Boston and the Human Spirit

Alan G

Boston Bound

Flyers singlet for B.A.A. 5K, check.  Flyers tee for Boston Marathon, check.  Kinvara’s, check. B.A.A. 5K number pick-up card, check.  Clif Gel shots, check. Inhaler in case Mike’s dogs spark my allergies, check.  Keys, check.  Cellphone and charger, check.

Oh, yeah, deodorant…check.

Stephanie P

Stephanie P got the train tickets. She’s all packed. Okay, ready to go. We were set for an awesome long weekend in Boston.  Steph and a bunch of our Flyer mates were, as is said, All in for Boston per this year's Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) motto for the marathon.  Lara K, Julie C, Jodi D and I were warming up the finish line for everyone the day before in the BAA 5K.

We got to Penn Station in plenty of time for our 9 a.m. train ride.  A little tired, but excited, for sure.  This was Steph’s second go round in Boston after last year’s tropical weather overheated the course.  We were to stay with my best friend, brother from another mother, high school buddy and college roomie, Mike and his family in Newton Centre on Saturday night and move to the Park Plaza for Sunday.  We were looking forward to a pasta dinner with our Flyers mates on Sunday in the North End as orchestrated by Dave K, who also was All in for Boston, the excitement of the Flyers Cheering Station, and the planned post race activities (click here to see what was planned).  

Off to the Expo and on the the 5K

After arriving in Boston, we went to the Expo at the Hynes Convention Center and I loved the black-with-yellow Adidas tech tee for the 5K that I was to run the next day…finally a garment I am allowed to wear that says BAA on it!!!

The Expo was cool.  Didn’t hit the whole thing, but was psyched to find a pair of new Saucony Vittara’s.  Steph picked up some gear and friend Janis thought the white Adidas jacket was fashionable, so she scored one.  117 years of Marathon races on the streets of Beantown.  That is pretty amazing.

Sunday morning, was up early and primed for the 5K.  Got dressed with my Flyers singlet over the BAA 5K tee (it was chilly).  Mike drove us all downtown, we found a parking lot and then they went off to spectate and I went off to wait for the start.  I looked for Lara but could not find her.  Spoke to a nice mom of three kids from New Hampshire who was running the 5K and the Marathon after coming off metatarsal stress fractures.  A brave person, for sure.  And then, a young mom from Morristown, NJ whose husband was running the ‘thon the next day.  It was a crisp, bright morning and downtown Boston looked and sounded inviting for a little race.  Soon enough, the gun sounded and we were off.

Chilly Day at B.A.A. 5K

My stomach bothered me, so I struggled some in this race.  I just felt full, which I really don’t like in a race.  I also was weaving in and out because of the size of the crowd and since there were no real corrals for different paces.  And then, suddenly, there were Paul and Cassie N cheering me on. Paul yelled at me for weaving in and out.  He just wanted me to bowl folks over.  Classic Paulie Highlands.  By the way, Paul, nice race on Monday.  You flew by the Flyers table and were probably catching up with Wave 1 though you had a Wave 3 start.  Impressive.

I focused on my mantra when I am not feeling great, which is “just push the ground back, push it back” and tried to keep a solid core and mid-foot plant going.  Saw Steph, Mike and Janis mid-race and then, on the back end, saw and heard Dave K and Glen W cheering me on.  That gave me a boost and I tried to lean in and accelerate a bit.  There was a downhill through a tunnel, followed by an uphill and then back, followed by a right turn and a left to the finish, which I didn’t check at the time, but occurs to me was probably the famous right on Hereford and left on Boylston.

And then, there it was looming ahead, that big, beautiful, blue and yellow finish line with its arches and photographers’ perch.  The clock said 23:50 when I looked at it shortly after finishing.  I knew it was congested at the start, but thought I’d run about a 23:30…not too shabby, but not where I want to be.  Later, I found out that my official time was 22:09 and I was elated.  It’s been a long while coming back from a bad bike fall in March ’12 and the injury.  Closing in on sub-7 again felt good.   Most of all though, it felt good to be in Boston on Marathon weekend.  The vibe was awesome.  The streets were full of life and camaraderie.  People were cheering, runners were congratulating each other.  I even took a finish line photo with three Central Park Track guys and an NBR gal.  Later, when I could not find Steph, Mike and Janis, I asked some folks if I could borrow a cell phone to make a call.  Lo and behold, I’d found three Front Runners in town from NYC.  It is, indeed, a small world.

We all reconnoitered (love that word!) and got a bite to eat at Joe’s American, on Newbury Street.  Brunch was delish and we got to watch the invitational races for a while as the 400 meter mark was right outside where we were sitting.  That was fun.  Again, it added to the amazing vibe that was enveloping downtown Boston on this special weekend.  Little did I know that I’d be walking past this very same spot on Newbury a day later feeling completely differently.

Flyers Pre-Race Pasta Dinner

After the race, my friend Mike drove us to the Park Plaza Hotel and we went our way to check in and settle down until it was time to head to the pasta dinner.  We took a walk for a little bit around the neighborhood to pick up some last minute items, then rested until we set out for the North End.  It was a green line train to an orange line to our stop and then a relatively short walk into the old Italian neighborhood where the restaurant, Al Dente, was located.  And there we found a nice slice of our Flyer family, figuratively and literally.  Richard G was there with a slew of family members.  Elizel A appeared with her entourage in tow.  Those two groups were so large that each commandeered their own tables.  Our table had a nice mix of veteran and newer Flyers ––  Dave K  (great job organizing the dinner), Colleen R, Lara K, Glen W and his friend Drew, Frieda E and her friend Vicky, Suzana P, Stephanie P and myself (I really hope I didn’t miss anyone!!!).  Al Dente is a cozy, family style place.

A Table of Flyers at Al Dente for Pre-Race Carbs

The food hit the spot, the company was terrific and everyone who needed to get carb-loaded did so.  Then, just to be sure, some of us went to a bakery down the block that Dave recommended (you really need to publish a guide, DK).  Steph picked up a bunch of cookies for post-race, I got a “lobster tail” (flaky dough filled with ricotta, shaped like, well, a lobster tail) and a loaf of truly delicious raisin bread.  And then it was back to the hotels for everyone to get a good night’s sleep.  Sunday night was calm and quiet.  Alarm set for 5:00 a.m to make sure Steph caught her bus.  Cleared the desk in the room and set her stuff up for easy access in the a.m.  Then it was snooze-ville.  Thankfully, the hotel was quiet.

Race Day!

Monday morning, Steph was up and ready to go.  After seeing her off, the 5K runner had the luxury of a few extra zzzs and took them, intermittently.  I was excited to be a part of the Grand Daddy of all marathons, looking forward to getting to the Flyer table and finding Mr. Reliable Ed A who has spearheaded the Flyers cheering section/aid station at Boston every year since 1996, Lara K and Lloyd H and other ‘mates, like Siggy T and Kenny H who, in keeping with their tradition, were turning it into a day trip, and Sondra M and Jennifer B, who were coming up to cheer and then run with Steph for a few miles, too.  I was psyched to see the elites and my Flyer ‘mates run and cheer them on and to join Steph from mile 17.3 to the finish line.

Ed A and Lara K
at Flyers Aid Station

When I got to the T station, I found the incoming trains jammed!  I had to let three green line D trains go past because there was no room.  Between the marathon and the Red Sox game (at 11 a.m.), the trains were full to the brim.  I finally squeezed onto the step of a train and had my ride.  Now only about 12 stops to go!  Once out there, the game was on.  I’d just missed the men’s elites due to the train traffic delay, but in the distance, I saw the lead vehicle for the women.

I broke into a run and hurried to the Flyers table and got there about a minute ahead of the lead vehicle.  These incredible women came flying through at warp speed and were gone.  The weather was ideal and they were having a fine day at the races.  CLICK HERE for the impressive race times of our Flyer marathon runners in Boston.

As time passed, more and more runners came through.  I missed Francesco P racing by, probably because he was a blur.  Yet, I recall seeing Colleen R running with what looked like great ease (she finished only 21 seconds behind Francesco!) although I know she was working hard.   Glen W  had the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his face.  Paulie N came racing by not long after (I think all three of them were at about a 7:14 pace then). I remember Dave K coming through with a big grin, sweating a lot, but looking totally comfortable.  Dana M wore a smile sprinkled with determination, Jennifer C gave a grin and a wave to the table, and Suzana P stood above the crowd as she buzzed by.

Iris C had a smile on her face, Reyna F bounded by grinning and waving to everyone, and Brian H...what can one say about Brian…the dude’s smile is electric, he runs effortlessly…it should piss me off how easy he makes it look…but, he is just inspiring…and, in Boston 2013, this guy stopped at the Flyer table and Ed made him the largest ham and cheese sandwich, which Brian then took with him on his way, munching, running and somehow smiling…well done, Brian!  Did I mention that Brian ran the course twice?!  No joke!!  He actually ran to the start at Hopkinton, heading out at about 5 AM, and then ran the race back to the finish line in Boston!!!

Flyer Brian H
Running in Support of Alzheimer's Association

And more Flyers were to follow.  Freida E and her friend Vicky came buzzing by in tandem, doing the Wonderama wave as they approached, clearly enjoying the course and the crisp spring morning.  Denise I had wings on her feet as she cruised by heading to an awesome finish. Celia K came through all bright in blue, but not feeling great –– we hydrated her, got her some salty stuff to replace some electrolytes and she showed how tough she was by pushing her way through to the finish.  I’d heard that Elle G was toughing it out, too, and was considering stopping, but then she got to the water station and there wasn’t any stopping Elle. She took off with Scott C at her side and they ran together until she shifted into another gear and finished strong.  Elizel A came through with her iPhone ready to take pics, totally enjoying herself. 

Elizel A with her iPhone

Somehow, I missed several people. Bill H ran by with Dave K, and there was David B, as well as Julie C, Laurie K and Jamie L.  Papa Bear Richard G and Cassie N were somewhere close behind Steph when I stepped onto the course with her.  Her good buds, Sondra M and Jen B did so, too.  We all ran together, offering Steph support for the next several miles and through Heartbreak Hill.  Soon after, Sondra and Jen peeled off and Steph and I continued.

It is an amazing course.  As it winds through the neighboring suburbs of Boston, the streets are full of life.  Bostonians know how to spectate at a marathon.  They cheer and cajole the runners along.  There are countless unofficial water stations and fruit hand-outs.  The Boston College kids rocked the New England casbah, for sure!  The race got me hook, line and sinker.  I wondered to myself how I would qualify for it knowing that I must run this course, through these neighborhoods, amongst these people, with these people.  To start with Stephanie in Hopkinton, not at mile 17.

At mile 25, she looked at her watch and told me she had to, and was going to, beat her heat-infected time from last year.  I was just there for support and let her set the pace.  And I could feel her digging deep and pushing the speedometer up a couple of notches.

Stephanie P and Alan G

And Then It Happened....

We went down through the short tunnel, up the small hill and made the right onto  Hereford.  All Steph had left was the roughly ¼ mile up the hill to the left onto Boylston and then about 3/8 of a mile to that finish line that Lara, Julie C, Jodi D, me and thousands of others had warmed up for the marathoners the day before during the 5K.  She looked at her watch and said to me, “I got this” and I said, “you’re darned right you do.” Then, about half way up that hill on Hereford, there was a loud concussive blast.  Shortly thereafter, there was another.  Heads turned, confusion started…Steph asked, “What was that?”  I said that I did not know, perhaps it was an electrical transformer that blew.  I thought maybe it was some kind of celebratory cannon shot for Patriot’s Day because it sounded like, well, a very loud cannon.

We summited Hereford at Boylston and turned left and slowed to a stop.  Huge confusion and some fear mounted.  Smoke was wafting across the finish line from the sidewalk near the Marathon Sports store and the candy shop.  Boston cops jumped into the roadway, hands up to bring runners to a halt.  Some wanted to continue running because they either were focused only on finishing or were very confused.  The police pulled barriers across Boylston to stop the runners.  I held onto Steph, who was, naturally, very upset that something, someone, had attacked this race, attacked our sport, attacked innocent people.  Another woman, grabbed me and clung to my right side, crying, wondering where her son was, if he was safe; he was to meet her at the finish line.  I tried to put her at ease while having no idea of what was the real answer to her fear.  I hope that he was ok.  She soon went to find a cop.

I and a few others turned to help the police stop the runners coming up Hereford Street as they did not know what had happened down Boylston at Boston’s fabled finish line.  Amazingly, people held together and worked together.  The police were outstanding.  Commendation medals to all of them.  The BAA volunteers were outstanding.  Public service awards to all of them.  The spectators were outstanding, handing cell phones over the barriers to runners to locate their family and friends.  Civic awards to all of them.  Later, I saw some medics at work on people on Newbury who had apparently made it around the corner before collapsing.  Commendation medals to all of them, too, as well as tp the medical staff who ramped up a MASH Unit in the marathon medical tent.  Expecting to treat dehydration and exhaustion, they got dismemberment and disfigurement and death.  Unreal.  Unbelievable.  Unthinkable.

The Aftermath

Fast forward.  Two young men, who I am unable to define, attacked Boston, attacked a marathon, attacked innocent bystanders, attacked our way of life, attacked the human spirit.  One can call them terrorists and they indeed caused great terror.  I am more inclined to call them the world’s biggest losers.  They wreaked havoc, created death and destruction to no meaningful end.  One is dead and the other is effectively dead.  The anger welled up in me pretty quickly. 

I was on the train with Steph, Lara, Kenny, Siggy, Freida, Vicky, Sondra and Jen (and many others heading home).  There was all kinds of chat and speculation amongst the shock and fatigue of the day.  The race will never be the same came up.  I thought, bullshit.  It will be back and better than ever before.  I decided to turn the anger into action.

Unity Run NYC ––  A Boston Tribute

How?  A Boston Tribute Run.  I got the word up and out and it grew.  And, I am no rocket scientist…I was not the only one.  In the long run, no pun intended, there were numerous Boston tribute runs.  I was lucky enough to have a great teammate, Karin A, a former Pasadena Pacer, who put me in touch with the VP of her old team.  He had come up with a Unity Run concept and asked me to make our run Unity Run New York.  Done.  Brilliant.

Saturday morning, Flyers, Whippets, Mercury Masters, Millrose Runners, NY Harriers, Forest Park Runners and many more turned out in big numbers, about 300 of us, at the Maine Monument near Columbus Circle in Central Park. And, over the weekend, in LA, SF, Pasadena, Long Beach, Seattle, Houston, Denver, Colorado, Boulder, Cleveland, Chicago, West Hartford and, yes, in Edinburgh, Scotland, there were Unity Runs to pay tribute to Boston –– the city, the marathon, its people, its spirit –– and to honor and remember the fallen.

I’ve said this a few times now…if some idiot wants to attack the human spirit, it is really not a good idea to start with marathoners and their spectators.   We run for hours and they stand out there for hours.  And we run as one, now more than ever. 

Let’s keep it moving forward, my brothers and sisters.  Running as one.  Boston Strong.  New York Strong.  World Strong.

One love in peace….

You guys and gals are the best…you humble me in many ways.

Your prez,

Alan G