I want to start this post out by stating a few things.  First, it is going to be long - I have a lot I want to say about the Boston Marathon.  Second, it is something I am wrting more for the eventuality that I will want to reflect on some significant things that happened - I am sharing the experience to remember it and recall the joy from it.  I’ll start with a pre-race post, then move through race day, and finish with a few reflections after the race. 

What stands out starting from Sunday morning April 20th to Monday night April 21st:

Sunday morning it is up and at ‘em first thing in the morning for church, small group, and packing that still needs to be done.  I go to church with the kids and honestly had a hard time focusing.  I try not to berate myself for this because it only makes things worse.  I simply acknowledge that I am excited about the next day so it may be a little challenging to completely focus.  I offer this up to God and decide to pray for the willingness to keep the next 48 hours to be whatever they will be without me forcing an experience that is not there.  Small group is no different and I am pleased to be on the way to Boston.  It may be bad, but I kept thinking let’s get in the car Jesus and go, we can talk on the way…

Got home and Christina had finished her homework, packed our bags, was dressed and ready to go - I love that woman - after submitting her last assignment.  We head out the door and it is off to Boston.  Had some good conversation on the way down to Boston (isn’t it cool how car rides can be such a great place to talk), and promptly got lost getting off 93S.  Boston has changed drastically and apparently they have decided to help people find their way around a double lane rotary by placing a 1ft by 1ft sign indicating where to turn for Charlestown in between eight other signs for various locations off said rotary.  Being the idiot I am I missed it while trying to avoid getting slammed by the other 30 cars in the rotary.  I’m impressed with the planning on that one, I’m not saying I could do it better - but someone got payed a lot of money to design an exit off of 93S that looked like the road plan Joe designed on the floor of his room with Matchbox cars - I digress

 We got to Aunt Joan’s and immediately unpacked a few things then headed out the door.  Joanie has run in 5 Boston Marathons and around 10 marathons all together.  It has been a little while since her last marathon, but her love of running has never waivered.  The way she talks about training, race day psychology, and proper nutrition shows her dedication to race day performance.  However, it has been years since her last race and she still heads out to do 3-4 miles a day just for a “run.”  I can only hope that I will do this once the training, races, and events are no longer possible - as I have said before, I long to be a purist, but have a way to go on this.  I admire Joanie because she is the epitome of a purist.

Once we get on the T and start heading towards the convention center the first red bag appears.  All the runners in the marathon are given red bags that contain race information, shirts, and other hand outs.  The red bag becomes a symbol of someone who is going to embark on the same journey the next day.  What immediately strikes me about my reaction to this symbol is a sense of camaraderie rather than competitiveness.  I think it is, at least at this point, because there are so many people and some world class runners taking part.  You have no choice but to simply run against yourself - to focus on your own goals and time.  If you get wrapped up trying to size up the “competition” you are bound to be freaked out.  There are to many great runners to think about “winning” or whatever else.  It is easy to let go any thoughts of goals for finishing place and that is relaxing - I only long to finish the run in 2:55:00, the rest is out my control. 

The more stops the T makes the more red bags appear.  Soon our car is half-full with people and families involved with the race and naturally that is where the conversation turns.  Soon people start sharing there goals for the next day, where they have come from, and what the race means to them.  It is really quite an amazing thing.  So much so that the other people on the car who aren’t directly involved with the run, but have lived in Boston for years start sharing stories from past marathons.  Don’t get me wrong - this isn’t utopia, more then a few people on the subway looked like they would like to throw all the marathoners into the Charles river, but my anecdotal survey had about 75% of that subway car talking and socializing.  A truly amazing thing and exactly what I think people mean when they say there is an “energy” in the city.  That energy is something that has been the common goal for so many people all coming together and celebrating.  Not just the runners, but the families who have sacrificed time, energy, and many foot rubs to help someone achieve their goal.  I don’t know if this is unique to Boston because of the qualifying times, but what a great experience just the same.

We arrive at the stop for the convention center and step out into a sea of red bags, Boston Marathon gear, and excited chatter.  I’m no trekkie, but I suddenly felt what must be a common feeling of star trek fans at a convention - my bretheren.  Throw out all the geek, dork, and nerd comments you would like, I couldn’t agree more.  Somehow, and I’m sure it is a tribal human feeling, I suddenly felt like I was among my kin folk.  There were people who understood that running through a driving snow and wind is something you just do.  Don’t ask why, you just do.  I didn’t have to explain it, for most of these people had the same odd stares from drivers that I had received over the last couple months of training.  Never in my life did I think I would welcome a comparison to a trekkie, but it does seem fitting.

I made my way into the convention center and picked up my race packet and number.  I immediately decided that I wanted to get my number from the first box next year (yes, I already had designs on a return visit).  The first disappointment since getting lost came when I went to get my Red Bag of honor and technical shirt emblazoned with “Boston Marathon 2008″ on it - all they had left were large and extra-large.  Hundreds of Large and Extra-large shirts, but no small or medium.  No I may be wrong, but I’m thinking if I placed the order for shirts at the Boston Marathon I would avoid the “big dog” variety.  I mean, how many people can train and qualify for Boston and still require and Extra-Large?  I’m not trying to make a statement about fat, skinny, and etc.  I am merely making the observation that most of the runners I saw were as scrawny as I am.  There were a few who needed the bigger shirts, but I think it would have been safe to cut back on the large and order a few extra mediums.  I’m just sayin’…

The health and fitness expo. was well worth the tour.  I’m glad I am so broke I couldn’t afford to buy anything because I would have spent way more then I should have if I started the spending.  The good folks at Addidas had a computerized system in place that looked at the pressure distribution on your foot during your run.  Additionally they analyzed your stride and running style to give a precise read out of the type of shoe that would best fit.  I put on two different types of shoes based on this read out and it felt like a glove on my foot while running.  I kid you not, this was the single best running shoe I had ever put on simply because it fit my running form.  I highly recommend having this done.  As soon as I have some money I am getting the Addidas “Boston” or “Supernova.”

We toured some of the other vendors, saw some of the latest technology, and generally enjoyed the envrionment.  I’m not much of a clothes shopper, so far as I’m concerned pants are pants - let’s not spend a lot of time here.  I did think the Gatorade presentation where they measured the exact amount of electrolytes a person might sweat out was pretty neat.  They are going to get to the point where they will be able to tailor a sports drink to perfectly rehydrate and balance your electrolytes lost based on your unique needs.  Now that is cool.  The elite runners already have a special concotion that I suspect is exactly this, or some form of steroid (kidding).

After an hour and a half it was time to head out and carb load.  Off to the North End - some of the best Italian cuisine this side of Rome.  The place was packed, an absolute madhouse.  We arrived at 6:30pm, fairly early by most standards and looked for anyplace that didn’t have an 1 and 1/2 wait.  I guess that these places ordinarily don’t ask for reservations and tell you to just come down, except, as it turns out, on Marathon Monday.  If you don’t have a reservation - fuggedaboutit.  We did luck out and made our way into a place with only a 45-minute wait.  By 7pm anyone else coming down had a 2-hour wait or was ordering Domino’s.  Recommendation - on Sunday before the race make reservations or arrive early.  I had the best tasting Lasagna I can recall.  It was absolutely great.  Salad was good, bread fantastic - all in all a great dining experience.  We left and the street was absolutely packed.  One fool actually tried to drive through this area.  I would absolutely lose my mind if I was in a car driving on through the North End on that night.  In fact, I think I would leave my car at home for just about any trip to Boston at any point if possible.  This is a city planned in the 1800’s - cars were not really considered then.  Even with the big dig it is a nightmare to navigate Boston in a car.  Get a pass and take the T.

Speaking of the T, traveled back to Joan’s apartment and immediately was englufed with more runners traveling back and forth.  However, the trip back had little chatter about the race because there was someone highly intoxicated rappin’ as though he was at a concert.  High comedy to watch a bunch of people come onto the T while this guy belted out lyrics chastising the world in general.  Aside from the comedy, the guy was pretty good.  Nice rhythm, cool lyrics, and good tone - from one dork’s perspective.  He got off the stop before ours, well more accurately stumbled out the door nearly knocking this one woman over.  As soon as he got off there were a few silent nods like “that is going to be one hell of a hang over.”

Made it back to Joans and got ready for bed.  I tried to use my cheat sleep method and took some Tylenol PM.  It was like dumping a bucket of water on a barn fire of nerves.  It made no difference.  I tossed and turned all night - I don’t know why I even tried.  I knew I was going to be up.  Fortunately the race does not depend on quality sleep the night before, but the months and months before.  I gave up and stared at the ceiling all night while Christina drifted in and out of sleep as well - 5 am could not come soon enough (for once).