Bob Socci reports live from Boston Marathon finish line
On Monday’s Toucher & Hardy radio program, Bob Socci gave a live update from the Boston Marathon finish line.
Apr 18, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Runners cross the finish line of the 2016 Boston Marathon. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Socci Boston Marathon Update
Parts of conversation abbreviated for clarity.
Hardy: Now, we’ll find out if any runners have crossed the finish line in downtown Boston with Bob Socci. Bob, I know the runners just started, but is anyone there yet?
Bob Socci: I’m looking down Boylston Street. I have not spotted anyone yet, but I’m sure they’re right around the corner.
Hardy: Don’t worry, Bob. We will stay with you until they cross the line.
Bob Socci: Let me describe what’s happening here, right now, as we speak.
Wallach: Lots of things are happening, right?
Bob Socci: A lot of a lot of people standing and chatting, drinking coffee, and enjoying the beautiful day that we have here in Copley Square. You know, there’s an awesome feeling just coming here. I took the train into Park Street, and the doors opened, and then I saw all of the runners in their varying colors, with their clear plastic bags carrying their gear. Runners eventually made their way across the common. There were waves of them moving toward the busses.
The excitement and the energy, it’s palpable. And I know that’s a cliche, and it’s used by people in my business as play-by-play broadcasters trying to set the stage for a game. But you really sense it, really feel it. And it’s such a beautiful morning here.
Having experienced it a couple of years ago, it’s our finest day in sports, in Boston and in the surrounding communities, because of all the people that pulled together and all the people it takes to stage this event.
I’m out here at Copley. I’ll be in the media center for the most part, to just provide updates as the racers go off. We’re really accustomed to dynasties around here in Boston. You know, we just wrapped up the docu-series, The Dynasty.
And we’ve got a couple of dynamic individual dynasties in the race today. Marcel Hug just went off with the wheelchair racers. He’s a six-time champion. He’s trying to match Tom Brady with a seventh title.
You’ve got Evans Chebet looking for a third straight win.
Hellen Obiri says she’s in the best shape of her life. She’s looking for her second straight win in what is apparently the strongest women’s field. Based on the times the women’s field has collectively come into this race.
So it should be an amazing event when you talk about the elite runners, but then the 30,000 plus overall. That’s just something to marvel at.
More Live Reports…
Be listening to 98.5 The Sports Hub at the following times for more updates from Bob Socci:
- 10:50 a.m.
- 11:50 a.m.
- 12:20 p.m.
- 12:50 p.m.
Segment Audio
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Tradition, challenge, exclusivity continue to draw top runners to Boston Marathon
Des Linden
Eric Canha-USA TODAY SportsApr 17, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Des Linden (USA) crosses the finish line at the 2023 Boston Marathon. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
“There’s so many different things, but right now what stands out to me is the qualifying. It’s such a touchy subject, but it’s because it’s important, it’s because it’s meaningful – having a goal and being able to achieve it. There’s still so much value in that, and people want to accomplish difficult things. So that goal post is going to keep moving. The times are going to keep getting better because a lot of people find it meaningful. And that just sort of exemplifies people raising each other up. I just think that that’s – it’s unique to all the other marathons out there. You qualify for this one it’s the everyman’s Olympics.”
Matt McDonald
Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 08: Matt McDonald of the United States crosses the finish line of the 2023 Chicago Marathon at Grant Park on October 08, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“The fact that there’s like, this exclusivity to Boston, makes it an event because you’ve qualified. You worked hard to get here, and this is sort of the reward. And to see that in most of the other runners is super exciting because we come here to compete as much as we can, and we’re here on business basically…The competition I’m running with comes here for business. To see everybody else coming here for fun, it reminds me that I should also be having fun at this event, because it is a fun event and it is a special event, and it is something that I’ve earned. And everyone who’s running it has earned and should feel like they’ve earned it and enjoy the reward.”
Elkanah Kibet
Omar Rawlings/Getty ImagesBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 18: Elkanah Kibet of the United States crosses the finish line in the professional men’s division during the 126th Boston Marathon on April 18, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
“One thing that I keep coming to Boston for is the tradition of Boston. I mean, this is [the] 128th marathon. Who doesn’t want to be part of that tradition? And it’s like, the culture is unique. It’s on Patriots’ Day and everybody comes out. It’s a no-work day for the Massachusetts state. So this is the culture that the tradition has lived for more than 100 years. And it brings the community together. It brings, people get together, and watch parties. So that’s really good. And especially the cheering, When you’re running, you come close to Boylston Street and the colleges. When you’re running up to hills, it’s amazing. That’s a culture that really needs – everybody needs to have a culture like that.”
C.J. Albertson
Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY SportsApr 18, 2022; Boston, MA, USA; CJ Albertson (29) runs during the 2022 Boston Marathon. Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
“The atmosphere. It seems like the whole town – or all the towns around Boston – are just into it. So when you go out to race, it’s just like this huge thing where everyone’s into it. There’s tons of energy. Just like the whole weekend from when you arrive to the airport, go to the expo, go to your hotel, just all the pre-race event stuff. It’s just super fun. And so it’s not just like a race where, you show up, you check it at the expo, you go to a hotel and then you race the next day. Boston’s a whole weekend experience that’s just a lot of fun.”
Emma Bates
Eric Canha-USA TODAY SportsApr 17, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Emma Bates (USA) after crossing the finish line at the 2023 Boston Marathon. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
“It’s something that has so much history and so much meaning. And I think that people really respect that and people really understand that. So everybody wants to be a part of it, and everybody wants to support everybody that is here, and everybody’s just so happy and smiling. There’s not a wet blanket in the room when you’re when you’re at the Boston Marathon.”
Meb Keflezighi
Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesBOSTON, MA – APRIL 21: Meb Keflezighi of the United States crosses the finish line to win the 118th Boston Marathon on April 21, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
“This is the Olympics for the everyday runner. It really is. From the elite athlete, maybe final finish – win or top three or top ten – but for some people they just say ‘my dream is to qualify for the Boston Marathon.’ This morning I met a lady, her first marathon was 5:05. But she’s here today because she qualified for the Boston Marathon of 3:27. She almost took two hours [off her time]. She just keeps saying, ‘pinch me, pinch me because is really happening?’ So to be able to be here, whether you qualified or you’re doing a greater cause, like I’m doing a charity runner…You are the elite of the elitist for those that qualified. And then for the charity, keep up the great work. Because that’s what the spirit of the Marathon. It’s not just three hours or four hours, but to be able to include everybody to come at different rates, to just partake of the Boston Marathon. For 128 years, that’s incredible.”
