My Veiled Pre-Race Pretentiousness

Pre-Race at the Fargo Marathon with
my shiny new Boston Marathon Jacket

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not the "flashy" type.  I'm dull, gray, boring ... yes, of course hilarious, sexy, and humble ... but generally I just want to blend in.  My wife and I have been very blessed and fortunate in our careers and do okay, but I absolutely DO NOT like spending money on expensive clothes, jewelry, or ridiculous things that appear haughty or snobbish in any way.  In fact, it really pissed me off when Michael bought her stupid Lexus a few years ago because I felt like it was too "show-off-ish", even though half of the soccer moms in this town drive the same car.  It's just how I am.

When I got my Boston Marathon jacket a few years ago, I wore it all the time.  Man, I hardly ever took it off because I was so proud of the thing.  Some people can just breeze to a Boston qualifying time, but I can't.  I gotta work my butt off to get there.  And the jacket was a symbol of my hard work and dedication to our sport.  But after a while, I felt like the guy who was wearing the jacket just to say, "Hey everybody ... check out this jacket!!!  Yep, I ran Boston!!!  Got any questions?"  Kinda showy, or flashy, or bragge'rish.  Which is TOTALLY not me ... well, a little bragger'ish ... but not totally.  In fact, I was photo'd in the jacket so often, Jason from CookTrainEatRace jokingly told me, "Yeah we get it Jim ... you ran Boston!"

I struggled with this dilemma for quite a while.  I mean, I was very proud of the accomplishment and wanted to display it for the world to see - especially at races - but didn't want to be so obvious about it.   So a few month ago, I was rummaging through Michael's side of the closet for something.  After about three hours in the blinding snowstorm of sweaters, blouses, boots and skirts, the search party finally found me.  But not before I'd ran across a 2011 Boston Marathon draw-string bag she'd bought at the expo.  It was just hanging out in the closet not being used.  And this was my answer!

In attempted to be a little more casual about it,
I can now be seen with the Boston Marathon bag

Since Michael wasn't using the bag, I decided it would be my pre and post race gear check bag.  That way ... I could still display something from my Boston Marathon experience around other runners ... but hopefully be a little less conspicuous about it.  The bag was more a way of saying, "Oh, look at that, did I grab this old Boston Marathon bag on the way out the door?  Didn't even notice.  What's that ... well shucks yes, I DID run Boston."  It became a fantastic, much more concealed way make everyone aware of my tremendous accomplishment.  A way to feign nonchalant'ness, while making sure I was seen with the Boston Marathon logo.

But wouldn't you know it, now at some races, you're required to use their "official race bag" for security reasons.  Which is understandable, but it completely ruins my diabolical plan.  Now I gotta think of something else.  And before y'all go judging me ... you know you do the exact same thing.  It's why we plaster our vehicles with 26.2 & 70.3 bumper stickers, and wear certain race shirts to the grocery store, or at our kid's ball games or school events.  We want everyone in the immediate area to be aware that we conquered a particular Cancer Walk, 5K, Tough Mudder, Marathon, Ultra Marathon or Triathlon.  We are all, of course, proud of our hard work and want to crow about it a little.  It's just that I'm arrogant enough to admit it in a blog - ha!  Have a great week & please be on the lookout for my Boston Marathon gear bag!
... be great today!