Boston Marathon Expo highlights

I went to the Expo Friday night. Last year I was there when it opened and greeted hundreds of runners as they arrived to pick up their packets. In years past I’ve gone on a Saturday. This year I took Friday off to go early, but had an afternoon conference call, so I had to wait. It’s just as well. It was less crowded and I still saw a lot of friends.

They had the Expo set up differently this year. Instead of walking into the “Grand Hall of Numbers” to pick up your packet and then enter The Expo, you had to go up to the 3rd floor to get your number.

This photo was taken on the escalator going down to The Expo.

Thankfully they had lots of volunteers, because even I was a bit confused and I’ve done this a few times.

I like the Grand Hall of Numbers better. This year, we picked up our numbers on the front side of the building with windows over looking Boylston Street. There wasn’t anything grand and majestic about that setting.

I know adjustments needed to be made this year due to the huge number of runners. I get it. Hopefully next year they will go back to the Grand Hall of Numbers.

On The Expo floor

There were a lot of vendors giving away food samples this year.

There was a company called “Oh Yeah! Nutrition” which had the best energy bars I’ve ever tasted. The bars are 85 grams and have 26 to 28 grams of protein and 18 to 19 grams of fat. The carbs range from 27 to 36 grams.

I’m not a nutritionist so I can’t say if these are the best bars for you from a nutritional stand point. But they are the best tasting bars I have ever had. I’d say they were even better than a candy bar as they were not too sweet.

Sam Adams was there giving out tiny samples of their 26.2 Ale. I’ve never had it before so I was eager to give it a try. It was crisp with a well-balanced hop/malt flavor. Definitely an ale that a runner would enjoy.

I think I talked to just about every vendor there. Well, maybe half of them. I talked to just about all of the people there representing a marathon. So many great races. I wanted to sign up for several of them, but I do have a job and there is that matter of money. Hopefully I can get one destination marathon in this summer.

I hope you enjoy/enjoyed the Expo and picked up lots of swag. I think the best item in the runners swag bag was the Sam Adams bottle opener. It was in the bottom of my bag and I was surprised last night when I pulled it out. Definitely something I will use. For some reason my photo of the opener will not load, so I’ll save it for another time.

In addition to the cool bottle opener, each runner gets one of these. When you pull it out of your bag it just looks like another marketing card. But when you open it up there are three cool gifts: the commemorative bumper sticker, temporary tattoo and one of those wrist bands we have been hearing so much about. I almost bought a wrist band but they did not take cash.

Run well my friends, see you in Boston!

Andy

© anagelin 2014