Boston Marathon 2004 Pictures from Hopkinton This year I volunteered to help with the 2004 Boston Marathon. The flyer in the gym that I saw in early April was not specific about what we would be doing during the race, but I didn't mind; I was curious to see the runners and the race up close.

I emailed the contact on the flyer, received instructions, and so at about 7:30 AM on April 19, 2004, met up with the other volunteers for timing mat duty. Our job was to help set up timing mats along the course. Each mat electronically senses the coded microchip given to each runner as the runner moves over the mat. This allows splits to be automatically recorded for all runners every 5 kilometers.

I was surprised to be assigned to help with the timing mats at the start of the race. As a mat tender, I had a really good vantage point to see the starts for the wheel chair racers, the elite women, the elite men, and for just about everyone else, somewhat. At a rate of about 40,000 people an hour, it was difficult to focus on any specific individuals in the main start.
Volunteers assemble at 7:30 AM April 19 Hopkinton Common is quiet at 7:30 AM, even on race day Young Hopkinton musicians relax on the gazebo Volunteers ready to sprint into action laying down timing mats The mats for the start are positioned We are ready to roll, our work here is done! We volunteers watched John closely David was the other volunteer helping out at the start (Good luck at the Burlington race) Setting up auxilary power supplies for the timing mat electronics The start line is a popular place for pictures Reinforcements arrive and head out on the course Official race officials I think Podium action picks up Team Griffin ? relaxes near the start line Runner contemplates his prerace options Runners relax on the grass across the street from the Common Wheel chair racers begin to assemble at the start Racers have assigned start positions Still getting ready for the wheel chair start at 11:25 AM Getting close to the wheel chair start Getting very close to the start Just a few more seconds! Wheel chair start plus 5 seconds Elite women approach the start Elite women prepare to warm up Elite women warming up 1 More warming up Elite women preparing to start Spectator collapses from the heat after the elite women start Human chain in front of the first corral of runners for the main start Bleachers near the start line Elite men approach the start Elite men warming up Guy from Latvia warming up Getting ready for the start, number 153 Susan Faulkner visits and takes pictures Susan warms up Elite men wait for signal to mass at the start The front of the first corral of runners seconds before the start of the marathon one minute and 30 seconds into the main start About 2 minutes into the start Megan Tuxedo runner Irish runners Dedicated or crazy ? Hopkinton a few hours after the start is over
House of Bill
Me as a barely discernible blob


Everett Rubel
April 2004