Tim Gentry on the 2008 Boston Marathon
April rolled around this year with our normal anticipation of an upcoming Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon is always a welcome event in our house because it’s a chance for a long weekend away. We had even more to look forward to this year because the US women marathon trials were held the day before the marathon. There’s something to be said for actually being able to watch elite runners compete versus seeing their backs at the beginning of the race, then later on the evening news clips as they cross the finish line.
The women’s Olympic trials on Saturday were very entertaining with the Colorado women performing very well. [Eighteen Colorado women ran in the trials; Zoila Gomez of Alamosa finished 4th, and Tera Moody of Boulder finished 5th.] Race day on Monday kept to its recent history of alternating good/bad weather every other year. Compared to last year’s blustery, rainy day, this year was nearly perfect marathon weather. Once again I started out with high hopes and convinced myself that the mostly downhill/flat course (with a few hills toward the end) should lend itself to a fast time. Unfortunately, a tough winter of training or lack thereof and the combination of the hills of Newton once again did me in. Only the incomparable crowd support of the Boston Marathon carried me to the finish line. As I was once again questioned my intelligence as to why I continue to run marathons, I turned onto Boylston Street and the roar of the crowd and the sight of the finish line reminded me why I continue to do this. By the time I had my finishers blanket on and chip off my shoe I was already planning for how I would conquer the Boston course in 2009.