WHY? this blog

This blog has been inspired by the tragic events at the Boston marathon

Sunday, April 14th, my husband, Nolan, and I took the 2.5 hour drive to Newton, MA to kick off Nolan's very first Boston marathon. During the trip we reminisced about our running journeys and shared what we were looking forward to on race day. Due to an ongoing nagging injury Nolan was unable to stick to his training schedule for the 6 weeks leading up to the race. He was prepared for the worst case scenario of not finishing but we also had hopes that he would persevere. Regardless of the outcome we were just excited about being a part of this legendary event.

Our first stop on the agenda was the expo being held at the Hynes Convention Centre. As soon as we walked into the building we could feel the energy. There was a sea of people proudly wearing the classic blue and yellow marathon jackets. People were smiling and laughing, looking forward to the coming events, and we were elated to be a part of it. After picking up Nolan’s bib and race packet we wandered through the expo, taking it all in. The music, hundreds of people and dozens of booths made it feel like a pre-race party.

That evening we met up with the many friends who came to support Nolan; it was humbling to have them make the trip. The best of friends anyone could ask for.

Monday, April 15^th, the morning of the race was filled with nervous anticipation. Unable to sleep any longer Nolan was out the door by 600am. He headed to the lobby hoping to get on an earlier bus to the starting line but instead ran into 2 of our friends and stayed for some pre-race chat until his 730am departure. With words of encouragement they saw him off.

Later that morning, "Nolan's fan club", comprised of friends and relatives, congregated in the lobby. As this was everyone’s first Boston marathon experience we were filled with excitement. After a short ride to the 6 mile mark in Framingham we got set up and waited patiently for the arrival of the first group of racers and Nolan. It was a jovial atmosphere with fans lining the streets. Music was playing, cowbells were ringing and people were cheering. We were all there for the same reason and even though we were surrounded by strangers it felt like we were part of the same family. It was a beautiful day showing the best of human nature.

The announcement for the first group of racers was made and there was a collective cheer. We were about to be witness to inspiration as we watched 1000s of people, men and women, young and old, who dedicated hours to training, relish in the celebration of achieving an incredible feat.

         As the sea of runners passed we were scouring the group for Nolan’s fluorescent yellow compression socks and orange shirt. It was like finding a needle in a haystack. Suddenly, there was a parting in the crowd and just as he was passing our group we spotted him. My arm shot up, waving frantically, and I started yelling his name. He turned, a huge grin on his face, it was priceless.

We hopped back in the van and started the drive to the finish line. After seeing Nolan and other friends who were running, our group was on a high. We were already replaying the events from the morning and trying to calculate how Nolan’s race was going. He looked strong; we felt confident he would be able to finish the 26.2 miles. Arriving in plenty of time before Nolan allowed us to explore the area near the finish line. The atmosphere was even more electric as 1000s of fans crowded around to see the elite athletes come down the home stretch.

 Some of Nolan's fan club

A couple of blocks away, at the 25 mile mark, we were able to squeeze into a spot beside the metal fencing that separated the route from the spectator area. Racers continued to stream by, some looking strong and others with looks of agony. Suddenly, a racer’s legs seized up and he fell to the ground. Strangers in the crowd urged him on, providing water and words of encouragement while fellow racers stopped running to carry him to the sideline. There was a hush in the crowd as we watched the police officers and first aid attendants attend to the runner. After what felt like an eternity, he stood up and began to walk and the crowd erupted in applause and cheers.

While I was waiting for Nolan’s arrival I struck up conversation with the spectator beside me. Turns out she was there to support her husband as well. We quickly exchanged what they were wearing and found ourselves looking for 2 runners rather than one. In just a few moments we were immediately connected, rooting on one another’s husband, as if they were a dear friend.
 We spotted Nolan, looking a little more pained, but still a huge smile after hearing our cheers of support. Shortly after, we saw my  new friend’s husband coming and we cheered loudly. He stopped, turned, and ran to his wife for a quick hug and kiss. So sweet. 

Nolan at mile 25

Nolan finished the race in 3 hours and 15 minutes; a huge success. As he ran the last mile with aching legs, onto Boylston Street towards the yellow and blue finish line, the energy from the crowd pushed him to run his fastest mile. He said it was a moment he will never forget.

At the family meeting area there were big hugs and slaps of congratulations. We were ready to celebrate! We decided to head to the California Pizza Kitchen, located in the Prudential Centre, just around the corner from the finish line. With drinks in hand we cheered to Nolan’s success and listened to his recap of the race. I picked up my camera to capture the post race chat and simultaneously we heard 2 explosions and felt a small rumble. Time seemed to stand still and people appeared frozen in place. As we looked out the windows of the restaurant we saw hundreds of people with looks of terror running away from Boylston street. Nolan noticed smoke in the air and debris falling and at that moment we knew, along with everyone else in the restaurant, that we had to get out and as far away from the area as possible. In the panic of fleeing our group was separated. We walked 5 or 6 blocks, not knowing what caused the explosions or where our friends were. There was an eerie feeling; no one was talking, people were in shock, fearing the worst but hoping for a reasonable explanation. We stopped at a local pizza shop; they were showing the news and our worst fears were confirmed, it was a bombing. After many frantic texts and phone calls we were able to confirm that our entire party was unharmed and we made a plan to get back to our hotel in Newton.

Seconds after hearing the explosions

Time continued to stand still as we waited to be picked up by the hotel shuttle. As I looked around I noticed a family, all wearing bright blue sweatshirts, the words, In Memory of Sandy Hook, across the front. My heart broke, knowing the tragedy they had so recently experienced.

About an hour after the explosions we arrived at our hotel. In our rooms we were glued to the news, experiencing a full range of emotions. We were so grateful to know that we were all safe but our thoughts were with the injured and deceased and their families.

As the hours and days passed the horror of what happened started to sink in. I, along with the world, was deeply saddened to hear of the 4 young victims and the numerous injured. I felt the need to do something so I decided to share our experience and dedicate my next race to the victims.

For the past couple months I have been training for a race in Buffalo, NY, a race where I hoped to qualify for the 2014 Boston Marathon. After this year’s tragedy I found myself reconsidering trying to qualify. After some thought, I decided this is an opportunity to not only  try to qualify but to honor the victims and raise money to support them.

Please click on the How tab to see my goals and find out how you can support me by going "Running With Crys" .