A Pip & Myrrh Adventure: Boston

I’ve been interested in taking a running tour of Boston for some time now, but when LivingSocial advertised a great deal from RunBoston tours I asked Pip if she wanted to join me.  Yesterday, Pip & Myrrh (that’s me) and a guest hit the historic streets of Boston.  It was such a pleasure to include Huria, Pip’s friend from New Zealand, on our adventure.  We had such a good time despite the heat and humidity.  When a quick rain shower hit half way through the 4.4 mile journey we could not have been more thrilled. 

Ok, so the morning did not start out great as we got a little lost trying to find the tour’s starting point, but luckily, we found a great parking spot and made it in time.  The guides, Wayne and Sarah, could not have been accommodating.  Because of the larger group, 14 runners in total, we split up into 2 groups.  Pip, Huria and I stayed with Wayne who ended up not only being very knowledge about Boston but also about running.  His pleasant and humorous personality was indeed a pleasure. 

A theme was set earlier in the tour which became the running joke of the tour.  That theme of course was that Boston holds a lot of the “oldest” and “first” titles as you will see.  Let’s get started, but please keep in mind that the photos are in no particular order.

We began the tour at the steps of the Massachusetts State House located across from Boston Common at the top of Beacon Hill.

Introductions and Group photos: Serious and Silly

Huria and Pip in front of the State House which is part of the Freedom Trail: just follow the markers to explore 16 historically significant sites along a 2.5 mile brick trail.

• Boston Common – 1848 – Oldest park in the country

• Union Oyster House – Oldest restaurant in the country

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• Old North Church – The signal from the steeple of Boston’s oldest church triggered the War for Independence that led to the birth of America with the ride of Paul Revere.

• Trinity Church in Copley Square: Interesting fact – Unlike many other church’s at that the time, the murals were all done by American artists. The church has over 21,000 square feet of murals displayed (source)

• Old South Church: home to one of the older religious communities in the United States and is a U.S. National Historic Landmark and interestingly enough is the site of the Sunday worship service for the runner’s of the Boston Marathon.

• King’s Chapel Burying Grounds:  Oldest cemetery in the city

• The TD Garden, home of the Boston Bruins and Celtics next to the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, one of the largest cable-stayed bridges in the world.

• Faneuil Hall Marketplace: Interesting fact- George Washington toasted the nation from here on its first birthday.

• Boston Latin School:  First public school and oldest existing school in the United States  Benjamin Franklin’s statue rests on the site of the schools original site. 

Random views of Boston

• Omni Parker House: Birthplace of the Boston Cream Pie.  Yes, my friends, this is significant as it is my absolute favorite dessert!

• Commonwealth Avenue Mall:  In the Back Bay section of the city it was designed in the French boulevard style and is a green link between the Public Garden and Frederick Law Olmsted’s park system.  Today, sweetgum, green ash, maple, linden, zelkova, Japanese pagoda and elm define this formal avenue, along with monuments decorating its expansive central promenade. (source)

• Vendome Memorial: Recognizes the 9 fallen firefighters who lost their lives battling the fire at the Vendome Hotel on Father’s Day 1972.

• Public Garden:  first public botanical garden in America

One of my favorite spots on the tour was finally being able to step on the finish line of the Boston Marathon.  Ok, one day I will get there after actually finishing those 26.2 miles from Hopkinton, but for now it is where I dare to dream. 

Thanks Wayne for a wonderful tour!  I highly recommend RunBoston running tours, it is a great way to explore the city!

I noticed that there is also a RunSalem running tour offered by the same company, I see another Pip & Myrrh adventure in the future coming this Fall.  Stay tuned!