Seventh Annual B.A.A. Half Marathon

This coming Sunday morning, my Sis and I are running in the B.A.A. Half Marathon.

Are you sick of hearing about my running exploits yet? This is my last race of the season, I promise. (Oops, except for the local Thanksgiving morning Turkey Trot, but it's only a 5K and I'm merely running it to lessen the guilt of later gorging myself on my mom's homemade stuffing and mounds of mashed potatoes.)

"The 13.1 mile, rolling course combines both a looped and out-and-back route, beginning and ending at Roberto Clemente Field in the Back Bay Fens neighborhood of Boston (also known as the Fenway). With a start on Park Drive adjacent to Roberto Clemente Field, the course proceeds through the Riverway and over Route 9 into Brookline. The course then passes Jamaica Pond and the Arborway on its way to Franklin Park, with a turnaround in the Franklin Park Zoo. Returning from Franklin Park, the course follows the Arborway to the Jamaicaway to the Riverway before finishing back in the Fenway neighborhood at Roberto Clemente Field."

A few people have inquired as to what I hope my finish time will be. I joke that my lofty goal is to SIMPLY FINISH THE DAMN RACE! In all seriousness though, I'm shooting for around 2 hours.

And seeing how the Race begins at 8am and the Awards Ceremony begins at 10:30 (gulp, only 2-1/2 hours later?), I'm thinking knowing that I certainly won't be bringing home the $5,000 first prize or even the $100 10th place reward. Obviously.

[At the same time, I'm also feverishly praying that I don't get a cramp...or a blister...or diarrhea.]

But what I will be bringing home will be the sweat, tears and pride of a 34-year old mother of 3 who has just run her first half marathon!

Gulp.