Alison Jones has competed in the Boston Marathon before.
On Monday, she will participate in the storied event — just on the streets of St. Joseph.
Jones qualified for the 2020 Boston Marathon but COVID-19 had other plans.
In May, the Boston Athletic Association announced the 124th Boston Marathon would be held as a virtual event in the second week of September, following Boston Mayor Martin Walsh’s cancellation of the marathon as a mass participation road running event due to the pandemic.
“I knew it would happen with everything else that had been canceled, but I cried,” Jones said. “I was very disappointed because I really wanted to race in Boston again. My family was looking forward to going to Boston again, too.”
Jones has decided to run her marathon in St. Joseph starting at 6:30 a.m. Monday and is encouraging St. Joseph residents to cheer her on.
“A statement that the Boston Athletic Association has been saying throughout all of this is something like’, Typically the world comes to Boston for the Boston Marathon, but this year we are bringing the Boston Marathon to the world,’” Jones said. “I am proud to be able to run the Boston Marathon in St. Joseph.”
Jones ran track in junior high and high school. Her first road race as an adult was in 2003.
“I decided to run my first marathon in 2014, just to say I had ran a marathon,” she said. “My plan was to only run one.”
Her time was only 10 minutes off of a Boston Marathon qualifying time so she decided to make that her next goal and has run one marathon each year since. She previously ran in the Boston Marathon in 2018.
To train for a marathon, Jones sticks to an 18-week training plan that involves running four days a week. She runs on Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Saturdays are her long runs, starting with 10 miles and increasing to 22 miles. Mondays and Wednesdays runs start with 6 miles and increase to 9 miles. Thursday runs are between 4 and 6 miles. Jones does other workouts on Tuesdays and Fridays and rests on Sundays.
“I love the way that running makes me feel, during it and afterwards,” she said. “It’s a great stress reliever.”
Jones said training for a marathon has taught her that if she puts her mind to something and works hard for it, she can accomplish the goal.
“I am doing that for me and for my kids to see and learn this too,” she said.
Jones said the most challenging part of training is finding time to complete all of the runs. Jones runs early in the morning morning and sometimes starts her long runs at 4 a.m. to complete them before going to her children’s activities.
“All of my during the week runs are completed before the kids even wake up,” she said.
Jones said another challenge is making sure she gets enough rest and sleep. Since she works full-time and has three children in multiple activities, there isn’t always time to rest.
Jones said she stays motivated by holding herself accountable. She creates calendars for her trainings and checks them off when they are completed. She also knows what it feels like to not work out and run and prefers how she feels after a workout or run.
Her family also motivates her.
“I want to be strong and healthy for them and to lead by example,” she said. “I have a friend that I run with usually once a week, so it’s good to have someone else hold you accountable at times too.”
The pandemic hasn’t changed how Jones has trained. Her training for her virtual Boston Marathon has been similar to other marathons. The only difference is Jones has trained for this marathon twice.
First, by preparing to run it at its previously scheduled date in April and now getting ready for her virtual marathon this September.
“I have put in more running miles this year already than I usually do in nearly a whole year,” she said. “I have bought more running shoes this year and I can tell my shins and feet are feeling the extra miles too.”
All of that work and preparation will culminate with her run through St. Joseph on Monday.
“I chose this route because I am familiar with it as I run these streets on a regular basis,” she said. “I also wanted to make sure I run by some friends’ houses so they can help support me along the way.”
Jones said her family has been instrumental to her success. Her husband, Jason, is her number one fan. He and their kids make signs to support her during her marathons, and he would tote them around via car, stroller and piggy-back to see her at multiple points on the marathon course. He has always encouraged her, has towels ready for runs in the rain and blankets for the freezing cold.
“I could not do what I do without him,” she said. “I cannot say enough about his support to and for me.”
Jones said her kids have also been supportive.
“We try to make this a family affair,” she said. “They are starting to get more into running themselves and that is super cool to watch. My parents, siblings, in-laws and friends are also very supportive and encouraging. They may think I’m crazy some days, but they support me all the same.”
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