BOSS, the ultimate cross-training, second thoughts

 In my post-BOSS 28-Day course reflections last year, I wrote that, though I was second-guessing my decision to leave the course early (due to some leg muscle issues), I felt pretty comfortable that mine was not a case of Tim Noakes’ second- and lower-placed finishers accepting “their respective finishing positions and no longer choose to challenge for a higher finish."

But, I think, deep down, there was always a vague sense of unease that I’d accepted not finishing, that I didn’t choose to challenge myself to finish. This sense of unease has only become clearer over time.

Shortly after I returned home from Boulder, I called up my friend and fellow multi-course BOSS student, Kris, to talk things out and to get her perspective. During our conversation, I mentioned that I’d found a really good online hiking coach and that I’ll be working with him in preparing for my next try for the 28-Day course (coming up in August!). Because, as I’d previously found out--the hard way (!)--training for running and training for hiking are very different.

I also mentioned Jasmin Paris' incredible finish at the 2024 Barkley Marathons (~100M) and that I was nowhere close to what she must have felt, collapsing at the finish line, when I left the 28-Day course. Check out her facial expression in the photo at the finish--that's "leaving everything on the course"! (For more info, see 1, 2.) Even in Pocono 2016, where I “ran without regret” and qualified for Boston for the first time, I definitely didn’t cross the finish line with that expression—not even close. 😊

From The Guardian, Hallucinations and no sleep: Jasmin Paris on her historic ultramarathon, 3/25/24; cropped from photograph by Jacob Zocherman.

I've watched the full documentary, The Finisher, many times already. Inspirational every time. I expect I’ll watch it a few more times before heading out to Boulder again in August. Wherever I finish the course this time—hopefully back at BOSS after 28 days (!)--I want to leave everything out there and not bring any second thoughts home.