1. Inspiration - Father Dick pushes son Rick as Team Hoyt competes in their 27th Boston Marathon. Rick is quadriplegic and cannot speak, but is far from disabled. Molly had a class with him at Boston University and was amazed by his abilities.
2. Longevity - John "Young at Heart" Kelley competed in a record 61 Boston Marathons, winning it twice.
3. Pain - Heartbreak Hill is in Newton and is actually a slope of a couple hundred feet, but it continuously breaks lots of spirits and hearts by being located 5 miles away from the finish line.
4. Scandal - Rosie Ruiz was not a very good cheater. Not only did she jump onto the course partway through in 1980, but she came in first and set the Women's Course record. She was stripped of the title and safe guards were put in place to protect against future cheaters.
5. Local Strength - Joan Benoit was far from a cheater. This New Englander won the Marathon twice and the first ever Women's Olympic Marathon within 5 years of each other in the early 80's breaking world records along the way. Local hero Bill Rodgers won 4 times and set American and Course records while helping to revive the sport in the 70's.
6. Dominance - A Kenyan has won the Marathon 17 of the last 18 years for the Men and 7 of the last 9 for the Women. 1983 is the last time an American won - Joan Benoit and Greg Meyer both won that year.
7. Equal Opportunity - The Boston Marathon was the first to allow for a wheelchair division, which has been competing in it since 1975. It is amazing to watch these athletes in their slick, fast chairs fly through the streets, power up hills and maneuver over trolley tracks.
8. Support - Over half a million people line the course to cheer on the athletes, elite or otherwise, but some of the most noticeable are the girls of Wellesley College who scream their support and provide all kinds of motivation at the halfway point of the course.
9. Charity - The Marathon allows over 20 charities and their runners to compete and recently they have been able to raise approximately $10 million each year.
10.Love - Every year there are inevitably a few marriage proposals and wedding ceremonies at the finish line as well as Heartbreak Hill (for those with a sense of humor). There are also lots of people devoting their efforts to loved ones in need, fighting overseas, or gone from this world.
11.Holiday - Every single Marathon has been run on Patriots' Day which commemorates the first battles of the Revolutionary War at Lexington & Concord. It is only observed as a state holiday in MA and ME.
12.Traffic - Not only are major roadways completely barricaded in and around the 26.2 mile course, but certain Boston T (subway) stations are closed as well. As if Marathon spectators aren't enough, the Red Sox always play at home on Marathon Monday and start at 11AM so that when the game ends the crowd can walk over to watch the runners cross the Finish line.
13. The Runners - Not the elite athletes, but the regular runners, who compete with Pride and Determination, Defiance and Resolve. Good luck to you all on Marathon Monday!
2. Longevity - John "Young at Heart" Kelley competed in a record 61 Boston Marathons, winning it twice.
3. Pain - Heartbreak Hill is in Newton and is actually a slope of a couple hundred feet, but it continuously breaks lots of spirits and hearts by being located 5 miles away from the finish line.
4. Scandal - Rosie Ruiz was not a very good cheater. Not only did she jump onto the course partway through in 1980, but she came in first and set the Women's Course record. She was stripped of the title and safe guards were put in place to protect against future cheaters.
5. Local Strength - Joan Benoit was far from a cheater. This New Englander won the Marathon twice and the first ever Women's Olympic Marathon within 5 years of each other in the early 80's breaking world records along the way. Local hero Bill Rodgers won 4 times and set American and Course records while helping to revive the sport in the 70's.
6. Dominance - A Kenyan has won the Marathon 17 of the last 18 years for the Men and 7 of the last 9 for the Women. 1983 is the last time an American won - Joan Benoit and Greg Meyer both won that year.
7. Equal Opportunity - The Boston Marathon was the first to allow for a wheelchair division, which has been competing in it since 1975. It is amazing to watch these athletes in their slick, fast chairs fly through the streets, power up hills and maneuver over trolley tracks.
8. Support - Over half a million people line the course to cheer on the athletes, elite or otherwise, but some of the most noticeable are the girls of Wellesley College who scream their support and provide all kinds of motivation at the halfway point of the course.
9. Charity - The Marathon allows over 20 charities and their runners to compete and recently they have been able to raise approximately $10 million each year.
10.Love - Every year there are inevitably a few marriage proposals and wedding ceremonies at the finish line as well as Heartbreak Hill (for those with a sense of humor). There are also lots of people devoting their efforts to loved ones in need, fighting overseas, or gone from this world.
11.Holiday - Every single Marathon has been run on Patriots' Day which commemorates the first battles of the Revolutionary War at Lexington & Concord. It is only observed as a state holiday in MA and ME.
12.Traffic - Not only are major roadways completely barricaded in and around the 26.2 mile course, but certain Boston T (subway) stations are closed as well. As if Marathon spectators aren't enough, the Red Sox always play at home on Marathon Monday and start at 11AM so that when the game ends the crowd can walk over to watch the runners cross the Finish line.
13. The Runners - Not the elite athletes, but the regular runners, who compete with Pride and Determination, Defiance and Resolve. Good luck to you all on Marathon Monday!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. What do you do? Write Thirteen things about yourself, summarize your week in one entry, make it easy for other bloggers to get to know you on a weekly basis. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is not only encouraged, it is part of being a Thursday Thirteener! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
MEET THE BUMBLES...
- The Bumbles
- Natick, MA, United States
- Molly & Andy and their son Sam are big fans of spending time with their family and friends, taking in sports or movies, and crossing places off their travel wish list. Although they do like to stay home with their kitty too. Additionally, Molly has more of a passion for photography and books while Andy prefers to be Concert Boy instead, rocking out to his favorite music. If you like what you see be sure to subscribe to our blog below and come back often! You can also view Molly's contributions to the group book blog, Quirky Girls Read.
FEED ON THE BUMBLES:
DON'T STEAL OUR STUFF
The Bumbles Blog (including all text & images posted here) by Molly G. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://thebumblesblog.blogspot.com/.
**E-MAIL US WITH COMMERCIAL USE REQUESTS**
WHERE MOLLY BLOGS BOOKS:
MOLLY'S RECENT READS:
21 comments:
Are you one of the insane ones? I once walked against drug abuse 25 miles in Boston. Several blisters and eight hours later...
I admire those with the drive and determination to do these Marathons. I hope they raise a ridiculous amount of money for charity.
Great list. Happy T13!
Boston is such a big deal! Are you running? Did you qualify? And get in!? That's what's amazing to me - you can qualify and not get in!
I'd like to see it some day, but doubt I'll ever make it out there for it. Run it? No, not me!
so, are you going this year?
Thursday 13
The Boston Marathon rocks! I love to watch so many people with such heart. I always cry. Hehe.
Happy TT, Bumbles! I'm up with Recycled Art Mosaic Materials
Good luck to all of them -- but rather them than me!
Marathoners amaze me. I don't think i could ever dedicate that much time, energy, and devotion to running/walking that far. Its just not in me. Thanks for the neat facts about the Marathon!
Thursday 13 - edition 3
Weekly Plans 4/13-4/20
Marathons....more power to you and those that run them....my son was in two, both Honolulu marathons, and I still can't believe the distance!!!
My 13 is posted....all flowers in our yard, done in a collage for you. Drop by if you can find time. Happy Thursday.
Who knew...
We just hosted a marathon here. Great weather!
Your post inspires me. Thanks.
Very cool TT! We do half-marathons! Working our way up! LOL!
*hugs*
Paige
My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/
I know next to nothing about marathons besides that it's LONG and that it's, well, LONG, XD. I have so much admiration for those that can do it though. I know I couldn't.
T13 - 54th Edition
Weekly Plans: Come join in the fun
Do you know...I've never been?
That's some great trivia, esp #7 and 9. Go marathon runners!
I'm sore just reading this, along with incredibly impressed. Insane they may be (there's no maybe, but it pays to be polite), you don't beat dedication like that!
Happy TT
~X
entertaining and informative post :^).
Marathons...always a mystery to me
that's awesome!
I am originally from NH and have always admired the people who compete in the marathon. Think you for posting such great facts. It's makes it even more enjoyable.
Great list. I'm stunned that anyone can do a marathon, let alone 61. Anyway, have a happy holiday on Monday.
Wow, lots of things I didn't know. I like the one about the Sox always playing at home and the fans being able to walk over. Leaves me with a great sense of community and pride :D
Post a Comment