This year, I was determined to watch all the leaders of the Boston Marathon as they passed through my town, infamous for Heartbreak Hill. I always missed the wheelchair leaders because they are so fast, but I find them the most compelling of the racers.
I told my son that it was interesting to watch the elite runners at the three-quarter mark of the marathon. For one thing, they don’t seem tired (which is remarkable!). They keep their race pace despite the changing elevations (also remarkable!).
I also noticed many different styles of running with regard to how they swung their arms and moved their bodies. It really surprised me to see the top runners with such different styles. I mean, you’d think that a runner who really swung their arms side to side would be slower or more tired with this extra movement. But perhaps it’s also body mechanics. Some people’s bodies just naturally move differently.
It was so much fun to watch and cheer the runners on. I hope our cheering gave them a little more energy during the grueling Heartbreak Hill. Congrats to all the runners. It’s quite an achievement to run in the Boston Marathon!
Here are the race leaders as they passed me in Newton around the 18th mile.
p.s. Related posts:
23 Diverse Track and Field Books for Kids
Boston Marathon View From My House
My Boston Marathon Bombing Connection
AAPI 5K: Walking to Prevent Domestic Violence in Boston’s Chinatown
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