2012 – Foregoing the race, and embracing the experience

Kristy Campbell

I truly believe anything is possible, if you want it badly enough. For me, qualifying for (and running!) the Boston Marathon was a big dream for many, many years. I’m sure people thought I was crazy talking about BQ’ing when I was still hours (yes, hours) away from my BQ time. But Boston was always in the back of my mind during every marathon.

It took me nine marathons to qualify for Boston. I ran my first marathon, the 2004 Marine Corps Marathon, in 5:12. Over the next seven years, I chipped away at my marathon finish time, slowly, and with lots of hard work, determination, and a little luck. In September 2011, after an incredible training cycle, I knew I could BQ. I ran the Lehigh Valley Marathon and crossed the finish line in 3:43:46. I was finally a Boston Qualifier! I had dreamed about this day for years, and the dream had finally come true.