You Can’t Guarantee Success, but You can Deserve it

I am now just days away from running the Boston Marathon. It feels surreal that this running dream is about to come true, but simultaneously I feel so ready, so prepared, and that the timing is so right. 

As the days, minutes, and hours pass inching me closer to Marathon Monday a few words continue to pop into my mind… 

“You can’t guarantee success, but you can deserve it”

My Grandpa, Michael McCarty

My grandpa said these words to me back in high school and ever since, I have done my best to live by them. Admittedly, it hasn’t always been easy for me.

My interpretation of this piece of wisdom is that even if we work hard, put in the time, stay committed, and do our best we are not guaranteed a victory. But, maybe the hard work along the way is the real victory anyways.

Let me try and give this some color for you all…. 

Over the past four months I have put in:

• 64 training runs 
• 60 yoga sessions
• 32 hours of strength-training
• 8 hill workouts
• 8 interval workouts
• 16 tempo runs
• 16 days of recovery

I have stayed committed to my training even while traveling, doing long runs in Memphis, TN and Athens, GA and fitting shorter runs in during girls weekends at the beach. I kept to my schedule, even when a snow/ice storm hit Asheville on a long run day and 20 miles on the treadmill was the safest option. I incorporated regular stretching/yoga, strength training, and rest days into my routine. I ate freely and maintained my health. I kept the balance that I have worked so hard to build over the past 1.5 years. And I have had a whole lot of fun. 

Because of this, Monday could be a great success (important to note that success for me means feeling good along the way, crossing the finish line, and enjoying all that the Boston Marathon is). But even with my hard work and dedication, success is not guaranteed. 

There are countless things outside of my control that could derail my “success.” Weather, a poor night of sleep, or just not feeling my best to name a few. But I will not allow these things, the things I cannot control, to make me feel like a failure. To define my experience over the last four months. To take away the satisfaction of knowing I trained hard and was kind to my body. To warp all of the wonderful memories that I know will come from this weekend in Boston with my family.

I deserve success. And while it took me a long time to realize it, that’s more than enough. 

Cheers to all the miles, from the most fun runs with the best “runners highs,” to the runs that I struggled through and just wanted to end. I did it, and now I get to enjoy a 26.2 mile victory lap.

Boston, I’m ready for you. See you in Hopkinton! 

And good luck to all the other runners – let’s have a blast!