Rainy Days and Mondays
Today, is the Eleventy-first running of the Boston Marathon, and it’s going to be one to remember. It’s been stormy in New England for days, and the forecast calls for 3-5 more inches of driving rain in the Boston area. Reports state that portions of the runner assembly areas in Hopkinton are underwater. Wind should be sustained and fierce, with gusts potentially reaching 50 miles per hour. This will put the “feels like†temperature at 25-30 degrees. It’s going to be positively apocalyptic.
Man, I wish I were there.
April 16th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Actually, it looks like they dodged the bullet. Watching video from the course most of this morning, and it doesn’t look bad at all. More than a few people running without a shirt, and many in singlets. Hasn’t even been much rain.
Tracking about 8 people and some are having pretty good days, but some crash and burns also. Whatever happens, I know that there will be some great stories coming from the 111th Boston.
You just need to get your plan figured out so you can punch your ticket for 2008.
April 16th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Frequent commenter here, KeStrou, was there. Hopefully we can get a full race report from ‘the man on the scene’.
April 17th, 2007 at 7:52 am
Okay KeStrou, what was up in Hopkinton? How was the wind? Did it rain? Any crazy people run shirtless? Looks like you scored a 3:57. Nicely done.
– Dean
April 18th, 2007 at 11:18 am
It wasn’t that bad actually. I started in the first wave, and the wind died down right before the start. It rained off and on maybe 5 times on me during my 3:09:10 on the course. The winds were constant but gentle 10-15 MPH, but every once in a while a huge gust would come up and surprise you.
It was not the worst race conditions I have ever been in, but surely the second worst 🙂
April 18th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Nice run, Doc Ott!
– D
April 18th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Well, the time of 3:57 isn’t most important statistic from the race. That would be “How many Wellesly girls did you kiss?” – and the answer to that for me would be TEN! Which was nine young co-eds and one elderly lady (member of the faculty?) at the end of the line who wasn’t expecting to get a kiss.
Other interesting stories of the route:
Weather wasn’t nearly as bad as feared, although sitting in the tent for two and a half hours was no fun. The only consolation there was that I was sitting next to a guy from Columbia who had seen Superman running the Governor’s Cup for about 10 years.
I ran up the left side of the road for the entire race (except for the stretch by Wellesly) and by the end my left hand was literally sore from all the high-fiving I did.
The mile markers were all on the right side of the course, so numerous times I lost complete track of how far I’d run, and thus how far I had to go.
Somewhere mid-race I honestly saw a dog “blown over” by a sudden big gust of wind – dog’s owner then picked up the dog and carried it.
I had a beer at an unofficial aid station near mile 22. After downing it I smashed the plastic cup on my forehead and the frat boys thought that was great.
There was a gal at the 25 mile mark with a sign that said “MILE 25 REWARD: A KISS!” Of course I stopped and kissed her, but what surprised her is that I then ran “reverse” on the course for about 20 yards and then ran up to her a second time for ANOTHER kiss! 🙂 When I then started to run reverse a second time she laughed and said I had already reached my limit and to give someone else a chance!
kestrou
April 18th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
KeStrou, you’ve just described the ideal reward race. You deserved every second! I hope to enjoy Boston every bit as much (assuming I get there before pigs fly).
Now, when are you gonna come down to NC to run the Mount Mitchell Challenge?
– Dean
April 22nd, 2007 at 10:20 pm
When am I coming down to Mount Mitchell Challenge?
Why, any time that mangy brother of mine needs his butt kicked both up AND down a mountain! *grin*