Boston

It's hard to write about the tragedy of the bombing at the the finish line of the Boston Marathon. I think of Boston often - virtually every run it crosses my mind at some point in someone way. I think every runner who raced a marathon dreams of this event. To qualify alone is an honor that takes serious commit for all but the most elite of runners. Every year I tell myself that I will put most ultra runs aside and concentrate on a really fast marathon that will get me there. It's a 117 year old event - just to attend and to run in order to be part of its history is worth the time, the commitment and yes the pain it takes to qualify. And now this bombing is part of its history. An act of terror, an act of crime and an act of hate. It is now part of the Boston story. Yet the story is greater than the tragedy - the story of Boston now grows to heroic proportions unmatched by the legendary runners. The story is now of runners who faced not just the fear of hitting the wall and overcoming tired legs - it's the story of those same runners who faced a far deadlier fear and responded with grace and courage and turned back to help their fallen comrades, those who continued to run past the finish line to donate blood, it's the story of runners and bystanders who tore off their shirts to make tourniquets to stem the loss of blood, it's the story of of those who opened their home to stranded runners and their families. It's the story of Boston - the race and the city. Further still the story will continue - next year more will qualify, more will run and more will demonstrate that human will, heart and courage cannot and will not be destroyed by a bomb. Runners will run and their family and friends will be there to cheer and support. Boston the marathon will still be the race we runners dream of and Boston the city will show the world that it is far stronger any act of terror. One day I will qualify and one day I will race Boston - until then - I will always have the dream and I will always have the dream that Boston offers - hope, courage and valor. Always.