(photo credit: USA Today)So this is not a food-related post. However, I just had to share some pictures with you from my day at the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon! For those of you unfamiliar, the Boston Marathon is the most prestigious marathon in the world, the one that all runners strive toward. It is historically rich, and always such a blast!! Here in Boston, it is a spectator sport. It is a state holiday (no school, no work!), and everyone takes the opportunity to cheer on the runners.
There are lots of charity teams that run. In 2007, I was training for the marathon, raising money for the American Liver Foundation in memory of my father who passed away from liver cancer in 2006. However, I hurt my knee and was unable to run. This marathon is very close to my heart, and it means so much to me to be present and cheer on those runners!!
Here are some pictures from the day, near the finish line in downtown Boston...
Running barefoot! Couldn't get the photo quick enough.
This poor girl's legs just gave out underneath her, and these fellow runners picked her up!
Definitely some characters out there... running 26.2 miles in a costume.
The famous Rick and Dick Hoyt, father-son team. Rick is the son, he has cerebral palsy. Dick is the father, he is 68 years old and has been running in this fashion with his son for decades! He also does Ironmans with his son, swimming with his son in tow in a Boston whaler boat, biking with his son on a specially designed seat on the bike, and of course, running a full 26.2 miles, while pushing his son in a specialized wheelchair. Amazing!!
Semper Fi! Lots of military folks out there, even some running in full fatigue, combat boots, carrying gear! This is significant to me because my brother-in-law is in the Marines and recently back from his 2nd tour in Iraq.
Lots of people ran for Children's Hospital Boston, and look at the kids who got to go along for a ride across the finish line!!
Amazing man running with a prosthetic. He was fast!!
Another amazing prosthetic runner!
Keizo Yamada, 81 years old. He was the 2nd Japanese man to win the Boston Marathon, in 1953. He has run every single Boston Marathon since 1995. This is his final year. Farewell, Yamada-san.
And last but not least, my dear dear friend Nairi, who ran her first marathon, and finished beautifully!! I am SO PROUD of her! 
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I love the Boston Marathon and always follow it! I've gotten several e-mails from friends who finished today. A wee bit jealous that I have never done that. What a fun post!
ReplyDeleteIt is my dream to run the Boston Marathon!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are so evocative. I've seen the Hoyts on specials on tv, etc. It's amazing... In fact, there is a Canadian amputee runner who's fastest time is 2:10! Can you believe it? Now, I just need to get out of the kitchen and back on the road!
Love this post it is so inspiring.. I only run 5 miles at a clip, few times a week. I have to work on my endurance..
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to run this marathon! I'll have to make a trip up to Boston one of these years to part take!
ReplyDeleteI really love all your pictures! It captures the marathon perfectly!!!!! Go Nairi! Go Japanese man! Go father-son team! Go USMC! Go wackos!
ReplyDeleteThat is so awesome!! I've run 2 Chicago Marathons.
ReplyDeleteThe first year, a man juggled the WHOLE way, right in front of me, it was super windy and he kept dropping the bean bags which was driving me crazy, because I felt so bad that he kept on having to bend down and pick them up, but I was thankful for him in the end, because he certainly kept me distracted from the pain!
I love all your pictures, especially of the guy running barefoot, how do they do that??
I can't believe all these people are the cast of characters in the Boston Marathon--these stories are so inspiring! Thanks for sharing, Christina.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, this is a big event. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us. I had a friend who competed once. Makes me wish I was a runner. The 81 year old man is very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteSam
running a marathon has always been one of my goals. I loved this post!
ReplyDeleteAwesome!!!!!!!! :) How inspiring!
ReplyDeleteOn an unrelated note, I totally thought you were in CA for some reason. I will have to ask you for some yummy food suggestions when I visit Boston!
From a runner, it means so much to have someone waiting for you at the finish line. It is a very special moment. I would so love to do the Boston Marathon. Thanks for sharing this and cheering on the fellow runners. It gave me goosebumps reading this post!
ReplyDeletePlease feel free to stop by my OTHER blog, www.wearethelittles.com You can see my son's and mine crazy weekend run!
that is amazing. i WISH i could run a marathon, but sadly, i've been ordered by my doc and acupunturist that i have to cut down on running. *sigh*
ReplyDeletesorry you weren't able to run it this year--hopefully next year, though, right?
Ahh I love the photos I would love to see that someday myself!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, great photos! And that is hardcore with the barefoot running. Intense!
ReplyDeleteso great to have my dear friend christina there with me at the finish line!!! love you girl!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh - thanks for visiting my blog! you are SO adorable :D
ReplyDeleteand i LOOOOOVE these photos! i've seen some of the boston marathon photos already, but never these! this is incredible. thank you for sharing!
Okay, a few things, this post totally inspired me. I just signed up for my first ever marathon. Okay, so it's the half marathon, but trust me, it's going to be tough, I haven't even trained and I'm overweight (those darn cookies) so this should be interesting. Secondly, your pic on this blog is cracking me up because I did the same pic of me and it was my Facebook pic for a very long time. So funny! Thanks for stopping by and I can't wait to make Justin's brownies with the butterscotch chips..YUM!
ReplyDeleteJaime
Christina, I am a little stressed about the marathon, but I figure if I'm not ready, I'll just walk it. And yes I LOVE LOVE LOVE my kitchen aid. I just got it this year for my anniversary from my in-laws. I blogged about it because I was so excited. You can read about it here:
ReplyDeletehttp://jjdishitout.blogspot.com/2009/01/look-what-my-kitchen-got.html