A View of the Marathon

The Boston Marathon was run yesterday. We know you know, well, maybe you missed it. Bostonist has been hearing about it from every media outlet, so we though it only appropriate to bring our own little wrap-up from our spot at mile 24. Like many who view the marathon from a position late in the course we watched until they hit Cleveland Circle, knowing then it was time to hop up from the couch and hit the sidewalk for the live action.

When wheelchair competitor Ernst Van Dyk hit Cleveland Circle we had to run out the house to get to the sidewalk to see the vans, cameras, and parade of sirens and lights go past with Van Dyk speeding along behind. He was the fastest competitor to go by, literally in a second he was there and gone by. We waited for the field of competitors to race by behind him, it sure took a while. Van Dyk was well in the lead. Among the pack of the male competitors following up came the gleaming smile of racer Edith Hunkeler. She pulled away from the other female competitors in the wheelchair race, but unlike Van Dyk she was surrounded by other races as she sped to her victory.

Things were a little more collected as the runners made their way past the marker at mile 24, no one had the distance Van Dyk had on his nearest competitor. Both the male and female front-runners looked very strong as they passed us, albeit a bit slower than the folks taking the lead in the wheelchair division. Still, it was a record breaking pace for Robert Cheruiyot, who broke the previous record by only a second. We were happy to see that on Patriot’s Day there were a few Patriots in the lead pack, bringing home some top ten finishes for the USA. Bostonist does have a little soft spot for the non traditional runners – especially Rick and Dick Hoyt who’ve been doing the marathon for as long as we can remember. When they went by the applause was as loud as it had been all day, if not louder.

But the pack rolled by, for hours. We were out there screaming with the rest of them, lifting our voices and clapping our hands for those passing by. Of course, when you write your name on your arm or singlet we’re apt to yell your name in support. We were amazed as we saw the Jogglers pass by, first record-setting, Cambridge resident, Zach Warren, then just as we had finished explaining that “yes, they call themselves jogglers” Michal Kapral ran by. They would finish that way, Warren ahead of Kapral, Warren setting a record for fastest time for a joggler the first time two have been joggling in a race going head-to-head. Canada, Costa Rica, and anyone with a one syllable name seemed to get a lot of support – as did the armed services represented in bibs. We saw a couple jerseys with NYFD run past, but we’re not sure if any of Boston’s finest were competing or were just manning the sidelines.

Bostonist would like to take a line here to congratulate local blogger Jonelle on her completion of the 26.2 miles as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. We cheered extra loud for anyone wearing the Dana-Farber singlet. Now that training and lent are over, can you go back to making fun of us?

Picture of discarded cups courtesy Flickr user: monkeyatlarge. Plenty more are available on Flickr - from the tag "bostonmarathon" and the photos coming through from the Exploit Boston Event Photo pool (those also play on the left sidebar). Andy Carvin brings one photo to that pool that says Marathon Day like no other, find it here.