The 1996 Boston Marathon – The 100th Boston


Note: This post was constructed in February 2020 from sources from the time of the 1996 Boston Marathon and later reports on this site: among them are:

From my memory
 have definite memories of taking the bus up to Hopkinton from Boston. You can see our group before we got on the bus (left). I don't remember much of being on the bus except I don't think I was with any of the other Flyers and there was an endless stream of busses bumper to bumper all the way to Hopkinton. Now take a look at the the starting line map in Hopkinton (Starting Line Map). And since we're in a photo together (see photo left, below) I must have run at least part of the way with Sarina and Julie and looking at our bibs I think the first two digits (20, 25, 22) was our corral number, so we probably got together in corral 25 if the usual rules were in place. Those are the known facts.

Now what happened between getting off the busses and getting into our corrals? That was interesting and actually rather amusing. First off you must realize there were probably twice the number of runners (and busses) as any previous Boston so there were incredible logistics issues, especially in a small town like Hopkinton. I think the line of busses was backed up all the way to the Mass Pike (about 10 miles from Hopkinton) so there must have been a system of getting the busses into Hopkinton, getting the runners out (fast) and getting the busses out of there to head back to Boston. Thinking back those 24 years, I still don't know how they managed to do it. But they did and we started on time.

I remember getting out of the bus and I was not with anyone I knew. There was a blanket of snow on the ground, I think from the previous day, but my log book (Here) says the temperature was 38° and sunny and that it would rise to about 50° at noon, and then fall as we approached Boston. I recall the most important item of all 40,000 runners' agendas was where to pee! As we walked along Hayden Rowe one owner of a house was out front with a rake or a shovel or something to keep runners off his snow covered lawn else it would turn yellow. For myself I found a relatively vacant field and I had a bottle and found a spot and then got rid of the bottle and met up with my frieds at the designated area. So we did our thing, found each other, found our corral and we were off. And for the record, it poured rain the next day, which I would say gave a much needed washing to the streets and parks of Hopkinton.

I remember certain things along the course: it was great running weather, there were those Japanese drummers at the base of Heartbreak hill which just pushed us up to hill, and there were huge billboards along the course showing photos from the history of the race: kids on bikes chasing along side the leaders along Beacon Street, young ladies in long dresses cheering at Wellesley and the old buildings which are still at Coolidge Corner, you get the idea.

I don't remember how I felt actually running, but my log book (Here) says: "Great Day – Great Day – Great Town w. JulieW till about 15. Joy et all @22. legs (rt. ham, quads) hurt last 4. toughed it out. Good effort 4:10:10 elapsed time 3:57:52. May lose l 4th toe, maybe rt. Blister under l. ball. Not terrible that night." Not too shabby!

The BAA, the innovator of the timing chip, still kept to Clock Time (aka Gun Time) as the official time and "Net Time" for what we would call "Chip Time". The difference for me was 14:26 minutes (see my Finisher's Certificate).

From the January 1996 edition of the , page 6
BOSTON HERE WE COME
By Richard G.
t looks like over 40 Flyers are eligible tor un the 100th Boston Marathon. This has to be a record for any team anywhere, ever. The Flyers will do their part to make Boston-96 a great team event, both on and off the course. First thing: we need to know who is going. If you are a qualifier or lottery winner please let us know as soon as possible. We will coordinate getting places to stay (hard) and rides for those who need them. Next: you need to get in your order for the Special Flyer/Boston-96 singlet. This will have the traditional New York Flyer logo on front and a special Flyer/Boston-96 graphic on the back. Not another like this will be available for 100 years! We need firm orders by the end of January, so act now. Today! This minute! Call GO-NY-RUN and place your order (give sex and size); price will be $25. Next: since you just got over the NYC marathon, it will soon be time to start training for the big one in Boston. A long run training schedule will be in the next newsletter. Ed O'D. will be coordinating this so if you have any specific ideas, let him know. We will organize things to do up there from a gentle run along the Charles on Saturday morning, to a fabulous feast Sunday night to a quiet post-mortem Monday night after the big effort. There will be plenty of need for a cheering section so we hope there will be plenty more of us up there beside ther unners. Richard G. has agreed to coordinate this fun weekend. Call him (212-673-6732) for information or questions, or to volunteer to help plan any of the activities. Messages can also be left on the Flyer voice mail system GO-NY-RUN.

From the February 1996 edition of the , page 4
BOSTON HERE WE COME (Part 2)
By Richard G.
e have made a great start in getting a Flyer contingent organized for the 100th running of the Boston Marathon, to be held on Monday, April 15. It looks like we may have over 50 runners in that historic race. News reports predict close to 40,000 runners! Since the Boston Marathon has never had more than about 10,000, this should be very interesting! If you are planning to be there in April and have not yet been in contact with us, call Tim D. (w: 503-5443, h: 288-0786) immediately if you need housing or Richard G. (w: 250-2305, h: 673-6732) immediately if you want to order a commemorative Flyer / l00th Boston singlet, or just to say you are going. Cheering section: we need your support up there! If you are not competing, you can still be part of the event as part of a Flyer cheering section. Amtrak affords a way to make it a day trip or you may want to come up Sunday night and join us at the pasta party. In the March and April Newsletters we will give details on organization, places to cheer from, how to navigate the Boston subway system to follow the race at several points, maps, etc. Meanwhile, what better way to prepare for the event than to train with us. Training runs: we have a tentative schedule of long training runs. Feel free to join the group even if you want to do less mileage. All paces should be represented so don't be shy. Meeting point for al1 group runs will be 72nd Street and the East Drive in Central Park on Saturdays at 9:00AM. Runs that are part of a race, meet 1 hour before the race at the race starting point – check the NYRRC schedule. Coming in March: a run out of the Park, possibly up to the Cloisters or along the Palisades – stay tuned for details. For the March 16th Brooklyn run, we will run to Brooklyn from some designated spot and then do the Brooklyn Half, [Note: the date of the Brooklyn Half was changed to March 23rd] details next month. We hope to have a baggage car for this. And get this! a run is tentatively scheduled for March 16th along part of the Boston Marathon course, probably from Ashland to Brookline, followed by brunch or dinner (depending on when we get there). Plans are for carpools or renting a van. All are welcome, whether or not you are running Boston. Let Ed O'D. know if you are interested. Final details next month. Ed or Jerry Flower would welcome any suggestions for additions or modifications to this schedule.

From the March 1996 edition of the , page 3

FUTURE RACE PLANNING
...
3/16 Boston Training Run Road Trip – Get that psychological edge by doing a long run on the actual Boston course. Or torture yourself if you're not going to the real thing. Promises to be a fun time! (Rich G. or Ed O'D.)
...
4/15 Boston Marathon. – Spectators wanted! Come cheer your teammates in Boston's 100th! (Rich G.)
...

FYI – BOSTON UPDATE
An article in the Globe stated that this year the marathon will be using chips tied to your shoes to time the runners. You'll pick up your chip when you pick up your number. Your official time will still be the elapsed time on the clock, but for qualifying purposes, you'll be able to use the 'sensed' time which won't begin until you actually cross the start. So you 29,000 non-elite's can take it easy waiting for the start. For additional Flyer information regarding the Boston Marathon, check GO-NY-RUN closer to race day

From my 2010 blog post
was the 100th running of the Boston Marathon, and everybody, but everybody tried to get in. All the big marathons – New York, Chicago, Columbus, etc, which were traditional feeders for Boston, were oversubscribed. I actually ran 2 races during 1995 trying to qualify, something I had not done before or since. In Las Vegas I missed by 3 minutes but in Chicago, I made it by about 20 seconds. (see for that story.)

It was a mass obsession which seemed to grip all the marathoners in the country. The race itself, with nearly 40,000 entrants, set the record as the largest athletic event in history. And a new innovation was introduced – the timing chip. This was the first use of this technology in a major marathon and allowed this huge field to be scored quickly and accurately. Its adoption became widespread in next to no time.

A huge crowd of Flyers made it up to Boston, and many of the historic figures from the past came to run or participate. Johnny Kelley was the grand marshall and luminaries such as Johnny Miles, Bill Rodgers, Joan Samuelson, Roberta Gibb, Amby Burfort, and Cliff Held were there.

For me this was a people's race, a Flyers' race and a great experience. There was no need for a special moment – the whole thing was special.

Instead of the usual set of photos, I've enbedded a slideshow featuring the Flyers at the 100th Boston Marathon, Click on the photo below to start it going.

The 1996 Boston Marathon
 Clock times from the
May 1996
Karl Ammundson 2:37:33
Thomas Zweifel 3:12:22
Hiran Cantu 3:13:43
Bob Mazur 3:18:18
Joseph Kenigan 3:24:18
Ken Bruce 3:29:49
Tim Decker 3:33:57
Urs Weber 3:37:48
Ed O'Donnell 3:47:16
Tom Dessereau 3:47:24
Kathy O'Donnell 3:49:05
Elizabeth Feinberg 3:49:08
Elizabeth Allen 3:49:15
Laurie Kearney 3:51:10
Mary MacNeil 3:54:53
Suzanne Dodge 3:55:31
Ariella Evenzahav 3:55:59
Robert Lipton 4:01:06
Ellen Sullivan 4:03:28
Judy Neff 4:04:24
Julie Walsh 4:05:39
Cliff Held 4:09:02
Rich G. 4:10:19
Lucretia Cavan 4:11:34
Paula Lashinsky 4:14:25
Tim McGoey 4:14:48
Sofia Gibara 4:16:59
Kathleen Nitschelm 4:17:23
Jim Orlando 4:20:54
Doug MacLean 4:22:30
Sarina Green 4:24:01
Catherine King 4:25:15
Marianne Campbell 4:29:30
Jennifer Keenan 4:30:09
Jerry Flower 4:34:31
Michael Lewis 4:44:12
Abigail DeMers 4:47:17
Scott Zegas 5:07:46
Melinda Clymer 5:07:47
David Kos 5:09:28
Margie Caputo 5:31:07
Tom Cox 5:36:23
Mary Daly 5:42:51
Frank Fitts 5:48:02
David Wong 5:S1:35

  So how did I do? 
 My Splits: 1996 Boston Marathon 
from my log book: (click Here)
MileSplit Mile Split
delay 14:26 14 8:50
1 9:15 15 8:53
2 8:33 16 8:44
3 8:25 17 9:12
4 8:31 18 9:29
5 8:12 19 9:32
6 8:28 20 9:36
7 8:30* 21 10:09
8 8:31* 22 9:23
9 8:13 23 9:45
10 8:45 24 9:49
11 8:42 25 9:54
12 8:44 26 10:06
13 9:09 Finish 3:57:52
 * – miles 7 & 8 merged as 17:01. 

From the May 1996 edition of the , front page and page 4
he club was all a buzz before and after the Boston Marathon. If it weren't for the pictures, those of us who stayed in NewYork might not believe you actually ran a marathon, sounded more like a party. Tim McGoey reported in to GONY-RUN seeing Jerry F., Ed O'D' and other Flyers at the Eliot Lounge late Saturday after noon doing the liquid carbo load. Most runners reported having an amazing time, "couldn't believe how well organized the event was" considering the massive crowd. A 95 out of 100 says Coach Cliff, that 5 gets knocked off for the baggage check. He must have had some thing special in that baggage. Now that the Boston runners are back and the snow has melted it is time to start overdosing on spring races. We always get a surge of ca1ls to GO-NY-RUN requesting club information after a big race. I guess we look so fashionable and friendly at those races in our Flyer apparel. Take a look at the upcoming events and try to plan in some team races. And don't forget the CLUB TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP.
        Julie

Well, it has come and gone ...
ll the anticipation, training and preparations surounding the l00th Boston Marathon is Suddenly behind us. The New York Flyers proudly sent our largest contingent ever to participate in the so-called Race of the Century. 45 Flyers in all and four times as many as last year! In fact, 1 out of every 13 Boston-l00 runners from NYC was a Flyer and not one of them is 1ikely to forget their experience any time soon even after everyone is running normally again in a few days. Your fellow teammates listed here were among the almost 30-some-thousand+ lucky marathoners who can now claim their own small share of running lore by having finished the greatest race in history. For some, this was probably their only chance at ever running the Boston Marathon and every one of them made it to Boylston Street. Even for many of those who qualified this was their first trip up Heartbreak Hill. Special thanks to Rich G. and Ed O'D. for helping us plan the many Flyer activities surrounding this event. The fact that everything went off so smoothly is a testament to their planning and hard work.

Thanks to Julie G. for helping to organize the official Flyer cheering section and for the personalized Flyer logo cookies she distributed at the Pasta Party. Thanks to Kathy K., Bob L. and all the other Flyers who made the effort to come to Boston and cheer us on, even though they were not even running the race themselves. Thanks also to Laurie K. for allowing her extremely conveniently located hotel room to serve as Flyer Central following the race including showers and champagne.