The E Streeters Boston Marathon training machine headed for the Worcester Hills today, logging 30K (that's 18.6 miles for the non-runners reading the blog), and the hills lived up to their legends.
Who knew it would be a Tour de Patrick?
Pre-race, Andrew flexed some early muscle
One of these two runners would log a 2:33 30K. You take a guess which one.
We all held our breath for the obligatory pre-race group photo. Not because of the course, just sucking in our guts
Immediately Scott made his move
Scott even had strangers looking to see where his post-race Stew Fest would be held
We had all the angles covered with our race cam
The Four Horsemen
And immediately in our first mile, Andrew sets his sights on the first of six town lines. He's got this.
That is, until Tommy roared up behind him and claimed first blood. First, and last. A birthday gift for the man.
After that crushing town line defeat, Andrew decided to set the pace
Six miles in, we were doing our best Reservoir Dogs imitation. Little known fact, the historic church in the background of his pic was the scene of a picnic and one of Jackie and my first dates, 22 year ago! No plaques were erected in our honor, sadly.
The brothers grim
Couldn't pass this one up - Wicked Good, as in this blog, AND Cookies? It was destiny.
At mile 11, Andrew's low point, he and Scott are still stride for stride.
Barry and Tommy were shedding their clothes along the course, a common occurrence for the pair whenever they go out in public.
Andrew's tongue is only hanging out because he was trying to catch some of the snowflakes
Two miles to go, and they've both still got plenty of gas left in their tanks
After the race, the medal clearly weighs heavy around Andrew's neck. That's what happens when you're the first - and ONLY - runner under the age of 20 to finish the race!
And finally, the reason we all did the damn run in the first place - Scott's stew!
A group stew
Tommy and Andrew are all business. Their focus is inspirational.
And later, back home, having had some time to come off his runner's high, Andrew feels reality sink in. How does he feel? My shirt says it all - Mighty Thor.
Congrats to the whole E Streeter team today, but the biggest of all thank yous to Ann Scanlon, the Queen of the Course. She leapfrogged all along the course, stopping every two miles to greet us with drinks of water and supplying us with much needed breaks and places to deposit our clothing as the day warmed. She was a fan favorite for all, even collecting gear from other runners who kept seeing her along the course. And this, all with a case of complete laryngitis! But that didn't silence her clapping hands! Three cheers for Ann, our Stu's MVP! Or co-MVP, with Scott's stew.
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