Remembering Boston

     I normally don't post on Tuesday's but with today being the 1 year anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing, I just wanted to pay some respects.  Every time I see a picture of the bombing I get angry. What a coward move and selfish act that was done on that Monday afternoon.  Lives taken and ruined for what?  What was exactly was accomplished? Well let me tell you what I saw taken away from it.  I saw not only a city but a country come together and stand as one.  Acts of heroism being done, people going above and beyond the call of duty. 
     Today as I watched a lot of the specials about the events I was sad, shaking my head a lot.  Then they showed all the people that helped. Runners running back to the explosion area to help injured. Running to hospitals to donate blood, and pushing victims with them.  It was emotional and uplifting. 
      One thing I do still feel bad for is the people that worked so hard to get there and had their time stolen from them.  Only a runner can understand the work, dedication, and pain it takes to run a marathon.  Getting into Boston takes a bit more. You have to endure all of that plus finish in a good time just to get in.  Most runners can only dream of running Boston, and the few that are lucky enough, who have put in the work deserve to celebrate a finish.  Some runners didn't even get to finish. No celebration, no getting the medal put around your neck as you go to hug a family member.   Whether you finished or not last year I would like to just say congrats because you earned it.

 

 



    You may have injured us
    You may have knocked us down
    But we will get up and continue to fight

4-21-13 let us never forget!

2013 Year In Review

     As 2013 comes to a close and I look back on the year I realize that this year has made me love running more than ever. Not only did I grow as a runner and learn so much about myself, but I learned something about the running community in general; we are a family.

      On April 15th 2013 the running community and the country was disheartened when terrorists attacked the finish line at the Boston Marathon. I remember watching it all unravel on TV and praying for all the runners and the victims. Once the suspects were apprehended I began to wonder how this will affect the running community. Will races across the country be cancelled? Will people be afraid to come and cheer on runners, afraid of the “what if’s”? However, something amazing happened. Races across the country opened their arms to the runners of Boston. Some races that were already sold out were letting the runners run free of charge so they could still cross the finish line. Races all over were now running for Boston. Run for Boston and Boston Strong became slogans with shirts being worn during races and signs being held in the crowds.

     I ran the Pittsburgh Marathon which was only three weeks after Boston. One week before the Pittsburgh Marathon I broke my toe and was told running the race would be the most painful thing I would ever do. The doctor was right; I was in extreme pain for most of the race. I had made a shirt with my name on the front and on the back it said “I run for the fans, I run for Boston”. A broken toe was not about to stop me, I too wanted to show my support for all of the spectators that were injured that April day. As I ran (with a lot of walking as well) through the streets of Pittsburgh, runners were patting me on the back and telling me they loved the shirt. The crowd was cheering me on, motivating me to finish. As I crossed the finish line I didn’t care about the time that day. The race had more of a meaning. It was our way of saying we will not live in fear; we will continue to live day to day and do what we love. Spectators and runners came together and made races across the country have more meaning.

      Those races in the days and months to follow, the running community was there for each other the way a mother would be there for her son or the way an older brother would look out for his younger sister. We stood by each other like a family.

      I have always said runners are the greatest people you can meet. When you are down they will lift you up. When you need a push they are behind you and when you need someone to carry you a mile or two they are there for you. So as I look back on 2013 and think of all of the races and goals I have accomplished none mean more than standing strong with my family, my family of runners!

"Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself." - Walter Anderson