it's the most wonderful time of the year

Introductory side-note (is there such a thing as an "introductory side-note"? I think I just made it up. That's okay, right?)-- I just realized I worked close to an 11 hour day today. ELEVEN hours either sitting in a conference room or sitting at my desk. Desk. Conference room. Desk. Conference Room. Desk. Was it a nice day? Did it rain? I do not know. Desk. Conference room. Desk. Just kidding. I know people have it worse. But I have to admit I am looking forward to a glass of red wine (or two) with dinner. Especially considering I won't be back in the office (no desk! no conference room!) for another TWELVE days. Partying like it's 2013 starts at 3pm tomorrow. Deck the Hall-el-ujah. I think I just combined my holidays and pop culture references. Oh well.

BACK TO REGULAR PROGRAMMING. Earlier this week... I received THIS:

And then today, in the mail, I got THIS:

Bah humbug, I guess this means I really do need to start training for the 2013 Boston Marathon. 

I know the start of this blog has been completely food-related. That's because I love not only eating food but cooking it as well. But it's about time I start talking about some other things I love, like running, J-Hay, and the little ones. Let's start with running...

The Boston Marathon is very near and dear to my heart. The experience, year in, year out, compares to NO other marathon I've done. It definitely helps that it is one of the most well-known races not only in the country but the world and attracts a ridiculously fast and talented field, from the elites to the sub-elites to the not-elites. It is the only marathon (except for the Olympic Trials and Olympics) for which you must qualify (unless of course you run for a charity) and even IF you qualify, there is no guarantee you will actually make it in. Before they changed the registration rules this year, if you didn't register within the first, I don't know, six hours, your chance to make it in was slim-to-none. THIS is part of the reason why Boston has so much mystique. With its qualifying standards just out of reach for some, it becomes this major, life-dedicating goal: Boston or Bust. 

And then for people like myself, running from the prepubescent years through the awful teenage years into the young adult and then young professional life stages, instead of Boston being your goal, you just want to run fast. You don't hear a lot about breaking personal bests on the Boston course (not only because the majority run foolishly, taking it way too fast in the first thirteen miles... and yes, that has been me, but also because marathon training in the New England weather is a BEAR), but it becomes the goal for which to strive. That has been my goal for each Boston that I've run... and I've never achieved it. Boston, you're killin' me smalls.

But really, I absolutely adore Boston. The reasons are simple:

A) The expo is huge. There are so many giveaways! And you can never buy JUST ONE "The Boston Marathon" swag. I'm a sucker for cute stuffed things... 

B) The athletes village is kickin'. You've never seen SO MANY people from so many different nations in one place at one time. Well, unless you're a member of the UN, fine. 

C) The course is chock-full and overflowing with spectators: Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, Boston... not an open inch of sidewalk in sight. You've got families, loved ones, drunk college students, co-eds looking for kisses, and on those super hot days (ahem ahem 2012) you've got firemen with hoses and sprinklers too. 

D) BEST YET: it has it's own holiday. Okay fine, it was really created to celebrate the Minutemen who saved the darn country from going back to the British reign (i.e. Patriots Day)... but around here, it's Marathon Monday. And it is the day, nay it's the weekend, that not only the entire city of Boston, but it's surrounding cities and towns, comes together and just LOVES each other. It is STUPENDOUS. I get SO EXCITED for newcomers' first Marathon Monday. 

Okay, okay, you get it... the Boston Marathon is a WONDERFUL thing. I realized I just spent an entire post piling praise on top praise onto a marathon. And some people may find that weird. And that I probably should have been discussing my planned marathon training and how I will make this the BEST BOSTON EVER... oops. That will come. Take this as Boston Marathon 101: Introduction to the BEST race EVER. 

And with that... stay dreaming, my friends :)