Journey to Boston

10 years ago last spring my sister and I  were exercising daily and at least 3 days a week we would run.  I loved these runs,  I loved our visits, I loved how I felt when I was done.  One weekend while visiting St. George I went on a run with Anji (Sheldon's cousin's wife).   We had a great run, during our run we talked about marathons.  Anji had runs several and encouraged me to try.  She said I was very capable. This got me thinking.  I didn't know much about marathoning at the time, but I decided I should try.  I talked to my sister Julie and we decided to do it.  We googled a training program and began running six days a week.  There were good days and hard days, but one of the greatest things I learned through those runs is how a good friend can pull you through the hard times and you can strengthen someone through their hard times.  We ran a beautiful run in Logan Utah in September 2004.  It was an amazing experience.  One of exhiliration and enlightenment.  The journey through the race was hard and taxing, but it was so fun meeting others along the race and hearing their stories.  I was unprepared for what happened at the finish line, the wave of emotions and joy that came over me compared to other tender sweet spiritual experiences I had in my life.  I wasn't ready for it.  I had related running to gospel principles before, but I didn't think I'd have that type of experience at the race.  I still treasure that sweet moment.

I had achieved my goal, I ran a marathon, I didn't think I'd do another until the next summer a friend approached me and asked if I'd like to do one again.  My love for running and great experience I had at the last marathon made me decide to jump right in and do it again.  I began training with her.  Unfortunately, three weeks before the marathon on a long run I got a stress fracture in my tibia and made it so I couldn't run.  I was bummed, but this allowed me to reevaluate my running and the time it took and exhaustion it caused me.  I continued to run, but decided I would really hang up my marathon shoes and explore it at a later time in my life if I was still interested.

Over the past several years I've learned a lot more about running, about marathoning, and about how to improve.  It's become a personal quest to improve and become better.  While on this journey I've become passionate about running.  I've read several books, learned about technique, diet, shoes, strength training, yoga, stretches, intervals which all help my running.  I have had numerous family and friends mentor and strengthen me through the process.  I've listened to hundreds of LDS General Conference Talks and songs.  I've made new friends as I've run and been taught so much.  I've loved the  hours upon hours of visiting with these friends.  One of the sweet experiences while running is the quiet that can happen.  Often when I'm running I can ponder, really ponder and learn.  This is where I feel I have known what I can do to improve myself, where I received sweet revelation for children and young women's and had insight into gospel principles.  


Boston to me is the "Celestial" race. It is the top race a marathoner can run.  It is the prize.  Running is an interesting sport in my mind.  It is an individual sport that one can help other's become stronger and better at.  As I have run in different races and trained -- I've realized a lot of what we do in the gospel we do in racing.  We mentor each other, we encourage each other, we read, we ponder.  We find time to run together to help motivate each other.  I've had to self evaluate and reflect on passions.  Is my passion for running greater than my passion for the gospel.  Am I doing these great principles with those I love and care about.  Am I mentoring others in personal progress, in scripture reading, in seminary... Do I spend more time in my gospel studying than I do in my running .. I feel too often in our world today our priorities become skewed.  Is my ultimate goal the Celestial Kingdom.   One passion I have right now is to share with others about how in todays world we spend so much time becoming better at worldly adventures are we willing to put that energy and effort into the Lord's Kingdom and bring others to Him.  Are we willing to mentor, encourage, study and read about our Savior, the atonement.   

Last spring when I ran my qualifying race in Utah Valley Marathon it was  a good race.  It was a good running day for me (runners understand good and bad running days).  Although, there were strong head winds between mile 15-20, I was prepared for them, even though it was slightly more hilly than I thought I was prepared for the hills and my body performed.  As I was approaching mile 20 I knew my family was close by.  We had planned for this and they were going to meet me with extra water and a cool towel to help me.  As I passed mile 20 and didn't see them I knew they wouldn't be far off, but I was anxious to see them, a joy again came over me and I reflected on how it would feel to meet up with family at the end of our mortal races.  For the next mile I received the sweetest energy over the Joy we will receive when we meet family at the end of our mortal race.  Then when I did see them at about mile 21 the energy and power it gave me to finish the race was incredible.  That is what God intended for us.  To come here and strengthen each other in our families.  

So yesterday I was at lunch when I saw the email.  I was with Sheldon, I wasn't sure if it was confirmation or denial.  He opened it for me and let me know I'd made it.  "I'd won my prize"  

So yesterday when I received my Boston Qualifying Confirmation I again reflected on what this was and meant to me.

Dear Marylynn E Paul,

This is to notify you that your entry into the 119th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20, 2015 has been accepted, provided that the information you submitted is accurate.

Although, I know this is only a worldly prize it was the goal I had set and it was a sweet moment to get in.  Unfortunately, this year there are too many applicants and there will be some who qualified who won't be let into the race.   Luckily the celestial kingdom is not limited to only 20,000 entrants and everyone is welcome, but we must qualify.  Today in seminary we talked about God's greatest gift to us is Eternal Life ... Exaltation and what is our gift to Him that will help us qualify...