There’s something poetic about chasing a goal most people don’t really understand.
When you tell someone you’re trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon, they usually nod politely, not realizing how insane that actually is. For men my age, the qualifying time is 3 hours and 2 minutes. That’s a 6:55 pace per mile for 26.2 miles. Not one. Not two. Twenty-six.
Yeah, I know.
But here I am anyway. Day 1 of trying to do the impossible.
Why Boston?
For runners, Boston is the holy grail. Not just because it’s the oldest marathon, but because you have to earn your way in. You can’t buy your bib, you can’t talk your way in, you can’t finesse it. You have to earn it, mile by mile.
To put it in perspective, there are about 1.1 million people who finish marathons each year around the world. Only about 10 percent of them run fast enough to even qualify for Boston. And of those, only around 4 percent actually make it in. That’s how rare it is.
And for me, this isn’t just about running. It’s about discipline; something I’ve been rebuilding piece by piece across my life.
I’m Amp. A runner, a traveler, and a cofounder of a pet-tech company called Wagabond. I live between D.C.splitting my days between 5 A.M. runs, Zoom calls about app development.
My life doesn’t fit neatly into one lane. And maybe that’s why Boston matters. It’s the test of whether I can balance it all and still hit that finish line before the clock hits 3:02.
The Truth I Don’t Talk About Much
Since leaving the Air Force and graduating business school, I’ve felt… mediocre.
It’s like I stepped out of places where excellence was normal, where everyone pushed each other, into a world where comfort runs the show. I’ve achieved things that look great on paper, but inside, I know I’ve been coasting.
And that doesn’t sit right with me.
I don’t want to be average. I want to be uncommon among the uncommon. I want to wake up every day chasing greatness — the kind that demands everything from you and gives you nothing unless you earn it.
That’s why this journey matters. Qualifying for Boston isn’t just about running faster. It’s about proving to myself that I can still do hard things. That I can still become the man I imagine when I close my eyes at night.
The Starting Point
I just ran the Marine Corps Marathon — 4 hours and 2 minutes.
Not bad. Not great. But enough to light a fire under me.
I finished strong, felt good, and realized something: I’ve been training like a guy who likes running, not like someone who wants to qualify for Boston. There’s a difference.
Day 1 is about closing that gap. No excuses. No “I’ll start next week.” Just work.
The Plan
Right now, the focus is simple:
Run smarter, not just harder.
Strength train three times a week.
Fix my hydration and nutrition. (Three cups of coffee and vibes don’t count as electrolytes.)
Sleep like it’s my job.
Document everything — the good runs, the bad runs, and the ones that make me question why I signed up for this in the first place.
Every week, I’ll post updates on YouTube, TikTok, and here on Medium. No fancy cinematics, no fake motivation. Just me, a goal, and a pair of tired shoes.
Why It’s Bigger Than Running
Boston isn’t the only finish line I’m chasing. I’m also building Wagabond, a tech startup for pet owners and vets to manage health records.
Some days I’m running on the road. Other days I’m running behind on deadlines. But both require endurance, focus, and patience.
That’s what being well-rounded means to me. I don’t want to be the guy who’s great at one thing and miserable at everything else. I want to be balanced — physically, financially, mentally, and creatively.
Running just happens to be the backbone that keeps it all together.
The Mindset
I know this journey won’t be perfect. Some days will be magic. Clear skies, smooth pace, music hitting just right. Other days will suck sore knees, bad sleep, zero motivation.
But that’s part of it.
The only thing that matters is showing up. Every single day.
Because if I can stack enough Day 1s together, one morning I’ll wake up, look down at my Garmin, and realize I’m finally running a 6:55 mile. Not for one mile, but for 26.2.
And when that happens, I’ll know I earned Boston.
What’s Next
I’ll post my first training log — what I ran, how it felt, and what I learned.
If you’re reading this and chasing your own version of Boston — whether it’s a marathon, a business, or just becoming a better version of yourself — you’re in the right place.
Welcome to the journey.
#RoadToBoston #WellRoundedAmp #MarathonTraining #RunningMotivation