bib number pickup at nine in the morning. took a detour via MIT. huge expo more tiring than the race. no time to write home.

yesterday at south station: on a huge video screen, armored security officials explain what to do in case of an assault: «take flight, take cover, take action». an emergency alarm went off at the marathon expo. nobody seemed to take it seriously. but when it turned out to be just a fire drill, strangers were smiling at each other in relief. there is a subterranean ocean of fear below the north american continent.