The crowds were pretty big, even though this is a relatively easy part of the run. They've just finished up Heartbreak Hill (if I understand the map correctly) and are thankful to be going downhill.
Crowd held up signs like this one that said "Yes you we can do it!"
Lots of people brought their dogs since it was a beautiful day. I kind of felt bad for them, though, because they clearly wanted to run but their owners just wanted to stand in place. Eventually many gave up and took naps.
Some in the crowd were clearly there not for the race so much as the opportunity for drinking on the street. New England is normally uncomfortable with this, but the marathon and St. Paddy's are the two times a year when Bostonians are more lenient of public intoxication. Notice the college kids on the other side of the street and their go cups.
Runners enjoying the downhill part of the race.
Whenever servicemen would go by the crowd would chant "USA! USA! USA!"
Of course they also chanted the same thing for this guy.
Who is Handsome Rob Monaco? I have no idea. But he had an entourage as he ran so I took a picture.
I got the most excited about costumes. Perhaps it is just a cultural expectation when it comes to large amounts of people all traveling through the city in a police barrier pathway. I only got a couple of decent shots of costumed runners, however. Here is Sonic the Hedgehog:
And some of the audience dressed up too.
