My first thoughts were obvously with the families and participants, but then it quickly went to thinking "what does this mean for big races?" I've always loved races because of the positive environment they provide, will that change? Will we now have security at every corner, limits on bags and liquids? Will going to a race be as frustrating as going to the airport? God, I hope not. All I can do at this point is take solace that the running community is strong. Stronger than most I'd like to think. We deal with challenges all the time, and are trained in dealing with mental strain and having to fight off bad feelings. We're taught to use emotion in positive ways which is exactly what we'll do.
It was extremely comforting to see all the FB posts on the Asheville Runner site. Everyone was checking on the runners we knew were there and if someone knew something they posted it, and luckily everyone that went from our area is safe and accounted for. It's just another one of the many reasons I love running and the sense of community this sport seems to have. So many people at work stopped by to ask how I was doing, I got many calls and messages from those who thought I was running today. I felt loved and supported. Everyone knows how much running means to me and wanted to show support.
I don't really know where to go from here in writing about this. Too many emotions, and thoughts racing through my head and for the first time in a while I'm unable to really put good wording to any of this. That being said, I heard a great quote on ESPN radio today that I think frames this the best. I'll end with this though. I can't wait to run tonight, to train, to show that I'm not gonna let anyone take away the feeling of crossing a finish line. I will run wiht my head held high, not looking over my shoulder. I am a runner.......
Marathons, more than any other event I've covered in 20 years' worth of international sports experience, are a celebration of a range of achievement, not just the top percentile. The amateurs run in the footsteps of the elite. The pride is palpable from the front ranks all the way to the back. The massed color and movement at the start are an impressionist painting of accomplishment. Because -- honestly -- most normal folks would tell you that getting there is achievement enough. The training they invest and the self-belief they develop in the process are worth it, no matter how long it takes them to finish.
Beyond that, the Boston Marathon is a collective civic experience, a holiday with more than a century of history. Planting lethal bombs at any point on the course would have been a horrible, criminal act. The symbolism of planting them at the finish line, where so many have lifted their arms in exultation, is unbearable
- Bonnie Ford
