What makes Boston such a special city?

Over the past few years I've had many discussions and given lots of thought to specific reasons why I love Boston so much.  It's hard to quantify what makes me love a city so much despite the cold winters, bad drivers, and unfriendly people (compared to other regions of the US).  Despite all of this, it is a city that so many people furiously defend as the only place they ever want to live.  So what is it that makes Boston so special?

Many great cities have a core competency or passion that is usually a source for jobs, government policies, and overall spirit.  Boston's is health care and education; it is the home to many of the world's best hospitals and colleges.  When you contrast that to what other cities revolve around (Technology/entrepreneurship in SF or Wall Street in NY), health care and eduction both center around helping others above all else.  As a result, Boston attracts and retains people that want to share their knowledge with others and treat those who are unhealthy.  It attracts the best of the best for education and medicine, along with thousands of people in supporting roles.  It is this focus on two of the most humanistic industries that I believe is what makes Bostonians so special, even if they won't say hello when you walk by them.

It is also this spirit of caring for others that is coming through in how Boston has so far responded to the horrific tragedy yesterday at the Marathon.  The typical Bostonian might not come off as the most friendly person, but deep down Boston is a city that truly cares.  I really wish I could be there with my friends and family now, but I know next time I step foot in Boston the spirit of the city will only be stronger than I left it.

The curious runner

“In my most painful moments on the bike, I am at my most curious, andI wonder each and every time how I will respond.” - Lance Armstrong

Say what you want about Lance, but regardless of whether or not he used performance enhancing drugs he is still an unbelievable athlete and competitor.  I read this quote yesterday from him and realized that in one sentence he summarized the point I had tried to make last year in my "Runners are all a little crazy"  post when I wrote about "the sick enjoyment I get from pushing my body to new extremes to see what it is capable of doing".

I finished my first marathon a few months back just under 3 hours 45 minutes.  It was an awesome event and most definitely the hardest physical challenge of my life.  I learned a lot about myself, mainly that I can run 13 miles with cramping quads and somehow manage to put the pain aside for the last 3 miles when I stepped on the gas to get under 3:45.  I also learned that my long term goal of qualifying for Boston (<3:05 needed) is more or less unattainable, but hey, you never know, right?

I was surprised at how much the race took out of me, it took almost a month before my legs were no longer shaky/weak and then not until this past week (2+ months later) where I was able to run fast and pain free once again (I've had a few nagging injuries keeping me from running much).  It sure feels great to be back out there, and I can't wait for the half marathon I plan to run later this fall.

Runners are all a little crazy

I've recently struggled with what makes someone a "runner" and I know my friends and family have certainly wondered what would ever motivate someone to willingly put themselves through so much pain, but I think I'm starting to find some answers. I started running seriously about three years go, mostly as a great stress reliever and way to stay in shape for the other sports I enjoy. Over these three years I've slowly acquired some nice running gear (thank you South Boston Running Emporium and REI) and began to talk the runner's lingo, but was still hesitant to ever call myself a "runner".  I have generally stayed away from races because in my mind they took something that was peaceful and relaxing (an evening run down by the beach after a stressful day at work) and turned it into something that consisted of a lot of pain during and after the race.  So why mix something relaxing with a race that will only bring out my strong competitive tendencies and result in lots of pain?

This weekend I participated in the NH Reach the Beach team running relay race.  Essentially, teams of 4-12 runners run 200 miles from the mountains of NH to the Atlantic Ocean in around 24 hours of non-stop running, a pretty crazy idea if you ask me.  My team of 12 had a great time running and did far better than anticipated (17th out of 138 teams in our division!), but for me this race was meaningful because of what I learned:  what it means to be a "runner" and that I now am willing to consider myself one.

Unlike other sports I enjoy that have periods of rest and those with max exertion, running a race requires constant physical and mental exertion and in most cases lots of pain.  Somewhere in my 2nd leg (~7 miles long), as I struggled through the pain of an injury I've been battling lately, I found myself finding even more from within to keep pushing myself harder to get that next "kill" (passing another runner).  This strength didn't come from my teammates, the scoreboard, or the desire to impress anybody, but rather from the sick enjoyment I get from pushing my body to new extremes to see what it is capable of doing.  Our bodies are unbelievable machines and I'm slowly realizing that if I take care of it I can push myself harder than I would have ever thought possible.  The rush I get from fulfilling this inner desire is what makes races enjoyable and the pain tolerable.  In my eyes it is what turns someone who simply enjoys running into a "runner".  It also makes me aware of the fact that every runner (myself now included) is a little bit crazy.

Here's a shot I took from the race, just as the sun was rising after a long night of running and barely sleeping.  Definitely, this moment was one of the highlights of the race and summer 2011: