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After the Marathon, this Boston running group meets in the basement at Clery’s
"It’s common when we pass each other on the course to say, ‘See you at Clery’s.’”
At the end of the 26-mile Boston Marathon route, runners make their way to supportive family and friends who give hugs, wrap their runner in foil, then ask an important question: Where are we eating?
For the Greater Boston Track Club runners who participate annually in one of the world’s most famous road races, no question is necessary. The post-marathon celebration is usually always in Clery’s basement.
“We’ve been coming to Clery’s ever since I was on the team,” said Eric Mendoza, who ran his first Boston Marathon in 2010. At 41, the Mattapan resident ran 2:39:29 on Monday, a part of a team of more than 20 runners this year.
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So at least 16 years of meeting up at the bar and corner booth in Clery’s basement, according to Mendoza. But it’s possibly longer than that, since the running club has been meeting up since 1973.
For Greater Boston Track Club’s participating runners, grabbing a beer at Clery’s before they make their way home for rest has become a tradition.
Beers and protein bars in hand, the runners and their families and friends took over several tables inside the basement of the South End pub, a usually buzzing space full of spectators and runners imbibing after the Marathon. Today was no different.
When members came in later, they’d get a round of applause from the rest of the Greater Boston Track Club, as did Rob Norcross, who finished the race in around 2:40:00. The 44-year-old from Mansfield just came for a beer or two — for many runners like Norcross, food isn’t the move right after running 26 miles.
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“It’s the social aspect of it,” Norcross said about joining his fellow runners at Clery’s. “I could care less about the beer. I care about the people. It’s about the people.”
For others, though, a meal is in order. Shaun Dever, who ran the race in 2:49:00, had a beer in one hand and a protein bar in the other.
In a room full of runners and spectators enjoying draft beer, he admits a brew isn’t the best beverage choice after a run. But it’s fun.
“I’m not going to skip out on hanging out with my guys, right?” Dever, 39, from Stoneham said. “The hard work is done, and now we celebrate.”
Within groups in the room, some members enjoy their own traditions. Michael Creedon, 33 from Watertown, has been coming to Clery’s after each of his five times running in the Boston Marathon and even the years he’s been a spectator. This year he ran 2:33:45, a second best.
For the last three years, he’s finished, or at least attempted to, an entire cheese pizza following the race.
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“I guess we’ll call that a tradition,” Creedon laughed. “But coming to Clery’s is definitely a tradition. It’s common when we pass each other on the course to say, ‘See you at Clery’s.’”
Typically closed on Mondays, Clery’s opens its doors early at 11 a.m. every Marathon Monday.
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