Run Faster!

I remember about a year ago, I was visiting BU for its open house day at COM. I remember driving up from Philadelphia, seeing roads signs just outside Boston that read, “Expect Delays: Patriots’ Day Weekend.” Flash forward a year later, and here I am at BU, shooting at the Boston Marathon.

Boston shuts down for the Boston Marathon, it’s Patriots’ Day,  a state holiday. BU didn’t hold classes, businesses closed down for the day, and most people took off from work. Athletes from around the world congregated in Boston to run the 26.22 miles toward the finish line. Starting from Hopkinton, the course winds through Ashland, Framingham, Natick and Wellesley. It continues on Route 16 through Newton to Commonwealth Avenue, turning onto Beacon Street in Brookline, continuing to Kenmore Square, and following down Commonwealth Avenue. The course turns right onto Hereford Street then left onto Boylston Street, finishing near the John Hancock Tower (the tallest building in Boston) in Copley Square. That’s tiring to read — I can’t imagine running it. Check out a map here.

A lot of Bostonians and students use the day off as a chance to drink and engage in other activities on this 20^th day of April. Ahem. Those lucky enough to have an apartment above Comm. Ave. could watch from above in style, but I went to Coolidge Corner around 7:30 a.m. to watch the calm before the storm. Officials were setting up barriers, police were beginning to organize, the early birds were starting to call dibs on the best places to watch the runners.

I had never been to a marathon before, so I didn’t know what to expect. There was a lot of anticipation for the runners to come by. Everyone was growing impatient, asking one another if they knew what time the runners were due. The wheelchair competitors were the first, followed by the elite women, and then finally the elite men.

I was a little surprised with how close one could get to the runners. Depending where you were, there was nothing blocking anyone from going into the street. After the incident at the 2004 summer Olympic games when Brazilian marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima was attacked by a protester, I was surprised there wasn’t more enforcement.

I was putting my money on Kara Goucher (above, pink shirt) of the United States, just based on looks alone — but she came in third at 2:32: 25. Tip of the cap to Deriba Merga of Ethiopia who came in first for the men with a time of 2:08:42 and Salina Kosgei of Kenya who came in first with a time of 2:32:16 for the women.

It certainly was exciting, and you gotta hand it to them. Running 26 miles? At once? In like, fewer than 3 hours? That’s pretty impressive. It kinda makes me feel like I should head to the fitness center and get on the treadmill for at least a few minutes.

Nah.