The Day Before Boston

Sunday in Boston was filled with registration, wandering through the runner's expo, attending Reunion Church, lunch in the North End, dinner with my running partner, and a blog post.

We (my running partner, Gene Wilkes) and I are staying at a Marriott Residence Inn in the Tudor Wharf area. From our hotel room you can look to your left and see the Bunker Hill Monument, to the right you can see the steeple of Old North Church (one if by land, two if by sea) and straight ahead is the USS Constitution.

The hotel is also just a stone's throw from TD Bank North Garden, which is the home of the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins. Both the Celtics and the Bruins had home playoff games yesterday (for what it's worth). Between the Residence Inn and the Garden is a pretty cool bridge, so I took a picture and added it to the blog.

Picking up your number occurs downtown at the Hynes Convention Center, which runs parallel to Boylston Street. Notably, Boylston Street is the location of the Marathon finish line. The Boston Marathon is really a simple concept. You board a bus near the Boston Commons. The bus drives you and many other people to the town of Hopkinton which, ironically, is 26.2 miles from the Marathon finish line on Boylston Street. Between the start and the finish, I'm certain I'll feel great at times, rotten at other times, and challenged throughout the day. My start time is shortly after 10:30 a.m. (Eastern). The temperature is predicted to be in the low 40s on Monday morning, with winds between 15 and 30 miles per hour. The wind is expected to pick up as we near downtown Boston. The other challenge in the morning will be sitting outside in the "Runner's Village" for about two hours waiting for the race to begin. I'll dress in (many) layers and have saved the thermal, metallic looking blankets from other marathons (the blankets are handed out at the end of the race to keep the runner warm) that should help keep us warm.

I took this picture of the finish line today, so you'll know what I am pursuing tomorrow. The best part of the marathon is the finish line. It's not just having it over, but it is he emotion that overtakes me each time, which is part of the reward for running. There are times when I have approached the finish line that laughter, crying, elation, and/or frustration have emerged from within me. I have found few things in life that can fully drain me, literally empty myself of almost everything. Running the marathon does that, it completely empties me. So, enjoy the finish line and know its pursuit is a physical accomplishment, achieved by overcoming various mental challenges along the way, which produces great emotional outpouring as I step across the line.