My first Boston was in 1986. I ran the race, after working all weekend at the Expo, I wanted to break three hours ( I had run 2:48.12 in 1984, and a 2:51:18 in 1983). I learned to respect the course right away, running personal marathon best splits at 5 miles, 10 miles, and 15 miles, and then, disintegrating. I was on 2:40 pace, then 2:50 pace, then collapsed, and finished in 3:22. That year was the first year that the Boston marathon had a professional feel, with John Hancock coming on, a sponsorship that they held until a couple of years ago.
The Boston Marathon is a pretty unique race. First of all, it is the hardest to qualify for for citizen runners. It is the top of the food chain for global marathoners, and, like my flight into Boston, people come from near and far to race this iconic race. On my flight, a runner from Mexico was wearing Berlin marathon swag. Lots of marathoners, primarily domestic, with old racing tshirts, showing that they were, in fact, part of this running culture for some time.
Here, in no particular order, a few of my thoughts on returning to the Boston Marathon.
The Boston Marathon has changed. I am not sure if it is for better or worse, I will leave that distinction to be discussed next week. Today, Saturday, I saw many wearing the 5k medal proudly, as they watched the high school, and elite road miles, sponsored by our friends at adidas. The 5k and miles were brought to Saturday over a decade ago, and they have stuck. The 5k, and miles are races unto themselves, and add to the many things that families, friends and marathoners can do over the weekend.The Boston Marathon presser is on Friday. The elites show up, and Carrie Tollefson did the intros, with Jack Fleming, the CEO of Boston Marathon,speaking about the elite fields and the importance of the race. The elite fields introduced on Friday is when, from 1986-2017, each year I attended, that I would feel goose bumps.As one observer told me, “Jack is in his element”, over the weekend. Jack Fleming was made for this job. First as an intern at USATF New England for Steve Vaitones, then, the BAA for a bit with Guy Morse, then, a return to BAA after time at Times-Picayune in New Orleans, then, to the long road to the top, first with Guy Morse, then, Tom Grilk, now in his own era. Jack Fleming loves his job, and I believe that he has the very best job in the business, overseeing the most important marathon in the world, the iconic Boston Marathon.Things change. It used to be that if you were in the business, you had to be here. Not any more. The pastuerization of the Expo, to protect sponsors, one guesses, has cut off much of the vibrance of the marathon culture. I recall a former NIKE President, walking the expo and calling it the world’s biggest flea market. But that was good. From the late Tom Steiner selling Sub-4 shorts for $3.99, to adidas offiical sweat suits and everything in between, this anarchic approach to an expo was followed around the world. One former champion pointed out to me today that none of the brands send important staff any more. Now, it is local store teams and sales people at pop-ups and booths. Decisions were made at Boston in the past that affected the sport, and that just does not happen any more.Things stay the same. I walked by the Boston Public Library and the Boston Quarter Century Club, those who have run Boston 25 or more years were there. I looked and saw Tom Hartge, who has not missed a year since 1986, when I ran. Tom is a former NIKE footwear dude, in fact, he saved NIKE running in the 1980s. Tom went onto Pantagonia, and then, Saucony. Tom loves the purity of the sport, and getting to see my friend up there, against the wall of the Public Library, put a lump in my throat.This is my first year back since 2017. In 2018, six days prior to the race, I had urgent heart surgery, thanks to Dr. Matthew Wolff and the reading of my charts by Dr. Timothy Hacker. When I woke up from the surgery, Wolff, who minced no words told me he had unplugged three arteries, at 95 percent blockcage, with these words, ” I just saved your live, do not fuck it up.” The next year, I had thyroid cancer, which I had removed, and use a thryoid pill. In 2022, after catching COVID twice, I had three more heart surgeries, including two stents. In those surgeries, I was completely awake and spoke with Dr. Gemeli, who said, “Larry, I need you to stay quiet for five minutes.” I asked, “Why?”. He said, “to save your life.” My cholesterol has dropped from 289 to 109, due to diet, little to no booze and walking ( I am down 85 pounds, 50 lbs to go).Being back in Boston is a treat for the marathon. A whole new generation of content creators. A whole new generation of runners, many who see Boston as almost a religion. Boston has been around for 129 years. Early this morning, around 2 AM, I took a Lyft from Logan to Porter Square Hotel. As we entered Cambridge, I saw a group of one hundred Revoluntionary War renacters. It got me thinking about our current dystopian times, and how revolution is one thing to some people and another thing to another group. Running is also the same way. Many people still do not understand running culture. This weekend is a weekend for the believers.I saw Lelisa Desisa in the lobby of the Fairmont. It took me back to Boston 2013. I was sitting in the media room when the bombs went off. Sitting next to good friend, James O’Brien, publisher of NYAC Winged Foot, is burned in my memory. James looked over at me, and said, “Larry, it is a bomb.” We stayed in media room til 8 pm, as we were under lock down. Many rumors began and ended there. My son, Adam flew in, and we had to find another hotel as my hotel Charlesmark, was ground zero. Adam, the next day, befriended Boston’s finest and they got him into my room, thanks to a kind FBI agent. Adam had to pack my room in fifteen minutes. Boy, was he pissed. I had to get a new passport, which I got in less than one hour, the day post bombing, as we were flying to London the very next day. We shared a bus with Lelisa in Frankfurt, as he carried his Boston trophy. I was supposed to be at the finish line in 2013, still have the pass, I believe. I have been at several bombings (including Atlanta), and a few attempts of assasination of various world leaders. I try not to do that anymore. I have never gotten over Boston 2013. It took me several years to discuss.I had lunch with Bill Rodgers, Carolyn Gillespie and Jacquline Hansen. Bill Rodgers is four time Boston champ, Carolyn is his life partner and Jaqueline Hansen is former WR in women’s marathon, coach, and champion of women’s running. Jackie does this lunch with friends each year, and it has gotten bigger and bigger. Bill Rodgers, who I first met in 1986, ran with in 1979 (another story), is the Jack Nicklaus of running. Bill has been going from event to event, and Carolyn tries to keep him sane.More on my visit to Boston on Sunday, until then, take care! Happy Easter! Happy Passover!
