Today is the best day of the year. Maybe, maybe the first day of ski season is almost as good as today was. ALMOST.

Every marathon has its own theme based on the weather and the mood that day. Yeah, there was one marathon that had a very sad theme, or better said, was very sad, but since then, somehow the marathon is just that much more poignant. I feel like all the marathons since that awful day have shown how Boston can come together in the most wonderful way.

Ok, enough sentimental stuff. Let’s get to the big day. So Meb Keflezighi was back to defend his title against people who obviously have rocket fuel in their veins and rockets for legs. Watching them all run today was, as always, magnificent, as they all have these beautiful running strides and they all look like they just ran over from the other block, rather than 26.2 miles away.

Meb ran into some trouble and finished eighth, which is still wonderful. Am I going to judge him? He won the Boston marathon. I watch the Boston marathon. Meb has a leg up on me. LITERALLY.

Anyway, so the winner was Lelisa Desisa, the winner from 2013 who gave his medal back to the city of Boston after the bombing. Well, now he has another medal. Meb meanwhile crossed the finish line holding the hand of one of the other elite marathoners, showing that he is, no matter what, a gentleman.

The ladies final turned into a fire fight with three rounding the turn onto Boylston street and the eventual winner breaking into a sprint. Excuse me, but goddamnit lady. Really? A sprint? After 26.2 miles? Rocket fuel I tell you. Rocket fuel.

Anyway, so here is a look at our elite runners, male and female and the eventual winners, male and female. Run strong, run proud my friends. Run until you have nothing left: