his scheduled start against Philadelphia on Monday night because of

On New Years Day, I wrote a message on a running bib: In 2016, I #ResolveToRun a BQ (Boston Qualifying) time. In February, six weeks before a marathon I had signed up for, I injured my hamstring. Then in March, I received a lottery spot in the Nov. 6 New York City Marathon.On Sunday, I unfortunately didnt achieve my Boston qualifying goal.I did, however, run almost 10 minutes faster than my personal best. I completed the 26.2-mile trek through New York City in 3:48:16.The weather was nearly perfect (though I couldve done without the 15-mile-per-hour wind), my body felt strong and I was running in my favorite city. The first mile, windy and uphill on the Verrazano Bridge, was about a minute-and-half behind my goal pace of 8:00 minutes per mile. While you cant win a marathon in the first mile, you can certainly lose it. But I didnt panic. I knew what my body had to give, and I couldnt worry about making up that time in the second mile -- it would have to be throughout the race.I felt very strong through mile 23. The Queensboro Bridge was quiet and offered spectacular views of Manhattan. Around mile 17, I saw my mom, my boyfriend and my best friend who had surprised me for the weekend. Near mile 18 I found out other friends were cheering me on, and at 103rd Street I met up with one of my running partners.But at mile 23, the slight incline of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan became intimidating, and my hamstring really started to feel the pounding. By mile 24, I decided I could give everything I had left into running the best personal record I could. I saw my mom, boyfriend and best friend again at mile 25.5 and had tears in my eyes because I was going to accomplish that new personal record.As I finished the race, I pulled out my phone to take a selfie with my medal, and my dad FaceTimed me to congratulate me on my accomplishment.Shaving just one second off a personal best is a huge accomplishment -- but to cut nearly 10 minutes is downright incredible. But it comes with mixed feelings as I relive the race over and over again. Im sad to not have reached my Boston qualification goal, but nothing can take away what my body accomplished on Sunday. That night, I celebrated with family and friends with pizza, beer and a smile on my face.The Monday after the marathon in New York is a great sight -- many runners from the previous day waddle around wearing their medals over work clothes, and engraving machines are up and running. The only medals I engrave are the ones Ive received from the New York City Marathon, and to know that this years medal has my personal best time on the back is huge.As I hung up my medal on Tuesday, I was reminded why I love the crazy endeavor of running marathons. Training can be hell, but you find a way to bring yourself back from it through the joy and pride of race day. Race times may not always be your target, and what matters is that youve run a marathon and you can say youve accomplished a huge goal.Im really sad that this particular marathon journey is over, and its been difficult to sit down and evaluate the health of my body. I dont know what my next marathon will be, and I dont really know when I will run again, but I am still a runner and I ended this journey with a 3:48:16 personal best.Megan Flood is a seven-time marathoner and half marathoner. She is on a quest to qualify for the Boston Marathon and hopes New York 2016 is her ticket to Boston. You can follow her progress every other week here on espnW.com and on Twitter @meganflood11. Custom Evan Longoria Jersey .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Cheap Rays Jerseys . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . http://www.customraysjersey.com/ .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Rays Jerseys China . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. Cheap Custom Rays Jersey . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged.BOSTON -- Jacoby Ellsbury walked to the plate thinking he had an advantage. One pitch later, he was running away from his celebrating teammates. Ellsbury hit a game-ending, two-run double on Joe Smiths first pitch, capping a four-run, ninth-inning rally that lifted the Boston Red Sox over the Cleveland Indians 6-5 Sunday. Cleveland led 5-2 entering the ninth, when Chris Perez (2-1) walked Dustin Pedroia leading off. David Ortiz doubled, and Mike Napoli and Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit consecutive RBI groundouts. Walks to Jonny Gomes and Jose Iglesias around Stephen Drews single loaded the bases. Perez fell behind Ellsbury 2-1 in the count and left with a shoulder injury. Ellsbury then doubled to left-centre, and was chased down by teammates who ran from the dugout to celebrate Bostons ninth win in 12 games. "His mindset, I would think, is to attack the hitter," Ellsbury said in the middle of Bostons clubhouse. "The last thing I think hes wants to do is walk me and bring in the tying run. I just wanted to be aggressive in the zone and get a pitch I could drive. Fortunately, I got it." Boston won three of four against Cleveland, managed by Terry Francona in his first series back at Fenway Park since leaving the Red Sox after the 2011 season. Francona led the Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007. It was Bostons ninth win in 12 games. "When you think back to the ninth inning, they key at-bat to me was Iglesias walk," Boston manager John Farrell said. "He fouls off a tough two-strike pitch, takes a close 3-2 pitch to walk. Unfortunately for them, Perez goes out with an injury. We felt like when Smith came in, that arm slot fit Jakes (Jacobys) swing pretty well, and we saw the reason for it." Perez said hes been dealing with some arm pain. "I felt a little something in the shoulder today out there. Obviously not the best timing there. So, its something I have to deal with," he said. "On that last pitch to Ellsbury. It kind of pinched on me and sent a little pain down my arm. Then I tried to throw another pitch, and it just wasnt happening." Francona knew what a tough spot it was for Smith. "Its very difficult. Thats tough duty," he said. "With a 2-1 count youve got to throw a strike, andd he did.dddddddddddd. To Ellsburys credit, he put the wood on it and put the barrel on it and now weve got to go regroup." Craig Breslow (2-0) allowed one run and two hits in two innings. Red Sox starter Felix Doubront gave up four runs -- two earned -- and five hits in six innings with eight strikeouts. Boston trailed 4-3 in the eighth inning of Saturdays 7-4 win. "It shows the desire of this team the last two days," Gomes said. Clevelands Corey Kluber gave up one run and three hits in 6 2-3 innings. Nick Swisher and Jason Kipnis hit solo homers for the Indians. Carlos Santanas two-run single hit a two-run single in the first after Ellsbury dropped Kipnis fly to centre for an error. Daniel Nava had an RBI single in the third after Stephen Drew snapped an 0-for-17 slide with a double. Kipnis homered off the Pesky Pole in right in the fifth, and Swisher homered in the Green Monster seats in left leading off the sixth. Swishers sacrifice fly made it 5-1 in the eighth, and Iglesias had a sacrifice fly in the bottom half. NOTES: Boston RHP Clay Buchholz (7-0, 1.73 ERA) was scratched from his scheduled start against Philadelphia on Monday night because of inflammation in the collarbone area. Tyler Cloyd (1-0, 2.70 ERA) starts for the visiting Phillies in the opener of a two-game series. "The doctors said I could throw and it wouldnt affect my delivery. It was my call," Buchholz said. "If it was September, Id throw tomorrow." Alfredo Aceves (1-1, 8.20 ERA) will take his spot. ... The Indians open a home-and-home series with the first of two in Cincinnati on Monday. Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3, 6.04 ERA) is slated to face the Reds Mike Leake (4-2, 3.26 ERA). ... Clevelands Michael Bourn was called out by plate umpire Chris Guccione when his bunt attempt hit him while he appeared to be out of the batters box as he broke for first in the fifth inning. ... Farrell expects LHP Franklin Morales will be activated from the 15-day DL Tuesday. Morales strained his lower back in spring training. ... Cleveland 3B Mark Reynolds, moved over in a shifted infield, made a sliding play on Ortizs grounder behind the second-base bag in the fourth before getting up and throwing. ... Former Boston and Cleveland OF Trot Nixon was in the Monster seats. ' ' '