I Fought the T

[And the T lost.] In 2017, I ran a charity fundraiser/unsanctioned road race against Boston’s B Line, an MBTA Green Line trolley that very much does not put the “rapid” in “rapid transit”. In that event, approximately 120 folks raced alongside what we call “the T” for about four miles. The course began at the line’s terminus at Boston College and followed along Commonwealth Avenue to Blandford Street, the last aboveground stop. That race took place on a cold January day, and I ran hard just to stay warm. When it was over, I had posted a solid 27:18 over 3.97 miles, for a 6:52/mile pace. And yet, the T narrowly beat me. As you can see, I was displeased with that result, and no amount of free bananas or nifty race “medals” could console me. I was, however, comforted by reports from spectators who rode the train itself. A B line ride is generally a pokey affair, and seldom causes passengers to yell “Whooooooaaaa!” as though they have suddenly found themselves on a roller coaster. That…