Russ vs Green Line

By russ_stein on Wed, Nov 28, 2007 11:21 am

Tuesday, 5:30 pm, rush hour, evening jog. I run around the reservoir and am coming into Cleveland Circle just as a Green Line train pulls out, heading inbound down Beacon St. to Kenmore. Can I beat the C Line to Coolidge Corner? Ding, game on. In this corner, standing 5'11, 160 lbs, 35 years old, avid runner and cyclist, currently unemployed, say hello to your blogger, Russ Stein. In the far corner, weighing in at a formidable 31 tons, a standard Light Rail Vehicle in its 20th year out of Osaka, give it up for the Kinki Sharyo Green Line streetcar. Ready... Go!

 

The C jumps out to an emphatic early lead, skipping Englewood and Dean Road stations. Wait, they can do that? I deke a yuppie in a Lexus coming out of the CVS parking lot. She rolls her eyes—not, I'm already gone, sprinting past Stathmore Road and Clinton Path. I almost lose sight of the train climbing the hill into Washington Square. The T in a rout! It's all false what they say about the Green Line... I slalom through yuppies with groceries, hurdle a poodle. I back it off a bit at Star Market.. hopeless? No, the train is stuck at Tappan Street. I almost pull even.

 

Passing Starbucks some chick gives me a funny look because I'm sweating and breathing heavy. Can't you see I'm racing the Green Line?... Whoa, what was that? I watch as the train accelerates out of Washington Square Station... where it barely even stopped. Who is driving that thing, Mario Andretti? All I can see are the red brake lights as it rounds the corner, heading for Fairbanks Sta. Gone.

 

Meanwhile I'm stuck waiting for the light at Washington Street. No break in the heavy traffic.. That train is probably at Government Center by the time I get a walk signal. Beat fair and square, the Green Line is too fast, too efficient, too good—a machine. I pour it on through Fairbanks. Leave it all on field. I'm playing for pride now. Up against the best, I came up short.

 

The C is sitting at Brandon Hall. Somebody's Charlie won't scan? A random, unexplained track delay? A baggage inspection? One of those deals where the T supervisor in the truck pulls the train over for an employee performance review? Whatever it is, I'm gaining on 'em. Time to drop the hammer. I step it up. I'm showboating a bit, doing my best Neon Deion high-step.

 

I pass a few joggers going my way like they're standing still— uh huh.

 

The train finally starts moving again, too late. They still have to stop at Winchester Street, while I've got a clear path to the end zone. I pull even at Marion Street and don't look back. At Winchester St. I glance over to see if any of the passengers are aware of their impending defeat, but they won't look. Cuz they know.

 

I cruise into Coolidge, dodging cell phone yappers, not even winded. I'm leaning against the railing, stretching a bit when the T pulls in. The driver won't look, but I know she knows. I don't even bother talking trash as people get off. The reality is, the C never had a chance. They claim 8 minutes from Cleveland Circle to Coolidge. Yeah right. They might hit that every once in a while, but it's too crowded and there's too many stops, breakdowns, and random crazy shit that goes on to beat a determined runner down Beacon Street. Russ 1, Green Line 0.

 

Tomorrow, I beat the B from BC to Kenmore... backwards on all fours chugging a pint at every bar on Commonwealth.

rss feed url

By russ_stein on Fri, Aug 24, 2007 9:00 am

If anyone wants to subscribe to this blog with a reader, the rss feed is:

 

http://weeklydig.com/blogs/feed

 

I had to guess it. Somebody stick a feed link in the menu!