2013 - "It is the spectators who make the Boston Marathon what it is."

Matthew Amick

For the most part, my story of the 2013 Boston Marathon is very similar to many who have run it before me. From the first time I considered trying to qualify, and thinking "Oh, that won't be that hard," to realizing I may never be able to qualify, to the grueling training it took to become fast enough. But, Boston is the granddaddy of marathons! It is the one all marathoners strive for. Therefore, when I finally qualified, it was a huge relief!!

Once my entry to the marathon was accepted, I decided I would run it as a celebration, not as a race. I wasn't concerned about effort and pace, but just wanted to soak it all in.

Part of that celebration was the expo, which was AMAZING!! My wife (a faithful half marathoner, tempted to run a full some day), and I could not get enough of the expo. It was the best one we'd ever been to. Yes, we tend to geek out on that kind of thing. Who wouldn't get excited about seeing Kara Goucher, Shalane Flanagan, & Meb Keflezighi in person? Oh, and I chatted with Adam Goucher and did a shake out run with Bart Yasso. But then Marathon Monday arrived.