Boston. No other word means as much to distance runners. Carries an aura of respect and awe and accomplishment. Every marathoner’s dream. And anyone that has ever been there has their own special memories.
It starts with the people, the citizenry of Boston. Upon your arrival the taxi drivers and waitstaff and hotel workers and everyone else you meet will be interested in you. Your qualifying time, where you ran it, how many times you’ve run this iconic event, what your goals for Monday are. You will feel loved. And you’ll love the city right back.
I’ve got my own special memories from the 100th Boston in 1996. It would be my only trip from Hopkinton to Boylston. If I can offer just a bit of advice, don’t go with the attitude of conquering. You can run fast, and indeed I know a lot of people whose personal bests were set on this historic tour. Do go with the intention of running a good race while at the same time taking in every moment. Your finish time will be what it is meant to be, nothing you can do to change that at this point at any rate. But your experience and memories are what you can control. So enjoy, you may never make it back.
I’d love to get into how I’m old buddies with Race Director Dave McGillivray. How I was his Assistant Operations Director for the 2004 USA Women’s Olympic Trials Marathon in St. Louis (sure it was mainly just a title, but one I’m proud to have held). How I was the guest of the Boston Athletic Association back in 2006 (yes they really did bring in Mitt Romney to have supper with our trio of site selectors). How I worked with BAA President Guy Morse in bringing the 2008 USA Women’s Olympic Trials Marathon to that city and event. How I was offered a rare glimpse into the very soul of the organization, deep in the bowels of the John Hancock building.
But those days are long past and are just stories now. But they’re my stories.
The one marathon every distance runner dreams of. The one marathon you’ll never forget. Yes, I used to be a stud and those are Diadoras.
Part of my Boston collection is Joseph Kamau’s 1997 2nd Overall Orefors Swedish Crystal Bowl. Yeah, stories, I’ve got a ton of them.
And Boston pictures, pictures out the wazoo.
It was my privilege to serve with the Boston Marathon, memories for a lifetime.
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