Mike's Marathon Blog

I have been waiting for this since September. This is the famous Miles for Miracles singlet that I’ll be wearing during the race. Children’s Hospital Boston’s Miles for Miracles program is celebrating its 14th year at the Boston Marathon. Children’s is one of BAA’s largest charity partners and also one of the largest marathon teams. Over 150 runners run for the team every year. And every year, each runner gets to wear the checkered singlet.

Believe it or not, this singlet is one of the main reasons that I wanted to run for Children’s. It’s one of the main reasons that I wanted to run the marathon at all. For years, I remember seeing people running down the street wearing their singlets. I used to think how strange it was that a person would wear a race singlet just going out for an afternoon jog. I would see them from time to time, in towns all around the area. Some of the people were old, some young, some experienced runners, some not so much. I have even seen people wearing them in triathlons that I have participated in. It’s like a bullseye for me when someone has one on. It immediately catches my attention. Now that I have one of my own, I fully understand why people wear them.

It’s not just a singlet. It is so much more than that! It’s dedicating your life to something for 6 months. It’s waking up at 6 am to run in 10 degree weather. It’s eating chicken instead of steak. It’s drinking water instead of beer. It’s blisters in between every single one of your toes. It’s endless squats and lunges. It’s raising $5,000 for the kids at Children’s Hospital. It’s getting a donation from someone that you know doesn’t have a job. It’s staying in and resting every Friday night. It’s excruciating knee pain when you’re 9 miles from your house. It’s taking the right onto Hereford and the left onto Boylston. It’s crossing that finish line after 26.2 miles.

Not too many people own a Miles for Miracles singlet. Believe me, it’s an honor to have it.