Qualifying (Twice) for Boston, Runner Seeks Faster Finish

Rebecca Blaine has qualified twice for Boston. At the age of 26, this means she had to run a marathon in 3:40:00 or less. She did it twice last year, the first time qualifying with less than 3 minutes to spare.

Unlike many runners, she didn't enter the marathons hoping to get a Boston qualifying time. It just turned out that way.

Blaine, a nurse-practitioner, works at Caring for Women in Milford and lives in Westborough.

Sometimes, she said this week, it still seems surreal that she's preparing for the Boston Marathon, the most prestigious marathon for runners.

"I've watched the Boston Marathon before and never thought I would be running in it," she said. "I really had no idea I could qualify for Boston."

She finished her first marathon, the Walt Disney World Marathon, in 3:37:30 in January 2011, which qualified her for Boston. She then ran the Vermont City Marathon in Burlington, VT in May 2011, finishing a bit faster at 3:36:07. The latter was the toughest, she said, because it was a hillier course and the day was humid.

She finds the long runs challenging, even though she's fit and fast. "It takes mental effort to get through them." And like many in marathon training, she's finding she's always hungry, that her appetite has increased. "I always pack a snack."

On April 16th, she hopes to finish under 3:30:00. She's training in Westborough and is taking on extra hills to prepare for Heartbreak Hill.

Her biggest worry about training for Boston was the winter and training in snow. But we all know that didn't turn out to be an issue this year. "This was the best winter for me [to be training for the Boston Marathon], for the weather to be mild."