Why Boston is the Greatest Marathon in the World
In 1982 former Wayland Massachusetts high school star (and Oregon All-American) Alberto Salazar returned home for his first and only Boston Marathon. I had the honor in high school of running against Alberto on several occasions (or should I say the honor of being lapped). Alberto did not disappoint in his Boston homecoming. Race conditions that day were unseasonably warm for April in Boston with temperatures reaching the low 70's as the lead runners passed through Wellesley. The race is depicted in the 2008 book Duel in the Sun by Runners World writer John Brant http://www.amazon.com/Duel-Sun-Beardsley-Americas-Greatest/dp/1594862621 Despite the buildup (Alberto had set the world marathon record in 2:08:13 the previous November in New York) the race did not disappoint and ended up being one of the greatest Boston Marathons ever. Alberto and fellow American great Dick Beardsley dueled down to the finish with Salazar edging out Beardsley by just two seconds and collapsing at the finish before being taken to an emergency room and given 6 liters of water intravenously because he had taken no water during the race. I remember the day very well as this was my first (and only) Boston and I was just crossing over Rt. 128 on Route 16 (10 miles behind the leaders) as I listened to radios held by spectators blaring out the final thrilling moments. Here it is:
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