Sixty! Sixty of these things. We’re staring down the final month of school, and it’s already feeling like summer around here with the string of 80-85 degree sunny days we’re in. What is time? What are seasons?

Anyway. The fam and I spent all day yesterday (in between distance learning pockets) celebrating A’s birthday. Unlike pretty much every other birthday (with the exception of last year), we were able to celebrate together all day long — breakfast, lunch, dinner, and mini-breaks throughout the day — which was pretty memorable. 

I lost count of how many times she said that yesterday was the best, most awesome, day ever. 🙂

And for what I think is the first time ever, I made it through one of my kids’ birthdays without crying at all for the entire day. It only took a decade.

–

Does 7:47 mean anything to you? If you were hoping to run Boston 2021 — in October this year — after yesterday’s announcements, it certainly does. 

With the pandemic moving Boston 2020 from the spring, to the fall, to ultimately virtual, applicants for Boston ‘21 — who could use times from mid-September 2018-onward — had to not just qualify but had to be 7 minutes and 47 seconds faster than their qualifier. 

For the youngest AG for men (18-34), that means their 3:00 BQ (that would allow them to apply in the first place) ultimately had to be closer to a 2:52 (!!) to ensure their admittance. For the youngest AG for women, their 3:30 qualifier had to be closer to a 3:22 in order for them to participate. 

The 7:47 cutoff is the largest since the BAA began handling registrations in this manner. It’s economics 101, right? Demand has outpaced supply, and particularly in 2021, with the race having only about 20k runners, instead of the usual 30k, to comply with COVID protocols. There’s more people who want to run Boston — who have qualified to run Boston — than there are slots available in any given year but very much so in 2021. 

Of the 20k runners, 16k (or so) were qualifiers, with the rest going to charity runners and invited sponsor athletes. According to Sarah Lorge Butler at RW, 14,609 qualified runners got in; 9,215 qualified runners applied but were denied.

Think about that: over 9,000 runners qualified … but still got denied. Ouch. 

Stacey and I both lamented that we’d love to hear John’s hot takes on all of this. 

If you recently qualified for Boston, applied, AND got in, I am so excited for you and can’t wait to hear all about what Boston ‘21 was like, assuming it goes on as planned. The press releases make it sound like there are going to be so many modifications from “Boston as normal” that it sounds like it’ll (understandably) have an entirely different feel and vibe. 

Regardless: Boston is Boston, and I hope you are stoked and very proud of your accomplishment. You absolutely should be because you worked hard and earned your spot at the starting line. Revel in that, baby! 

If you recently qualified for Boston, applied, but didn’t get in, I feel gutted for you. I’ve known many who this has happened to over the years, with some people missing Boston by literal seconds — either because they weren’t faster than the BQ-minus-cutoff time by just a few seconds, or because they missed the qualifying standard itself by a veeeeery small margin —  and I know it is tough to swallow. It sucks when you work really hard and still come up short; understatement of the century, I know. 

Nonetheless, please be proud of what you have accomplished already because that is a huge undertaking in and of itself. I’d encourage you to keep fighting — keep showing up — to try to make it to the starting line in Boston. 

It’s worth it, it’s tough, and you are tougher. Maybe it’s not this year, but you can do it. You got this. 

–

And finally, happy early mothers day to all the rockstar moms and the mom-like rockstars out there this weekend.

I know this is a holiday that can be fraught with emotion for so many, and I’m thinking of you, too, and sending love. I hope you know how very loved you are, regardless of your maternal status.