Race Recap: Roxbury Marathon 2017
Another snowy Roxbury. That phrase alone says so much. My husband, Kim, and I bundled up in our winter running gear and prepared for what has become a love-hate relationship with this race. The Roxbury Marathon is not your typical marathon experience—it’s a no-frills, no-medal, cold, budget-friendly event. No finish chute, no race T-shirts, no bands—just a small, dedicated group of hardcore, possibly crazy runners. And you know what? I think I might just be one of them!
The weather was classic Roxbury: freezing cold with snow-covered roads from the night before. Kim kept warm with his iconic Angry Bird hat, while I wrapped my face in a buff, rotating it constantly to keep it from freezing.
The course itself is a challenge. It starts with a 9-mile out-and-back on a dirt road filled with rolling hills. The return leg features a particularly tough hill that tests your resolve early on. After that, you head back to the start area, and then the real fun begins—five loops with two water stops. One stop offers water and Gatorade, while the other gets creative, serving Fireball and an assortment of beers. I guess some runners prefer to fuel like race cars—with alcohol!
We managed to convince a few friends to sign up this year, which added to the camaraderie. Despite the freezing conditions, I felt a small sense of victory passing the spot on the course where I fell in a previous year. Only 23 miles to go after that—yay?
The cold was relentless, and my clothes became soaked with sweat, so Kim and I made good use of one of the race’s best features: the proximity of the parking lot. We stopped at the car mid-race to change into dry clothes, which was a lifesaver.
By the time we reached the final loop, I turned to Kim and declared, “NEVER AGAIN AM I RUNNING THIS RACE!” Yet, as I crossed the finish line—marked by two cones on the side of the road—I couldn’t help but ask the guy recording our times, “Do you have medals this year?” His reply? “Sorry, no medals.” It felt straight out of National Lampoon’s Vacation: “Sorry, kid, park’s closed!”
So, will I run it again next year? Only time (and summer registration) will tell.
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