4:09:43

As many of you know, tomorrow marks the 2nd anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing.  It is still there oddly in my mind as I get closer to next week's race as it had a profound effect on so many people including myself.  You also all probably know that the verdict of "Guilty" was handed down last week in the federal case against the remaining brother dubbed "The Boston Bomber".  It has yet to be decided as to whether or not he receives the death penalty, and many have stated that he will become a martyr if this is granted.  Not sure you can become a martyr if no terrorist group has ever claimed responsibility and it still appears as if the brothers acted alone and for their own purpose. Admittedly as the "baby brother", he (who shall not be named) may have been influenced by his bigger, older brother as we are all most likely influenced by an older sibling (I'm not sure how that really works since both my husband and I are the oldest and my daughter is an only, but I do know this to be true as you can be influenced by an older cousin or even classmate); however, as far as I know we all still have our own free will.  Frankly, I'm not really a believer in the death penalty as I do believe that there are many who sit on death row that are indeed innocent and I am sure we can all recall plenty of cases where new evidence or the ability to test DNA or the simple change in our attitudes in like (racially motivated cases and the like) and it really does cost as as tax payers as much if not more $$$ than if the prisoner is sentenced to life.  In this case though, I'm also torn by the fact that the bomber is only 22 yrs old and can certainly live within the system for another 50+ yrs spending the hard earned monies made and paid by many of his victims.  In many ways, I'm of the "eye for an eye" opinion here in that I think if not given death, he should one leg blown off and maybe the other foot and then be forced to live with a low paying job, no welfare and no health benefits - that might teach him.  I'm not sure that he is remorseful at this time as during the trial he seemed to sit and fidget rather than look his victims in the eye.  Not sure if that is remorse or distain.

In reading a review by Janet Napolitano of a recent book released about the brothers in this past Sunday's NYT book review, she stated that, "At this writing, no one knows whether Dzhokhar will receive the death penalty. In any case, what is left of his life will be spent behind bars instead of pursuing the American dream as his parents hoped he would. Meanwhile, last year there were 36,000 runners and a record number of spectators lining the course at the Boston Marathon; a million are expected on April 20. People there called it “Boston Strong.” I call it resilience, that enduring strand of the American fabric that, in the end, will outlast the most dastardly plots against it."  I have never been the biggest fan of Ms. Napolitano for various reasons, but this time, I must say I do agree.  And in just short of one week from today, I will once again run those infamous streets of Massachusetts, through my hometown, and to the finish line downtown, and I will once again and always remain "Boston Strong".  

Boston Strong

I'm posting my race report from last year.  This was posted on a website that is hosted by a bunch of cool like-minded runner friends many of whom are mentioned and many of whom I ran Boston with last year. Boston 2013 will always be in my heart and in my mind and regardless of how many times I run my "hometown" race, it will be special and I think that this year will be the most special.  

I'm starting to process a bit better all that happened on Monday. Glad we are all safe. Someone asked me if I would go back - hell yeah. Like John, I knew I was not nearly 100% going in, and if I had not stopped to give my daughter a hug and slowed down so much over the hills (they really tore me up this year like I knew they would), I might have been right there since I was running with Vivian for much of the beginning of the race (and I saw her again around BC). My wheels really fell off going down the hill from BC (the hip/ITB issues I've been dealing with) and then the headwind seemed horrific. It doesn't seem like much now. (Interestingly, I ran those same miles back the day before Easter and the headwind was tough on Beacon St then!)

My daughter is fine, they were at mile 25 on the bridge that leads to Kenmore Square (with the big BU flag). They were starting to leave when the police in Kenmore made everyone go out of the area and not into the T. Luckily, she lives just up Comm Ave from Kenmore Sq, so they were safe. BU locked down the campus as a precaution, but they had school yesterday. Sadly, news had not traveled yet as the 3rd victim was a BU graduate student from China. There was a memorial yesterday at their chapel and now their sadly will be another. No I am not making my daughter leave BU and Boston and go to school somewhere else. Boston is my home and she loves the city as well. We cannot run scared, we just have to be a bit more cautious again (like after 9/11).

As many of you know, I was roughly at mile 26.1 (by my watch) when the first explosion occurred. I stopped as I thought it was someone shooting, but then I saw smoke and someone said they thought it was an electrical fire near the finish. Then 2nd one went off, and I remember smoke and fire and debris flying, and I ducked, turned and ran. I then found myself in the parking garage entrance of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel with tons of spectators and runners. I remember looking at Boylston St and wondering where everyone went and hearing sirens and seeing police and fire trucks. I borrowed a phone from some guy and called my Mom so she could call everyone and I texted Shannon. A young girl (runner), Julia from Bangor, ME, was crying and I gave her a hug as we were shuffled towards Mass Ave by the cops. (She was 24 and I went into Mom mode.) None of us really knew what had happened, we were just following instructions from the police. I knew my inlaws had probably heard everything as they were at the corner of Hereford & Comm Ave and I had just seen them. I took Julia and we walked to their condo. We were lucky enough to be able to call her sister from a land line and she came to my inlaws to get her. 

By that time, runners in mylar blankets were walking down the Commonwealth Ave Mall, so we went back outside to see what was happening. Granted, I still thought the 2nd explosion was a gas main or boiler from a building. The runners told me that we could get our stuff as the baggage buses were still on the lower end of Boylston waiting for us. I was able then to pick up my gear bag and retrieve my phone to see all the messages, texts, etc., from all of my family and extended running family. Thank you so much!!!!!

I was staying at the Lenox Hotel which is across the street exactly from the 2nd bomb site. The hotel was shut down and is still shut down. I was lucky that on Monday night I received a phone call from the general manager to see 1) if I had a place to stay, and 2) if I was in the area, I could get into the hotel to get my stuff that night with a police escort or again in the morning at 9 am. I walked all the way around from my inlaws to Mass Ave, and down in back to Huntington to get to the other side of the building. A Boston police officer escorted me up to my room so I could pack and leave. The building had been cleared so the elevators were working, but all the room doors were wide open. I was then escorted back down and had to walk all the way back around (it is like 2 miles when my inlaws live on Exeter and really two blocks). I was then able to crash on their couch (they only have a one bedroom place). 

I'm hoping my body can heal enough to run Cleveland and get that BQ -5. It is a flat course (couple of very small rollers), but it isn't until May 19th, so the weather can be iffy. I need to get this ITB/hip thing cleared up, but I'm betting with rest, and my continued strengthening, it will get there pretty quickly. I gave up running multiple marathons back in 2010 when I ran myself into a staff infection and literally to the ground. However, I know that I can and many of the others here are as well. I was not planning on it next year, but now, I'm hoping that I can. Those bastards cannot win.

As for the race itself, I think Vivian and I did a good job of holding back as best as we could through the first 12 miles. I lost her when I stopped at my Mom, and I kept seeing her but couldn't catch back up in the hills. I knew that my leg would not handle the hills well, and I slowed down over them and even walked through several water stops as it seemed real humid to me and the sun was much warmer than I thought it would be. I guess that is what happens when you run in 30F temps (or lower) all winter and hardly get any warm weather. My leg gave out coming down the hill past BC and if my friend, Ken had not caught me at that point, I would have really walked the rest. Ken just ran a 4:01 at the Georgia Marathon which is hillier so I knew he was going to run well over the hills. He was hurting a bit and the wind was tough, but we stayed together until I stopped to give my daughter and her friends hugs and high 5s. Ken finished between the two explosions. I could see him in the distance because of his bright green hat. He is fine too. I think all the walking afterwards served my body well as I'm not as sore as I expected especially given the fact that my ITB gave out. I think I might even "run" later today as it is supposed to stop raining.

This photo is of my 2013 medal, number, BAA passport and race stuff along with a singed $20 that flew at me and that I grabbed when running from the site.  To me, it is simply a rememberance of a very strange and special day.  I had to work at the museum today, but I made it home just in time to observe the moment of silence with the crowd in Boston.