V 11 N. 68 Our Annual Early Boston Report from Ned Price

 Once again our inverterate veteran photographer, Ned Price, stationed himself along the Boston route and sent in these first photos of the lead runner and lead groups 7.8 miles into  this classic race at Natick.

Men's winner was Benson Kipruto 2:09:51

Women's winner was Diana Kiyogei  2:24:45

     Who the heck is C.J. Albertson?   See below

In Ned's words    

Had to get up an hour early $^*())(_)!@&&*&)__ Thank me.  60 degrees overcast. 7.8 miles.                                          Ned Price on the right,  back in the day at U. of Chicago from AP News  April 11, 2021   CJ Albertson, who led by as many as two minutes at the  halfway point but slowed in the Newton Hills and fell behind near Boston College.  Albertson, who is the world  record-holder in the 50K (42.2 miles), finished 10th. ADVERTISEMEN A Fresno, California, native, Albertson said he tried to keep things interesting during the pandemic by binging on Peloton classes; he finished atop the leaderboard 57 times and also set a record by running a 2:09 marathon on the treadmill. “I was just bored and unmotivated, trying to find something to do. I just made stuff up,” he said. “Having a race like Boston ... actually racing and competing with the world’s best in one of the best atmospheres there is to run in — second to Fresno — nothing else compares. This was an amazing day.”