Boston tragedy

I’m still stunned by yesterday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon. I’m heartbroken for the families who lost loved ones, and for those injured and maimed. And for what reason? What do people who do this think they will accomplish in the long run? Sympathy for their cause? No, just pain and sorrow and anger.

There is speculation that the bombings were tied to Patriot’s Day. Good grief, it happened at race…a running event. There is nothing political about this race. It’s an event that runners aspire to and spectators look forward to. It brings together people of all sorts of backgrounds with one thing in common — running.

Runner’s are some of the nicest people I know and it was really exemplied yesterday. Runners, along with the first responders, police, and medical support staff, ran towards the danger to help. That’s what runners do. We’ve seen this happen many times and we saw it again on Monday. Runners stopping to help someone in need regardless of if it was a fellow runner or a spectator.

I saw runners’ compassion on Facebook and DailyMile. Runners searching out other runners to make sure everyone was safe and accounted for…offering assistance…offering prayers. My heart filled with pride and my eyes with tears as I read more posts. Thankfully it seems everyone I know is safe, however others weren’t so lucky.

I also received a lot of Facebook posts from friends and family making sure I was OK. I didn’t race or go to the Boston marathon as I’m not that fast of a runner, but maybe one day.

I don’t know what the immediate and long-terms effects of this tragedy will be. I know that law enforcement is working hard to find and prosecute the perpetrators of this evil event. I have faith that they will be caught. In the meantime, I’m proud to be a runner and I’m really proud of everyone who helped and are continuing to help after this tragedy. Boston, we support you!