Back in 2009, at 38 years old, I was in the fastest running shape of my life. That year, I set personal records (PRs) in the 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. The highlight? Running the Chicago Marathon in 3 hours, 15 minutes, and 52 seconds—a time that, by sheer luck, was fast enough to qualify me for the Boston Marathon by just seven seconds.
At the time, I wasn’t even aiming for a Boston qualifier, but once I realized I had made the cut, it became an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. The Boston Marathon is the most prestigious marathon in the world, and earning a spot is a bucket-list achievement for any runner.
The Mistake That Cost Me Boston
Having signed up for many races before, I had developed a bit of a paranoia about registration windows. There was a local race in Cary, Illinois, called the March Madness Half Marathon that would sell out within 15-20 minutes every year. To secure my spot, I’d wake up at 5:45 AM on New Year’s Eve, ready to register the moment it opened at 6 AM.
But when it came time to sign up for Boston, I did my research. The race had never filled up faster than two months before race day, so I figured I had plenty of time. Registration opened on a Monday, and while I intended to sign up that morning, work meetings got in the way. I told myself I’d do it at lunch, then forgot. By the time I finally logged in at 5 PM, I was greeted with a shocking message: the race was already full.
At first, I thought it was a joke. The website looked glitchy, and I assumed something had gone wrong. But after checking online, I realized the devastating truth—Boston had sold out in record time.
The 15-Year Chase of The Boston Marathon
Ever since that moment, Boston has been the race that got away. Over the years, as demand increased, the Boston Athletic Association lowered the qualifying times. The 3:15:59 I had once run would no longer cut it. First, the standard dropped to 3:10, then 3:05, and now, for my former age group, it’s an even tougher 3:00.
I’m older now, and while my qualifying time is more lenient, the reality is that age brings new challenges. But instead of letting this dream slip away, I’m embracing it head-on.
The Experiment: Can I Get Faster with Age?
I’m calling this journey ‘My Body Experiment‘—a quest to see if I can train smarter, push my limits, and qualify for Boston despite being older. The goal isn’t necessarily to be faster than I was at 38, but to run an age-equivalent time that earns me a spot.
To do this, I’ll be focusing on:
✅ Strength Training – Building a stronger core, legs, and upper body.
✅ Nutrition – Fueling my body for endurance and recovery.
✅ Smarter Running – Training with a balance of intensity and recovery.
I don’t just want to chase this dream—I want to document every step and inspire others to push their own limits. Can I achieve what seemed impossible? There’s only one way to find out. Stay tuned. The journey to Boston begins now.
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