The 26.2 mile Unicorn

By: Jesse Armijo

The Boston Marathon

No, I did not run the Boston Marathon on Monday, but my mind, body and soul wanted to more than anything! Just like searching for an elusive Unicorn in a society that screams at the thought of enduring pain, or taking the easy way out; the Boston Marathon creates the opposite luster that tempts our racing urge to feel alive. It’s not like that damn Starbucks Unicorn drink that came out a year ago with its copious amounts of magical colors of purple and pink sugar and instant gratification; but racing 26.2 miles on historic sacred ground can make many people yearn for the desire to enjoy some good old fashioned pain, rather than a sugar coma. Throw in some insane conditions like, torrential downpour, 30 mph headwinds and some puddles of water, and you got yourself an epic marathon that only those that finished could truly understand what happened. I had a few friends run this year’s Boston Marathon, and their experiences are unimaginable.

Watching the race from the outside only reinforces how much more I want to go back and endure some tough Boston love. Not only did an American women win the race for the first time since 1985, but knowing a little bit more of Desi’s experiences only adds to her incredible story, and affixes even more attachment to the historic American footrace. A footrace that so many people want to be connected to. Watching the downpour of rain, mixed with everyone's tears of pain and joy flooded the streets of Boston, and made it hard to decipher the difference. And that fine line of pain and joy is something that is compounded even more along Boylston Street. So many people knew that the weather was going to be rough, so many people attempted to be prepared, and to many, that finish line couldn’t come soon enough.

The last time I wrote about a Unicorn and a marathon, it referred to the amazing conditions that were developed at the California International Marathon. This time, it’s an elusive race that you can’t pinpoint just one reason why to do. It’s a combination of emotions, and a buildup of excitement and hype that can’t be created elsewhere. The unpredictability of the weather, the hope for an American win, the long 122 year history, hitting a qualifying time, are all just fractions of why this race is untamed and wild. And with that wildness, comes a great deal of sacrifice leading up from the moment you click that register button in September to the moment you cross that finish line waiting to be crowned with your very own BAA Unicorn. Cheers to those of you who completed the 2018 Boston Marathon!