Baked Beans: The Boston Marathon and Patriots Day

Today is the running of the 111th Boston Marathon. This race has lost relevance nationwide as American runners have lost relevance when it comes to any chance of winning the race. In Boston and New England however it is covered ad nauseum by every major news channel in the city providing footage from all points of the race. Friends and acquaintences run the race, sometimes as a means to raise money for charity, most of the time as a personal challenge. While there won't be many today, usually spectators line the Marathon route to cheer on (or heckle) oncoming runners.

Of course the Marathon always falls on a much more interesting day, Patriots Day in Massachusetts. Patriots Day commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord which started the Revolutionary War. It is the biggest blowoff holiday in this country. Schools, State Offices, and some businesses along the Marathon route close and leave their employees free to throw parties and drink all day during the Marathon. When I was little my parents would take me out of school (New Hampshire still has school) to watch the Lexington Patriots Day Parade and battle reenactment. My senior year in high school a friend of my dad fed me jello shots in his Beacon Street apartment.

Also the Red Sox are scheduled to play today at 10:05am, the only morning start time on the entire MLB schedule. Today they are playing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Meaning their fans will need an explanation as to why they had to wake up at 7am to watch their team.

It's PATRIOTS DAY! Duh!