Extraordinary Strides
Welcome to Extraordinary Strides, the podcast that celebrates the spirit of running and the inspiring stories of those who lace up their shoes and hit the pavement.
Here, we dive into the heart of what makes running an extraordinary adventure.
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Extraordinary Strides
World Marathon Majors Series 5 of 6: The Iconic Boston Marathon 🦄
Ready to lace up your running shoes and sprint through the rich history of the iconic Boston Marathon?
Our latest episode promises a marathon of insights, from the tale of the first woman to run the race, Roberta Gibb, to Kathrine Switzer who officially broke the gender barrier with her bib entry.
We'll take you from the starting line to the finish, recounting the inspired stories intertwined with this legendary race, including the heartrending Boston Marathon bombing and the resilience it sparked within the running community.
Running a marathon isn't just about the race; it's about the entire experience. In the second part of our episode, we share the unique aspects that make the Boston Marathon an unforgettable experience.
Brace yourself for an energetic bus tour, the cacophony of cheers from Wellesley College girls at the Scream Tunnel, and a reflective pause at the poignant memorial near the finish line. Wanna snag a workout that will help you conquer Heartbreak Hill? Head over to the blog here.
And we can't forget to mention the month-long Podiversary celebration happening at Time for Brunch — a perfect place to replenish post-run.
So, get ready to run this race with us, one story at a time.
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Hey friends, coach Shelby and Coach Christine, welcoming you in and letting you know it's time for French Quick Fight Station, where you can grab your miles with a side of smiles, take them on the run, midday in the afternoon or a late night snack attack, no matter where you are, where you are going. We're going to go ahead and strap on in, because this week we keep the conversation going on the World Marathon Majors. We pack up our Kit Kat bars from Tokyo and head back to the US to explore the oldest US Marathon, an infamous worldwide. Let's go to Boston Marathon. I am not a great Bostonian. I don't have the accent. My Boston knowledge before I became a runner was basically goodwill hunting. How do you like them, apples?
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, how do you like your apples? That's what we ever. That's what we ever. I feel like we need to add that to people's watch list while we get through it. How do I like my apples? I don't know. Do they even have a lot of apples in Boston?
Speaker 2:Boston folks, we have a lot of people in the brunch community in the Northeast. So, of all of the World Marathon Majors, I am most nervous about this one because I feel like, first of all, we're going to mispronounce some of the cities and, of all, we are going to be told Very gently that we got things wrong.
Speaker 1:Look, we are equal when it comes to our pronunciation, no matter if it's International or local.
Speaker 2:To the US or area.
Speaker 1:We're gonna butcher it. We are best, but please know we are. You know it is what it is. That's why you love us and exactly I'm excited to go to Boston. Well, we have talked about different Marathons, different majors. I mean, it's a unicorn, I think, right there, full out, it just becomes the top because it has a unicorn.
Speaker 2:I would wholeheartedly agree, definitely funny. Because before I got super into the knowledge of Boston, my girl grip and myself we called ourselves like the unicorn running club didn't realize that it was actually Copyrighted. Yeah, like, okay, well, like I didn't realize that we could potentially upset folks with that because none of us even really had Boston on our radar. So let's get a little bit into the Boston Marathon history, folks. Let's first and foremost let you know that we are going to give a very high level bird's-eye view of the history. If you want the really detailed history, then head over to the Boston BA Dot org website, because there's just so much. I mean, if there's ever an opportunity, I feel like also in New York City, probably we're gonna see a lot with London, but just so much history in Boston.
Speaker 1:So this is basically be the fart like version of the Boston Marathon history. I think that's fair to say.
Speaker 2:I feel like it's like more like I don't know, like a 100 meter version. The Boston Marathon is, of course, an annual marathon race hosted in In actual several cities and towns in the greater Boston area in eastern Massachusetts. I think that's the first and most important part is that it's not exclusive, like the course is not exclusive to just Boston Proper, but it's traditionally held on Patriots Day, the third Monday of April. I also associated it very close to tax day, but maybe that's just me with money to make sure that I have my taxes in order before going to run a race. Adulting, I Would say that for most runners, boston's more important than tax deadline. They'll figure they'll, they'll file an extension or pay any penalties because they got to get themselves to Boston.
Speaker 1:And it's ranked as the one of the world's best known races. I think so, it's our it's our hidden, not so hidden job.
Speaker 2:I think so. Would you say so too, like when you're talking to a non-runner, would you?
Speaker 1:say that they probably Boston.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I feel this exact same way.
Speaker 1:Everybody knows Boston and it is the world's oldest annual marathon.
Speaker 2:Yeah, which is fascinating to me. So, while it didn't necessarily like come to be from in being in Boston it was, it's still absolutely the annual because they have held it Traditionally, annually every year, with the exclusion again of 2020, where they switched it to a virtual. So the Boston Marathons open to runners 18 are older from any nation, but they must meet certain qualifying standards, unless if you're a non-US runner and you can then snag a Entry through a tour group or charity groups, but you can learn about that on the blog. In regards to history, as much as we think of Catherine Switzer being the first woman to Run Boston, she actually was the first woman to run it as a bib Entry entrant, because she was not the first woman to run it Roberta Gibb was in 1966. She didn't have an official race number, so essentially you could say that she kind of banded it, but we're gonna get a buy on this one. I think so too. I feel like this one doesn't get a boost, right, like no, this doesn't get a boost there was no booze.
Speaker 2:No, this was like good for you, roberta, for making it happen, even when it was denied to you. I think again when I think of the history, especially when I first started running, seeing those images of Catherine Switzer and being Kind of surrounded by her, her group of folks that were in her corner, her boyfriend at that time and her college friends that were trying to Protect her from the race director who's trying to pull her off. The course is super powerful. So again, doesn't get a boo for her or her folks that were protecting her. The race director has since apologized for the record, so Does he get a half boo.
Speaker 1:He gets it. He gets like a eh, but yeah, and it really. That photo, I think, is quintessential history of Boston. But in 1971 women were allowed to Finally be officially part of the Boston Marathon without fear of getting, you know, yank to the side by a race official, and eight women started that race and all eight finished that year. Girl power that gets a, that gets a whoop whoop.
Speaker 1:But there has been a Lot of talk about Boston Marathon because of the strict, strict guidelines of qualifying. The can always be so. They can always be shown on the Boston Marathon website. You can visit them, and I think it's kind of fitting that. It's a unicorn because you're always chasing those standards. You do a lot of times have to have a cushion, over and above what the cutoff time is, to even make it in. I believe this past year, though, everybody who qualified at the standard, regardless of cushioning, as long as they did apply, they did receive an entry, which doesn't happen all the years. I think one year there was even, I want to say, like a two or three minute cushion needed to even have a shot.
Speaker 1:But there have been many memorable moments in the Boston Marathon, both good, and the summit that we put as a not so great category. The Boston Marathon was in the news in 2013 when the Boston bombing did take place while the race was still in progress, at 2.49 Eastern time, nearly three hours after the elites had crossed, and Kara Goucher actually wrote about it in her book that she had already been finished. She was in her hotel room when the bombings took place, and it happened two different times. They were first set off about 200 yards apart from Foilston Street, and then, in the last 225 yards of the course, the race was halted. People weren't able to finish, and the toll took three lives of spectators and over 260 people were injured, both runners and non-runners alike.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that was a really tough period for most runners, I think, because I think it's kind of like one of those things where you remember exactly where you were at when you heard the news. So again, it was one of those situations where it also allowed us to see the beauty of this sport and a lot of things in the community, because the community really did come together and again we just had the 10 year anniversary of it, so we got to see some really wonderful stories of folks coming back from those injuries and being able to run or have a special kinship to the race. So definitely I would say that that is something, and they do a wonderful job of really honoring those lives that were lost and those that were impacted at the end of the year.
Speaker 1:I always loved the male winner from that year, lalisa DeCisa Bantee. He donated his medal back to Boston and it's just. It is such a hard time. The running world really did come together and even the 2013 female winner, rita Jep2, has said some beautiful things and done some beautiful things for the city of Boston. So it again. It highlights where the running community can come together and the entrance, but on the regular side of the runners. If they did the halfway at least of the course, they got a guaranteed entry, I think the year after right.
Speaker 2:Yep, and I think that's wonderful for folks. I also ensure that that made people feel really emotional and I mean we saw like Meb and Boston Strong come from it, so absolutely talk about turning some lemons into really powerful lemonade with rallying the community together. So I do love that. Of course, I know, and I can't even possibly talk to this because you have to talk about one of your favorite favorite moments in the Boston Marathon history. You wanna talk about 2018, what happened there? Yes, okay.
Speaker 1:I have the 2018 Boston Marathon recorded. It got me through my COVID quarantine two years ago because I watched it. I'm not even gonna geek out and tell you how many times I actually watched it, but the amazing Des Linden becoming the first American in 33 years to win the Boston Marathon for the US women and I channel it every time I'm running, even if it's like a little drizzle. If you have not watched it, you need to. And then also honorable mention to Shalane Flanagan for making the infamous 13 second bathroom break during the Boston Marathon, and everybody lost their minds. Yeah, yeah, I mean. See, she uses porta potties. I just don't.
Speaker 2:Well, I mean, there is that I will say. While we didn't officially talk about a book to read for each individual race, because all of them do have some really great books we, I will say that Des Linden's book was probably one of the most beautiful storytelling books I have ever read, because the way that she created it website has been shared with, with so many people Drawing the suspense of a story that we already knew or we thought we knew, and interweaving it with the every other chapter kind of a way where there would be a little bit of a cliffhanger before she'd go into another aspect of her training or leading her up to that pivotal moment of making that win. I think everybody should definitely add that to their list if they haven't already read it, which is choosing to run phenomenal, phenomenal book. But again, I know you're not done talking about your elites before we move into the unique aspects of this specific race, so let's talk more about 2022, my friend.
Speaker 1:I love some history like this is where my history-ness comes out is with the elites. Yeah, because in 2022, kenya's Prez Chyptochir became the fourth woman to win both Boston and Olympic marathon titles. So with her Boston win, chyptochir became the first athlete in history to win Olympic, boston and New York City marathon titles across their careers.
Speaker 2:Incredible. Talk about, like seriously, talk about the goat, and I know that in the acting community they have a really like illustrious group of folks that get that they call the EGOT Emmys, grammys, oscars and Tony awards. Do we not have a version for running where, like you, have Olympic Boston in New York? I don't know what to call that an an OBN.
Speaker 1:An OBN that sounds like a colonoscopy gone wrong.
Speaker 2:You're right it does. Let's not call it the OBN. Let's find something else.
Speaker 1:Maybe we just call it the Chyptochir. Oh, she was the first to do it. I'm going for the Chyptochir thank you very much.
Speaker 2:I like it. That's definitely a way to go Well for us regular folks that are going to go, because I'm sure the bot, that the elites, have a very different experience of Boston week. Let's talk about the unique aspects of this race and I think that we have to say right here and now that this is a city that comes together for race weekend in a way that is completely unparalleled, and I don't think it's race weekend. I think that they really celebrate the entire race month, but at least race week.
Speaker 2:But before the race, while most of the majors that we've talked about, we've talked about boat tours. This is the one where, although they do have a waterway, you're going to want to do the bus tour. It sells out super fast, so the minute it opens up for registration I would make sure to be on the website. We'll include the link here through Marathon Tours, but you get to actually do the bus tour that runs the entire course and allows you to take in the sites, experiences and, of course, the history, while saving your legs before race day. I mean talk about win-win.
Speaker 1:Now, normally I don't recommend driving the course before you run it, because I feel like it can give a lot of anxiety. Oh my gosh, this is the one time I'm going to say I just screw the rule, like, just do it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I wholeheartedly agree. You definitely want to soak in all of the different aspects of it. This is the one race that I actually even throw out my don't worry too much about spending time at the expo, because I think that, again, this is an opportunity to kind of experience different presentations, speakers, industry grades that you're definitely going to want to really like hone in on. So the entire experience. I would also say, if you can snag a ticket for the official BAA 5k Shake Out Run, that's great. If you can't, I wouldn't worry too much about it, because there are, I don't know five bazillion organized club Shake Out Runs. Yeah, just a few. Yeah, just just a couple.
Speaker 2:So find one that speaks to you, be it maybe a charity that means a lot to you, or a run club that you've associated with, or maybe your favorite shoe. All of them will be there. All of them are doing Shake Out Runs. Just follow their social media and join in on the fun. I will say again, talking about 2013, I find that it is really important to pay your respects to the Boston Marathon bombing victims at the memorial near the finish line because, again, it does go to show that resiliency of both the city, the community and the sport. So I think that's another unique aspect. Now, race day. What makes it unique, coach? Because this still like, I still don't think that my brain was able to compute it, even during training.
Speaker 1:That it's on a Monday. Yeah, like what I get, so mad it's on a Monday. Like, talk about irrational reasons, I get mad it's because my daughter was out of school on Boston Monday. Yeah, I had to. Not, I couldn't watch it, like I couldn't just sit in my pajamas with my coffee and my snacks.
Speaker 2:I had to actually, like adult, that's funny that you say that, because I was going to say most people would want it to be a national holiday so that they could take off from work and see it, but I didn't think about the aspect. So we have to have it a national holiday, except for kiddos, so that they can go ahead, and I don't know all gather together.
Speaker 1:Maybe this is a good time to be transparent with everybody that the whole reason we became self-employed and opened our own business so we could take marathon one day off. Like I'm sorry, I'm ripping back the curtain.
Speaker 2:I did use PTO for Boston Marathon today. That just surprised me. So, regardless of whether I am self-employed or not if yeah, that was something that was going to happen or at least would talk to my employer about coming in late and staying late that day, because it's just a special day so I would say it's an experience that should be had and at least, if you can't experience it firsthand and cheering folks on watching it as a televised event is always a lot of fun as well. I love the Scream Tunnel. Now, I know there's been a lot of controversy around the Scream Tunnel because of the tradition of getting a kiss from the Wellesley girls, but I actually like the energy that you experience there and I also love that kind of we see more of a female strong energy where some of the females now are going and snagging their own kiss from a Wellesley college girl. Of course, it's a kiss on the cheek, so it's just to me feels like a very unique aspect of the course If it's not your thing, you get it.
Speaker 1:Katie Perry's. I Kissed a Girl and I Liked it is playing. So if not, again missed opportunity. I didn't personally hear it, but I'm sure, come on, guess what I'm going to put If I run Boston.
Speaker 2:I'm going to put it on a speaker, I'm going to borrow your knock speaker and I'm going to blast that going through the Scream Tunnel, I think you're going to need like a bigger speaker because it is so loud there I don't know that anyone's going to hear it, but I want you to be able to hear it as you get your your kiss to girl. I'm liking it, girl, I mean it's. It's a lot of fun, there's no doubt about it. Now again, folks love the Citgo sign. I hate the Citgo sign because I only about that.
Speaker 2:It's the biggest liar. That's SITCO sign. I have never, ever, like Shakira talks about hips not lying well, sitco signs do. Because I feel like I chased that SITCO sign for miles and miles and miles and miles and never actually got to the finish of it. But that could just be me and where I was at in my training in that run. So other people that were probably better trained enjoyed that SITCO sign and good for them. But I also think that the infamous right on Hereford and left on Boilston to soak in that unicorn finish line makes this the most unique. Now what I want folks to take away from this after the marathon is that you are a magical unicorn before you even towed up to that start line. So you don't necessarily need that medal to make you a special unicorn, but now that you have it in hand, go take three busy in photos with it, because I SITCO.
Speaker 1:I feel like, especially too, with Boston, specifically like wearing your medal after race day is something you need to do. I feel, like you need to wear that going around the city because I feel like the people of Boston specifically will just they love that. It's your little badge of honor.
Speaker 2:Yeah, shout out to the folks that were able to take place in that 2020 virtual, and they have their unicorn medal as well. I hope that you guys take your photos with it and share it with us too, because, again, that's your badge of honor, because something special about being able to complete 26.2 as a virtual without the screen tunnel I think that's definitely a spirit of resiliency.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about food now, oh my God, again talk about a city that is trying to get me to leave Florida.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I feel like you're a Northeastern girl. I feel like I say that at every single place, but every single. The only place I felt like maybe you might be challenged with team savory was Berlin, but the rest of them so far I think you'd be good to go. So tell me about what you would be, what you'd have for your car bloating and or your celebratory dinner there.
Speaker 1:Clam chowder for sure. I love myself some clam chowder at the lobster roll, so I love Florida lobster. But Maine lobster is such a different flavor and mixed with like the celery and the mayonnaise and then usually it's like that brioche bun with the butter in it. I swear I am a Bostonian in a different way.
Speaker 2:So I have to ask you let's take it back to the clam chowder Do you like white clam chowder with a cream base, or do you like the tomato spicy clam chowder with the tomato base?
Speaker 1:I'm more of the white. Okay, so cream base.
Speaker 2:Then red. Yeah, I feel like I don't know if I just if I'm literally gonna get actual white male about that. I don't know if the spicy tomato one is even considered a real clam chowder by Bostonians. So folks let us know. But I feel like there's so many other options too. There's the roast, the Yankee pot roast, which I didn't even know was a thing, and I love baked beans.
Speaker 2:But for teens, sweet, we've got cannolis and Boston cream pie and I love that the city has a little bit of a savory and sweet for folks that maybe want to be teen both, which is the maple bacon donut at Union Square Donuts, so I think that speaks to a lot of hearts. Now must see movies and documentaries. While I do agree, goodwill hunting should be at the top of just everybody's list. Boston, the documentary that came out in 2018, is absolutely phenomenal. I left the movie theater in tears and stronger. The inspiring real life story of Jeff Bellman, man who did actually survive the Boston Marathon bombing and kind of clawed his way back through recovery, inspired the entire city, is another tearjerker. I don't know if that's a Shelby friendly movie. It's very inspiring though.
Speaker 1:I don't know. I do love the Boston, the documentary I know we've talked about, like when you're low on motivation or if you're inside due to Aquaman weather, great, great movie to turn on or documentary to turn on while you're on the treadmill because it will inspire you and while we didn't have an official follow feature. Adrian Haslett is a Boston bombing survivor and she is a great follow on social media. I can't recommend her enough. She actually did Boston, most recently with Shalene Flanagan as her return to Boston. Great human being, great follow on social media. 10 out of 10 recommend.
Speaker 2:I love that. Well, what we do at 10 out of 10 recommend is the fact that here at Time for Brunch, we are celebrating our Potiversary all month long. So, friends, if you become a monthly Time for Brunch plus supporter, at any level, this month, you get an exclusive Potiversary gift to celebrate our anniversary of one year. But each support level which we have for has unique premium offerings. So head on over to the Time for Brunch website to learn more.
Speaker 2:And we want to express to you right here and now we appreciate every single one of you. So, whether you decide to join in with Time for Brunch Plus or you are listening in and downloading and sharing, we appreciate you guys being a part of our community. We want you to join us again with Time for Brunch, a long run edition that drops on Friday. Come back for more of these mid week quick fights where we start to make our way towards our final destination. We're gonna head on over to Buckingham Palace in London, but regardless of when or where, we're gonna keep serving up more miles with a side of major smiles.
Speaker 1:It was so cool being on that party.
