BOSTON STRONG

“Thank goodness you’re young and fit and can run fast.” This sentiment was one I heard over and over this week.

At times, I have many words to describe my feelings. Sad. Tired. Angry. Freaked out. At times, there are no words. Just silence in my mind.

What happened at the 117th Boston Marathon will forever be remembered. Not for personal records or American victory. But for fear, for violence, for an act of terror. It will also be remembered for the immediate emergency response, for bystanders jumping to assist, for runners stopping twenty feet from the finish to pull down barricades and world flags. These positive memories will stand out more clearly in my mind than the negative ones.

I had already finished my race, and my family and I followed the footsteps of past years... we met by the Westin, and then walked to the Prudential Center. I changed, washed my face, and then headed to the food court, to eat and sit for a bit. J-Hay arrived, and not five minutes later, while looking out on Boylston Street, two big booms were heard not fifteen seconds apart. And then, a mass of people came running through the food court, screaming. I watched as masses of people ran away from the finish line. We knew this was no ordinary incident. Police began clearing the area, and it was obvious we would not be getting my mom’s car from the garage under the Pru, nor would we be taking the T home. We needed to use the only mode of transportation left to us, our two feet. We walked away from Back Bay, away from the crowded areas, back to J-Hay’s car. From there, we almost made it home, but needed to leave the car in another Brookline neighborhood, and walked home from there. We decompressed, watched the news, and wondered what was next.

The who’s and the why’s are still unclear. I hope we will get answers, because this city, this event, these runners deserve them. With or without answers, we will run on without fear and we will come back next year bigger and better.