• Home
  • About
  • Blog Lovin’
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Healthy, Hungry, and Happy

  • working out
  • recipes
  • cleaneating
  • bodyafterbaby
  • lowcarb
  • reviews
  • Show Search
Hide Search

The Race That Never Was

admin · April 18, 2012 · 19 Comments

Well folks, I’m back in Colorado. Sorry I haven’t updated you sooner….it turned out to be a kind of bummer weekend.

As you may have heard by now, the temperatures in Boston got up to a scorching 88 degrees on Monday. It honestly doesn’t sound that bad..unless you’re running a marathon. They say to dress like it’s 20 degrees warmer than it actually is so this race would have felt like 108 degrees…that’s pretty warm.

We got to Boston Friday night (obviously) with the intention of running the race. The plane was full of runner’s and our hotel was packed with them as well. All it did was make me more and more excited for Monday. That being said, the chatter on the plane was all about the weather. At that point, the weather was already predicted to be in the 80’s. I still assumed I could power through…

Saturday, we went by the Fitness Expo and picked up my race packet and bib. I love those expo’s because they pump you up so much!

That feeling of excitement came to a half later in the day when I got an email from the Boston Athletic Association regarding the high temps predicted for Monday’s race.

Advisory From Boston Marathon Medical Directors to Entrants in the 2012 Boston Marathon

Saturday, April 14, 2012 as of 11:30 a.m.

We are looking closely at the current weather situation which is projectedย  to be quite warm. The B.A.A. is closely monitoring this situation for for race day decisions. If the temperatures reach certain levels, running will put even the most fit athletes at risk for heat injury.
We are now making the recommendation that if you are not highly fit or if you have any underlying medical conditions (for example-cardiac disease, pulmonary disease or any of a number of medical problems), you should NOT run this race.

Now I was becoming concerned.

I don’t consider pregnancy to be a medical “condition”…but it is, let’s be honest. The one thing my doctor advised me on about running these distances was staying hydrated, keeping my heart rate down, and making sure my core temperature didn’t get too high. Running for 5 hours in the middle of the day at 90 degree temps would make keeping those things in check very difficult. (By the way Boston starts at 10:30 in the morning…why? That means I’d be running at 12, 1, 2, in the afternoon…).

So, I checked out Boston’s site and went back to the expo to talk to someone about it. They decided to allow people to defer to next year if they didn’t feel safe running this year. Deferment is usually not an option, so I did feel relieved they were letting us do that.

I thought about it all Saturday and Sunday and decided that deferring was the best choice for me.

I just felt like I didn’t have any other choice really. They were warning us on the heat and discouraging us to run and giving us the option for next year. I wanted to run it so bad, but I knew I had to make this decision for not only me, but our baby who trusts me to keep him or her safe.

This was seriously so hard. It’s hard even typing this not to get tears in my eyes. I was looking forward to this race for so longย and the fact that it’s over and I’ve come back empty handed is so disappointing. ย That being said, I know I did what was right for our baby and my body. I also know that next year will be equally as amazing as this year. It’s just hard right now…but it’ll get better.

My mom already said she plans on buying us a running stroller…so who knows, maybe next year in Boston I can beat my current person record? ๐Ÿ™‚ I had all these visions this year of taking pictures with my medal on my belly….but now I’ll have to think of holding up our little nugget and placing the medal around his or her neck…that would make for a pretty cute picture too :).

Anyway, that’s my story. Definitely a hard weekend….but at least I know our baby is safe.

This was actually the first time I’ve ever watched a race…isn’t that funny? I’ve ran some but never watched. We got to see the elite runner’s run by and man, they were lookin’ pretty tired! In their defense it was close to the finish and it was 80 something degrees….oh and they run like, a 6 minute mile. It still blows my mind how fast they can run.

The women's winner, Sharon Cherop on the right
2012 Winner Wesley Korir on the right

By the way, CONGRATS to all the runner’s who finished or even tried. It was pretty damn hot outside-you are amazing.

Thank you guys for your support throughout all my crazy training and attempts to run the Boston Marathon 5 months pregnant..sounds crazy when I say it out loud..? ๐Ÿ™‚

 

 

Have you ever had to drop out of a race?

Filed Under: working out

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mile Posts by Dorothy Beal says

    April 18, 2012 at 3:46 pm

    I’m so glad you didn’t run. It was insane out there. Your baby being safe is more important than any marathon ๐Ÿ™‚ I was training for Marine Corps when I got preggo with baby#2 – and while I know I could have finished and everything probably would have been okay – I wasn’t willing to take the chance. There are plenty of years for marathons!

    Maybe this will get you excited? I think entering into pregnancy super fit and running till the end helped me get a 24 minute marathon pr 6 months post baby #2. Boston will be great for you next year!

    Reply
  2. Bess @ Bess Be Fit says

    April 18, 2012 at 3:47 pm

    You made the right choice I think! Next year you will be back and dominate it!!

    Reply
  3. Nicole G says

    April 18, 2012 at 3:48 pm

    I think you definitely made the right choice. It’s so tough because as runners we all want to race, enjoy the thrill and the “victory lap” from all that training. You’ll definitely rock its face off next year!

    Reply
  4. Heather (Where's the Beach) says

    April 18, 2012 at 3:48 pm

    I was wondering if you had run or not. I must say I am kind of relieved you didn’t. I was thinking about you and those temps. I think you made the right choice as hard as it might have been.

    And I love this image “but now Iโ€™ll have to think of holding up our little nugget and placing the medal around his or her neckโ€ฆ”

    Reply
  5. Ericka says

    April 18, 2012 at 4:51 pm

    Oh man, I can only imagine your frustration but I’m glad you decided to sit it out. I know how I would feel if I’d been waiting for so long but There are always other chances and time flies so you will do great next year!

    Reply
  6. lindsay says

    April 18, 2012 at 5:13 pm

    YOU ARE SO SO WISE! Best choice for you BOTH. and next year will be even sweeter! <3

    Reply
  7. Heather @ Fit Mama Real Food says

    April 18, 2012 at 5:17 pm

    That would definitely be an emotional weekend since you’d been looking forward to it for so long. Still, so good that you defered keeping you + your lil one safe. Now you already have something to look forward to next April!

    Reply
  8. Kristine @ Running On Hungry says

    April 18, 2012 at 5:46 pm

    I think you made such a smart (and responsible decision!) and there’s always next year! I think that little one of yours will just love watching you run it too! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  9. Jess says

    April 18, 2012 at 6:00 pm

    I am REALLY proud of you for making such a tough call — I would’ve struggled with it too. Big time. But you are right on with your decision — you’re going to run stronger next year and you’re little one will be there waiting for you at the finish line. How amazing will that be??

    Reply
  10. Jen@FoodFamilyFitness says

    April 18, 2012 at 6:40 pm

    YOu definitely made the right decision!!! I’m sure it was tough to watch instead of participate, but next year will be just as amazing as this year would have been ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  11. Calee (@chimes) says

    April 18, 2012 at 7:36 pm

    I’m soooooooo sad you had to drop out. But I’m glad you are back and you and the baby are happy and healthy. Not worth the risk, no matter how much training.

    I wonder if there’s another race you can sign up for that’s around you? CO can’t be super warm right now … and you did train. It wouldn’t be the Boston, but …

    Reply
    • admin says

      April 18, 2012 at 7:40 pm

      ya thats a good idea…the reality is ive been having knee problems too so maybe this is a blessing in disguise. now i can let my knee heel and give the baby a break! hah

      Reply
  12. Katie says

    April 18, 2012 at 7:53 pm

    I think I spy a little bitty baby bump in the picture? Looking so cute!

    Reply
    • admin says

      April 18, 2012 at 8:02 pm

      haha thanks. ya im finding my clothes are getting tighter and tighter!!

      Reply
  13. Catalina @ Cake with Love says

    April 18, 2012 at 8:22 pm

    I am sorry you had to drop off, but I am sure you will ROCK it next year!! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • admin says

      April 18, 2012 at 8:22 pm

      Thanks! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  14. Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says

    April 18, 2012 at 11:30 pm

    I’m certain you already know this, but you definitely made the right choice. There will always be another race, but not another you or your little one on the way. Let this just be even greater motivation to prove a new mom can still rock a marathon! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  15. Kris @ www.kris-lawrence.com says

    April 19, 2012 at 1:41 am

    I absolutely think you made the smart decision. A race is NEVER worth risking the health of your child. I’m sorry you are disappointed. It feels so unfair that everyone trained, payed for, and traveled to a race that ended up not being what they planned for. You should be proud that you played it smart and you will be back next year with an adorable cutie waiting at the finish line for you ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  16. hippierunner says

    April 19, 2012 at 3:31 am

    I know how devastating it feels to look forward to a race for so long and then not be able to do it. Happened to me this year w the LA Marathon, which I had been dreaming about for months and months but ended up not even running (darn tendon injury!).

    You did the right thing and you know it! I bet next year will be an amazing race for you! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Categories

Archives

Popular Posts

  • Arctic Zero Ice Cream Review
  • Leadville 100 Trail Run Recap
  • Post Pregnancy Body
  • Halloween Spider Cupcakes
  • Clean Eating Switch: Coffee Creamer

Copyright © 2025 ยท Healthy, Hungry, and Happy