A beautiful day in the neighborhood

[vettecat]

Today was Patriot's Day (I have to remind myself sometimes that it's a state holiday, and not everyone knows about it). It's also the day of the Boston Marathon. The weather was unseasonably warm, which was nice for the spectators, but I'm sure it was hard on the runners. Since the Marathon goes right by our store, we always go outside to watch the first few runners go by. (We can usually predict when that will be - the pace is pretty consistent.) It's a really nice community event. Kind of like a parade, but without the floats. People line both sides of the street, cheering as the runners go by, even though they're total strangers. You can tell where the runners are by the wave of sound. It's pretty cool to think that for the full 26.2 mile route, the runners hear people cheering them on. A band sets up on the corner opposite our store (Shriners, I think) and adds to the festive atmosphere. mabfan had the day off, so he joined us for a while. We sat on the stairs of the building next door and ate gumdrops as we watched the crowds. Until the phone started ringing and it was time to go back inside... but it was a nice interlude.

Comments

[pressburger.livejournal.com]

Hey I remember that. In Chicago we called it Casimir Polaski day. Did you run the marathon? Did you win?

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I don't think I could run that distance even if I did nothing but train for the next year...

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

I pity those marathoners. A few years back, I ran the Fairfield Half Marathon during a very hot summer. The course is VERY hilly and it was about 85 at the start of the race.

NOT fun.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I admire you for finishing. Apparently 1,000+ runners (out of 20,000+ running) collapsed from the heat. Not something to take lightly.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Well, that was only a half (OK, so it was the year of my running madness..I started running in March, ran 3 half marathons, a 20 miler and the NY Marathon (which I did finish in under 5 hours!)

Sadly, I haven't run since I broke my kneecap

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I think that's quite understandable.

[sdavido.livejournal.com]

I may well teach at one of the only schools in Boston that doesn't give that day off . . .

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it was because they had just given off two weeks for Pesach. If the timing was different they might have given the day off.