The Marathon That Moves a City

Boston's race is a ritual of resilience and wonder

Marathon Monday is Boston’s Spring Festival. The magnolia trees, cherry blossoms, daffodils, and tulips emerge just days before to decorate the route. Monday is an official state holiday — Patriot’s Day — as well as the first day of public school break.

It’s a day when the region emerges from hibernation. We have stoically persevered through five months of winter and we are ready to celebrate . . . by lining 26.2 miles of sidewalk and cheering on 30,000+ runners.

Approximately half a million people turned out to ring cowbells, wave signs, and scream their lungs out — not just for the elites (though we like those folks, too) but the wave after wave of ordinary runners, many of whom are running for local charities. And for the wheelchair racers. We love our heroes, like the late Team Hoyt.

Like Spencer the Marathon Dog.

Natick Center is mile 10 — a full-on street festival with swag and music blasting. Wellesley College students take on Heartbreak Hill. And when you hit the outer limits of Boston? It’s just a wall of exuberance all the way to the finish line. When I posted about cheering on runners on Threads, one runner responded:

On another Thread, I saw these comments from runners.

This year, we joined some friends at Mile 11. My 11-year-old and his friend began to cheer on runners by name — if their name was on their shirt. If not, they named them by their outfit.

“Go Boston College!”

“Purdue!”

“Go Pink Nike Shirt!”

“Go Colombia!”

“Go Nederland!”

“My knowledge of NCAA logos and country flags is really coming in handy,” my son told me.

Collective Effervescence

There’s a psychological term for why I *love* Marathon Monday: Collective Effervescence.

Coined by Emile Durkheim in 1912, collective effervescence describes the feeling that comes from working together in harmony towards a common goal. It’s the electric feeling that comes from cheering with a crowd or singing with a choir.

In the last two decades, awe researchers have found that collective effervescence is on of the top sources of awe. Why? Here’s where neuroscience joins the conversation.

Scientists have discovered that when people talk or share an experience together, their brain waves synchronize. According to an article in Scientific American, “Neurons in corresponding locations of the different brains fire at the same time, creating matching patterns, like dancers moving together.”

For example, “neural waves in certain brain regions of people listening to a musical performance match those of the performer—the greater the synchrony, the greater the enjoyment.”

These “synchronistic” experiences are satisfying — a little wondrous. It feels good to be, quite literally, on the same wavelength with other people. And on Marathon Monday? 500,000 fans and 30,000 runners are sharing one experience: pounding feet, cheering voices, celebrating human endurance and nature’s promise that no season lasts forever.

Cheers,
Deborah

P.S.

Awe Diary: Week 15

“Raising Awe-Seekers: How the Science of Wonder Helps Our Kids Thrive” comes out in FOUR weeks! Pre-orders make authors super super happy (hint hint).

Day 106:

This still from a Carl the Collector Episode gave me all the feels today. I’m still gobsmacked that I’m lucky enough to work on this show.

Day 107:

The owner of our local bookstore made these spring displays.  A small moment of unexpected beauty  on my afternoon errands.

Day 108:

I took a crew of adorable tweenage boys to the Minecraft movie. The weather was warm enough to roll down the windows, so we blasted silly Jack Black songs on the way home. After some bonus outdoor playtime, one kid said, "This whole day has been a tremendous success."

Day 109:

As I drove my kid to piano, he kept pointing to blooming trees. His whole face was alive with spring joy.

Day 110:

This quote.

Day 111:

It’s hard to describe the collective effervescence that is the Boston Marathon. It’s like the region comes out of hibernation, welcoming spring by lining every foot of the 26.2 miles, ringing cowbells, chatting with neighbors and strangers, and cheering on 30,000 runners from all over the world. It’s our Spring Festival.

Day 112:

When Pope Francis was installed I remember thinking, “I hope he chooses the name Francis — we could use some Francis of Assisi energy in the world right now.”

I loved what he said about his name: “Some people want to know why I wished to be called Francis. For me, Francis of Assisi is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation.”

I wonder what I would name myself, now, if were to add another name to my own? So many choices of people whose lives have inspired mine . . .