Make Like a Tree and Leaf

So race day comes, and everything goes according to plan. But what happens after those 26.2 miles of glory come to their salt-encrusted and muscle-cramping end? I traveled behind the finish line at the 2009 edition of the Boston Marathon to find out. There were lots of mylar blankets, some elite athletes being escorted to the Copley Plaza Hotel, and lots of pained runners. Maybe I should sign up to run it next year...