Welcome, readers, to the official Remy's World 2015 Boston Marathon Dumb News Feed Presented by Mark Remy.
I am here in Boston for approximately the jillionth time, to help Runner's World cover this iconic event by reporting on dumb stuff while the rest of the staff does actual journalism. (You can see their fine work on our Boston Marathon page.) This is a mission I take very seriously, which sounds counterintuitive, I know, but whatever. Throughout the weekend I'll be updating this post with tidbits, nuggets, and choice morsels that I find interesting, amusing, alarming, or silly. Or all of those things. So be sure to check in frequently.
If you're in town, don't forget to So Long, and Thanks for All the Laughs. (And good luck Monday.) If you're not, maybe I'll see you next year. Either way, I hope you enjoy yourselves. If you're a runner, there truly is no place on earth quite like Boston during marathon weekend.
Have a dumb question about the Boston Marathon? Click here.
FRIDAY, APRIL 17
SPOTTED: Shalane Flanagan! At the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, giving an interview. I would have said "hi," but I didn't want to steal the spotlight. I also didn't want to distract Shalane. She gets . It's kind of embarrassing.
My wife's reaction: "Big deal. You could see her at home." (Shalane lives in Portland, Oregon, as do we.)
Other highlights of the day include sleeping in till 10 a.m. (though, in fairness, my body thought it was 7 a.m.), buying a hard copy of The List: Friday, April 17, and snagging a free Moleskine notebook at the marathon's Media Center, when I picked up my credentials. Score!
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SPOTTED: Dathan Ritzenhein, during a run along the Charles, wearing baggy Nike pants and hooded windbreaker. He and I were moving in opposite directions, so I didn't have time to get a photo. Instead I did the next best thing, which was to flash him the absolute goofiest grin I could muster. Dathan smiled back. Maybe it was my imagination, but he also seemed to speed up a little. Go, Dathan!
Download Your Training Plan Hayden Planetarium:
Puny little arms. Typical runner.
(Please note that Dathan Ritzenhein's arms are not puny. They are ripped.)
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CORNERED: By Deena Kastor, U.S. record holder for the marathon and half-marathon, who insisted* on getting a photo with me at the Meb Keflezighi panel discussion Friday night at Trinity Church Please note that! Meb is the star tonight, not me!
* (Kidding, kidding. Thanks to Deena for indulging me.)
p.s. This event only reinforced what I already thought about Meb, which is that he is simultaneously the humblest and awesomest runner in the world.
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Dumb News From Boston
SPOTTED: Oh, come on. Deena again? THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS. Seen below with Runner's World PR chief David Tratner and Mr. Bart Yasso (back to camera) for a short shakeout run organized by Bart.
Later, during the same run, Sadie (age 9) shows us how it's done.
But, oh! What's this? Mark Remy WINNING THE SHAKEOUT RUN! In your face, Sadie!
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CAN YOU SPOT THE DUMMY? This one isn't dumb at all – thanks to the B.A.A. and the American Heart Association for offering Expo attendees a quick refresher course in CPR. (I was certified years ago, when our daughter was born, but was rusty.)
It's surprisingly simple to learn. Do yourself a favor and spend a minute watching this video tutorial. Really. It could save a life.
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BREAKING: Have a dumb question about the Boston Marathon.
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BREAKING: As in, "A few guys and I ate these nachos for dinner, and as a result my insides are breaking." Ooof.
CLICK BELOW FOR MORE DUMB NEWS...
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at the marathons Media Center, when I picked up my credentials. Score
RUN: What a beautiful day for a race! Unfortunately, the race is tomorrow, when it's expected to be wet and windy. No matter. This morning's shakeout run was brilliant, and attracted (by my own rough estimate) a lot Best New Balance Shoes Bill Rodgers running in the opposite direction and looking mildly bemused. Sorry for essentially forcing you off the path, Bill!
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WEATHER: It's official – I am a tool. A walking, talking What Should I Wear? tool. Because I just had this conversation with a fellow runner, as I walked from the Media Center back to my hotel:
FELLOW RUNNER: "I'm trying to decide whether to go back to the expo."
ME: "Do you have to go to the expo?"
FELLOW RUNNER: "No."
ME: "Then don't."
FELLOW RUNNER: "Ha ha."
ME: "It's a madhouse."
FELLOW RUNNER: "I'm wondering whether I should get some tights. For tomorrow. What would you wear?"
[The Runner’s Rule Book.]
ME: "Based on those conditions? If I were racing tomorrow? I'd wear more or less what I'm wearing now."
[I am wearing shorts, short-sleeved tech shirt, and vest.]
ME: "And a cap with a bill. To keep the rain out of my eyes."
FELLOW RUNNER: "All right. Makes sense. Hey, thanks for your advice!"
ME: "You're welcome. Good luck!"
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UPDATE: Now we hear it may not rain on race day – or at least not much. Or until later in the day. Or both. Then again, maybe it will be raining. So much uncertainty! How will this affect your race strategy? Never fear. As always, Remy's World is here to help. Let this decision tree do your thinking for you.
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SPOTTED: Several Runner's World and Running Times editors and writers sitting in a preschool-style circle on the second floor of the Sheraton, discussing race day coverage plans and assignments. From left: Erin Strout, Chris Kraft, Kit Fox, Megan Hetzel, Sarah Lorge Butler (sorry I cut off your face, Sarah). Not shown: Brian Dalek (behind laptop at left); Scott Douglas from the waist up (at right); Hannah McGoldrick (on speakerphone).
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Ask a Guy Who Thinks Runners Should Shut Up
ALARMING: Good morning! Guests at the Sheraton got a fun wake-up call at 12:30 a.m. when a piercing emergency signal sounded, filling the hallways with pajama'd and confused citizens, members of the Boston Fire Department, and one dumb-news reporter. (Meaning, a reporter of dumb news. Not a news reporter who's dumb. Hence the hyphen in the phrase dumb-news.) (But I digress.) Details are hazy, but I can confirm that the alarm was LOUD. And persistent. Asked what triggered the alarm, one unidentified hotel employee made the universal symbol for "holding a joint to one's lips." (Really.) Another clarified: "Smoking. Someone was smoking pot in the bathroom."
Please note that The List: Friday, April 17. You can't make this stuff up.
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DOG: The Fairmont Copley Plaza, home of the Boston Media Center, has a hotel dog. Her name is Katie. Good dog.
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THUMBS UP: If being excited to get a photo with Meb Keflezighi postrace is dumb, I don't wanna be not dumb.
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BEER: This now concludes our dumb coverage of the 2015 Boston Marathon. Join us next year for more dumb coverage. Thanks for reading!
