Yesterday I registered for the Boston Marathon… for the second time.  This time was very different from before for obvious reasons.

I feel like the odds of me actually making it to the starting line this time have gone up considerably, being that I’m not pregnant this time around.  Yes, registering for Boston two years ago was a crazy experience!  Yesterday the whole process was simple and uneventful.  It was perfect.

Quick Boston back story:
When I first decided I wanted to run Boston it was spring of 2009.  I had no idea it would take this long to get there. (And I still have 7 months to go.)  Originally, I hoped to run it in April of 2010.  But right before I qualified in December of 2009 in Dallas, I learned it was already full.  So I planned on running it in April of 2011.  When I found out I was pregnant in the spring of 2010 I thought I would just defer my entry.  That October Boston stopped doing deferments so I went ahead and registered when I was 6 months pregnant, thinking I could possibly run it less than 3 months after giving birth.  My son was born in January , 2011 (via c-section) and training did not go as smoothly as I would have liked.  I couldn’t start training until mid February (because of my recovery) so I crammed in an 18 week training program in 8 weeks.  Not smart.  I describe this process in my rightly titled blog post- “How NOT to train for a marathon.” 

Basically, I found out the week before Boston ’11 that I had a stress fracture and I couldn’t run.  I knew then that the soonest I would be able to do Boston was in 2013.  I would just not be able to recover from the stress fracture and train to re-qualify before September 2012. 

Needless to say, this process has taught me a lot about patience.  It has not been the right time for me to run this race yet.  I was devastated when I realized I couldn’t go last spring but God saw the big picture.  He always does.  One of the biggest lessons He taught me last year was that running isn’t everything.  I know this but unfortunately I often need reminded of it.  Last spring I was so anxious to get back into running that I lost sight of what was really important and I needed a big wake up call.  It is SO easy for me to get caught up in doing what I love but when I was forced to stop I had time to reflect and re-evaluate my priorities.  I took off time and just relaxed with my new baby.  God knew I would never have that time again and I am so thankful for that break.

It’s been over a year now and I am still trying to manage balancing everything.  It’s an ongoing battle.  My four little people are my number one priority and I find time to make running happen.  For a while now this has meant going early in the morning when everyone is still asleep.  I get home just in time to make breakfast, finish getting everyone dressed and get the big kids off to school.

Hopefully, everything will work out for Boston in April 2013.  I still have 7 months to go but I am feeling optimistic that things will work out this time.  I just need to stay healthy!  No matter what, I am at peace with whatever happens because I know that I am ultimately not the one in control and that is a very good thing!

Are you running in Boston in April?

What are some lessons an injury taught you?