That NY Marathon Glow

After my last post, I think I owe you some uplifting news.

Running has definitely changed me in a million-and-one ways...The most startling may be that I can now sit and watch people running and feel a sense of exuberance instead of boredom. I wonder if non-runners watching races on TV feel how I do when I watch golf.

But I feel a vicarious thrill when I watch running on TV now, and the NY Marathon had everything you could want from a televised event. There were poignant stories about runners overcoming Hurricane Sandy, runners covering the 26.2 in honor of Boston, runners leading their fellow tribesman* to the finish...

Click for the full story.

I can hardly watch and not feel my heart swell. I am so honored to be part of this community.

Click for the full story.

Here are some awesome stories and pictures from the NY Marathon this weekend. Over 50,000 people ran. Each one has a different motivation and story behind their decision to become a runner. I could read these stories all day long.

Click for the full story.

Runner's World has a beautiful collection of photos from this year's marathon that captured the beauty of it, but also the new security measures taken after Boston. I opted to focus on the beauty:

All three photos taken from here.

And of course, there's always a heartwarming story following the elite runners. This year's big story was Meb, who admitted to being under-trained and had a bad race. (I love that his "bad race" would be a race I can't imagine running in my wildest dreams.)

Like the true class-act that he is, Meb describes how he kept himself going even when he felt he'd hit the wall. He and Cassidy crossed the finish line together. The moral here is that even the elite runners have bad days and need to put the time into their training; the second moral is that running is about more than just winning.

Click for his interview...seriously so moving and wonderful to watch.

As if we needed a reminder of that.

Oh, and one more picture from the Runner's World slideshow I just loved. Here's Lusapho April from South Africa after he crossed the finish line in 2:09. I may be a turtle in comparison, but I definitely know this feeling.

Pure, unadulterated joy.

If that doesn't leave you with a smile on your face, I don't know what will.

What were your favorite stories to come out of the NY Marathon this week?
Have you ever paced someone or helped someone dig deep to get to the finish?
What is your favorite part of being a member of this glorious tribe?

ABK

*For those that are new to my blog, I use the word "tribe" to describe this huge, world-spanning family of runners to which we all belong. It comes from Once A Runner, one of my all-time favorite running novels. If you haven't picked up it, do!

In The News

Today, Matt came across this story about a girl who dressed as a Boston Marathon victim for Halloween.

(I won't post a picture of the costume, but there is one in the link.)

The headline sums it up nicely, really. This whole thing quickly became a shitshow.

My initial reaction, looking at her costume, was that she's clearly a runner because she had the gear to put this costume together, but that she must not really know what it means to be a member of the "running community." Matt's response was that she doesn't know what it means to be a member of any community.

Further insight into the article shows that she's made multiple dumb decisions...and these decisions led to this most recent one - the costume - becoming a huge deal.

I'm not condoning the response by any means. I think calling her home, threatening her parents, etc, is beyond gross. She deserved backlash, but not at all the way it escalated.

Took the words right out of my mouth, Rebecca Brown

 I also don't find her apology to sound genuine. Her "I made a mistake" excuse is probably one she used for posting her license online and posting nude photos to Tumblr. Clearly this girl doesn't learn from her mistakes. Not to mention that she seems to go back and forth on accepting responsibility and claiming she thought the costume was perfectly acceptable.

And don't get me started on the whole, "I have a friend whose dad was in the marathon and he was okay with it so..." To me, that smacks of "I have a black friend so I can't be racist" and other such excuses. It's pathetic tripe.

When did being offensive become the equivalent to being funny? Where did genuine humor and wit go?

As a runner (hell, as a human being), I don't know how someone could think of the Boston Marathon bombing and think of it as fodder for Halloween. To me, that would be as bad as dressing up as a 9/11 victim for Halloween. How is that at all funny or acceptable?

Really, I'm just saddened by the whole thing. It's ugly on all sides.

Had you seen this story before today?
What are your thoughts on the costume? On the response?

ABK

Boston Manhunt Ends

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/19/live-blog-police-action-in-boston/

I am so relieved and my heart is full of joy. I hope this means we'll have answers and closure, and hopefully this will be a balm for the victims and their families.

As I hear the cheers for all the officers involved, my heart swells. I feel choked up.

This is a good day, and we needed this.

ABK

Posted from iPhone

Memorial Miles

I'm following Alyssa's lead in this post. My heart absolutely aches for Boston, but dwelling on the terror of Monday's events, especially before more information has come to light, isn't doing anyone any good. I hope that as details are unearthed, we in the running world will have a sense of closure. Until then, I need to lift running to the light. After all, runners have within them an indomitable spirit; I intend to honor that.

We spent Sunday around town. We went to the beach to see the sand sculptures. There were a few that were really striking. I love the ones that really use symbolism to create a story.

I think this one is called "Can I Still be Your Superman?" I love the strong female figures and the question mark on the cape.

"Childbirth." Something about this is so compelling.

Front and back of "Aah, Romance". It's like a concrete image of imagination and dreams.

We began FCAT this week, and it's taken a lot out of me. I've been so physically exhausted, and the emotions from Monday night really didn't help that. I requested permission to wear a race shirt to work today, but that didn't work out (I wore my running shoes instead), so I put one on as soon as I got home.

Not sure if I should smile or not...so let's just look awkward instead.

(Side note: it was odd to hear people talking about the marathon at work as if it were an abstract, sad event far away, when I feel so personally affected. I realize now this has affected runners a little more deeply than non-runners, because we feel like our own - our tribe - has been attacked.)

As I went into the bedroom to let Matt know I was going for my 2.6 mile run, I saw he was in workout clothes as well. Turns out he decided to come with me. I don't think the news hit him nearly as hard as it hit me, but I really appreciated his support.

My brain-fog is showing.

The run was just what I needed. I'd felt a surreal sense of being underwater all day; like with any grief, it hit me in waves. The run was harder than it should have been for the low mileage, but my physical exhaustion and mental and emotional baggage today contributed.

Always remember...this world is a beautiful place, and the good far outweighs the bad.

But sometimes even awful runs are powerful and wonderful things. I am grateful for my ability to run, to live free of fear, to go about my daily life. I ran 2.6 for Boston today, and some of the weight that settled around my heart last night has lifted. This ordeal has strengthened my resolve to run my first marathon in November.

Were you able to wear a race shirt today?

Did you run for Boston today, or do you plan to sometime this week?

What did you have for dinner tonight?
-I had cold chicken. Am I the only one who loves cold chicken or cold steak better than reheated leftovers?

ABK

For Boston

When I heard, it was like a punch in the gut. I had regretted all day that I couldn't watch the live feeds because of standardized testing.

I have no words. As a human being and as a runner, I am deeply offended by the lack of compassion and respect some people have for human life. I feel personally affronted, as if this were somehow an attack on me...which is ridiculous. But there it is.

I know we as a nation will come out of this stronger, but right now I feel shattered. Life is sacred. Racing is an embodiment of life.

In the face of darkness, light will shine through. I leave you with something to warm those who feel as physically sick and shaken as I do.

Yes. We, the good, outnumber those entrenched in evil, and we will overcome.

My thoughts and prayers are with Boston tonight, and with the entire runner-tribe.

ABK