that I was ready for my ultimate challenge: a marathon. I always knew that it had to be Boston; this is my home, and it happens to be home to most difficult and famous marathon in the entire world. After last year's tragic events, the 2014 Boston Marathon has more meaning than ever, for me and for all Bostonians. I feel truly honored to be able to participate and represent a small piece of Boston Strong.
I am very lucky to have obtained a bib number through my charity, Massachusetts General Hospital. As a former employee and lifelong patient, I know that the hospital’s pediatric oncology patients will be a huge part of my motivation for completing my own 26.2 mile “jog” this April; they are one of the biggest reasons I will move my feet forward on the pavement every day this winter!
In fact, there are a lot of reasons for me to run; so many, in fact, that I decided to start a blog to write about them. Every week during my training, I will post a new reason. The first post will appear in January 2014, and the last will post the week of the Marathon itself. Until then, please donate. Thanks in advance for everyone’s support!
-Meg