Boston Marathon

The fans /spectators make this race my favorite. The encouragement, high fives, music, the volume of the cheers just energize me to keep going!

The 2018 race was my fourth Boston. Let's just say it's a privilege to run any Boston Marathon, and the 2018 weather will forever live in infamy. I have a huge shout-out about the 2018 race and a huge criticism. First the positive. I toed the line injured. Boston is the only marathon in the world I would've run in that condition. I was participating just to finish. And finish I did ... thanks to the medical tents, which I used as my warming shacks, where I warmed up, changed socks, and generally regrouped. They helped get me through the experience with professionalism and levity. Thank you!!! Now the big negative. Our bus driver GOT LOST on the way to the start. I could hardly believe it. He dumped us off more than a mile away, and we ended up walking along the race course -- in driving rain -- to the start. The only good part is I got to see the wheelchair athletes whiz past by me. But for a marathon as great as Boston, that was totally unacceptable. Ah well. I snagged a solid BQ for 2020 so I'll hope for better. That being said ... even an awful Boston is a tremendous event. The Super Bowl of running. Run it if you can, you will never regret it and you will cherish the medal forever.

This was my 7th Boston, and what can I say, once you qualify for Boston, you just take it all in during the run. This was truly a monumental year. We all were hoping Weather.com had it wrong as the race got closer but, no, it was 100% rain, wind, and cold just as it was predicted. I just kept my head down, my feet on the ground (the wind swept my legs from underneath me a few times) and ran/trotted forward. I ran Boston in 2004 and 2012 (hot years) and had a rougher time those two years. There are not enough words that can adequately thank the volunteers (packet pick up, bus departure, start, during & finish), the crowds and the City of Boston for their support. Nothing can be done about the weather but in these miserable conditions, we paid for the honor to run Boston but the volunteers and crowd didn't - they came out to support the runners regardless of the conditions. My heartfelt thanks to each and every one of them. Even before the bombing, Boston has been known for its great support and now post bombing, Bostonians have embraced this race even further. GO BOSTON! It was my worst time by far (over 5 hours) but one of the most memorable experiences due to the support of this incredible city. A true testament for a great race - gushing is allowed.