Boston Marathon

It's the Boston Marathon, but in my mind I have another name for it - WGM.  (World's Greatest Marathon)

The 3rd Monday in April runners flock to Boston to participate in this historic event. It is Patriot's Day, a state holiday in Massachusetts.   I consider myself extremely privileged to have participated in the WGM Boston on 8 occasions.  1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001.  After my inaugural Boston experience in 1992,  I did truly have serious aspirations to run Boston every year thereafter.  Running Boston is among the greatest experiences of my life. 

In 2001, I finished 10th Master female and was awarded a beautiful Waterford Crystal Bowl. (Master in running-speak means over 40 years old.  I was 41.) 

One of my prized posessions!

Every Patriot's Day in my mind I am in Boston.  I obsess about it and my spirit is there, even though I can no longer run.  I think of all my friends who are running the WGM!  Every year I know of at least half a dozen runners who are doing Boston.

This tragedy hits hard.  I know many of us are suffering.  My thoughts go out to all.  We'll get through this, one step at a time.

Dog POOP out of control

As many of you know, I am not really a pet person.  There are a few exceptions.  I was very fond of my brother and sister-in-law's little dog, Bhikkhu.  However, I have been afraid of most dogs for more than 1/2 of my life.  In fact I would go a mile out of my way walking home from high school to avoid a barking (in my mind, ferocious) dog.  When I ran in college, recreationally, my longest run was because of a dog.  I was near the end of a 2 mile run and just about to reach campus (Shippensburg PA, 1980, very rural) when suddenly a dog emerged from a farm house, barking loudly.  I made the prudent, college-educated decision and turned around.  Thus, I ran 4 miles instead of the mere 2 intentional miles, to get back to campus.

These days we live temporarily in a town house, one mile from our real home which is being remodeled.  We are fortunate in this urban setting since we are within walking distance to...well, practically everything.  There's the grocery store 2 blocks away, the gym a mile away, the Metro Station 3/4 mile away, and probably 30 restaurants within a 2 mile radius.  Seriously.

So I walk.  I walk often.  I would enjoy my walks more if I didn't have to view the Poop from man's best friend.  Recently I took out my camera to photo the dog poop problem.



See the poop front & center 

 Here is perhaps the culprit.

This is the edging where there is much poop!

Some dog owners do clean up their dog poop.  Thank You!  Yet I often see the plastic "clean up bags" in the neighborhood, on the sidewalks and streets.  It would be great if the dog owners would pitch these colorful trash bags into a trash container, instead of leaving them curb-side.

So now I see colorful bags of dog poop!

As many people say, "IT IS WHAT IT IS"  but I think we can do better!

I am talking to dog owners.  PLEASE, PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR BEST FRIEND!