1996 BAA Album
(click on any icon for slide show)

I knew I would run my last marathon in 1996 so thought of bringing a camera along. Here I am on my last long run with a group of northeast dead runners in Hopkinton on March 24th, Dick Duggan (orange cap) drove us out from Newton. I ran 23 that day.
Susan is running on what is the first uphill in the course, which occurs right after the descent after the start. It shows what Rte. 135 looks like 364 days a year.
Dan Roy and I at the same point. We left Newton at 7:30 to drive to Hopkinton and must have passed 500 people who were running the course. There were even chartered buses from some of the larger running clubs.
Susan picking up her number on Saturday. She was psyched after watching me run the race for the past 17 years.
Susan and friend at the expo. It was very crowded we had trouble finding one another. At one point I saw Kris Cadwell 4 times while trying to find Susan.Less freebees this year. Saw dead runners Tom Derderian, Steve Patt, and Hal Higdon, along with Gate City Strider Herb Hardman selling their products
John Bingham and his wife at the DRS dinner on Saturday night. John was collecting signatures on his singlet and planned to get more on Monday. Read more about his run in the Penguin Chronicles.
Kris Cadwell and Sam Underwood at the dinner. They are from Michigan. Sam and I both have shelties, both qualified within seconds of each other, did not see each other on Monday but finished 7 seconds apart. Oliver Stone could make a movie about us. Kris and I are experts on Raynaud's syndrome.
Susan and I try on our game day uniforms a day early. It looks like we had already run the race.
We took the Gate City Strider bus from Nashua to the start on Monday morning. We are dressed in our throw away clothes. The other two Nashua teachers running the marathon, Tim Kelley and Jim Hansen, are to Susan's left.
The bus did not arrive in Nashua until 8:00 so we wondered what would happened when we wanted to get off 495 after 9:00. We were not too worried as the trip organizer was a Nashua policeman. As it turned out we were just waved through the exit. Could anyone have gotten off so easily?
Susan had to wait in line over 45 minutes to get into the Athletes' Village located behind the school. While the actual start of the race went smoothly, this part was tough - standing for so long. As I said many times during the day, I certainly was glad it wasn't raining, like it did Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday.
This is a view looking back towards the school as runners in the open division start towards their corrals at 10:45. I was on my way back to our bus for a final talk with Susan and club members.
Corral number 8 at about 11:30. I saw a lot of people I knew while walking back from 4 to 8, but did not see Sam or anyone else in 8 until I noticed Brian Dowey (left with cap) who was wearing a DRS singlet.
I did not have a time goal unless it was to reach a qualifying time for 1997, but when I saw Churchman up ahead, I knew I wanted to catch that guy. It took me several miles. Later I saw him on the news. About ten years ago he ran with a redwood tree on his back. Where was he from? If you guessed California, give yourself 10 points. Time was 11:55.
At 12:02 we were almost at the start. Our group was on Hayden Rowe and turned right onto 135. I almost felt sorry for the runners in corral 17 who had to stand 100 yards from the start and watch until 16000 other runners went ahead of them.
Somewhere below me at 12:03 is the starting line. It took me almost exactly 3 minutes to get to the start. Susan was in corral k and it took her 20 minutes. The smooth start and the weather were the biggest positive surprises in the mega race/celebration.
A few miles down 135. I spent a lot of time running off the road during the first few miles. I wasn't trying to pass slower runners, but the group on the road kept changing speed and runners were bumping into one another.
Framingham and the first bands. Many times this is where the first crowds of spectators are after we leave Hopkinton. This year the entire course was filled with people cheering. I remembered the train tracks from Tom Derderian's book (1907) and made sure I did not trip on them.
Wellesley College. There is nothing I can write which is different from what everyone else says, the tunnel of noise. In past years this noise seemed unique. In 1996 it wasn't any louder than a lot of other places.
I stopped before turning onto the Newton hills to watch runners for a minute. Someone asked if I wanted my picture taken.CHEESE! I don't think I was eager to run the hills, but being from New England I had run them many times and knew what to expect.
I had planned to take photos on the hills but I was starting to get cold and tired as we ran into a cool breeze after 18 miles and changed my mind. I wish I hadn't. Finally, I reached BC and knew I would finish. The runners were this tightly bunched the entire 26 miles. I had to constantly watch for runners cutting in front of me and water cups on the slippery ground.
I look forward to seeing the Citco sign each year. You can see it at a distance and it lets you know the end is in sight. When you reach it there is only a bit more than a mile to go.
Red Sox cynics say the 100 this year refers to Roger Clemens' 100th career loss which occurred this April, not the BAA race.
The part of the race I like most each year is the last stretch on Boylston St. It is not just because the race is over, but once I turn left off Hereford Street and see the finish line I realize how much I have accomplished and get a bit choked up. This moment always makes me happy I am a runner.
I think I will stop and have my picture taken again. I might as well enjoy every minute. Actually, I think I have several exposures left that I will use up. I wish I had taken a picture of the drummers who were beating out an inspirational cadence on a large (6 foot?) drum somewhere on the hills.
And here is the finish line. It looks like a prop from a Batman movie. I knew I had a qualifying time so I stopped one more time to take another photo.
Hi, Mom! Next thing I do is go to Disneyworld. I was starting to get very cold as soon as I stopped running. I was happy for the blanket. Notice my limp hands. Don't they look more like Halloween hands than real hands? I was lucky I could smile at this point.
The volunteers were great, the long finish line was necessary but tough. The big glitch was the baggage area where people were collapsing while waiting for their bags.
After putting on a polypro turtleneck, 2 long sleeve tees, a sweatshirt, the jacket you see, pants, a winter hat and mittens I was still shivering badly. After waiting in line to have my chip removed I shuffled to the medical tent. I was there for 45 minutes wrapped in warmed blankets and drinking broth. After that I had a massage and an adjustment and felt more like I had run 10 miles than 26.
The subway was crowded. You can see the policeman shoving people onto the cars like they were sardines.
Our club's hotel room was at Kenmore Square. This is the scene at 6:40. These runners have only 1 mile to go. It took me about 3:20 to run the marathon and another 3:20 to get back to this point. I went up to our room to wait for Susan who arrived less than a half hour later. It took her 4:57 (or 4:35 chip time.)
We went to the post race party for a short while and waiting in another line 20 minutes for a slice of pizza. There I met one of the elite runners. I learned the secret of fast runners - they have long stride lengths. On Wednesday I ran 3 miles. Today is Saturday and I feel 90% back to normal.I had planned to make this year's race my last marathon but I am starting to have second thoughts.
Return to Album Index