Rather than running Boston 2014 hard, my goal was to soak up this greatest celebration of running ever, by speaking to as many people as possible, hearing their stories and reveling in the joyous atmosphere. It was my slowest marathon ever but my finest.
Below, John Young spoke at the Expo. Canadian born, he now teaches high school in Salem Ma and, last year, attempted to become the first little person to cross the Boston finish line — alas the bombs nixed that. He started marathoning and doing triathlons when his son, who also has dwarfism, told him, “Dad, I always finish last.” John wanted to show his son that “winning is about trying hard, not finishing first.”
Me on left, at 5′ and John on right at 4’9″
A wall of 36,000 runners left Hopkinton:
At the mile mark, a giant Christmas tree comprised of 700 running shoes, stood in memory of Meg Menzies who killed by a drunk driver while training for Boston. Did the Boston bombing make drivers more considerate of runners? I put that question to pal Kel Kelly who made the running shoe tree. Sadly, she said, “no.” How do “we run as one” not just on marathon day, but all year long?
Determined to take back Boston and the marathon, some million fans lined the course from start to finish & flew some very large flags on this Patriot’s Day.
Little known fact: The course runs roughly parallel to the route of Paul Revere’s famous horseback ride & commemorates that revolutionary stand to defend Boston from the invading Brits. Somehow a Patriot wandered off that course and onto ours….
Runners ran for heart causes (raising more than $13 mill) & for friends injured & killed.
At times, we ran scared:
Many ran with loved ones, like Team Hoyt, who drew huge cheers:
No one wanted to miss this Boston. Folks ran in braces…
On artificial limbs…
On crutches….
Boston Strong, indeed:
Fans showed us the love from start to finish, cheering nonstop and handing out fruit, water and even beer. They were the true heroes, the wings that carried us through.
The gals at Wellesley College always know just what to say::
Tons of Canadians on the course chipped in with their love too:
And when the going got tough, fans knew how to keep us going:
So did the cops, telling us “Don’t you be quittin’ on us. Boston don’t go in for quitters.”
I never stopped running EVER…except at water stations, mile markers, when I stopped to take pictures, stretched, popped ibuprofen or drank a beer at Heart Break Hill.
And this was my favourite sign on the entire course:
Let’s not forget the clocks started with the first wave….my time’s not that bad. In fact, I had a great time! Thank you, Boston fans. Thank you, Boston Marathon.
Awesome story sis. Very emotional and I was not even there, but felt that I was.