Friday Night in Boston

Boston at Night - What a Sight!

Doug Flutie and Mary James

So, I realize that we are suppose to rest and relax before a big marathon such as Boston....but what a fun night Friday night was and there was plenty of time on Saturday and Sunday to lay around and do nothing -waiting for the big race. 

The VIP event for Susan Hurley's Charity Teams was at the Back Bay Social Club in downtown Boston on Boylston street just yards from the Finish line that was already up and ready for Monday's big event. 
I went downstairs and was greeted by my OOT(Out of Town) Adoptive Sister, Caitlyn as well as Susan Hurley who was looking as amazing as ever even though she was probably thinking about 5000 things since she was our host for the evening. As I was getting introduced to several of the people I had seen only on facebook until now. 

Mary James, Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation Runner
 Lisa Borges, Foundation Executive Director & Laurie Flutie, 
Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism Co-Founder

I noticed that more people were pouring in the door and went over only to have Doug Flutie and his wife, Laurie walk in at that moment. It was very cool to meet the founders of the foundation that I am running for and also be able to talk with them about future events and the things that I am doing for Autism with Racing for Autism - www.racingforautism.org.


The night was just getting started when Susan Hurley the leader of Charity Teams introduced Dave McGillivray, the Race Director for the Boston marathon. Dave praised us all for running for the charities that we had signed up for. He talked about the race and how his favorite group of runners are those that run for a reason and to give back. He also gave us some secret tips about the race on Monday which I thought were stated as jokes but after this morning's email from the BAA it is apparent that they were not. He talked about hydration and how the race is like one that you will never experience again for the first time....he was specifically talking to those of us that were running the Boston marathon for the first time. 

Dave McGillivray
Race Director Boston Marathon

After he finished he came over and I was able to get his autograph on my Racing for Autism t-shirt that Doug Flutie and several others at the party signed with their bib numbers. Dave was a class act and obviously had to leave shortly after he finished talking but we were all impressed that he showed up at all to the event. 
The evening included a moment for each charity to come up and talk about what they had accomplished with the total amount for the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism being $110,000 so far which doesn't include the Autism Express event in Davis on June 29th. 
Chris Chirco of the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation talked about the rates of Autism moving into epidemic proportions since when the foundation was developed Autism rates were 1 in 500 and now they stand at 1 in 88 children diagnosed. Doug Flutie was very thankful to the runners for the charity and joked about running a marathon stating that he would just run the first 11 miles since it's downhill. It was great to see a former NFL football player so down to earth and grateful to all of us for our efforts. 

Doug Flutie, Co-Founder Doug Flutie Jr. 
Foundation for Autism with Susan Hurley, 
Charity Teams for the Boston Marathon

Susan finished up with a huge thank you and when she asked for any more questions, I raised my hand and asked everyone to sing Happy Birthday to her since her birthday was last week. It was the least I could do for this woman who works tirelessly to make sure that all these charity runners are taken care of, have the tools to fundraise, have motivation and cool ideas to keep them going and also actually runs the marathon herself....she is dynamite!! So, the least we could do is sing her Happy Birthday!!




The music was turned up and the cake was cut and everyone was either dancing, drinking or eating cake. I was talking to Jordan who is 14 and has high functioning Autism and he was pretty cool, telling me that he was grateful for all the things that had been done for those like him. I told him about Lance, my son, who is also high functioning Autistic and gave him Lance's contact information so that they could start emailing or skyping back and forth. 

Jordan and Mary James

I signed the Boeing plane that he was going to give to Susan Hurley and had him sign my Racing for Autism t-shirt. He was there with his Mom, Julia, who is running the race and his Dad, Tom who will be at the finish line as Julia comes across it on Monday. 


I can't end this post without stating that it was an incredible night, meeting Colleen who will be running her first marathon ever by running Boston on Monday! Also, my OOT adoptive sister who is as crazy as me and will be running on Monday - we are going to have a blast!! 
Susan Hurley who has given me the permission to call myself her official West Coast Peep from California....I'm so honored!!


Here are some more awesome photos from the evening.....

Mary James and Crazy OOT Adoptive sister Caitlyn Egan

Susan Hurley and Barry Foland

Susan Hurley, Barry Foland, Caitlyn Egan and Mary James

Laurie Flutie, Doug Flutie, Mary James Caitlyn Egan, Susan Hurley, Nicole Ogin, Chris Chirco and Barry Foland

Susan's Peeps with
Mary James, the West Coast Peep from California

SUSAN ROCKS!!

Doug Flutie speaks to the crowd about how he would not run a marathon

Julia, Tom (Jordan's parents) and Mary James

James, Caitlyn and Kevin
Text Dancing??

Chris Chirco talks about Autism rates to the crowd

CAKE!!!

Come back and check out my Saturday blog later today.....it will be a sleeper compared to Friday!! I spent Saturday in New Hampshire away from the crowds at my friend Marci's house.....it was a wonderful day of R and R!! 


~ Mary