Sunriver Marathon 2013 Boston Qualifier

Scott's 2005 Portland Marathon Tree Hood River, OR Home

9 years ago I decided that the Boston Marathon was going to be tossed into my bucket list. My dream was quickly crushed when I failed to qualify in 2005 after the Boise Marathon by 5 minutes. In the years that followed I finished several marathons with times that were less than stellar. 

My poor performance was largely a result of an addiction to alcohol and pot that quickly took over my life. The idea of going to Boston was still lingering in the back of my clouded mind, but that is all it was. A clouded dream! 

I finished the 2012 Portland Marathon in poor performance and only ok health. My training quickly diminished in the months that followed and I went right back to my daily routine of over consuming alcohol and pot. When I started receiving sign up notifications in my inbox for the 2013 Portland Marathon I would discard each and every one of them.  I was no longer driving my destiny.

On 5/11/2013 I was hit with an epiphany en route to South Sister that changed my life as I know it. My higher power told me that I will end my life in a very gloomy and dark place if I continue using as I had been. On that day I realized that I had truly become powerless over my addiction and life was spiraling out of control.

I have been clean for 23 days now and my spirit of the marathon has been re kindled. I have signed up for the 2013 Sun River Marathon, started mapping my plan and will begin seeking advice from those with experience that I do not have. I know this will be a hard goal to tackle, but there is no doubt in my mind. The Boston Marathon start line is now in my sights. It is no longer a clouded dream.

"Doubt whom you will, but never yourself." - Christian Bovee

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