2012 Boston Marathon: John Hancock Elite Press Conference, photos by PhotoRun.net, note by Larry Eder

James Gallagher, John Hancock Financial Services, photo by Photorun.net

It is the 150th anniversary of John Hancock Financial services being established. It is the 125th year of the BAA’s existence and 116th year of the beloved BAA Boston Marathon. James Gallagher, Executive VP/ManuLife (Global Compliance and John Hancock Government , Public and Community Relations) introduced the weekend in fine fashion. Truth be told, John Hancock has been in a pivotal role to influence the direction of the professionalization of the sport of marathon running in general and the Boston Marathon in particular. John Hancock Financial services and adidas have been two of the longest sponsors in marathon history.

The elite press conference is where the fields are presented and media gets interviews and final insights into the race on Monday. The facts are hot marathon, so everything is up in the air. The Ethiopian team selection is so tight, an Ethiopian could win here and not make their team. Likewise, a Kenyan runner could win here, in a not so fast time, and not make their team.

I find this silly. Championship marathons are totally different cats than a big city marathon. Well, except in races like London, where a certain Mr. Bedford has so many elite marathoners that the battle will be fast and furious. But the fact is, Kenya and Ethiopia want the gold medals in London in the marathon (and the 10,000m, and the 5,000m, and did I say the steeplechase? well, that’s another story).

I am looking forward to seeing both Boston and London this year. Two mighty races, in one week! Oh boy!

I have to complement James D. Gallagher, the Executive VP of ManuLife. He noted the anniversaries this year, the athletes on the stage who had won 60 marathons between them, and the importance the media plays in providing the stories that inspire. Truth is, in the media, we only communicate what we see, or hear. There are 20,000 stories in Boston this weekend, and we hope to cover the most inspirational.

Gebremariam, Dado, Kilel, Mutai, 2012 John Hancock Elite Press conference, courtesy of PhotoRun.net

Jason Hartman, Nic Arciniaga, 2012 John Hancock Elite press conference, photo by PhotoRun.net

Geoffrey Mutai, 2011 Boston Winner, Fastest Marathoner on planet, any conditions,
photo by PhotoRun.net

Joan Samuelson, Bill Rodgers, Greg Meyer, Royal Family of Boston, 2012 John Hancock Elite Press conference, photo by PhotoRun.net

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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