Sunday morning was the Boston Marathon BAA 10K, a race that Andrew and I signed up for in the weeks immediately after this year's Boston Marathon. We knew it was going to be a special event, and the day - and the BAA and the city of Boston - didn't disappoint.
We started with a warm-up run UP Beacon Hill
Past the State House, marked by support for tonight's Boston Bruins Stanley Cup game
On the Boston Common, the start and finish of the race, we met up with fellow MCC colleague and E Streeter Gina Spaziani. Not sure if she was hanging around the Boston Police cruiser or the porta-potties behind us.
The theme of the day, which could be found on tee-shirts, posters, and announcements all along the course, was, of course, Boston Strong.
In the starting chute, waiting to start, Andrew and I, along with 5,400 other runners, get ready
Here's who's in front of us
And here's who's in back. Yikes!
Not a Supermoon, but a SuperSun bearing down on us and Old Glory at the start
And they're off! Andrew was quick to leave his old man in his dust
Heading inbound from Boston University, back toward Kenmore Square
Afterwards, Andrew enjoys the spoils of the post-race feed. Here, he gets to the core of his post-race apple.
Endurance? Yeah, we've got that
Afterwards, we bumped into Greater Lowell running legend Kara Haas, who once again, cleaned the clocks of most runners in the race. She's super-human, and a super person, to boot!
Finally, before we headed home, Andrew and I decided to stop by the spot where we were at 2:50 p.m. on Monday, April 15, the day of this year's Boston Marathon - Copley Plaza, just a few hundreds yards from the marathon finish line. It was my first trip to this tribute, and the first time I got to go back with the man who had been standing next to me when that fateful first bomb exploded behind us that afternoon. Andrew decided to leave something at the memorial, which is being taken down tomorrow - his bib number from the BAA 10K.
I added mine alongside his.
Really, it was a pretty moving experience. Put quite a bit into perspective. It actually seems like a type of hallowed ground to us now.
Andrew added another piece of running gear, our Annie's Army tee-shirt, in honor of Jackie's sister Annie, who indirectly helped save Jackie and Heather from harm that afternoon because they changed their normal finish line viewing location from where they normally stand - the site of the first explosion - in order to be able to visit her at the hospital.
A staggering amoung of baseball hats fill the memorial
And really, one of the most powerful displays at the memorial were the hundreds of pairs of running sneakers tied to one another along the metal stanchions.
All in all, a incredibly reaffirming day. Reminded us of how lucky we are to run, and how proud we are to be part of the worldwide assemblage of people who enjoy running and appreciate the options afforded us to run free in New England.
A fabulous race in which to participate, and an unforgettable experience with my son.
More than two months later, the city still stands Boston Strong.
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