2:05:52? You've got to be kidding me! 2:08:41 is only good for fourth place?

That's amazing. Two American men run sub 2:10 marathons, and that gets them fourth and fifth? Tough, tough race.

Let me say congratulations to Robert Cheruiyot the Younger for absolutely smashing the Boston course record set by his namesake, Robert Cheruiyout  the Slightly Older. That's an amazing achievement, and a great day for Boston and for sport. Congratulations are also in order for women's champ Teyba Erkesso, in her first Boston ever. Well done!

But at the same time, let me also express my distress that Ryan Hall broke the American record at the Boston Marathon today, and still came in fourth, with Meb Keflezighi behind him in fifth. That's heartbreaking.

Am I being a big jingoistic nationalist about this? Should I just revel in the wonder of the world's greatest marathon, and the incredible heights of competition, without weeping in my Gatorade over Ryan and Meb? Maybe, but today I have to do both. It's Patriots' Day, after all.