The 8 Types of People You Meet at the Marathon
Some people watch the Boston Marathon to see who wins, to hear the soothing beat of thousands of soles slapping pavement, to find out who claims the cash prizes. And some just want to people watch.
Good news: There’s lots of people for watching.
Here are the eight types of people you’ll encounter during the Boston Marathon.
1. Unprepared Guy: Running a marathon is always something to be proud of – especially if you’re doing it for charity. But every once in a while someone’s charitable impulses outpace their athleticism to do the running – and you see him heaving over a cup of water less than four miles in. Give him a cheer. His pounding heart is in the right place.
2. Wellesley Kissers: The women of Wellesley are famous for the “Scream Tunnel’’ and the occasional smooch. It’s like a modern day tunnel of love, but one that you run through.
3. Human Salt Lick: The body pumps out salt as it sweats. For some runners, this results in a thin layer of salt on the face. It may look like icing has been rubbed on their foreheads, but resist the temptation to lick their temples.
4. Cowbell Dude: It’s not just for Will Ferrell, who ran Boston in 2003. The cowbell is a classic tool for motivating runners. They might be zoned out and focused on the road, but those bells keep them tromping forward, just like on a farm.
5. Bleeding Nipples Guy: It’s a fact of running life: chests get rubbed raw sometimes and turn race shirts a little rouge. Runners, take precautions.
6. Person Refusing to Stop for Bathroom Breaks: Runners are a motivated bunch. If there is a personal best to be had, they’ll stop at nothing to reach it. Including the portables.
7. Elite Runners: Did you see that? Ooh, too slow. The elite runners are so quick that if you don’t pay attention, you’ll miss them. They’re going to finish hours before the bulk of the pack, looking like spindly gazelles in the process.
8. Binge Drinkers: For some, Marathon Monday is about toppling drinking records. It’s the first day of the week, many people aren’t at work or school, and the weather tends to be beautiful. Also: Drinking is a lot easier than running.
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