Flashes of Panic

I meant to write a long post for Boston folks about the Olympic Trials marathon on Sunday. But my fingers hurt quite a lot. So here’s the roundup.

• Two marathons this year. Trials on Sunday. Usual BAA marathon (the crowds) on Monday.
• Top three in the Trials run for the USA at the Olympics this summer. Everyone else goes home. Simple and easy.
• Local interest: Kate O’Neill, with a good chance of making the team, is from Milton. Several others are local; look for the blue BAA uniforms, among other local teams.
• Best places to watch: Memorial Drive in Cambridge (fewer crowds, two or three passes per lap); between Boyleston and Comm Ave in Back Bay (close to the start and finish). (Check the map.)
• T stops: Kendall for the Memorial Drive spots; Park Street and the Boyleston Green Line stops for the Boston side. Back Bay on the Orange Line is close to the finish as well.
• Everyone ran faster than 2:47 to qualify, and nearly everyone should finish under 3:20 or so.
• Watch for Joanie.

Avoiding the race? Avoid Memorial Drive, Mass Ave, and Back Bay. Storrow should be as good as it ever is, whatever that means.

You’re not going to see Olympians decided this close to Boston again soon; the track Trials for ‘08 and ‘12 are in Eugene, Oregon. This is really a big deal. Get out and watch Sunday morning.

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