This is from one of our Hong Kong atheltes David Gething who traveled over for the 2014 Boston Marathon:
I can say with all sincerity that Boston was probably the toughest marathon I’ve run. I can also say with all sincerity that it is the best.
Rather than beating around the bush it’s probably easier lay out the facts.
– 36,000 runners (that’s nearly 5 times the number of people doing the full marathon for Standard Chartered Hong Kong).
– 1.5 million spectators. It’s hard to put that into perspective. I was 5 rows deep for most of the 42.2km
4 outlying towns and a major city completely devoted to the event.
– And a race that was a celebration of the spirit of the people not to be swayed in the face of adversity, who rose up and carried themselves with quiet class and dignity rather than brash discrimination.
For the whole week the entire city of Boston was centred around the marathon. There were 5km races for the average Joe to get involved, invitational mile races for the world class elites, kids relays, and of course the marathon.
The town also celebrated with special events and meetings. One of my strongest lasting memories will surely be the non-Faith based blessing of the runners. The service included a diverse range of celebrations, from American Gospel to Opera singers to bagpipes, and culminated in a blessing of runners where participant was given a scarf in “Boston Strong” yellow and blue colours that regular people from around the country had hand knitted to thank and support the runners for coming to support the marathon after the events of last year. Even as a foreigner it was hard not to be moved.
But there was no delaying the inevitable, and there was still a marathon to run.
The day started with a classic yellow school bus convoy from Boston Common to Hopkinton, the start point of the race, and boy did it seem like a long drive out, with every mile driven to be paid back with the return run.
The organisation was amazing, and although there was security it was never obtrusive… Although I’ve never done a marathon with Blackhawk helicopter flyovers and SWAT team snipers at strategically placed roof tops before.
To skip the minutiae, the run was very tough. I’d heard about heartbreak hill, the big climb about 20 miles in, but nobody mentioned it’s basically a rolling course from the get go, and all those who finished were crippled.
The Wellesley girls were certainly a high point, and likely represent the last chance for us old blokes to kiss a college girl. I figured early on that it was acceptable to kiss a girl holding a sign beckoning for such action. Richard seemed oblivious to this wisdom and provided welcome comic relief when he ran over and ingratiated himself with a random girl on the course whose only crime was standing near Wellesley college.
And I think we’d all say the last 10km were very tough. The muscles burned more than is normal, and the hills took their toll on even the elite runners.
But the crowd support was sensational and none of us came all this way to walk it in.
As is normal I crossed the finish line with not another yard of running in me… And it was only seeing Richard 10 meters ahead that stopped me from sitting down right there and then.
And after a high five and a man hug we hobbled off for a rest and a well earned beer.
It was a tough course but we all held our heads high. I got a personal best (by 30 seconds) with 2.54.40. Richard must have been about 30 seconds ahead. And Jan, Elaine, Candice and Jackie all put in very strong performances, although I’m not sure of exact times.
But no rest for the wicked, so it’s back on the plane to Hong Kong, and time to bring this trip report to a close.
It was an amazing weekend. I always say never again for these races.. But this time I’m not so sure.
Dave the vet.