for the past four years, i've rushed into work on patriot's day, excited to get to my desk so i could stream the boston marthon live on my computer. even before i ever ran my first 26.2, i felt a connection to the race, not only as an endurance runner but as the daughter of multiple time boston qualifier. it's is THE event in US marathoning and whether or not you've done the race yourself, i think most people can appreciate it's history and prestige.
when the bombs went off at the finish on boylston street just before 3pm last year, i had already shut the videostream down, but as the resident running guru at the office, i had people coming to me minutes after the news broke to ask if i had heard. "sure" i answered casually, "a kenyan [rita jeptoo] pretty handily dropped an etheopian [meseret hailu] in the final mile of the women's race, while a kenyan [micha kogo] and two entheopians [gebregziabher gebremariam and lelisa desisa] had an exciting sprint to the finish in the men's race." that was not the report they were asking about.
i heard cryptic bits - people trying piece together what had happened - an explosion at the finish line, people injured, no suspects. was it an act of terrorism? was it an isolated incident? who would do such a thing? my mind spun with thoughts. i was bursting at the seam with pregnancy and so far removed from the running world at that time, yet i felt the weight of the tragedy so presonally. the build up to a marathon is not just physical but emotional. for all those runners, the finish line meant so much more than a time and particpant's medal.how could why would anyone deny a person of acheiving such a innocent and noble pursuit? it's impossible to make sense of such a thing.
a year later, i go out for a run on a rainy april morning and i am grateful. ten months after the birth of my son, i am healthy and able to enjoy a sport that i love. somewhere deep in my soul though, i ache and i feel a heaviness in my legs. it's the weight of those three lives lost and the hundred's more injured. today, i remember them.
next monday, thousands will toe the line for this year's boston marathon and it makes me proud. i am amazed by our country's resiliance and all those brave runners are a symbol of that strength. that's why i loving running so much - it translates into all areas of life and helps us to realize what we are truely capable of. we are pretty incredible, aren't we? the ability of our bodies to heal, our hearts to mend, and our sprits to endure.
when the bombs went off at the finish on boylston street just before 3pm last year, i had already shut the videostream down, but as the resident running guru at the office, i had people coming to me minutes after the news broke to ask if i had heard. "sure" i answered casually, "a kenyan [rita jeptoo] pretty handily dropped an etheopian [meseret hailu] in the final mile of the women's race, while a kenyan [micha kogo] and two entheopians [gebregziabher gebremariam and lelisa desisa] had an exciting sprint to the finish in the men's race." that was not the report they were asking about.
i heard cryptic bits - people trying piece together what had happened - an explosion at the finish line, people injured, no suspects. was it an act of terrorism? was it an isolated incident? who would do such a thing? my mind spun with thoughts. i was bursting at the seam with pregnancy and so far removed from the running world at that time, yet i felt the weight of the tragedy so presonally. the build up to a marathon is not just physical but emotional. for all those runners, the finish line meant so much more than a time and particpant's medal.
a year later, i go out for a run on a rainy april morning and i am grateful. ten months after the birth of my son, i am healthy and able to enjoy a sport that i love. somewhere deep in my soul though, i ache and i feel a heaviness in my legs. it's the weight of those three lives lost and the hundred's more injured. today, i remember them.
next monday, thousands will toe the line for this year's boston marathon and it makes me proud. i am amazed by our country's resiliance and all those brave runners are a symbol of that strength. that's why i loving running so much - it translates into all areas of life and helps us to realize what we are truely capable of. we are pretty incredible, aren't we? the ability of our bodies to heal, our hearts to mend, and our sprits to endure.
1 comments:
What a beautiful way to remember. Thank you for sharing this! Our hearts are with Boston!
xo TJ
http://www.hislittlelady.com
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