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Cambridge Half Marathon – A Thanksgiving Surprise is a charming, well-crafted slice-of-life narrative. With its vivid setting, believable characters, and gentle humor, it succeeds as both a personal anecdote and a reflective commentary on the unexpected joys that life—and especially Boston can offer.
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Cambridge Half Marathon – A Thanksgiving Surprise
By Harry Arabian
I was visiting Boston for Thanksgiving, enjoying the unusually warm weather—one of those mild November mornings that tricks you into thinking winter might skip New England just this once. It felt like the perfect chance to stroll through the city and revisit old haunts. It was Saturday, November 23—just my second day back from Los Angeles—so I slipped into light athletic sweatpants, a polo shirt, and comfortable shoes, thinking it was the ideal outfit for a lazy walk downtown.
On the Red Line, starting at Harvard Station and heading toward Park Street and the Public Garden, I noticed clusters of passengers dressed in running gear—shorts, race belts, neon sneakers, tech shirts. I blended in more than I expected. The train screeched and hummed along the tracks, and warm air from the older cars whispered through the cabin, carrying an aroma of coffee, sweat, and that familiar metallic subway tang.
As we approached Kendall Station, most of the runners stood up and headed for the doors. That’s when I spotted Albert—a coworker I hadn’t seen in ten years—brightly suited up like he was sponsored by half the athletic-wear industry. I hesitated only a beat before hopping off to catch him, curiosity outweighing the sensible plan of staying on the train.
Albert’s face split into a grin. “Harold! You haven’t changed. California sun has treated you well.”
I laughed. “You’re right—just a little greyer. What are you up to, my friend?”
“I’m running the Turkey Run Half Marathon,” he said, shifting his race packet. “Starts at CambridgeSide Place in half an hour. Goes along the Charles—Memorial Drive, MIT, Weeks Footbridge, Harvard—then back to CambridgeSide.”
“I was planning to walk the Public Garden,” I said. “But I don’t mind watching the race. Sounds more interesting than feeding ducks.”
We walked together toward CambridgeSide Place, where a few hundred runners were already warming up—stretching, bouncing, adjusting earbuds. The air buzzed with pre-race chatter and the rhythmic thump of feet hitting pavement in warm-up jogs. Broadcast crews set up cameras for their Saturday morning segments, shouting instructions over the din.
Albert signed in and got his race number. Meanwhile, a young volunteer looked me up and down—my casual sportswear, my tourist-like posture—her eyes narrowing as if deciding whether I was hopelessly unprepared or exactly the type of person races were designed to ambush. Then, with a shrug and a mischievous smile, she pinned a race number on me anyway: DAN 42.
I blinked. “Uh—I’m not actually—”
Albert clapped me on the back before I could finish. “Forget about watching—you’re running with the team.”
I stared at my chest. I had arrived planning for a peaceful walk and now stood at the starting line of a half marathon, undertrained, underdressed, and suddenly part of something much bigger than a casual Saturday stroll.
Just like that, I was drafted into the Turkey Day Race—ready or not.
📘 Book Club Summary
ReplyDeleteCambridge Half Marathon – A Thanksgiving Surprise
By Harry Arabian
In this warm, humorous personal narrative, Harry Arabian recounts an unexpectedly adventurous Thanksgiving visit to Boston. What begins as a simple plan for a quiet Saturday stroll through the Public Garden quickly transforms into something far more memorable. Riding the Red Line from Harvard Station, the narrator notices that many of his fellow passengers are dressed in running gear. At Kendall, he suddenly recognizes Albert, a coworker he hasn't seen in ten years—now fully outfitted for the Turkey Run Half Marathon.
Following a spontaneous impulse, the narrator hops off the train to catch up. Their lively reunion leads them to CambridgeSide Place, where hundreds of runners prepare for the race. The atmosphere is electric: warm-up jogs, chatter, cameras, a sense of early-morning promise. A playful volunteer unexpectedly pins the narrator with a race bib—DAN 42—assuming (or encouraging) his participation.
Before he can voice any objections, Albert enthusiastically declares him part of the team. The moment transforms what was supposed to be a peaceful holiday walk into the start of a half marathon he never planned to run. The story closes with the narrator standing at the start line, underdressed, undertrained, and completely swept up in the spirit of the day.
The piece is ultimately about serendipity, reconnection, and the quiet thrill of saying “yes” to an unplanned moment of life.
💬 Discussion Guide: Questions for Book Clubs
1. Character & Motivation
1. What do you think motivated the narrator to hop off the train when he spotted Albert?
2. Does the narrator come across as spontaneous, nostalgic, or simply curious? Why?
3. How does Albert’s personality contrast with the narrator’s? How does this dynamic shape the story?
2. Themes & Meaning
4. What does the story suggest about embracing unexpected opportunities?
5. How does the Thanksgiving holiday setting enhance the themes of reconnection and gratitude?
6. Discuss the significance of the race bib “DAN 42.” What does that moment symbolize?
3. Setting as Character
7. How does Boston—especially the Red Line and CambridgeSide area—contribute to the mood and authenticity of the story?
8. What role does nostalgia play in the narrator’s relationship to the city?
4. Structure & Style
9. The story ends just as the race is about to begin. Why do you think the author chose to stop there?
10. How does the first-person perspective influence the tone and humor of the narrative?
11. Were you satisfied with the ending, or did you want to know what happened during (or after) the race?
5. Personal Reflection
12. Have you ever had an unexpected encounter or spur-of-the-moment decision lead to something memorable?
13. What would you have done in the narrator’s situation—accept the bib or decline politely?
14. Do you think unplanned adventures often make for better stories than carefully planned experiences?
6. Broader Connections
15. The story touches gently on aging (“just a little greyer”) and time passing. How does this subtle detail shape the emotional tone?
16. Does this narrative remind you of any other stories—literary or personal—that hinge on simple moments that change a day?