Thank you for posting this.

Me too.  I had to stop reading to look at the picture again

Thank you for sharing runwell.  And thank God you and your family remained safe.  I do not want to imagine or experience the wave of emotions you went through at the end of the race.  I hope and pray that you and everyone else who left a piece of their heart out on Boylston St will be able to find it and become whole again.

Runwell, your journey to Boston was inspiring.  And your retelling of your experiences that day brought a lump

to my throat.

Not just at the finish line but all the way along.  3 years ago in 2010 I was your wife. I was standing just before

the finish on the opposite side of the road from where the bombs went off,  waiting for my husband to finish his

first Boston at age 45.

I was right at the start line for the beginning of the race and watched thousands of runners start on what would

be for some (like you ) a 26.2 mile journey of a lifetime. As a runner myself I could truly understand and appreciate

what that day would mean to so many. I remember getting goosebumps watching that spectacle and they seemed

to last the entire day.

I also remember seeing many acts of kindness toward runners and was the recipient myself of kindness from

total strangers. Once I got back into Boston and found that spot so close to the finish I wasn't moving until hubby

finished and struck up conversations with those around me, also waiting for friends and family. We all shared

what our family members were wearing and looked out for those folks, one couple even offered to track my

husband on their smartphone.  

I saw runners stopping to walk so close to the finish, some in obvious pain, and the crowd cheering them on

and shouting encouragement.

There is a joy and camaraderie on that day that I have never experienced at any other marathons.  I know in my

heart as a runner that the terrible events of that day will only make the race more special to the people of Boston.

We had many friends from home running that day and 4 volunteering and have heard many experiences

recounted over the last two weeks.

A good friend of ours finished 4:03:56 and another girl from home was stopped just 500 yards from the finish.

Another friend who is a very fast runner and has done Boston many times,  but had issues that day , was in the

medical tent when the bombs went off.  I saw him volunteering at a race this weekend and I could still see the

effects of that day in his eyes.

So I completed the Boston Marathon, but I never really finished...in some ways I left that part of my heart there

on Boylston, in front of the Old South Church.   I pray , still, for all the victims and their families.  I'm sure all of

you feel the same.

I felt myself very emotional reading your report bringing back my own memories of being at Boston but when

I got to the last part I was indeed crying.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience.

Thank you so much for sharing your story.  Your journey from couch to 5K to Boston is really inspiring.  It's awesome that you discovered the runner hidden within you.

I can only imagine what that 35 minutes must have felt like to you but I'm certain it felt like an eternity.  I'm so happy that you and your family are safe!  I'm surprised at how overcome with emotion I can get from reading these stories.  I couldn't see the pictures because my employer has Photobucket and sites like that blocked. This is the first time I've been grateful for that, although I did go back after reading your report and view them on my phone.

Of course the race itself is insignificant when compared to the events after but I do want to congratulate you on gutting it out and finishing. Next time don't go out so fast!

Lastly, don't hold back on writing more race reports.  You're good at that too.

Runwell, you have the distinct honor of writing the first RR that made me cry.

Congrats on qualifying and running Boston, sir.  Well done.

Wow.  I wouldn't say there's no glory in your run.  I'm glad you did make it past the finish, and it looks like a well-run race, too.  It really stinks that people feel guilty for celebrating their marathon accomplishments because terrorists used the event as an excuse to attack people.  It isn't like it's your fault.

Great RR, thanks for sharing.