I am still in a bit of shock about the events that happened yesterday at the Boston Marathon. I am thankful my friends were all ok but I know others were not.
I was hoping the media would switch at some point and talk about the normal Boston Marathon Race reporting. We can’t ignore what happened but would love to see emphasis on the happier side of things. Whoever carried out this plan should be punished but not given the attention.
I am so proud of the Bandidos Masters Mens team that won yesterday. I feel honored to train with (or behind) these guys. Pictured is Brett Bernachi, JT (Jeff Turner) and Ricardo Maldondo taken before the blast. Also Jeff Matsumoto was on the team they all ran between 237-238. Smoking fast!
Yesterday made me think back to the only time I have run the Boston Marathon in 2006. I have included copies of some emails I sent out after the race. A quick setup to the story: At my 1st marathon I ran 3:31,waiting for a friend to finish people kept telling me “You qualified for Boston”. I just smiled not having any clue what they were talking about. Later I would learn it is an honor to qualify. I ran that 1st marathon to raise $$ for my friend Susan whom had undergone a double lung transplant. She passed away a short time after the race so I ran Boston in her memory.
I ran with a wristband dedicating each mile to her and her family members as well as my friend Jared Woods. I did this for many marathons. I would then pray for that person throughout the mile, somehow it made the race easier and gave it a purpose.
Emails sent post Boston 2006
Sent to friends
I wanted to email all of you to let you know how the Boston Marathon went.
It certainly was a journey getting there I had injured my hamstring muscle back
in Feb so I modified my training and did what I could to prepare. My whole
reason to run was to honor the memory of my friend Susan who passed away last July. (I qualified to go to Boston when I did a fundraising marathon for her last June in San Diego Running in the 110th anniversary of the Boston Marathon to honor Susan is something I will never forget. I knew the course was hilly but the course map did not do it justice. The first 6 miles were downhill and by mile 8 my leg was hurting. Well 18.2 miles is a long way to hold your head up high and keep running. There were
people lining the course the entire way. I tried to gain strength from all the
100’s of children I high fived along the way. Around mile 16 I was having
trouble lifting the injured leg off the ground, no problem only 10 more miles
to go several of it up hill. It was the memory of my friend Susan and all the
challenges she had to overcome that got me through the last miles.I finished
with my arms in the air, a smile on my face in 4 hours 11minutes with Kevin and Katherine at the finish line.
Sent to Susan’s parents
Apr 17, 2013 @ 15:43:15
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing Kerry.