The1992BostonMarathonwasheldonApril22nd,"PatriotsDay"(aholidayinMaineandMassachusetts.)Ijoihismarathonlastyearaswellasthisyear.TheBostonMarathoninspringandtheNewYorkCityMarathoninfall,thesetworacesarethegreatestpleasuresinmylifeintheU.S.Someofyoumighthavewatchedtheseraces,oftenbroadcastonTVinJapan,too.SimilartotheNewYorkCityMarathoonMarathohavea"goaurn"coursewithaturningpoint,butithasjusta"oneway"coursefromoneplacetoahestartingpointisasmalltowninthesuburbsofBoston,Hopkinton,andthefinishisierofBoston.Whenyoufeelthatthegoalisapproagafterabouta30-kilometerrun,youhavetotacklewiththefamous"HeartBreakHill"inBostonwhichisingintosight.Thisnamingofthehillmightsoundabitexaggerated,butyoullnoticewhatatoughhillitisafteractuallyrunningityourself.Runningupthehillisnotsohard,butafterreagthetop,itllgetarduousitself.Youclimbupthehillwithallyourenergy,encingandsayingtoyourselfthattheresnomoresteephillsafterthisandthatnowisthetimetoeerashortbreakwhenyouvegottothetopandyouthiistheflatcourseleadingtothedowntownofBoston,thesuddenfatiguethudsintoyouasifitwerewaitingforyoutoe.

    Thisfatigueresemblesthemiddleagecrisisaround40.Theinstantyoureachtheage,whenyouhavesomerestafterclearingthedifficultiesinthe20sandthe30s,thecrisisfallsuponyouwithathud.(Somepeoplemightneveruandhowitiswithoutactuallyexperiengitthough.)Severalgentleslopesiown,whicharefarlessequaltothe"HeartBreakHill"insteepnessah,starttyou.Ifeltsothisyearaswellaslastyear.Especiallythis