Beantown is amazing, offering a weird mix of promise, history, logistical headaches, unpredictable weather, and some of the most wonderful and some of the most self-centered runners ever compressed into such a small area.  The course and the fans are legendary for good reasons.  Meeting Ernst van Dyk was inspiring;  whenever I start grumbling about my own running, it helps to remember seeing and meeting wheelchair/handcycle warriors (MCM being another great place for a booster lesson) who say "Bring it on" to whatever challenges await.  No other race quite has given me the feel of being part of some enormous creature, tying into so many folks sharing dreams, the fans, the course, the fabulous volunteers, and the still palpable presence of Patriots Day keeping what could become a carnival something special.

Good job, Immer.  (Immer treu ... semper fidelis.  Ahhhh, I get it.)

Unbelievable pace.  I cannot run one 7:00 mile.  Seriously.  To run 26 of them is just . . . ridiculous.

Ridiculous in a good way, I mean.

Immer treu wrote:

dutch omi wrote:

Awesome Immer, especially having your daughter run a half. Great time as well. You must have BQ'd right? Have you ever run Beantown?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beantown is amazing, offering a weird mix of promise, history, logistical headaches, unpredictable weather, and some of the most wonderful and some of the most self-centered runners ever compressed into such a small area. The course and the fans are legendary for good reasons. Meeting Ernst van Dyk was inspiring; whenever I start grumbling about my own running, it helps to remember seeing and meeting wheelchair/handcycle warriors (MCM being another great place for a booster lesson) who say "Bring it on" to whatever challenges await. No other race quite has given me the feel of being part of some enormous creature, tying into so many folks sharing dreams, the fans, the course, the fabulous volunteers, and the still palpable presence of Patriots Day keeping what could become a carnival something special.

 

How often?

dutch omi wrote:

Immer treu wrote:

dutch omi wrote:

Awesome Immer, especially having your daughter run a half. Great time as well. You must have BQ'd right? Have you ever run Beantown?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beantown is amazing, offering a weird mix of promise, history, logistical headaches, unpredictable weather, and some of the most wonderful and some of the most self-centered runners ever compressed into such a small area. The course and the fans are legendary for good reasons. Meeting Ernst van Dyk was inspiring; whenever I start grumbling about my own running, it helps to remember seeing and meeting wheelchair/handcycle warriors (MCM being another great place for a booster lesson) who say "Bring it on" to whatever challenges await. No other race quite has given me the feel of being part of some enormous creature, tying into so many folks sharing dreams, the fans, the course, the fabulous volunteers, and the still palpable presence of Patriots Day keeping what could become a carnival something special.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How often?

 

Three times;  once when the world was in black and white and dinosaurs ruled the planet,  then 2005 and 2006.  In 2005 our locally prevalent GI virus apparently went along and declared itself around mile nine, leading to a port-a-john-on-course personal record that exceeds my lifetime combined total for all other races.  The kindly but firm volunteer in the meeting area past the finish used her best lifeguard voice to say, "Sir, you don't look good and I'm taking you to the medical tent."  Two iv's, several liters of the house special, and a few days of recovery later, there was no doubt which horse I was going to ride or die trying in'06.  A nagging voice still said maybe it wasn't the bug but something else that had done me in.  The next year was low 50s, a gentle breeze, a careful start followed by a really fun run and a goofy euphoria that built with each port-a-john passed.  I can imagine going again after turning 55 or 60 maybe if health and circumstances allowed..........