Marathon remains

[magid]

My drive home includes a bit of the marathon route. That section of road was littered with flattened green cups and blue cups, with the occasional water bottle thrown in for variety. They were pretty constant throughout, while at the water stations there were the additions of flattened sections of orange peel as well.

Most of the road had the faded remains of chalked messaged to runners, and there were banners along the way, some from corporations saluting all the runners, while others were homemade signs to cheer on runner # whatever.

The cleanup was already starting, with trash bags being filled, water stations closing, some of the roads no longer blocked. One man was raking cups.

I was impressed that there were medical personnel out on bikes, and surprised by all the fire engines out by the fire house, and dismayed when I saw soldiers in fatigues and dark berets, out there in Newton. I know they'd said there would be heightened security for the race (I'm not sure exactly why the marathon, as opposed to any other sporting event), but it didn't feel like I was in the right country just then.

Current Mood: frustrated my brain seems unable to iamb pentametrically without painful contortion

Comments

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

For the record, the National Guard has been working the Boston Marathon for about 8 years now (they started doing crowd control for the 100th Marathon and have been there every year since). For a number of years (until 1999, when we moved to our current place), we lived on the side of Beacon down which the marathon goes, and I had to cross the race in order to get home from work. I'd get off the T, wait for a break in the runners, and then cross. One year, I was stopped by one of the Guardsmen, who asked me why I felt it necessary to cross and potentially interfere with the runners. I calmly explained that I lived in a building across the street from where I was currently standing (and MAB was standing on our front steps, so I could gesture toward him), and the Guardsman let me go. Another year, I got an escort across Beacon Street from 3 Guardsmen.

But you're right - it was freakier seeing them yesterday than it has been in the past.

[magid.livejournal.com]

They asked you why you'd want to cross the street? That's surprising. I mean, I could come up with zillions of reasons to want to cross a street, even with runners coming along. Most people are able to not get in the way, if they're paying attention.
I hadn't realized the National Guard had been involved for so long; thanks for catching me up.