IT'S BOSTON, MAN!

The air will be thick with the sweet smell of Icy Hot and port-a-potties. Runners of all ages display a rainbow of colorful clothing. Some sport the latest, most expensive running gear; while others are clad in a plain, black trash bags. Music blares, folks are strewn across the athletic fields of Hopkinton High School, police attempt to rid the woods of people who seek to avoid the long bathroom lines.

Some things haven't changed since I ran my first Boston in 1978.

Yellow school busses still transport runners on a bouncy, not-so-comfortable journey along the Mass Pike.

Folks converge on Hopkinton, as the sleepy New England town becomes, for several hours, the center of the sports world. The sign still reads, "It all starts here."

Since 1978, however, the Boston Marathon has changed. Everything has changed.

The sheer numbers, the fact that one must register for the race before the narrow window closes, hotel issues, large entry fees, difficult restaurant reservations, makes this old-timer yearn for the good old days of Boston.

But no, this is Boston, man, it IS the Granddaddy. At Boston, they do what they want. Heck, the race is run on a Monday, and, it wasn't that long ago that the race began at noon, because that's the way it's always been.

Last year, on their pristine lawns, families stacked cases of bottled water for dehydrated runners, as temperatures soared into the high 80s.

Crowd noise and crowd support simply does not begin and end during the race. It exists the entire weekend. Walk into a restaurant or bar wearing your finisher medal and you'll see what I mean.

So, you have to qualify for this race?

Hell yeah! It's Boston! You SHOULD have to qualify.

I can't wait for my rides on the MBTA. Can't wait for the lady in the hotel to ask me about paaking my caa. And the frown on my wife's face when I say, "In the Haavaad Yaad!"

Seafood on Saturday in the South End; a pasta dinner in the North End on Sunday night.

The incredible start, the frat houses with music blaring. The towns of Ashland, Framingham, and Natick. The girls of Wellesley, the Newton Hills. Cresting Heartbreak at 20.5 miles, the endless stretch of Commonwealth Avenue. The Citgo sign. Right on Boyleston, left on Coplay Avenue.

I've logged more marathon miles on the Boston marathon course than other. I recorded my PR of 2:22:54 there in 1983. I ran in the world's largest marathon, the 100th anniversary race. I've dropped out of only two of my 54 marathons: both at Boston. I have enjoyed every race in a different way. The people of New England, the course, the heritage, the folklore.

It's Boston, man!

A BLOG OF NOTE!

Father Christopher Zelonis is a Roman Catholic priest, a runner and a blogger.

If you ask me, that's a pretty good trifecta!

On Saturday, I was humbled and honored to read his blog, which I have featured below.

 http://shipwrackharvest.blogspot.com/2013/04/running-shorts-worth-wear.html

Father Chris' blog truly captured the essence of my book, www.runningshortsbook.com. It makes me happy that he, and many other runners, have provided positive feedback about the book. In my 36-year running career, I have been fortunate to achieve some success, but my greatest pleasure has been the friends I have made along the way. Today, through my writing, coaching, and motivational speaking appearances, I thoroughly enjoy offering advice to others in order to assist them in achieving their running goals.

If you haven't read my book, I hope you will. It is available on my site, at Amazon, Barnes and Noble.com, as well as at Lulu.com, and in many fine running stores.

Also, please take some time to read Father Chris Zelonis' blogs. They are beautifully written, and are quite inspiring.

As I prepare for my 16th Boston Marathon appearance next Monday, I ask for Father Chris' prayers. I am hoping that his request for Divine Intervention will assist me in dragging this old body up Heartbreak Hill and across the finish line in Coplay Square.

IN THE BANK

The 2013 Boston Marathon is twelve days away, and for the 16th time I will toe the starting line in the village of Hopkinton, for the beginning of the world's oldest continuous marathon.

Since my first Boston Marathon appearance in 1978, Boston Marathon training has become somewhat of a rite of winter for me. Back in the days when I could record times in the 2:20s, I would turn in 100-mile weeks, sprinkling 8 or 9 20-milers in the mix, from the beginning of my training period in January.

These days I'm logging 50 miles a week, and 20-miles are less frequent, but, with less than two weeks until race day, it is always time to assess and to hope that the "money's in the bank."

Fortunately, my speaking schedule and book tour promotion, www.runningshortsbook.com, has enabled me to run good quality half marathons at Louisiana and Miami, and a full, training pace marathon at the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon.

On January 5, I ran a 15-miler, followed by a 16-miler a month later. On March 3, I logged my first 20-miler, on a nasty, windy day. I managed a 7:25 pace. Then, planning to run only 20 miles of the Yuengling Shamrock race, I maintained pace, running the entire 26.2 in 3:10:18, a 7:15 pace. Last Saturday, I ran my third and final 20-miler in 2:28:00, another 7:25 pace.

Speedwork during the marathon training period has consisted of mainly mile intervals. I hope to do a 4x1 mile interval workout tomorrow.

A ten mile run over the weekend, and the money will be in the bank. Next week the goal is to remain healthy and relaxed, and pray for good weather.

48 of my 54 lifetime marathons have fallen under the 3-hour mark, and I sure would like to add number 49 to that on April 15. My only two DNF's have been at Boston, however, and last year, a sinus infection, coupled with searing temperatures in the high 80s, cut me down at the 18-mile aid station.

Needless to say, I feel the need to avenge last year's disappointment at this year's race.

I love the Boston Marathon.

The tradition, the city, the spectators, are simply spectacular. Every runner in the race is a superstar. From the time you arrive until the moment you depart, you are as revered as the Sox or the Bruins.

Ice, snow, darkness, and incessant winds have been present since late November. The sun seems to appear, on average, about once a week. Nuisance snows, complete with rivers of slush, have added to the unpleasantness of training here in the northeast.

If conditions are right. If the aches and pains are gone. If the flu germs have found another host, and if all the ingredients have been mixed properly in the training recipe, there is nothing in the running world like crossing the finish line in Coplay Square on Patriot's Day.