FADING AWAY AND MISSED BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN
As I was driving by Hopkinton the other day, my daughter Elle reminded me she has never seen the start line of the Boston Marathon. So, I quickly exited the highway and headed to WHERE IT ALL STARTS.

As we approached the start, I pointed out the BAA Hopkinton office building, the statues of Walter Brown and The Hoyts, where the elite athletes and the wheelchair athletes hang out before the start, and the infamous Marathon Way and Cookie’s Corner (Hopkinton triangle).

She then noticed the fading Boston Marathon start line. I told her that for more 30 years, our DMSE colleague, Jack Leduc, painted the start line but retired from doing so in 2018. She then noticed another faded painted logo on the road next to the start line.

I explained to her that for the past 10-15 years, Jack, on this own initiative, got creative and painted a mark on the road symbolizing my annual nighttime run. In 2018, Andy Deschenes came up with this one representing the fact that I had heart surgery 6 mo earlier & was...

attempting my 47th Boston Marathon. On race day, these logos are usually covered by the timing mats, so for the most part they remain a well-kept secret and why my daughter had no idea this ever happened.

I told her that even though the START line along with my symbol was fading that we would be back stronger than ever next year, and although we miss all the excitement and draw of this Holy Grail, it will never be forgotten or ever fade away!