Tonight, I’m heading up to Boston on the Acela for the Boston Marathon. I’ll stay with my friend JG and her husband in their gorgeous duplex condominium (yes, I totally covet their residence, with its open floorplan and modern design) which is just a few blocks away from the finish line in Copley Square. Tomorrow, JG and I will watch the beginning of the race on TV, then head over to the finish line to stand and wait for the elites to come on through.
It’s a big deal, having Kara and Ryan in the mix, and Robert Cheruiyot and Dire Tune back to defend their titles. Plus, each year I know more and more runners from within my own circle who are in the field, and it’s fun to scream them on as they take the final steps to the finish line, too. The finish line is a pretty inspiring place to watch a race, and I need all the inspiration I can get these days. (I’ll have to convert the “runspiration” into “recumbent bikespiration” and “ellipticalspiration.”) I’m destined to be a spectator for at least a couple of more years, but I don’t mind.
Without further ado, my predictions for 1 through 3 in both the men’s and the women’s race. These are of course meaningless since as we all know, anything can happen in the marathon.
Men’s
- Robert Cheruiyot
- Ryan Hall
- Deriba Merga
Women’s
- Kara Goucher
- Dire Tune
- Bezunesh Bekele
Pigtails Flying 
Hope you have a great race. I can’t imagine running in a crowd like that. You inquired on my blog about a book review. PM me and I’ll give you shipping info – that is after you recover!!!
Oops, didn’t read to closely, guess you’ll just have to recover from the festivities. None the less, enjoy.
Hi TK! I got your comment on my site, but I can’t find your email address? Because I am technically inept? You’ve heard of our kind, I’m sure. But I would love to come to a runner/blogger meet-up, hooray! Thanks!
Also, your poor butt muscle (I couldn’t bring myself to commit to “adductor” vs. “abductor” and decided butt would express me sentiments adequately)! Here’s to a freakishly rapid recovery.
And of course, lest I forget, GO KARA!
I’ll be watching by the Newton fire station, and I can’t wait! I am so excited to see the elite runners come by! Especially Kara and Ryan, and I’m with you on the Kara prediction. I heard there are going to be free tshirts handed out in Boston that say “Go Kara, Bring Boston Home.” I want one so bad haha.
The more I read about the festivities at Boston, the more I wish I was there. Your predictions are very close to my own, although I think Hall vs. Meriga is something of a tossup (solely on the basis of Merga’s amazing Olympic run).
Totally unrelated: Is that header image from the 2008 trials?
Have fun.
Yes, you got it righ ton the header image! It is from the first loop when they were all still closely packed together. I figured since I won’t be running for a while, I wanted to show women who inspire me to keep on keepin’ on.
Can I bet on this somehow? While eating cheese fries?