Boston diary - day 0

[ilanarama]

I'm sitting in the Starbucks in my hotel lobby, shamelessly abusing the 15-minute internet limit. It's gray and dreary and the flags outside the Sheraton across the street indicate it's windy, too. Totally not tempted to go out for a run. Actually, not tempted to go outside at all.

Spent Thursday night at splix's place, drove to ABQ in the first rush-hour traffic I've seen in 10 years (hey, we don't even have freeways), got stopped and searched at security because of scary residue detected on my ankle wrap (WTF!!) and then got on my plane. As we landed in Chicago, the older man sitting across the aisle from me asked me if I was going to Boston for the marathon; he'd noticed my carry-on tote from the Canyonlands Half. I had been wondering if he was going, since he was that rangy skinny runner type and wearing a runner's watch. We ended up chatting, both on the plane and in the lounge waiting for the next leg to Boston; he was with his non-running wife but meeting his son, who was running also, and he had qualified at the last possible moment just before registration closed.

Lots of runners in the waiting area, distinguished by their short hair, skinny bodies, and jackets from previous years' races. I felt incognito in my traveling skirt and Tevas, my long hair and eyeglasses. The flight attendants welcomed us to Boston and wished "good luck to all the runners."

idlerat and bowdlerized (who are waving over my shoulder and saying hi, having just woken up and come down here) took a bus up from NY to have dinner and spend the night with me before visiting with Ratty's father, who lives here. So cool to see them again. We froze looking for a restaurant that wasn't packed with runners, ate candy in the hotel hot tub, and hung out in my luxurious room on the top floor with a view of the game that was being played at Fenway in the rain last night.

Today's plans: go to expo and get packet. Um, that's about it. This evening is a dinner and party with my imaginary friends from the RWOL forums.

Comments

[aerye]

I haven't said good luck yet - GOOD LUCK!

[ignaz]

This is so exciting! Best of luck!

[sara]

Heh -- we can always tell when there are big track-meet things going on here in town, because of the sudden spike in tall muscley people in the shops, on the sidewalks, etc.

When we had the Olympic trials, it was like the aliens or maybe the elves had invaded -- athletes at that level are just outliery enough from normal human bodytypes that they seem subtly "wrong," and I kept looking at people and doubletaking before reminding myself that they must be here for the trials.

[whatistigerbalm]

stopped and searched at security because of scary residue detected on my ankle wrap

Liverpool airport, last summer, I saw that people were getting stopped for everything so I stripped down to a tiny top and bermudas. No belts, no shoes... so obviously my bare feet had to be additionally inspected.

[frosch.livejournal.com]

Get a Starbucks card, register it, and link it to an AT&T wifi account. As long as you buy something on the Starbucks card once a month, you get two hours a day of free Starbucks wifi. Oh, and good luck!

[splix]

Residue? WTF?

Hope you're having fun! :D

[blnchflr]

The flight attendants welcomed us to Boston and wished "good luck to all the runners."
Aw, nice :o)