133th Boston Marathon
1 year ago I was a participant and this year I had the privileged to cheer on the runners from the finish line side of the Mass Ave underpass. It was great to watch history with Ernst Van Dyk's 8th win, to witness the three way battle between Salina Kosgei, Dire Tune and Kara Goucher and to see Deriba Merga power his way to the finish. As with any major spectator event, there is always some interesting marketing ploy and this year did not disappoint, see picture below:
It was really great to walk out from a Comm Ave apartment. watch the runners go on by and then return to the stoop to grill up some delicious food. I am now looking forward to next year's marathon experience.
Labels: Boston, Marathon
Would I Do It
Lisa asked me this morning if I had trained for this year's marathon, would I have gotten up and ran in this spring nor'easter we are current having? I'm really not sure. Chicago was hard enough with the 26.2 miles and the very cold day [40 degrees/30 mile an hour wind] but today's Boston Marathon is something else. Sure the miles are the same but here the course has some hills so just that makes this race probably more difficult than most.
Today's conditions at start time: 48 degrees, 26 mile an hour wind, and heavy rain - now that is down right awful running conditions. At last year's Harpoon 5-Miler it rained a little harder than it will this morning and that was the most unenjoyable run I have had in years so facing this course today would be the biggest mental challenge and for those who are brave enough to take on New England's most famous foot race on a day where mother nature is really showing her full force, I say god bless and good luck. You are all my hero today.
Faced with getting out of bed and strapping on the shoes this morning, I'm not sure I could have done. I just don't know. Godspeed to each and every champion who runs the 111th Boston Marathon today!
Labels: Boston, Marathon
Brad, you will be missed
Brad Delp, longtime and usually reserved lead signer for the band Boston, passed away this past weekend at his home in Atkinson, New Hampshire and he will sure to me missed around New England. His band has the amazing honor of being the group with the best selling debut album, self titled Boston, which has sold more than 17 million copies since it's release in 1976. I am lucky enough to have a vinyl hanging on my office wall to look at now and again and of course the CD for listening pleasure. It is really amazing to think how big this record is when you think back to a very young Tom Shultz, who had recently graduated from MIT, recording 7 of the 8 tracks in his own studio - he designed and built in his basement. Go ahead, listen to the album again and we blown away at how good it sounds for a home studio.
Brad will be remembered as a man who not only could sing nearly any song or in any musical style but also as an artist who always had time to give his autograph to his fans no matter when or where he was. The band's website has been replaced with a single page with the simple yet powerful message:
We've just lost the nicest guy in rock and roll.
To Brad, if you can read this from where you are, thank you for the great legacy of music you left us that always gives us More Than A Feeling, Don't Look Back, Don't Be Afraid, and tell them when you get there that you used to play in a Rock And Roll Band or as you would say, just another band out of Boston, well not just another band - The band out of Boston.
Labels: Boston
