2011 - "Buddy, you are a WINNAH!"

Brad Box

There are days in our lives we know our family and friends will mention at our funerals. Today is one of those days for me.

The Boston Marathon experience is so incredible I could write 20 pages about it (and probably will at some point). There is one critical point I want to share now.

The race went just as I had planned. I was able to stay dead on an 8:00 minute pace through 30k, even with three bathroom pit stops. At 30k, I felt great and started obsessing about running well below a 3:30. That goal became all-consuming for several miles. I looked at my watch constantly. The race suddenly became all about me and my finish time.

2009 - "Run with endurance the race set before us…"

Brad Box

On Sunday night before THE MARATHON, I set the alarm in the hotel for 5:20 eastern time, got a wake up call, and set the alarm on my BlackBerry. I slept surprisingly well....

But I still woke before five (which is before four at home). I meticulously set out all my gear on Sunday night. Much the way I did before Chicago, I spent the first hour of the morning quietly, almost ritualistically putting together my gear and packing everything into the bright yellow Boston Marathon "drop bag" while prayerfully meditating about this run. I sent my daily text, and as I have done with every race, I sent Hebrews 12:1-3

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ²fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.