The Beauty and the Horror: What Is It About the Boston Marathon? [What to Do When You Can Do Nothing?]

bostonbomb

I had a different post planned for today. It was funny. It involved Hugh Jackman, a crazed fan with an electric razor and a thrown handful of hairs from down under – and I don’t mean the kind from his native Australia. But then Boston happened. And suddenly random attacks did not feel so funny. Not funny at all.

It was a strange coincidence: There I was, just finishing up a puff piece for Shape about what makes the Boston Marathon so special that I have a bootcamp instructor who tattooed his race time on his body and blithely thinking about all the people running today. But no sooner had I sent it to my editor than I got an alert in my newsfeed. Unexplained explosions on the race course had claimed three lives and injured over 100 people, some so gruesomely that the media is reporting “extensive amputations” on a grand scale.

I can’t imagine. I can’t imagine what, who or how. I especially can’t imagine why. 

But I can imagine where. This tragedy would be epic no matter where it occurred, make no mistake, but there seems to be a particular poignancy that it happened during the venerable Boston Marathon, a gathering of some of the best pro and amateur runners in the world. It’s a race and a place where so many dreams are hung that people talk about their time there for decades afterward. Despite the hundreds of marathon courses around the country there is something special about Boston.

Here’s how I explained it on Shape.com:

In the world of marathon running there is one race that trumps them all: The Boston Marathon. People train for years to qualify, spend thousands of dollars to attend it and nothing give you more instant street cred than saying you “did Boston.” Yet with 693 marathons scheduled for 2013, there are plenty of opportunities to get your 26.2 in so what is it about the Boston Marathon?

1. The prize purse. The male and female winner each get a hefty $150,000 in prize money, plus an extra $25,000 if they set a course record. Compare that to the measly $20,000 purse offered to the winner of the New York City Marathon. Sure, most of us probably won’t win but dreaming about what you could do with all that money could certainly help you get through those last few miles!

2. The crowd. Over 500,000 screaming spectators line the course – over 80% of the entire population of Boston – making it one of the best attended races in the country. It even boasts a “scream tunnel” where local college students give extra encouragement to runners. Thousands of people screaming your name is guaranteed to make you feel like a rock star.

3. The exclusive admission policy. Unlike most races, paying the entry fee does not guarantee you a spot. You have to run one of the USATF pre-approved marathons earlier in the season and meet a certain minimum standard, based on your age and gender, to “qualify” for Boston. (Charitable groups are exempt from this.) Just gaining an entry is considered a huge honor and because only the best runners get to enter, any win (even if it’s just passing that guy in front of you in the last mile) is that much sweeter.

4. Heartbreak Hill. While it’s not the most difficult marathon in the US, the Boston Marathon course is known for being tough – thanks to a series of four hills, with the last one coming between miles 20 and 21. This is right at the point where many marathoners “hit the wall” so it’s said there’s more “heartbreak” on that hill from lost or uncompleted races than any other spot. But if you can power up the 88-foot climb and finish, it feels like a serious mental and physical accomplishment.

5. The history. Started in 1897, Boston is the world’s oldest annual marathon. In 2011, Geoffrey Mutai set the record for the world’s fastest marathon by running the Boston course in 2:03:02 (although this time was not recognized by the IAFF because the course is not certified as a world record qualifier). Since then many of the sport’s top athletes have run at Boston. In addition to athletes you may also see some high-profile faces as celebs like Will Ferrell, Mario Lopez and Lisa Ling have all crossed the famous finish line.

Of course now there’s another line item to add to the history of the race: it’s the only one to be attacked by terrorists. But I forgot the most important thing about what makes Boston so special. Sure the prize money is outsized, the cachet is significant and it’s one heck of a race but the real thing that makes Boston so amazing is the people. The runners who work so hard to be there and to finish. The spectators and volunteers who work so hard to be there and to help others finish.

This helping spirit was in it’s purest form today as reports and video show people immediately running towards the blast zone to help the wounded. Even before they knew if another bomb was going to explode. That kind of courage is remarkable and heroic. And it reminded me that while it’s our instinct to focus on the evil who perpetrated the horror, they are but a few in the face of all the heroes who emerged. There are many reports of kind Bostonians who have taken in stranded runners, emergency workers who worked tirelessly and ingeniously, strangers who comforted other strangers and many more who offered a helping hand.

And what do I have to offer? Words. Words that feel tired to me before I even write them. I wrote on Facebook that I was praying for the victims and their families. And I did. I am. But that feels so pathetically little. Lame to the point of being trite. I think this is the worst part for the rest of us: watching the human suffering and not being able to do anything to help. Except post endlessly repetitive thoughts on social media. I wish I had something to novel to say. I wish I had some comfort to offer. I wish I could kick some bad-guy butt (if we even knew who they were).

Most of all I wish I weren’t the girl who just yesterday complained about her muscular, healthy legs – the legs that carried me through my run and weight lifting today. The legs I am so blessed to have. The dreams I still have.

But wishing does no good. So instead I’m turning my wishing into hoping. I hope those who were there will find the words they need to speak of their experience. I hope that I can find ways to comfort those within my reach. I hope someone will find the bad guys and kick their butts. And most of all I hope that when that someday comes for me that I will be one of the ones to run to help. This is my prayer.

I kind of hate this post. It isn’t much and it certainly isn’t enough but I couldn’t think about anything else. And in the end it’s always better to say something than to sit silent. Maybe?

What was your reaction to the news? What do you do when you can’t really do anything? Pray? Worry? Eat? Read every scrap of coverage? Hide from it in a funny book or movie? Do you have any thoughts on why the Boston Marathon is so special? Have you ever run it??

 

 

 

27 Comments

  1. Never run it, but, as a native Bostonian, I went to cheer the runners on, and it was always a great sense of pride when people from all over the world would descend on our little city. Even though I haven’t lived there in 19 years, it’s an integral part of who I am.
    This attack feels personal, because I grew up there. But also because whoever did it went for maximum damage, and they targeted utterly innocent people. The fact that one of the dead may be an 8 year-old boy makes me want to find whoever’s responsible and tear them apart. Slowly.
    But Mr. Rogers once said that in times of tragedy, look for the helpers. And there have been so many today! Even if we can’t be there in person, I believe that sending a prayer or a good thought or a tweet can only help. It adds to the pile of good stuff. And, in the face of evil, there is so much more good.

  2. Thanks for writing about this, Charlotte. I know that feeling – I felt like what I posted on Facebook was inadequate, and I feel sick inside. I’m not an elite athlete, but it feels personal because I’ve raced and volunteered at races and know through our online community so many runners of all levels. But even though it doesn’t *feel* like much, being present for others – whether through a blog article, social media, in person, prayer/good thoughts – helps us all get through the grief.

  3. Beautifully said. This tragedy leaves me pretty speechless. I ache for those hurt and wish I had better words. All I can really do is pray for this situation that feels so incredibly personal to so many of us.

  4. In the comments of one of the reports I was reading, someone asked what would happen with the medical bills the victims will be facing (and especially with so many people facing amputation, not just tremendous ER and hospital bills, but a long time of physical therapy, refitting a house, and probably a while till they can get back to previously held jobs, if ever). Apparently Red Cross had plenty of blood (somehow), so if you see any kind of medical fund pop up, that’s something if you want to do something.

    • That’s a terrific idea!

      • I don’t know if anyone will still read or see these comments, but I stumbled across links for funds for the medical bills of the victims today, and if anyone is still feeling like they need or want to do something to help, this would definitely help (and it’s the kind of thing where even $2, cumulatively, can make a difference).
        http://onefundboston.org/ – started by the governor and the mayor for the victims
        http://www.gofundme.com/BucksforBauman – this one seems to be specifically for the guy in the photo that keeps getting shown, with both his legs gone, being pushed in a wheelchair by a guy in a cowboy hat. He’s definitely going to need some help with his bills, I’d think.
        I’m sure there are others out there too.

  5. Thanks for writing this. Yesterday was a horrible day. I don’t understand why anyone would want to hurt people like this. Today is the first day of healing for those involved. Prayers are being sent their way.

  6. I really appreciate this post. As one of the nurses working at a major Boston hospital yesterday and throughout the night I cannot explain how horrific this event was. It breaks my heart and I haven’t fully processed what happened and what I saw. It’s just amazing to see such an outpouring of support from people all over, so thank you.

  7. It’s a scary world. The university where I do research was evacuated this morning due to a bomb threat. I think you’re doing the right things though. Talking about it, keeping the victims in your thoughts, raising children who will be good citizens of the world… These things might not seem like much but if we all do them I think we can make a difference.

  8. I’ve run it twice and it is the most hallowed ground of running. I am just devastated that someone took the joy and innocence of that finish line away. But..runners are a resilient group, and Americans are a resilient society. Boston will be back.

  9. Sarah, just wanted to say THANK YOU from all of us too far away to be of any use; you and other medical folks, emergency workers, etc are heroes who step up and deal with horrors most of us wouldn’t have the strength to cope with.

    And thanks Charlotte for putting the my scrambled thoughts about this into words. I too felt a silly yesterday prattling on about my upcoming vacation on the blog; I missed the news until late in the day.

    But wait…we’re supposed to anticipate horrors like this and not be honest about the actual ups and downs of our lives, and forego joking about our own very human brains and their eccentricities… because terrorists might make those thoughts seem, in retrospect, not serious enough?

    Fooey on that. If we stop talking about our thighs and our mai tai’s, the terrorists win. Or something like that. I don’t want to live my “blog life” assuming atrocities are right around the corner.

    But that doesn’t mean I’m not shocked and devastated by what happened in Boston and I can’t imagine the pain the victims and families are going through.

  10. I wish the world would quit offering so many examples of “perspective,” if you know what I mean. It seems these events just continue to happen and horrify the masses with each news report. But you can be disheartened without being defeated, and each tragedy brings forth examples of the good that still exists–the medics, the bystanders, the volunteers, people like Sarah up above.

    We can’t live in fear and life does go on, but for those moments, it seems to just stop. We recoil. We reflect. We respond. We get through it–not over it, but through it. And through it all, we keep hope 🙂

  11. I feel so incredibly saddened by the news. It blows my mind that people act such senseless crimes. I will never understand.

  12. I’m listening to the news briefing right now. I hate that people want to hurt people so badly. I think what bothers me the most about the situation is that there is not much that can be done to prevent something like this in the future.

  13. I keep thinking about what Jesus said regarding the end times “and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many people will grow cold. ” What can we do? “Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.” We don’t get to choose when our time or generation will be. These are evil and frightening days. But we can pray, we can be kind, we CAN overcome evil with good. “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Anyday.

  14. A a marathon runner who will never qualify for Boston, yesterday shocked me beyond words and reactions. I gave my kids my iPad and told them they could watch Netflix in another room so I could be glued to the tv and updates on my phone. Then my kindergartener snuck out and saw just enough to ask if that was one of mama’s races. I explained it in the most basic terms that didn’t make either of us understand and I turned off the tv for the night. This morning my son asked me if the bad prople are in jail, and I signed up for my next marathon that I’ve been wavering about. Which doesn’t help anyone else in the world, but feels like my own small act of defiance against… I don’t even know. All the bad in the world?

  15. Well done, Charlotte. We had some friends from Connecticut that were there and participated in the race. Thankfully they are ok, but they said it was a scary situation. So sad that someone would do that.

  16. Thanks for writing this and you definitely should be proud of your post. We each deal with things the way we need to deal with them and sorting through those feelings can be challenging. I’ve found it helpful to read different people’s reactions, it’s comforting to not feel alone in the confusion.

  17. I, too, struggled with what or if to write today; all I could come up with was meditation for Loving-Kindness. It’s great to see some of the suggestions in your comments, and on other blogs, about how to help. The only way to battle the deep sadness is action, even if it’s a tiny little one (or, one that seems tiny and little to you).

  18. It makes me sick to my stomach that this has happened. Thinking of everyone in Boston.

  19. Prayer is never lame or trite. Keep praying. I will too.

  20. I’ve never run a marathon, but I used to ride bike support for the one in Burlington, VT. There’s something magic about the crowd and the whole experience. It’s just one big party you run through. Even though I was just riding my bike along the route I still felt incredible. I can only imagine how cool it would be to run it, let alone run a marathon in the greatest “town” on the east coast.

  21. Thanks for the eloquent post on this. I know too well from other recent events the feeling of helplessness in the face of others’ suffering. It’s a terrible thing. To have this horror visit such a beloved event is so sad.

  22. The most unfortunate thing about all of this is that there’s really no way for us to do anything about it. Events like the Boston Marathon are big, open, and impossible to secure. What are you going to do when you have 500,000 people in a massive open area in a city too big and diverse for people to spot “sketchy” folks who might be trying to cause problems? Unfortunately, not much.

    But being paranoid isn’t going to help, so we just have to carry on and hope no one gets this kind of idea again.

  23. I am just now emerging from my post-Boston fog enough to catch up on my reading. This horrible tragedy does nothing to detract from the specialness of Boston. I had thought I’d run it once and be done but now I am vowing to return in 2014.