By Michael P Connelly
Reviewed by Coach Adolfo Salgueiro

 “The beauty of the Boston Marathon is the way each mile takes a life of its own and has its own personality”. This is the first line of the Mile 13 chapter of the book 26.2 Miles to Boston, and it reflects the spirit of the book. The allure and the charisma of the Boston Marathon doesn’t need much explanation in a running blog. It is more than just one of the Majors. It is more than the oldest of marathons. It is royalty among foot races. It is the Mount Olympus of running achievements.

You don’t have to be a Boston veteran to enjoy this wonderful book about the race.

Ran yearly since 1897, it is the most iconic and prestigious marathon. Qualifying for Boston is either the goal or the dream of most runners, even if they know they will never accomplish it. The course is hallowed ground both for those who aspire to run it one day and to those who have ran it 50+ times.

Michael P. Connelly (not to be confused with Michael Connelly, author of detective and crime fiction novels) is a lifelong Bostonian, who has focused his writings on the local sports scene. He finished the race in 1996, so he speaks from first-hand experience. The premise of the book is to move the reader along the route in a fluid and linear fashion, mimicking the race.

Originally published in 2014, Connelly goes mile by mile through each nook, cranny, obstacle and topographical feature of the road that will take a runner from Hopkinton to Boston, as he/she goes through eight cities. The rich history of the race, its traditions, lore, highlights and iconic participants are expertly interwoven throughout the story. The rich history of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and each one of the eight municipalities is well researched and told in an enjoyable manner.

From the foreword by four-time champion Bill Rodgers to the post-race celebration, the author guides you through every bit of history that has built the Boston Marathon legend through the 117 years until the writing of the book. This upcoming April 16h will be the 126th edition of the race.

Because the book was published in 2014, it touches briefly on the 2013 bombing. A few references are sprinkled here and there and, after the 26th mile, the story is divided into “385 Yards of Treachery”, where the author expands on the episode, and “385 Yards of Triumph”, where he exalts images of success that have highlighted the finish line area throughout the decades. Not sure if this happened because the book was written prior to the 2013 and he had to adjust, or because the author refused to let this tragedy become the protagonist of the race’s rich history. Regardless of the reason, I believe this was the right call.

Beyond the geography, the history and the landmarks, the author choses to expand one topic per mile. These include unknowns surging on early leads, the contribution of international runners, human stories, cheaters, great performances and performers, unethical tactics, etc.

Mile 5 goes in detail through the story of female inclusion in the race, which goes beyond the 1968 Kathrine Swtizer/Jock Semple tackle. Mile 8 delves into the rich history of cheating in this race, which starts in 1909 with Howard Pearce and climaxes in 1980 with Rosie Ruiz. Mile 9 goes into the addition of handicapped athletes and details the birth of Team Hoyt. Mile 11 expands on the war years and here you learn amazing tidbits, such as the fact that the 1918 race was a relay for military teams.

Seven-Time Boston Marathon Champion, Clarence DeMar.

The book peaks at Miles 19 with the Newton Hills and Heartbreak Hill at Mile 20. “The fibs the runners told themselves on the flats of Framingham are meeting the truth on the hills of Newton”, the author explains. His description is so vivid that even if you haven’t been there, you can feel the pain and the agony of the 700-yard uphill stretch as if you were struggling through it yourself.

I haven’t run the Boston Marathon, yet I was able to enjoy this book immensely. I am sure that for someone preparing for the race it will be a powerful addition to their training plan. This way they can understand what they’ll go though and enhance their Boston experience. At the same time, I assume that for someone who has ran the race, it could mean a lot more given their firsthand experience on the course.

26.2 Miles to Boston is a beautifully written book, worth the investment in time and money. It can be enjoyed by anyone who understands the meaning of the Boston Marathon to the running community.