Who Braved The Rain For 'Runner Christmas' Monday?

BOSTON, MA — They are wearing ponchos, rain jackets, winter hats, rain boots, and hiking boots. They are cold. But they're still out there at Cleveland Circle, rooting on the runners.

Kasandra French, a running coach and blogger at "The Lone Runner," was outside complete with wet jeans and gloves she'd dropped in a puddle. She remembers running Boston the last time it was a rainy slog (2015) and she feels for the runners today. Though the conditions were cruddy - rain and even sleet - she still wore a smile.

French said she was tracking some 20 runners, waiting in the sloppy weather with some enthusiasm. She also had a set of lungs on her. "You're doing great!" she shouted to some of the elite runners.

And when it became clear that Desiree Linden, an American, was in the lead running down Chestnut Hill Avenue from Comm Ave?

"It's Christmas! It's runner Christmas!" she said jumping up and down.

Then there were these two:

Anna Cornel and her family came from Perth, Ontario where school was cancelled for a snow day. "So I guess it's better here," she said. She stepped into Starbucks to warm up - along with this reporter and dozens of spectators and MBTA and security personnel - after watching the first mobility impaired participants come through.

One of Cornel's four daughters qualified for Boston. She was injured and decided it best not to run the marathon after all, but her sisters came from Raleigh, N.C. and Olympia, Washington to all participate in the BAA 5K together. Then they went out to cheer on the others making it along the rainy course, including Black Toe running team out of Toronto. Cornel's daughter was supposed to run with them.

In Starbucks, Cornel said she felt prepared in her spectating outfit. "I've got everything from my PJs on out," she said, smiling, with a cup of warm coffee in hand.

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Photos by Jenna Fisher/Patch