Example. The 1985 Boston Marathon fell exactly on April 18th, my fortieth birthday. All along the course, because of my tee shirt, I was getting high fives . . . until I realized it was wearing me down, so I moved into the center of the pack after Wellesley. I will never forget the roar of the crowd at Wellesley. People were hollering,
"You look great!"
"You look awful!"
"It's my Dad's birthday!"
"It's my sister's birthday!"
"Looking good."
" Keep it up."
Sandy caught me in this photo on mile 21 at Cleveland Circle.
I know, I know, . . . I still look exactly the same, and thanks. ycmtsu
The next to the last straight stretch down Commonwealth Avenue right before the sharp right on to Hereford and the finish line on Boylston. (That's me in the middle of the frame -- white shirt, dark shorts.) I was hot. I grabbed a drink out of some guy's hand and threw it in my face. It was a clear mixed drink, not water. I laughed.
You feel like a superstar running the crowded gauntlet down Boylston.
You did it. You finished the Boston Marathon!
Nothing you can do will EVER change my sweet memories of running Boston. Nothing.
5 comments:
Great post Bob, and love the pictures. You inspire me to also say that no one will ever take away my moments in Patriot’s Day.
No, I never ran the marathon (ok, truth be told I was more likely to be the one handing you that “water”), but I
reveled in the energy of the day, channeling it towards runners and all those around me. Two years ago I was
fortunate enough for it to fall on our birthday and was thrilled to be able to bring my family there to take it all in:
an early game at Fenway, wandering the crowds to cheer the runners at Kenmore Sq, and birthday treats with an
eight-time marathon runner. So, it makes me feel sad that some now will only have very different memories of such
a special day. And admittedly guilty for wanting to keep my good ones. But, maybe that’s ok. Maybe it’s even a
good thing. Nothing you can do will EVER change my sweet memories of Patriot’s Day in Boston.
Great post Bob, and nice pictures. You inspire me to also say that no one will ever take away my moments in Patriot’s Day.
No, I never ran the marathon (ok, truth be told I was more likely to be the one handing you that “water”), but I
reveled in the energy of the day, channeling it towards runners and all those around me. Two years ago I was
fortunate enough for it to fall on our birthday and was thrilled to be able to bring my family there to take it all in:
an early game at Fenway, wandering the crowds to cheer the runners at Kenmore Sq, and birthday treats with an
eight-time marathon runner. So, it makes me sad that some now will only have very different memories of such
a special day. And admittedly guilty for wanting to keep my good ones. But, maybe that’s ok. Maybe it’s even a
good thing. Nothing you can do will EVER change my sweet memories of Patriot’s Day in Boston.
I love this post, and the pictures. What memories! Happy Birthday to you!
I love this post, and the pictures. What memories! Happy Birthday!!
To have run a marathon is a triumph. To have run the Boston Marathon is a celebration. To have run it eight times... I think that's a tradition, like Patriot's Day. Congratulations, of course, but as you have said, it's the memories that are sweet.
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