Packet pickup Saturday evening. We intended to buy a jacket too but the line was too long. It was just as long Sunday morning, so we ended up spending half our time at the Expo waiting in line.

Steve, Chris and Tony, the Main Maniacs, at the Expo.

Kirsten and Mom at Petit Robert's Bistro. Gregg in the background.

We met Olga, Gregg and Jeff at Petit Robert's for dinner the night before the marathon, along with Olga's husband Bill and Jeff's wife Anita and her two sisters. I ran the Mt Si relay with Olga and Gregg as members of Jeff's team "The Usual Suspects"

After dinner, tomorrow the race.

In our room early Monday morning, about ready to head down Commonwealth Ave to the Common where the buses to Hopkinton are waiting.

Magnolias blooming along Commonwealth Ave

Perhaps I should have left a little earlier. It took me about 25 minutes to reach the line and another 25 to get to the front of the line and board my bus.

The buses all depart at the same time, after all the loading assistants raise their orange flags indicating that their buses are full.

There were more runners this year than last and there were lines everywhere. I spent most of my time in the Athlete's Village standing in a PortaPotty line.

Tony was the only Maniac I came across, though he'd seen a fair number. He was taking photos of Maniacs with his phone and uploading them to Facebook.

Me, pre-race. I was feeling pretty good - no pre-race anxiety anymore. Sometime during the morning I decided to try to re-qualify today, which meant running 3:45 instead of my planned 4:00 or so.

The first wave heads out to the gear buses around 9:15, none too soon since it was already almost 10 by the time I reached my corral.

Gear buses and first wave runners.

Lots of pedestrians to yield to this morning, like about 25,000.

The well-dressed marathoner, carrying camera, phone, cash and credit cards and several Gu's in the fuel belt, and multi-function watches on both wrists.

The last porta-potty stop, down by the corrals. Better than stopping during the race!

My corral. The entrance was crowded because the gates had already closed to the lower-numbered corrals.

Cheerful volunteers in bright yellow jackets everywhere

The starting gun has sounded and we're on the march, but slowly.

Passing the town offices

Approaching the starting line, which is just to the left of the white banners with black ovals. I crossed 9 minutes after the gun.

Five minutes into the race, headed for Boston with 11,000 companions.

These guys apparently didn't have time to stop at that last row of PortaPotties.

Eighty minutes and about 10 miles into the race. I averaged 8:10/mile for miles 5 through 11, a gently rolling section with no net elevation change.

Still a few redcoats in eastern Massachusetts, at least on Patriot's Day. I didn't see any Elvis's this year though, and no-one that I recognized.

Feeling pretty good, I ran most of the first half as if there were no second half to run.

At Wellesley College I kissed a girl because her sign said "Kiss me, I'm a Democrat". Then another, whose sign proclaimed that it was her birthday. Then finally, a girl whose sign read "Kiss me. No, really!" Wellesley was really fun. I overlooked Alison and her family though.

I averaged about 8:10 on the first half, which meant I could slow down to 9:00/mile on the second half and still qualify. So I did, or pretty close to it.

Boston has great volunteers, and nice big cups for the Gatorade.

The 128 crossing, where we turned off the course yesterday on our way back into Boston after visiting Alison and her family.

Turning the corner at the Newton firestation. John used to live quite close to here. The Newton hills are just ahead.

I concentrated on running through the hills so didn't pause for photos for about 5 miles, until here near mile 23.

I felt fine whenever I stopped but pretty stiff and sore while I was running. To alleviate the soreness in my legs I walked for a minute (maybe a little less) in each of the last three miles. I felt much better after each walk break.

Approaching mile 25 with a comfortable 15 minutes left to qualify. The cheering in the last few miles was even louder than at Wellesley. Very inspiring.

Susan cheering with Mom and John outside the Harvard Club, right before the dip under Mass Ave. Six minutes and only 0.4 miles left to go.

The finish line. What a great race!

I was right behind these two at the start too.

A sea of space blankets. It's not evident in the photo but a blustery wind kept blowing our blankets up into our faces.

Gear buses, as far as the eye can see. Just like after my first Boston two years ago, it took the gear bus volunteers a long time to find my bag.

This guy was too tired to complain about my taking his picture.

The way most other people get to Boston.

Runners, including a Maniac I didn't recognize, on Hereford street just after the turn off Commonwealth.

Four and a half hours after the second wave start, runners are still streaming down Commonwealth Avenue.