26.2 Miles of Boston Marathon Magic

Sometimes, even what you don’t dare dream of, can come true

At the Boston Marathon finish line two days before the race (Photo: author’s collection)

“Have you run the Boston Marathon?”

If I had a pair of running shoes for every time I’d been asked that question…

“No,” I’d reply, “it’s not a race I can just sign up for.”

Boston is a race that’s earned, by meeting a stringent time standard or raising $10,000 for charity.

I’m a power walker — faster than many people run, but not Boston fast. As for raising all that money? My friends and family are generous, but there isn’t a trust funder among them.

So — how did I get to Boston?

Some fundraising, a Swedish death cleaning, and long months of training… followed by what felt like an even longer cross-country train ride.

After meeting runners who had fundraised their way into Boston, I started to think maybe I could hustle up the required cash. I was accepted by a charity, 261 Fearless, that believes women can accomplish amazing things — and they believed I could raise those funds. Now I just had to do it.

Well, that and train all winter.

I purged my house of saleable items. Grandma’s silverware, old jewelry that didn’t fit my new lifestyle, dated electronic…