“You must dream big and dream often. Take risks and see what happens.” – Debasish Mrida
There are some things I remember very well; one thing I remember well was helping to train Lacey for her first marathon. What I remember more than anything was her GRIT.
Those weekly runs gained more than training they grew a deep friendship.
Lacey was more than just physically strong; she was and is tough as nails mentally. After she had ran her first marathon, a few days later I encouraged her to think about trying to qualify for Boston.
That little seed rooted and began to grow.
I had no plans to run Boston again after 2014. Even though I had accomplished my dreams, Lacey was still dreaming!
Lacey shared with me it was a dream to be able to run Boston with me.
This dream would entail a lot of sweat and tears, dedicated runs, painful runs, intentional training and pavement pounding, all of which I was reluctant to do again.
I fell in love with our training runs and time together. We signed up for marathons to test out our training in hopes of qualifying together.
As time and training moved along, I felt my strength weaken.
The truth is each marathon was fun and exciting, but I kept missing the mark. I was failing and falling apart. I was getting older, and training felt like it was increasingly getting harder. I was struggling to keep up, I was throwing up at 5K's and Lacey even reminded me of a marathon we ran where I vomited 1/4 of a MILE from the finish line.
Lacey would qualify and actually run Boston without me in 2019.
I was so happy for her. I remember tracking her and cheering her on from Michigan.
With all the excitement when Lacey came home, I would have news of my own.
I had been diagnosed with Breast Cancer in the time she was gone.
Lacey never let the dream die even with cancer! We ran, we trained, even when I couldn't run, she still truly believed God had us running Boston TOGETHER.
And Against All Odds, so many left out details, God parted the sea for us to both qualify and GET it!
BOSTON BOUND!
"A goal sets your life on a path, gives it direction, and energizes you." Andrew Wheating, Olympian
Lacey and I flew out of Detroit last Saturday morning.
We arrived in Boston that afternoon and took to the city enjoying the expo and city shopping. 
Sunday Lacey and I had breakfast at a local favorite hipster diner called the Friendly Toast and headed to church for Easter.
We met Doug, a friend of ours from Michigan for dinner and to talk about our race strategy the next day.
One thing we knew, we had done the work to get here, our race strategy was to soak it all in. Lacey and I planned to run it together, have fun doing it and smile all 26.2 miles with gratitude.
Patriots Day: Boston Marathon
"Now bid me run, and I will strive with all things possible." Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
Starting Time: 11am was my corral.
Lacey and I had to head out of our hotel a little after 6:15am to get coffee and a bagel before we headed to our shuttle bus.
We were doing great on time but quickly found ourselves turned around in the city and running to find our busses where we were meeting Doug and another runner we know, Christina.
We made it to the busses a little frantic but quickly settled down as the other runners began boarding with excitement and smiles.
The bus took us from Boston to the starting line on Hopkinton and dropped us off at Athletes Village.
Our shuttle bus allowed us to stay on until our starting time. We could eat, use the bathrooms and relax.
The bathrooms were great until they weren't! After a dozen runners with nerves and anxiety have used them, the back of the bus was getting really special!
Lacey and I had matching outfits on with our motto of "Rule #1, Look Good"!
Before heading off the bus I decided to have one more potty break. The bathroom light didn't work in the bus and without looking I hovered over the tiny toilet unable to notice that someone had politely put the lid down to try and close that pungent smell. Within seconds I felt something warm and then I heard a trickle sound and came to the conclusion that I was peeing all over the back of my new bright corral skirt!
I could barely move in those tiny quarters as I felt not only my face getting flushed by my new outfit being soiled. Typical Anita! Never a dull moment and always something to laugh about.
Athletes Village
"When you get the environment right, humans will do remarkable things." Simon Sinek
It was glorious out! We decided to start heading to Athletes Village together. This is a very large area the race designs in the back of a school for the runners to wait before the race. It has clothing drop off, light food, water, port-a-jons, music and a announcer directing and pumping up the runners. You have to go here before you head down to the starting line.
We were not here long when they announced "BLUE CORRAL you can now head to the starting line".
Doug, Lacey and I were all smiles as we tucked into the hundreds of runners.
Let's get it Started
“Through hard work, perseverance and a faith in God, you can live your dreams.” – Ben Carson
With runners on every side of us we all started together.
Doug stayed with us for about a mile and then slowly broke free.
The spectators were 5 people deep on both sides.
Lacey and I couldn't stop smiling. I had so many people praying for us, I even had a list of prayer warriors praying very mile.
The First 13:
Lacey and I were having so much fun, we were high fiving people and cheering everyone on.
I had forgot about all the hills but we continued to hit our splits for a fun 4 hour marathon.
As we approached mile 13, Lacey passed me some Tylenol to open. Lacey never let on she was hurting. She never does.
The truth is, it was the grace of God and the power of prayer that had gotten her to the starting line.
Lacey has been nursing injuries the last 9 months. The girl has GRIT. Our injuries and illnesses the last 4 years have proved the resiliency of our friendship. We are more than just running partners, we are bonded together in more than miles, we are bonded together in love.
The Second 13:
We let up on our pace but not our enthusiasm. Our outfits were so stinking cute that the spectators were commenting and cheering us on, this was a beautiful distraction! "TWINSIES!!" This was a very popular cheer and "Best Running Outfit"
We didn't go minutes without being compliments on our matching outfits. No one notices your suffering if you look cute! The perfect distraction!
Lacey and I were fueled by the energy surrounding us and Wellesley College was like a screaming tunnel of wild girls all looking for a KISS! As you barreled down the girls were screaming, almost deafening with posters and cowbells and unfathomable energy.
That energy would come to a screeching halt as the Newton hills at mile 18 would continue to wreck us ending with Heartbreak Hill in between 20-21 miles. This is a pivotal hill because it is at the length of their longest training run.
The sun beat down on us and the temperatures had us drinking at every aid station, both Gatorade and water. We were very intentional about staying hydrated. The final 5 miles are great, mostly downhill unless your ITband is hurting, then these last 5 miles could be very painful.
At mile 23 , we came into a BIG spectator hub, BROOKLINE. The day was so beautiful that the crowds were 5 people deep.
Lacey and I were still smiling with gratitude. One mile at a time I looked for the "Citgo". 
I wanted a picture of the infamous sign, but the problem is you see it for a mile before actually reaching it at mile 25!
I wanted a picture of the infamous sign, but the problem is you see it for a mile before actually reaching it at mile 25!
THE FINISH:
“It’s part of life to have obstacles. It’s about overcoming obstacles; that’s the key to happiness.” – Herbie Hancock
Once we crested that last hill, Lacey picked up the pace. As the last mile to the finish chipped away the overwhelming feeling of gratitude began to surface.
Lacey and I had been through so much together over the course of our friendship. Life had presented itself to both of us the last 4 years. Death, grief, heartache, cancer, families, life struggles. So many times we had to check in on one another, coax each other in our life struggles, in our pains, in our pursuits. Like a marathon we have had many rough miles in this thing called life and as I made that final turn to see our finish line I choked back the tears.
It started with a dream. A dream that never lost its flame in all the struggles of life.
The Finish Line just yards in front of us, I reached over and grabbed my beautiful friend's hand and raised it up as we crossed that dreamy Boston Marathon Finish together.
Finish: 4h:10min
* Thank you for all the prayers! Especially to my Barn45 community! I was so blessed by all the love, prayers, support, comments, cheer messages on the Boston Marathon site. Those that tracked me, called me, messaged me, Thank you. So many that hardly even know me loved me like their own.
In PEACE, not Peices,
Anita~
