4:09:46
From what I can tell from the videos I've seen, that was the clock time when the first bomb went off at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon. Many runners view Boston as the ultimate goal race. Although my best times would never qualify me for the event, the time the bombs went off were within my best pacing in other marathons.
Those runners were people like me, people I may have talked to or silently struggled along with in solidarity. The people in the stands were people just like my wife, my parents and in-laws, siblings, nieces and nephews, friends, acquaintances, fellow humans all.
There are no words that will satisfy our questions as to why this happened. Three people are dead and more than 100 were injured. In these times that show the worst of mankind, we also witness the best of humanity: Those brave people who rushed to aid those in need. That Mr. Rogers quote is everywhere now and risks becoming trite. But I know how I have felt at the end of a marathon, and I don't know if I could summon the energy to flee such chaos after having run 26 miles without someone's help.
The world can be a bad place if we let it, but tragedies like this can also bring us together. Today, let's remember the people who are suffering and rush to help where we can.
4 comments:
I had the same reaction. I know that I'm not fast enough to qualify for Boston or really care to run Boston. I told my boyfriend that that time would be about when I crossed or getting close to crossing. So, it scares me to think about it.
But yes, we have to preserve.
yea that is right around my finish times too. One of the people killed was an 8 year old boy who was running to hug his dad after he finished. the whole situation just depresses me.
Lovely post
Everything about it, makes me ache with grief, but at the same time, like you said, it also makes me ache with joy. People can be the worst. But, they can also be awesome.
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