Boston Marathon-Spectator's point of view

Member

Yesterday was the 107th running of the Boston Marathon and what a day it was. My husband, cousin and cousin's girlfriend all ran as bandits. I started off my morning with a little run of my own just so I wouldn't feel like a slaker later on in the day. Because they were bandits they needed a ride to the start in Hopkington. The marathon starts in Hopkington and goes East into Boston. It's actually a hard race to see people in more than one spot, which kind of stinks for a spectator. A friend and I took them to the start and we got to Hopkington around 10:15 and it was 65degrees out. We waited for them to catch a shuttle bus to the start and we headed back to Boston. (Had to meet other friends and family for lunch before the real fun began.) When the race started at 12:00 it was 70degrees. Too hot in my opinion and I was a bit nervous with the heat.

Spectating isn't easy when you're trying to find a specific person. We stood at the 40k mark and started with the leaders and cheered on the rest of the afternoon. Saw Marla Runyon which was pretty cool! I was amazed how many people looked like they could run forever! Others looked like they were hurting. We saw a friend who finished 3:26, saw my cousin who finished 3:54, saw my husband Steve who finished 4:12 then we walked to the finish. I had the banditos dry clothes and I wanted to make sure I got to the finish by the time my cousin's girlfriend got there. She did great for her first marathon (4:26) but she crashed pretty hard at the finish and ended up needing an IV. The finish is always pretty windy and cool so the chills come upon the runners fast. My husband said the course was really tough but it's lined up with people cheering from start to finish and that's what really helped him. My-well I have a sore throat from all the screaming I did yesterday. Picture below is of me and my husband right after the race. He dosen't even look like he ran 26.2 miles!

Member

Nice report, Dancer! And a very cute couple I must add.

One question, for idiots like me: what is a bandit?

Member

Bandits run without numbers. BAA, I believe, has accepeted this. Yesterday there were over 3000 unregistered runners.

Member

How strange? so they let folks run without numbers? Do they let anyone or is there certain criteria involved, dancer?

Anyway, thanks for the cool report and the great pic! Mr. Green

Frightened Inmate #2

As a bandit, you forego [sp?] paying the entry fee or running a qualifying marathon. You just jump in the race and start your watch when you cross the starting line and stop it when you cross the finish line. No champion chip or official results are posted for 'bandits'.

Adjunct

good job Mr. Dancer.

Nice report also

Excelent

Great report

Master of Prissface

Great report, girl and congrats to hubby! He doesn't look tired at all! Thanks for sharing the pic, it is always nice to put faces to names too. Does he post here, I forget?? Is he one of the other "reindeer??"

This is so interesting--banditing races has always been a HUGE source of major warfare "over there", and I think a lot of the arguments used to stem from the fact that if bandits take water, Gu, etc....they are taking from the paying runners and there runs the risk of shortage. Do you know, does BAA compensate for that and have extra, knowing there will be a lot of unregistered runners? I'm sure many of them bring their own stuff but I am sure just as many do not. Plus, like your cousin's GF, some will need medical attention after.

I wonder, is it the "mystique" of Boston that lures so many bandits in such great numbers? Myself, I'll probably never qualify, I am just too slow, but just to say "I ran the course on race day?" Do you think that's the reason??

Member

The BAA does make sure they have enough supplies for runners and bandits. They usually have around 3000 bandits every year. (The 100th Boston Marathon they had 30,000 registered and 5000 unregistered.) Steve (who doesn't post here) actually carried his own GU. When we did the Disney marathon we carried our own GU then too. I just don't like the feeling the I need GU now and it's not around so I like to have my own stash.
It is a great race to run, from what I hear. It's one of the toughest but I think it's the crowds that are a big draw. It's even hard to get a number by raising money for a charity. That's why there are so many bandits. I personally don't ever think I'd run as a bandit. My goal at Disney next year is to try and qualify. We'll see how that works out.

Master of Prissface

Member

This was the first year in five that I did not watch the marathon on the sidelines. It really is so much fun and exciting.