Boston's coming!

Only runner's can speak of the Boston Marathon in one word, "Boston". It's the reverence given to the race by using the singular name that sets it apart. There's no other race with the cache, with the presence. Sure, other marathon's may be bigger in numbers but that's nothing.

I hope to be there at Boston this year, volunteering not running. I loved doing it last year and I can't wait to do it again. I have done 2 Boston's, both with BAA Charity club numbers. Those entries given to local running clubs that help put the event on. Our club sends some volunteers, it gets 10 bibs, we lottery them off, I won twice. Well never again with that I say. My 2 Boston's were in '01 and '03 so not that long ago. Well the first time the fee was $75 (at $3 a mile, a bargain!) the second time it was $95. Now it is $95 for qualified athletes and they upped the entry fee for club entries to $200!!! That's a) highway robbery, and b) Nearly $8 a mile!
( To be fair, the bulk of the $200 entries are not from running clubs but from charities and charity runners who have to raise some thousands of dollars for the chance to run boston)

Forget it, I'll wait to qualify to suffer thanks. In the meantime I'll volunteer and score one of the sweet volunteer jackets. (paid for with club numbers of course!)

That kind of runner

I always used to pride myself on not being that kind of runner. The one that wears headphones and listens to music while running. Well times change. I think it's my overall attitude toward the miles I'm putting in. I'm not in any kind of planning or training mode, it's simply about running survival, putting in miles so I don't forget how. The ubiquitous ipod has got me in it's clutches. It's just so darn conveinient that I can't help myself, light distracting, friendly. Now keep in mind the volume is low enough to still allow for cars not to sneak up on me.
I'm hoping that as the weather continues to warm and the miles inevitably pile up that the 'pod can rest at home for a while. Especially as the birds return and can entertain me.
Spring marathon? Looking ever so unlikely as the season unfolds. Stay tuned. I may wing it anyway.