Hurrah — they’re here — Boston or Botox T-shirts!
I broke mine in this weekend racing at the Canyonlands Half Marathon in Moab. I got several comments from runners.
“I’d choose Botox,” one silver-haired, grandfatherly type yelled out to me at mile 4 when I passed him.
“Too late,” I told him, “I already spent all my Botox money on plane tickets and a hotel room to run Boston.”
“Hey, I’ve done Boston before,” he retorted, “How come I don’t recognize you?”
I couldn’t resist a wisecrack: “Must be all the Botox. I hardly recognize YOU anymore either.”
He chuckled.
Inquiring minds at Moab asked the real burning question, “How can I get one?”
Check out the blog and you’ll find out, I told them.
Here’s the answer: The Boston or Botox T-shirt challenge.
I don’t know if you remember but when I set out blogging in unchartered territory back in August 2010 I created a big goal for myself: To log 1,770 training miles — the flying distance between Denver to Boston — in the year leading up to when I’d run the Boston Marathon. (I started out with about 450 miles under my belt, from mid-April to mid-August, and I kept adding on from there.)
Now I’m up to almost 1500 miles and just a month out from the race. I’m going to come close but probably not make the whole 1770 miles by April 18th — the date of Boston Marathon. I’m guessing I’ll be about 100-125 miles short, depending how things go from here.
When I got sick several weeks ago it set me back. Occasionally life’s demands trumped my training. That’s the way it goes. Rather than become discouraged I chose to forge forward, not look back.
I could push it and still get those miles, but then I’d risk overtraining and possible injury during the final weeks. I don’t want to do that.
This is where YOU and the Boston or Botox T-shirt challenge come in.
The FIRST FIVE readers to contact me and share a week of their workout miles during this last month — March 20 through April 18 — will get their own Boston or Botox T-shirt FREE.
Then if you are willing, I will add your miles to my own virtual log from Denver to Boston to get us ALL across the finish at the Boston Marathon.
I’m asking for readers to send me a log of what they did — how many miles they ran or walked each day over a seven-day period. (How much you do is up to you, based on the honor system.) If possible, sending a picture of yourself doing it would be great but it’s not necessary.
The T-shirt is black, technical material for working out, vee-neck, women’s cut with “Boston or Botox?” and the blog’s website printed on the front. I have a bunch in sizes medium and large.
The one I wore at Moab and will use at Boston is a slight variation. It has “Boston or Botox?” and blog’s website on the back and my nickname (“Donna”) on the front so the crowds at Boston can cheer me on by name.
If I get enough responses from readers who want the T-shirts I’ll cowgirl up and technically wrangle a second, set-up for buying them online. PLEASE let me know if you want this. (Also, I’ll offer a men’s version,if I hear from enough of you.)
My hope is that I’ve inspired you during these several months to be the best you can be; that great things are possible when we believe and are willing to work for them; and we can have fun doing it.
I intend to continue Boston or Botox and the spirit it embodies — marathons, motherhood and midlife triumphs — after I run Boston and to keep writing profiles about dynamic individuals.
My story began with the courage to take a single step out of my comfort zone. I pushed myself farther than I thought I could and the result has been more than I could have imagined.
If you believe, you can do it, too.
The Boston Marathon is exactly four weeks from today. “Take my hand. We’ll make it I swear.” (Bon Jovi, Livin’ on a Prayer).
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Aging is inevitable, but growing old is a choice. Lace up your shoes, and let’s go!
Mileage today: 9.5; Denver to Boston miles logged: 1477; Miles left to go: 293.