Four years ago today I ran my third Boston Marathon and was blessed to be able to finish.
I qualified again and ran Boston in 2014 and in 2016 and was supposed to be running it for the sixth time this year. Instead, this Monday I will be in my surgeon’s office for my follow-up appointment and hope to find out more about what is to come for me and my treatment plan.
I’ve been thinking all week about so many of my friends and teammates from the Jersey Girls StayStrong Multisport Club, my Coeur Sports Team and my other fellow Newton Running Team members. And truth be told, right now I’m feeling a little sorry for myself. But, I will be thinking of each one of you on Monday and wishing that I was out there running with you. If it’s your first, or your fifth or your twentieth — soak in each and every moment of it. I love the excitement of Boylston Street in the days leading up to the race. I love the energy at the race expo and number pickup and seeing friends from all over the world. I love everything involved in Marathon Monday . . . . . getting to the start, hanging out in the athlete village waiting for my wave to line up, and running every step of the way. Especially after the bombing in 2013 I made sure to look in the faces of the spectators who still come out and cheer for us, whether we were in the first wave or the last wave. I love the signs and the families, the kids, the senior citizens, the college students and the music. I even love the pain of the hills, and actually look forward to Heartbreak Hill. Because it meant the hard part was behind me and I could look forward to the firehouse where my husband always watched for me at the window, and then the turn onto Boylston Street and that stretch to the finish line.
I wish each and every one of you the best day you can have. I have one small favor to ask if you are running — when it gets hard, run just a little bit of it for me and I’ll do my best to get you to the finish! 
moirahoran 