HOPKINTON MARATHON THREAD!!!

[JBM]

One of the guys I know just did a 3:03. The runners are in a full range of outfits. I am not sure if they're cold or not. I am streaming it from my warm desk.

[iwuzwilson]

Masters woman from my club ran 2:50 for 40th OA and 5th in age group.

[DocBuzzkill]

Old Man Hammer  took 4th in his division (M 44-49) at 2:37:35.

[iwuzwilson]

Old Man Hammer  took 4th in his division (M 44-49) at 2:37:35.

Saw that, impressive time.

[the kenyan]

Aw, Meb holding that woman's hand and crossing the finish together brought a tear to my eye. What a sportsman.

THAT WAS HILARY DIONNE! FYI - I had a better 5k than her in high school 

More to come when I'm not on my phone. Looks like quite a few people had rough days. I'm seeing 4-5 minutes slower than typical for most of the upper echelon folk.

[the kenyan]

Well that was an interesting sort of day.  I can recall looking up at my screen at one point late in both races and seeing Desi leading the womens' race with Dathan & Meb together at the front of the mens' pack as well.  Always fun when that happens and the kenyans were probably bewildered by a white guy up front, but probably not the best thing to break the wind for the fastest guys during the toughest part of the course from a tactical standpoint.  The "Dathan? lolwat??" moment when he was first dropped and then suddenly leading and breaking away from the pack was funny though.  He openly said he wasn't 100% going into the race, so maybe he just needs to show up to every race at less than 100%.  Still hung in gamely after being dropped for a top 10 and even beat Meb, who it sounds like had some stomach woes.  Sad day, but still pretty solid for the americans.

I only saw the race in bits n' pieces, as I was watching on an hour delay from being stuck in a meeting and fast forwarding through the 'boring' parts.  I remember seeing Dathan at the front of 7-8 guys, then fast forwarding 4-5 minutes, and suddenly it was three of the top guys and meb/dathan were GONE.  It gives you an appreciation for that smash mouth surging style and how quickly things happen out there.  I also suspect someone from the TV truck may have been holding up cue cards telling people to surge whenever the coverage cut away to the wheelchair races.

Sounds like conditions deteriorated pretty rapidly into the late morning/early afternoon, from what I'm hearing.  Any other reports?

[merigayle]

One friend said she was tended to in the med tent after her finish for an hour for hypothermia.

[Ice Cream]

Because of this:

The Rivalry: Shalane vs. Kara

Is this real???  If so, they are both poor sportswomen.

[radial]

Is this real???  If so, they are both poor sportswomen.

No, they were just messing around. 

[MoCo]

Sounds like conditions deteriorated pretty rapidly into the late morning/early afternoon, from what I'm hearing.  Any other reports?

From my seat at the side of the road just after the mile 18 water stop, it was cold, rainy, and windy.  We almost lost the pop-up tent to a large gust.  Rain was not as heavy as forecast through the afternoon, so that was a small bonus.  I think my feet are still cold.

Runner outfits ran the gamut from dude in a speedo (always, every year) to a woman wearing a winter coat.

[iwuzwilson]

The incredible: Joan Benoit Samuelson ran 2:54 on a very tough day. It would be an age 57 world record, but Boston's course is not eligible. Too bad considering the headwinds she could probably run 2:50-52 on a better day on a record eligible course like Chicago.

The incredulous: Lisa Hunter-Galvan, who has served a 2 year ban for doping (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/article/Hunter-Galvan-accepts-two-year-doping-ban-845588.php), won the masters women's crown with a 2:46.

[merigayle]

WHy is the course not eligible? USATF certified is not eligible?

[MoCo]

net downhill.

[merigayle]

net downhill.

seriously?

[Cool Foot Luke]

seriously?

I think it's just the distance between the start and finish, not necessarily the downhill. Runners can be (and have been) significantly wind-aided

[the kenyan]

Signs of the day....

[merigayle]

Actually, it's both


https://my.usatfofficials.com/resources/2014-2015-iaaf-rule-book/download/375

well you learn something new every day!

[the kenyan]

Yeah, that's why Mutai just got a slap on the butt and a "nice job son" after throwing down a 2:03

[bhearn]

Champion Marathoners don't have butts

So that's my problem...