The Workout: The Boston Marathon Is A Marathoner's Marathon

April usually brings many signs of spring, although this year, April seems mired in winter. Yet, in spite of the fact that we woke to snow on the ground Monday morning, an annual rite of spring took place that very day: the running of the Boston Marathon.

I always try to watch the Boston Marathon every year. Sometimes I have to record it, but when possible I watch it live. This year, I didn't get a chance to sit down and watch it until well after I knew the results, but I found the race compelling nonetheless. I read recently that, other than the Superbowl, the Boston Marathon gets the most global media coverage for a one-day sporting event.

So what's the allure of Boston? Why do so many runners -- exceptional and average alike -- covet a Boston Marathon bib? Some cite the fact that it's the oldest continuous marathon. Others point to the challenging course, especially the hills late in the race. But, really, it's the fact that you have to qualify to run it. These days, of course, you can also get a spot by running to raise money for a charity, but if you want to get a straight-out entry for the Boston Marathon, you need to run another marathon first – and you need run it fast. You can't just show up to Boston, you have to be worthy of it. In spite of that obstacle, this year's race filled up less than 8 hours after registration opened.

And if the race wasn't already enticing enough, Monday offered some extra excitement that is sure to make the Boston Marathon even more magnetic to runners across the globe. With ideal conditions – cool, dry weather and a tailwind – course records were toppled like bowling pins. The women's race produced a sprint finish, with U.S. runner Desiree Davila literally giving Kenya's Caroline Kilel a run for her money down Boylston Street. In the end Davila came in second, setting a new U.S. women's course record, and making her the third fastest U.S. female marathoner in the history of the sport. In the men's race, records also collapsed, with Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai finishing in a blistering 2:03:02, the fastest marathon time ever recorded. It takes me longer than that to run a half marathon. Heck, on a bad day it can take me almost that long to run a 10k.

Of course, the real drama of the Boston Marathon is not in the elite race. It's in the back of the pack, as the average, everyday runners vanquish their doubts and make their dreams come true. One after another, these runners refuse to give up, sometimes collapsing at the finish line, just so they can say they did it, they conquered Boston. It is, quite simply, inspiring. On Marathon Monday, the third Monday in April, every runner dreams of someday running Boston. Of course, you have to qualify first. Guess I'd better get going.