It is Tuesday, so I had a humorous and lively post queued up with a product review of Energy Bits, some fun links I liked and great deals. I was going to add a section for Katie’s Take Time Tuesday link up to tell you all a bit about an excellent race I ran on Saturday, how grateful I was for getting my “mojo” back, for having a “totally on” day at the race, for my friend Diane who didn’t freak out when I took us to the wrong starting location and more…
But then there was an explosion at the end of the Boston Marathon and none of that seemed very important. I hope that you will indulge me in a more serious and personal post than usual.
Katie’s Take Time Tuesday link-up is intended for us to spend a bit of time contemplating about and sharing what we are grateful for. The point is to take time to stop, think and recognize the truly good things in our hectic and “busy” lives.
I like to say that I am a blogger who runs, not a “true” running blogger. That said, I am a true and avid runner. I have run in the Boston Marathon five times since 1998. Lately, I have been running a ton of races, and have been doing well, so it is no surprise that many people thought I might be there. Even people who KNEW I was not there reached out to me after hearing the news. They called to hear my voice, to see if I was OK, to ask about my friends, to share their condolences for the loss of innocence of my favorite sport and our cherished event. Words cannot express how grateful I am for the love and concern of so many people that I care about. To me running – especially marathon running – is associated with happiness, friendship, determination and guts. The fact that for so many people a marathon brings me to mind is truly humbling.
Many of my friends from Chicago ran with Fleet Feet Chicago’s Boston Bound program. I am forever indebted to this program, because in 2007 (and 2008) I met a group of people who are now some of my closest friends. Those people make Chicago a home for me and Neal, not just the place that we live. One of my friends who ran with the Boston Bound group this year told me that the staff of the program was amazing as that they made sure that everyone in the program, their friends and family were safe and accounted for. I am grateful for Fleet Feet Chicago, and to Mark Colpoys, Dan McDowell, Samantha Morales (who is no longer there but would have been at the finish line waiting for the group) and (coach) Dan Daly in particular, for being awesome. You guys go way above and beyond.
My friend Wendy said it perfectly when she said, “I think this is how people with kids and teachers felt the day of the Newtown shootings. It hits home.” It could have been me, or one of the fifty or more runners I knew there, or their friends and family. As far as I know, It was not. I am very grateful for that, too.
Inevitably, people will ask if I will continue to run marathons or if I will do Boston again. Of course, I will. I am a runner. Runners are tough. We keep going, one step at a time, no matter what. Just like in New York in 2001 when I was scared and shaking on the Verrazano Bridge, I will start and will be in it to finish.
When something traumatic happens, we are reminded about how much, and how hard, we love our friends and family members. Everyone reading this post has the opportunity to tell someone how much he/she means to you. You can tell someone that they are loved when they are here, not wish you did when they are gone.
Please hug your loved ones (especially your runners) extra close today and be grateful that you can.