For You Boston

Day 3 of run every day challenge
Ran 2.62 miles
Walked .5 miles
 
My heart is breaking for the Boston marathoners and spectators today. (and of course anybody in Boston today not specifically for the  marathon). Anytime a tragedy like this happens, it is shocking and so incredibly painful -- even for a person who was not directly involved in the events.. But, as a runner - this one hit a little too close to home for me.. 

People that I considered friends were running/spectating the marathon. People who I have never met but respect immensely were there. I just simply do not understand why something like this would happen. Thankfully, everybody that I knew running/spectating the event is accounted for and okay. I am filled with worry for the people that cannot say the same about their loved ones.

I cannot even begin to gather my thoughts to process this. Many of those who were injured lost their limbs... Seriously - is this a sick joke? Boston Marathon runners are ELITE runners. They run in a race and then a bomb goes off and they lose their legs? - never to run again. Many would say that they are lucky they are not one of the dead - try telling that to any elite runner that I know.. Running IS their life. Then all of the people who may have trained for years just to get to this point and don't get to finish? People are so cruel and unfair sometimes. 

Then, of course because I'm human - this is so incredibly scary to me because this. is. MY. GOAL. Thankfully, I am a long way away from being able to qualify for Boston - but I want to complete a Marathon within 2 years. What if something like this happens at another marathon? and another? - like with the various school shootings and killings that have happened over the past few years. I know, I know... bad things can happen no matter what - I cannot put myself in a bubble and protect myself from everything - even though I want to! But things like this make me want to avoid similar situations. I know that I cannot quit running, and I cannot live my life like that -- it just hits too close to home. 

I wanted to honor the Boston Marathoners and spectators in my own way. Sully and I ran 2.62 miles tonight. 10% of a marathon. Although it wasn't much, we ran for the entire running community. Around 1/2 of a mile, my calves started feeling tight again. Thankfully, I did not feel any pain and I continued on. After I hit a mile, I felt great. Mile 1-2 felt amazing - I was running with a purpose.. running for those that no longer could. Around mile 2 my feet started feeling numb.. I have never truly understood why this happens to me.. but sometimes it does. I just pushed through and was able to finish exactly what I set out to do - run an entire 2.62 miles. This was very bittersweet for me. As you can see from my previous posts, this has been a tough running week for me mentally and physically. I was happy that I was able to push through whatever physical or mental block I had going on and actually run the entire distance that I set out to run.. I just wish that I was doing it for a better reason. 
 
Such a sad day for the running community. Tonight my heart aches for those who were affected by this tragedy.. Tonight I am thankful to have my entire family safe for one more day.. Tonight I hold them a little closer.