Gil and Tom’s Excellent Boston Adventure

We knew late in the week before Marathon Monday that the temperatures were going to be 25-30 degrees above the mid-50’s average high for this time of year for Boston. Especially with the late 10:20 a.m. start, and a SW tailwind, we would feel the peak temps. But with this being my third Boston, and Gil’s happy-go-lucky attitude, we were not really concerned about our finishing times per se, but agreed to enjoy the culmination of our journey of training, and qualifying together, just as we passed 50.


Laura and I arrived in Boston Saturday afternoon, which is the peak day for the expo. It usually is at the Hines Convention Center right near the finish on Boylston Street, but apparently there is a big trade show that comes to town every 4 years, so they move the expo out to the Seaport Expo center. We stayed at the Westin Waterfront, which seemed to be the base for New Balance, since all the doors, elevators; key cards were emblazoned with the New Balance “Qualified…” taglines. All the employees wore the newest models of New Balance shoes (a little garish, but I guess so are my Mizuno Wave Rider 15’s)

The Expo is an experience unto itself. The shoe and gear companies put on their best face, with impressive booth displays, like a Brooks “Heavenly Running” setup in a gauzy tent with puffy white carpeting, and toga –clad harpists playing while you get a free gait analysis.

There is also a cool mix of local and niche Mom and pop outfits from the rich Boston/Northeast running community. I bought a pair of sunglasses with a bifocal reading glass section at the bottom. Now, when I wear my contacts for distance when I run or bike, I can still read my watch display or text messages on my phone. Pretty good way to tap into the demographic of aging Baby Boomers staying active like me.

I guess it was a blessing that we did not have long to spend in the expo, because the money goes fast here. Picked up some mementos for the kids and commemorative marathon gear for me, and stuff like a “Will Run for Wine” Bondi band for Laura.

Gil Hannon, his wife Theresa, their son and his wife were staying over in Cambridge, so getting over to meet them for dinner seemed impractical. We decided to meet for a beer later, and Laura and I headed in the general direction of the downtown/Faneuil Hall area midway between our hotel and Cambridge. It is advised not do a lot of walking, saw when I saw these rental bikes which you pick up at one place, and drop off at another; I thought that would be better that walking. But without helmets, Ms. Safety Nurse Practitioner vetoed it. It seemed like a good deal. For a $5 swipe of your credit card, you get unlimited 30 minute rides around what looked like dozens of bike kiosks around Boston.

We had not walked very far when we came past a pretty happening Mexican restaurant in an otherwise desolate stretch of loft building. We had read about it in some guides, so we figured we would get in before the crowds hit. Very colorful decor, with a young vibrant crowd. It was advertised as a tequila bar and Mexican café. It seemed to be popular with groups of young ladies apparently celebrating bachelorette parties. It was early, so there were no shenanigans (Dang!).

We had homemade guacamole made at our table, and some very strong margaritas. I had some chipotle salmon with rice, and Laura had excellent fajitas.

We heard from Gil, and arranged to meet his posse at Faneuil Hall/Quincy Marketplace. This is a touristy outdoor plaza with shops and restaurants. It was developed from an old produce market by the same developers that redid Navy Pier. We met at “Ned Devine’s” a faux-Irish bar named after one of my favorite Irish comedies – “Waking Ned Devine”. The post-race party in 2009 was at the nightclub portion of the bar, so it held fond memories, and I was familiar with its location.



One of the priorities for Gil and I was to sample a special edition “26.2 Marathon Brew” put out by Sam Adams for the marathon. We were not going to be around long enough to go on private tours for marathoners of the Brewery later in the week, and get a “26.2” commemorative mug. There were other limited edition Sam Adams brews, but we were told that 26.2 would only be available on tap along the actual marathon route. That turned out not to be totally accurate, because later in the weekend, we were dropping off a race packet for a friend staying at the Ritz, and the concierge, who had run Boston and Chicago, steered us in the direction of “Beantown Brew Pub”, which he told us actually overlooks Sam Adams grave. Sorry you didn’t get your 26.2 beer Gil, but like the Irishman with the brother in America, I had one for you, even though I abstained myself.