I had never been to a Boston Marathon. And if I'm being totally honest, I never wanted to go before. It wasn't that I didn't recognize the magnitude of the event, it just seemed like a logistical nightmare to go and enjoy if I didn't have someone I was close to that was running.
That all changed this year when our son Tyler decided he was going to run, and chose to run to raise money for, and support Boston Childrens Hospital. That's where our daughter spent about a month back in 2008 when she had a brain bleed (a arterial venus malformation). The hospital doctors, nurses and staff were nothing short of amazing. The doctors saved her life, and the nurses saved ours. They were unbelievably supportive during our greatest moments of need. So....there's the connection to BCH.
So back to the Marathon. I never realized the preparation involved in not just running it (the training lasts months), but even just GOING takes planning! Here's what I will say - Valerie and I went down to Wellesley (the halfway point) on Sunday to scout out the place and choose our location to sit, and park. Good thing we did - because we'd have been screwed if we didn't. Road closures, and MBTA schedule changes make it challenging. But we got our place - and lined up early, and waited for it to start.
EVERYBODY was cheering every runner and every athlete in wheelchairs, and the enthusiasm is contagious. You cheer on EVERYBODY - and it's a blast.
And before too long- we saw him....
Photo: Greg Kretschmar
He was keeping a steady pace - and looked good when he passed us. Valerie and Cait were crying - but it didn't get to me.
Yet.
As soon as he passed us in Wellesley, we jumped in the car and headed into Boston. We made it there in about 30 min, which was amazing, given the amount of people there. The goal was to try to get some photos of him finishing the race. I did get some help from a very generous listener who helped make that possible. But I made it to the finish line with a few minutes to spare. Tyler was about a mile away.
And when I got up to the rail - right at the finish line- almost like it was timed perfectly - the race announcer made this announcement:
"Ladies and Gentlemen may I have your attention. It was 9 years ago at this very moment, that the first of 2 explosions occurred that forever changed The Boston Marathon."
I got an immediate lump in my throat. There I was looking across the street at where the first bomb went off that day, with my son about to run that length of road where it all happened. I can't lie- my heart did skip a beat. I had/have total faith in the security there - but still - you can't help but think about it. And as the announcer asked for a moment of silence - the crowd fell still - and you could feel the respect, patriotism, and love all around you. Yeah, I got misty eyed. Anyone who's human would have. It was a beautiful moment - and the runners just kept coming, like they had been all day.
And then I saw Tyler coming-
Here's a video of him passing us, then his friends in Boston, and then his finish.
And here's some of the photos from the finish that I was able to shoot near the finish line -
Coming down the stretch on Boylston St
Photo: Greg Kretschmar
Photo: Greg Kretschmar
I asked a stranger if she'd record it on my phone for me while I used my camera for photos - and she graciously did. As he came down the last 100 yards to the finish- I clicked away as my eyes got misty again. I can't help it. Im a softie - (like you didn't already know that...). He crossed the finish line, and all i could do was smile with tears in my eyes. I couldn't speak.
I never thought it would be THAT emotional. Man, was I wrong. I just never knew - the commitment you have to have to do it, the support team you have to assemble, the money you raise for worthy causes, and the love that people show for everyone involved. I'm STILL feeling the glow from it all! It was truly a beautiful day in every way - and everybody in my family felt it. It was amazing.
I'm embarrassed that as a native New Englander- I never knew this, but it's true. I was humbled by it all.
Tyler ran the 26.2 miles in 3:48:20- a pretty damn good time for a first timer. Valerie, Cait and I could not be more proud of him -
Photo: Jim Wilson
It was a great day for our family - and we loved every stressful, joyful moment of it.
If you ever get the chance to go, or know someone running - go support them. You'll love it. And so will they.
g