It's been 26 years now since this runner ran his only Boston Marathon. The date was, ironically, Monday, April 19, 1999, the actual Patriots Day. One hundred twenty four years (or 1775), the battles of Lexington and Concord took place.
Since 1969, the holiday has fallen on the third Monday of April. From 1972 on until 1998, all this runner heard from other runners was "you have to run Boston if you are a marathoner!"
This runner was fortunate to get into the 1999 race. The year before, I met the qualifying (three hours, 25 minutes) by about four minutes! The Napa Marathon has always been a great one for me despite the flat, and sometimes, rolling courses. On March 1, 1998, a three hour, 20 minute and 58 second effort (3:20:58) got me in.
Traveling to Boston on a non-stop United flight, the flight itself was very bumpy. A lot of turbulence, especially in the eastern portion. However, on Friday afternoon when arriving, the weather was partly cloudy.
The weekend was nice at times, and showery others. It is New England and one doesn't know what to expect. My last training run from a hotel just west of the Prudential Building was perfect. Reservations were made roughly four months beforehand.
The school bus ride to Hopkinton was cool. Many runners were sharing many stories. I sat next to a lady from Maryland who shared her story of her race in Baltimore. She had tried for seven years to get in and finally she was here!
The time of the race has moved up today but back in 1999, we started anywhere from noon to about 12:15 depending on the wave. I was in the latter wave group. The temperature was mid 50s, partly cloudy but comfortable for running.
It was great seeing all the different towns along the way and this runner was really taking it in. Ashland and Framingham were really cool places. You wouldn't think that you were 20+ miles west of a major city by going through these towns.
Wellesley College, about midway, was one of the highlights. I knew about the women screaming to the top of their lungs cheering the athletes on. Running on the left side of the road, it wasn't as loud but it was loud enough.
The Newton Hills were tough enough. However, I've run on some hills here in the Bay Area that are tougher. The problem I had was the downhill side as we were nearing the city. The legs, at times, felt like lead.
Going by Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox, and the Citgo Sign telling you one mile to go are motivators. Then, the right turn on Heresford and the left turn on Boylston Street and there was about 800 meters to go.
It was now a little past 3:30pm in the afternoon, and there were spectators still cheering on runners. The noise got louder and louder as we were approaching the finish right near the Library. The time on the watch was 3:32:09. There was a little disappointment but when the medal was draped around the neck, the disappointment turned into a smile. We finished the Boston Marathon!
Joseph Chebet from Kenya and Fatuma Roba from Ethiopia won the men's and women's races. However, to everyone at the finish line, all of us were champions that day!
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