Boston Marathon...excitement is in the air!!

It’s Boston Marathon time!!!  I know, I know, I’m actually not running it this year.  But here’s the thing….I feel as excited about this race I’m not running as I would if I was running.  I’m excited for Scott and for friends I know in real life and blog life and I’m also excited to be part of it by volunteering at water stop (mile 7).  As much as I hate going into the city, I always get motivated or remotivated wandering about the Boston Expo. 

The air at the Expo was charged and I drank it in.  No, not by way of Kahlua Truck –

Yes, they were carding for this "fluid stop"

Scott got his bib#8917 without any problem (thank you volunteers!!!) –

Although I wasn’t able to catch a glimpse of my runner-girl-crush Kara Goucher, I got my fix via poster –

Could this be her year???

And stalk Kathrine Switzer from afar –

First woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry!

We finally splurged on a rolling stick!  After 38 marathons between us, where has this stick been all our lives???  The thing is magic!

With so many people crowding into the Expo, we eventually traded this –

For this –

As we continued on to our car, we stopped to admire a beautiful old church, when I saw the Boston Marathon colors flying at the very top –

Although it seemed at first like a contrast, I guess it really wasn’t.  We think the church goes back to 1640, but with the Boston Marathon celebrating 117 years on Monday, perhaps there was very little contrast at all.

The Expo is always filled with inspiration; lots of runners excitedly anticipating their 1^st or their 31^st Boston Marathon and all of the excitement that goes with that.  Lots of contrast too – fast runners, slow runners, old runners, young runners, runners equipped with all of today’s technology, runners who run as minimally as possible.  This is why I love this sport so much – we’re all doing the same activity, but in very different ways and paces, and for many different reasons.   

Thanks BAA and all the runners for sharing the excitement of the 117^th Boston Marathon!  I’ll be out there at mile 7 in Framingham, handing out fluids and ringing my cowbell – whatever it takes to help you get to the next mile.  Have a great time out there everyone!!!