Wow....what a day. I've decided to start writing to document as much of what I have just gone through while it's still fresh in my memory. My appologies if some of it starts to ramble....

6:30 AM
David Tate (about to run his 10th Marathon and a Marathon Martin contributor) picks me up, we pick up Tom Phair (another Burlington Marathoner) and we head into downtown Boston. The town feels like a ghost town as there are parking spots available everywhere due to the holiday and there is no need to fill the parking meter with quarters. When Dave finishes the race, he can just drive home....I'll get picked up as we have no idea when I'll be finishing.

Note: Thank you David Tate! You were extremely instrumental in helping me get to and through this race. From day one when you recommended Marathon Sports for a new pair of sneakers, your advice and setting of my expectations were perfect and kept me going. I think this may have been the main reason for my lack of nervousness for the marathon.

From Newbury Street, we walk through the Public Gardens to Tremont Street where we met three of Dave's marathon's friends. There were about 30 yellow school buses lined up in a row. They fill these with runners and they all pull out at the same time only to be replaced by 30 more empty yellow school buses. What an assembly line.

8:30 AM
After a 45 minute drive, we arrive in Hopkinton where the athletes village is set up. During the ride it really hits you...wow...this is kinda far.

We found a spot in the village where we open up a blanket and drop our stuff. What a great place to people (and runner) watch. Just behind us where two twins from California, about 50 years old totally decked out in pink with pink fluffy boas and tiaras. Everyone was stopping to take pictures with them. Others are napping, talking with friends, reading newspapers or drinking coffee and eating breakfast.

The village also had an area for coffee, bagels, water and gatorade, all free. I brought my breakfast/lunch with me which consisted of two bagels, two bananas, a power bar and 8 mini bottles of water. I spaced it out as I hate to run on a full stomach. I also managed to get in a 30 minute nap. Dave's friends couldn't believe how relaxed I was. Actually, I don't think there was any time before or during the race where I was nervous or scared. It was all so exciting .... this was the athlete's village for the Boston Marathon. WOW!

This year for the first time ever, they implemented a wave start where half of the runners (the top 10,000) would start at noon and everyone else (including me) would start at 12:30. In addition to this, and to make the start easier to implement, there were two runners villages. We were in the second and I never did get a chance to view the first village. That is were the stage must have been. All we had, which was fine, were a few portable speakers. We could hear the announcer who would introduce the live music and keep everyone informed of the time and how much longer till our start. They had some pretty good live music including a band called Sound Rabbit and a singer from American Idol...I don't recall her name as I don't typically watch the show.

At about 11:30, I opened up my portable heating packet to star warming my knees. Unfortunately, these heating packets where no were near as hot or as large as the rice pad I typically use. I did the best I could with what I had but I was a bit concerned because my knees were already a bit sore from the walk in Boston and standing around the village kibitzing. I added my knee braces, stretched and we headed towards the starting line.

Moving out of the 2006 Boston Marathon runner's village! (next page)