From today’s op-ed page of the Boston Globe:  Carlos Rotella who recently ran the Bay State Marathon held in Lowell and environs, tells us of his experience running the race but also his experience with the roadside fans!

This year, the race organizers printed each runner’s first name just above his or her number. I found myself strangely buoyed by the next voice: ”Cwah-los! Lookin’ good.” I looked awful, no doubt, but I began to appreciate the goodwill of strangers who would make the effort to lie to me about it.

Read the tale of  Lowell’s Mustache Man and other Lowell/Greater Lowell strangers who buoyed his run as all  Good Samaritans would here at boston.com.