Russell Gill Plays Bass And Runs Marathons

Russell Gill, a bass player in the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, will run the Boston Marathon later this morning.

"You get to a certain point where you just have to be there," he told the Columbus Dispatch. "If I broke my leg, I swear I'd show up at the starting line with crutches."

This gives me one more reason to at least remind everyone of the connection between extreme sports and symphonic playing. I think about those musicians who push through minor injuries and end up sidelined. Or that story from a couple years ago about the stress James Levine's rigorous rehearsal schedule was putting on his players.

So to the runners, and to the singers at Symphony Hall tomorrow night, I say this: Stretch out, don't hesitate to slap on some BENGAY, and do your best not to pull a hammy.