Boston Marathon 2012 - Expo and Race Kit Collection

Date: 14 Apr 2012
Venue: Sea Port Boston US

This is the largest race kit collection and merchandise expo that I have attended so far. Even though there were so many runners attended with their family members and supporters,the site was very well organized and atmosphere was full of joy and excitement.  Many brands with their latest products were showcase here, Adidas, Nike, Brooks, Newton, Asics, NB, Altas and others. Not only shoe and apparel, there were many gadgets, attractive items, services too like GPS watch, all kind of medal design, hair band, medal framing service, exercise equipment, sunglasses, all kind of souvenirs, watches, energy products and so on.

Met with many elite runners, including the speedy Woo Chan Yew.  Also runners from others countries like Bahamas, US, Spain and Japan .....

It's a once a lifetime experience and I am lucky to be here.

Can't wait for Monday, 16 Apr - The Boston Marathon

Seaport, race kit collection venue

 Met marathoners from Bahamas. They are couple.
Guess who is the runner and who is the supporter?

 Pretty quite...not much queue. They split runners into 3 waves, with each wave given different colour bib. Wave 1 red, 2 blue and 3 white.  Each wave were further broken down into Corrals. Will talk more about his in the race report.

 Can buy 4 ekor

 Goodies collection, friendly volunteers

Everybody is excited about the goodies especially the event Tshirt.  Some wear  it immediately.  We saw many  whom were wearing the previous year's event shirt and jacket.  In fact, when I arrived at the airport, I was sharing a shuttle with a lady name Beth. She is 75 years old, wearing a previous year Boston Marathon Jacket, and 2012 is her 8th Boston Marathon.

Once collected bib, everybody start shopping at the expo. Favourite booth were the Adidas - the official merchandise.  I got some too.  All I can say is there is so much to see, took us almost a day

 Nike Super Natural, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0.  The Flyknit were not seen.

 Saw the ALTRA shoes...looks really good.  Maybe one of
 these day will try an ultra race with these.

 Mari, mari, lelong, lelong...but all old model and odd sizes

 Newton booth

 Wish Malaysia has this type of medal

 Want this medal?

 U can join Jamaica Marathon to get this medal

 Big Sur Marathon, happen next week

 Framing medal, bib and photo service

 GPS gadgets...lots of them, and much cheaper than in Malaysia

 Brooks T7 with very nice colour is priced about US70 (special offer) at the Expo

The new NB Minimus, super light 

 Nike dri-fit, made in Malaysia, will you buy?

Nike showcase many of their products including these GPS watch, but surprisingly the much anticipated Fuel Band were not seen on display, although the lady (in the picture) demonstrated her own unit to me.  Will be very appealing to some of the younger runners.

 Asics Noosa. Wide range of Asics shoes were showcase and
offered at much attractive price. 

 With the legendary Woo Chan Yew..buying something  from the official merchandise is almost a must here. Favorites were the jackets with Boston Marathon logo. 

 US Olympic trial champion team.  People were queueing up to get his book sign or you can buy a pair of Sketcher to be signed by him.

 With coach Bart Yasso at the Runnersworld booth, very nice gentleman. This is the only 'celebrity' from Runnersworld that I managed to meet personally,  I missed Bill Rodgers and Dean Karnazes whom made their appearance much earlier.  Sorry sir, due to the few injuries I had before this race, I had no opportunity to try out the Yasso-800 for a time trial.  I will be happy just to finish this race!

Other marathon organizers also took the opportunity to promote their event. Just like back home, medals make perfect bait for medal face runners. And believe me, medal face runners - they are everywhere, not just Malaysia. In this picture, Disney's medals that everyone would likes to collect

This Scandinavian gentleman standing next to me - I used to see him a lots in some of the road races back home  in KL. But I only spoken to once or twice, and never get to  know his name.  I recognized him through his T shirt - how  can you find the  Kinrara Metta Run 2011 T-Shirt in the Boston Expo?  such a small world.  He told me he used to work as an expatriate in KL, but now he is back home in Holland. Shell?

 Huge crowd coming in and out - the expo is free,
so 25,000 plus families ..er you do the math

On the way back to the hotel, we saw the MIT architecture school

 Bibs and goodies - including a packet of jasmine rice?

 Long Sleeve running T instead of vest

Invitation to a carbo loading party and post race party

Boston Marathon 2012 - The Hottest Marathon

This is the hottest marathon that I have ever experience. The race started at 10am, imagine at a temperature similar to Malaysia..30-33 degree celcius. As hot as in Malaysia, with but here, its extra warm and dry. The organizer has earlier announced and warned runners of the hot and dry weather but unfortunately, they can't changed the starting time. The latest news from the organizer was that there were 2200 runners ended up at the medical tent, with more than 100 runners been sent to hospital, 16% out of 22000 runners did not participate due the the warning.  Many runners did collapse while running. Geoffrey Mutai unfortunately did not finish the course and quit between 30km - 35km.

There were 6 Malaysian male runners, and 3 female runners joined in this race. But unable to gather all for a group photo as everyone came back in different time and the crowd was huge. Only managed to take single picture. Below are some of the selected photos.

More news here

Malaysian male runners timing

Crossing one of the check point

With Khoo

with Gavin Bong

 With Francis Yeng...this Doc can really kick ass

With the legendary Woo Chan Yew at the expo

 Hotel shutter brought runners to this place

 and transfer by BAA bus to starting location.
The bus look like our Bus Sekolah

 Food and drinks waiting for runners as breakfast

 Hopkinton is the starting place

 Ballerina runner

 They have Sarong man too

 Very crowded

 Walking to the starting point

these soldiers walk the full marathon distance in full gear..tabik spring!

 the infamouse Wellesley girls offering kisses for runners only
When can we have this in Malaysia?

 On 15 miles check point

Many ran without shirt...me too

 Water, we want more water

 Very supportive spectators

 Finally, approaching finishing line

The shining blanket was suppose to prevent runners
to get cold, but no used as the weather was hot

 After the run, time for relaxation

 Party for runners at House Blues

Every 5km pace