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March 19, 2006
Coming Out
I wasn't too sure if or when I was going to officially "come out" about this on my blog. So I'll cut right to the chase and say it: I am running the Boston Marathon.
Now I'll explain how this came about . . . I have only known this seemingly important detail for the past 2 weeks. I have written about Margaret Bradley before on my blog (I should link to it, but I will try to copy and paste some of it for my next entry). Margaret ran for the Greater Boston Track Club (GBTC) and Chicago's Universal Sole. I also ran for GBTC, and when Margaret moved to Chicago, Tom Derderian - the GBTC head coach - made sure that the two of us connected. It was one of the best connections made in my life. Margaret was a medical student at the University of Chicago and she was also a sub 3 hour marathon with (realistic) dreams of qualifying for the Marathon Olympic Trials. I knew she had a sub 2:46 somewhere in her rather awkward gait :)
The last time Margaret and I spent a lot of time training together was for the 2004 Boston Marathon. Margaret managed to run 3:04 on one of the hottest days recorded in Boston Marathon history and I never made it to the starting line . . . I was sidelined by an injury about 6 weeks prior to the race. That summer, Margaret decided to road trip to Arizona . . . she never came home. She died while hiking in the Grand Canyon, and her death is a loss that many of us (her family, friends and teammates) have never - and will never - understand. To say that I miss Margaret is more than an understatement . . . I would give anything to have one more run with her.
But since I cannot have that run, I can at least run for her . . . in her memory. After her death, Universal Sole and GBTC came together and formed the Margaret Bradley Award. Each year, GBTC sends a runner to Chicago (a female, competitive runner) and Universal Sole sends a runner to Boston. In spite of the short notice, when the owner of Universal Sole asked me if I would like to receive this award and run my heart out for Margaret, I could not refuse.
Boston will not be about PRs or time goals for me. It will be about Margaret and her legacy and her infectious energy. I am not prepared to run sub 3 or even 3:10 right now, but - for once - that is okay with me. All I can do is go out there and remember all of the reasons why I fell in love with this sport in the first place.
I will run my first and only 20 mile run in preparation for this race in about 7 hours (which means I really need to go to bed).
Posted by bridget at March 19, 2006 12:33 AM
Comments
How exciting! Go out there and just have FUN!
Blondie
Posted by: Blondie at March 19, 2006 06:21 PM
Awesome Didge!! Wish I could be there to support you. Will be rooting for you and thinking about you the entire day and I'm sure Margaret will be smiling down, on you pushing you over Heartbreak Hill.
Posted by: Katie at March 19, 2006 07:28 PM
We're really psyched to have you come back to Boston and visit with the club to do this. It's no small thing. Good luck with your preparations!
Posted by: Kit Wells at March 19, 2006 10:49 PM
Wow! I had no idea you knew Margaret Bradley. I've read so much about her and the award. Hopefully, I'll make it to the starting line and be able to somehow meet you!
Posted by: Caitlin at March 20, 2006 07:15 PM
Bridget,
Congratulations on the award and on deciding to run Boston! It must feel like both a great responsibility and a refreshing way to run a marathon.
I, of course, didn't know Margaret Bradley, but for some reason felt very connected to her story. As a female who works for the National Park Service and who runs and hikes trails, often alone, even the trail that she was on a few years before her, I couldn't help but feel a certain connection to Margaret's tragedy.
I will follow along on your path to Boston with intrigue. Good luck!
Posted by: Meghan at March 20, 2006 09:41 PM
Good luck, Bridget! I will be cheering for you.
Posted by: alweiss at March 21, 2006 11:57 AM
How exciting! Good luck with the training and the race.
Posted by: barb at March 21, 2006 08:49 PM
I'm just catching up on my blog reading and wanted to say congratulations and good luck. This is such an honor and a great thing for you to do in Margaret's memory.
I think many of us felt a connection to Margaret and her story, even if we never knew her.
I think I took some photos of Margaret while she was running that 3:04, so I will do my best to capture your run on "film" as well!
Posted by: Alison at March 26, 2006 06:13 PM