About 10 months ago for a number of logical reasons, I noted that March was my favorite month. However, upon reflection, April’s a whole lot
better. Baseball season kicks into gear,
hockey playoffs start, spring officially hits in the south (we know it’s really
not spring with temps in the low 40s and rain all the time in the north) and the triathlon
season kicks off for me. And yes, the
third Monday of the month brings arguably the best day of the year in Boston,
Patriots’ Day, aka Marathon Monday.
Let’s start with Marathon Monday which has gotten plenty of press and deservedly so in light of last year’s tragedy. This one’s important and I’m excited for the
118th running of the Boston Marathon. As I take in the Sox-Orioles on ESPN tonight at frigid Fenway,
I’m hoping and praying for a race where we can talk about the performances of one
or all of the emerging American elites such as Ryan Hall, Shalane Flanagan
(born and raised in Marblehead, MA), Kara Goucher or Desiree (Davila)
Linden. I’ve enjoyed my share of
marathons in person as a kid growing up in Boston, as an adult living and
watching along on the course and luckily as a participant as an invitee of my
neighbor Boston City Councilor Rob Consalvo.
As I near the high end of my age bracket, I’m going to target that
hopefully attainable qualifying time and see if I can’t earn my way into a race
entry.
To an epic finish punctuated with the joy
and excitement of amazing athletic achievement. Here's hoping this year's memories are like those created in 1982 with the duel in the sun rather than last year's devastation. Enjoy the day Boston and raise a Samuel Adams lager to Sam Adams (a fellow Boston Latin School alum) and the 36k runners to celebrate Boston’s unique and most beloved day of the year.
