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FREEDOM'S RUN WEEKEND 2018
My 2017 Boston Experience By Anthony Lopetrone
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Boston: A world class marathon where the best runners in the world compete. What a thrill for us amateurs to participate in the same event.
I have run 127 marathons and my favorite is Boston. My 3rd and last Boston (before 2017) was 20 years ago. There were only 10,471 participants back then and I was close to the front. This year I was concerned about the large number of runners (27,221), plus I was seeded in the middle of the pack. This was not a major problem however, because of the outstanding organization and runner support.
All of Boston is psyched up for three days. The sidewalks, hotels, restaurants and parks are jammed with people from all over the world and everybody is talking about the Marathon. A total of 27,221 participants started the 2017 Boston Marathon, and 97% of the field reached the finish line on Boylston Street. A total of 11,973 women and 14,438 men completed the 26.2 miles, making it the fifth largest Boston Marathon in race history.
My biggest fear was the logistics of getting to the starting line when there are so many runners. I was amazed at how well this race was organized. There was no problem getting to my assigned wave and corral. Let me explain how it is done. Because of the huge number of runners and the narrow street at the starting line in Hopkinton, the race is separated into 4 waves plus the elite women. Each wave has about 8,000 runners separated into 8 corrals. The runners are assigned a wave and corral based on their qualifying times. So you have faster runners in front of you and slower runners behind you. The elite women start at 9:32 am, the elite men and wave 1 start at 10:00 am. Waves 2, 3 and 4 are 25 minutes apart. This separation helps to relieve the congestion for the runners. Still, it is crowded the whole way, but it does not significantly hamper your pace because you are surrounded by runners of similar abilities based on qualifying times.
The cheering spectators are the best in the world and they line the whole 26.2 mile course. The organization and support for the runners is fantastic with two aid stations, portable toilets and medical aid every mile.
I have run 127 marathons and my favorite is Boston. My 3rd and last Boston (before 2017) was 20 years ago. There were only 10,471 participants back then and I was close to the front. This year I was concerned about the large number of runners (27,221), plus I was seeded in the middle of the pack. This was not a major problem however, because of the outstanding organization and runner support.
All of Boston is psyched up for three days. The sidewalks, hotels, restaurants and parks are jammed with people from all over the world and everybody is talking about the Marathon. A total of 27,221 participants started the 2017 Boston Marathon, and 97% of the field reached the finish line on Boylston Street. A total of 11,973 women and 14,438 men completed the 26.2 miles, making it the fifth largest Boston Marathon in race history.
My biggest fear was the logistics of getting to the starting line when there are so many runners. I was amazed at how well this race was organized. There was no problem getting to my assigned wave and corral. Let me explain how it is done. Because of the huge number of runners and the narrow street at the starting line in Hopkinton, the race is separated into 4 waves plus the elite women. Each wave has about 8,000 runners separated into 8 corrals. The runners are assigned a wave and corral based on their qualifying times. So you have faster runners in front of you and slower runners behind you. The elite women start at 9:32 am, the elite men and wave 1 start at 10:00 am. Waves 2, 3 and 4 are 25 minutes apart. This separation helps to relieve the congestion for the runners. Still, it is crowded the whole way, but it does not significantly hamper your pace because you are surrounded by runners of similar abilities based on qualifying times.
The cheering spectators are the best in the world and they line the whole 26.2 mile course. The organization and support for the runners is fantastic with two aid stations, portable toilets and medical aid every mile.
FREEDOM'S RUN WEEKEND 2016
Pictures from our tour of the Detroit Institute of Arts on March 3, 2016.
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Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino, CA, on Nov. 8, 2015 |
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The start of the 2015 REVEL Canyon City Marathon, Azusa, Los Angeles County. |
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This is the starting area for the REVEL Canyon City Marathon, Azusa, Los Angeles County, elevation 5,748 ft.
This is the starting area for the REVEL Canyon City Marathon, Azusa, Los Angeles County, elevation 5,748 ft.
FREEDOM'S RUN OCT. 10, 2015 CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES
Belle Isle on June 17 2015 posted on Sept. 1
On Sat, August 22, 2015, my brothers and I went to Gladwin Michigan for
Airpark Committee's Annual Fly In at Sugar Springs Airpark.
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Click on the button for last year's pictures.
Woodward Dream Cruise 2015
Belle Isle is back. Enjoy it!
July 21, 2015
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The 2015 Detroit Grand Prix
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