Perhaps it can be said that the whole Boston Marathon 2016 was dazzling, especially to those of us who are barely walkers, let alone runners. And so to best capture the dazzle, we placed ourselves squarely next to three tables at the Finish Line (Boylston Street beside the Public Library) just to see what all that razzle-dazzle was about. Three things — well, really four — stood out.
Table One — bottled water from Poland Spring. OK, so water in a plastic bottle doesn’t seem too dazzling, but if you’d just run 26.2 miles in one of the warmest Boston Marathons to date, you’d be happy to see these little gems waiting for you.
The water table at Boston Marathon 2016 — the first thing finishers saw after the Finish Line.
Table Two — ah, those dazzling medallions. Spread out over several tables and surrounded by teal-shirted volunteers, Boston Marathon medallions on blue and yellow ribbons were ready for those who ran the race. Or walked. Or limped. Or were dragged by those gracious runners who (Yes, they did!) extended their run time to pick up an ailing fellow runner and carry him or her across the finish line.
A volunteer shows off the Boston Marathon 2016 medals to spectators at the Finish Line.
Table Three — mylar capes. As we said, it was a warm day — well, up until the afternoon when the sun hid out and winds whipped the runners. These capes dazzled even the best of the finishers as they relished being swaddled in glittering mylar. And the runners bore those capes with pride — because only qualified runners could wear them proudly down the streets and on the T — going home.
Volunteers organize the mylar capes, getting ready to put them on the first finishers of Boston Marathon 2016.
And four — perhaps most dazzling of all: runners who finished. Whether in the elite division or the everyman flock, finishers took pride, as well they should.
An elite runner arrives at the tables after crossing the Finish Line, accompanied by one of the health care volunteers.
For more entries into Ailsa’s Where’s My Backpack? challenge this week — Travel theme: Dazzling — click here.
marthaschaefer
Dazzling indeed! Great shots and commentary. I wonder what the folks at the mylar cape table were all looking at up in the sky???!!
Oh, the Places We See
Not sure what they’re looking upward to see, but many airplanes flew over with trailer ads. The whole event left you not knowing which way to turn! Thanks for commenting.