Boston Marathon 2013: 10 things I learnt from the Boston bombings

Boston Marathon 2013: 10 things I learnt from the Boston bombings

I was there.

In years to come when people ask “where were you when terrorists bombed Boston?”, I was there.

Here’s what I’ve learnt. So far.

 

1.I ran in the footsteps of the bombings
The end of a marathon is a strange mix of part blur - it’s all coming at you so fast to try and take it in - and part intense concentration.  I've always been fascinated how top athletes can so vividly recall parts of AFL games years later, or how top race drivers can remember minute details of races long past.  It's about the intense concentration.

So while I (definitely not a top athlete!) replay running down to that finish line I know exactly on the course where I was.  It was in the very footsteps of the 78 year old who got knocked over in the blast. Same side of the course, same track, same spot.

Thankfully I had gone through some 25 minutes earlier – a lifetime in marathon terms, but a blink of the eye in life terms. What if I'd stopped, had an injury or just wasn't that fast.   What if …..

Some inspiration written on my hand:  “Make it count” and “Hebrews 12:1-2”.       

                         Note the time, 2.14pm. The bomb went off at 2:10. I’m ‘safely’ in my hotel room.

 

 2.I was on my way back to the finish line

After a shower and change of clothes I was on my way back to the finish line. With no one else to share with I grabbed my camera so I could capture the celebration of the event (& also to keep walking and moving in cool down). I was headed to the finish line. Probably would have stood on the bomb side (easier access, better light for photos and outside Marathon Sports Store). Right there.

 From the timing on my photos I missed being in that spot by just 5-10 minutes.

The finish line went from being a happy place to a crime scene in just minutes.

  

3. I stayed around 

The mood changed in an instant.  Happy congratulations were quickly drowned out by sirens and yelling. Police were clearing the streets yet in the midst of everything I was drawn to hang around, watching the emotion turn to panic. Watching the terror and fear in people’s eyes.  I watched one family - a teenage girl and boy who found their Dad and grabbed him - sobbing uncontrollably because something had happened to their Mum. I don't know what or why but the power of the emotion was captivating.  I'm sorry I was staring so intently.

 

My photos can’t show silence, but they can show fear, panic and tears.

The police and officials were trying to clear the streets. “Get away from rubbish bins, from man-hole covers, from anything that could have a bomb in it.”  People talked about 9-11. Some prayed. Many shook. It was like a movie scene, certainly something we have never felt in Australia.

The mobile network was down, turned off to prevent a mobile triggering another bomb. So too though was people’s information and communication source. Amidst the chaos, and after two other potential bombs were detonated (it was freaky - were there more bombs?) and I worked out that Australia was about to be waking up and hearing this on the breaking news did I think that I'd better get on the front foot (in this case social media and email) to let people know I was ok. 

If I had taken my family there that day - as I did with my son in NY - we probably would have met at the finish line .... 

 

 4. Why?

The most asked question.  Along with why not me?  

You gotta understand this event - it's importance, heritage and scale - to really understand why it's so important and meaningful to Americans and to runners. I believe it was less about attacking the oldest consecutive marathon (117 years this one) and more about the Patriots Day public holiday. A day Americans celebrate the freedom produced from the American Revolution of 1775.

 Suddenly I was in a crime zone perimeter and was barricaded in my hotel.

Army, SWOT vehicles and machine guns became the norm.

 

It would be the equivalent of AFL Anzac Day at the MCG I kept thinking.  After 9-11, I remember being concerned about that's how you'd do it to Australia.  

The answer is I don't know why. I know what happened. I know how scary it was.  I know the event will go on.  

5. Hurt takes a long time to deal with

The grief and trauma took time to process.  As I write this, some 48 hours later, I'm still realising things. This is all new for me.

And I was ok.  What about those injured, witnesses, or worse?  The healing will take time.  The city talks big and puts on a brave front. But the people, in the still of day, and worse, the stillness of night, must work through this.

 

Next morning, a tribute site begins (top) and, hour by hour, quickly grows (bottom)

Lots of bravado about "you picked the wrong target - marathoners are the toughest bunch around and every day deal with trials and adversity just to 'enjoy' their sport.  But this was not about the sport. Patriots day is a celebration of the freedom trail. It's as much a symbol of freedom and liberty as the World Trade Centre.

For the 48 hours afterwards while I was still there the mood was glum.  I ran the next morning (actually I kind of waddled and had more pain in 2.5k than the whole 42 the day before!) The streets were still quiet.  The night before the race had been a party, a celebration, but that mood was quickly gone. Talk of 9-11 all over again was dominant.  Normally the days after marathons are great - people wear their medals and their shirts and congratulate, high five and cheer each other on. There was none of that. The life of the party had gone up in smoke.  

I came across a quickly organised peace rally in Boston Common and joined in. I then stumbled across an ecumenical service which became a candle lit vigil.  People taking a stance, making a statement, trying to deal with it.

Boston Common: A historical site of army camps, hangings and riots,

but today a social media organised peace rally.

 6. God was still God

Rick Warren tweeted a great line “Every tragedy is an opportunity... to trust God and love others".

The call to "pray for Boston" was a fascinating insight into the American culture - from big stars like Lebron James to the President. Why is it when our ‘normal’ gets turned upside down, there are no answers and we face the unknown that we turn to God.  Americans said "pray for Boston" freely and easily, and they reached out with generous spirits - housing, help, donations.

To quote Steve Curtis-Chapman, “I walked the streets of Boston, noticing the faces pass me by, something that made me stop and listen and my heart grows heavy with the cry,  where is the hope for Boston?”  I believe every street in Boston is God’s.

This is what we call doing “a Ryan Hall” at the finish line

– pointing to acknowledge the source of what we do.

7.  Friends and family reach out

The outpouring of support was great. I felt very loved; 

 o   From the Australian YMCA team posting heart-warming pics (below)

o   The broader YMCA team in Toronto, Canada, Boston, and Australia

(The YMCA was right there in Boston. Serving the communities of the first 2 deceased. Good on you YMCA.)

o   My friends – thankful for Facebook, mobile and email contacts

o   My family  

o   My Christian friends around the world 

o   My Team World Vision running team mates

(top) Thanks YMCA Victoria team!   (bottom) And thanks to everyone for their support

(I’d taken this pic the day before the race but somehow afterwards it didn’t seem right to celebrate).

 

And thanks to my son Aaron who provided some pre-race inspiration putting my name and head on Ryan Hall’s body. Even in Photoshop this is the closest I’ll ever be to the front of the pack!

8. Inspiration in bad times

We’ve all read lots of stories. We’ve read tweets, Facebook links, newspaper stories and watched countless hours of television. In fact the news channels ran 24 hour news coverage. But separately, I'd met so many inspiring people in that week:

o   Meb Keflezighi

Olympic silver-medal marathoner, winner New York, 4^th London Olympics. Born in Eritrea, Africa he grew up without tv (until he was 10!), education and more.  Fled to the USA via Italy. Wrote “Run to Win”.  Legend. Said to me “make it count” (which I wrote on my hand).

 o   Josh Cox

Olympian, 50km world champion. Overcame an amazing difficult upbringing. Also a Team World Vision runner.  

o   Dick Hoyt

Aged 73, he has pushed his disabled son, Rick, in a wheelchair 32 consecutive times in Boston.  Also, ironmen, triathlons and more.  A statue of them was unveiled during the week.
 

o   Rick Hansen

Champion paralympian who’s ‘Man in Motion’ tour of the circumference of the earth changed the way we view paraplegics. Spoke at the NAYDO conference and amazed all. Two time Boston competitor. Said to me “look out for the hills!”
 

o   Guor Mariao

Refugee from Eritrea, Africa. You may remember him running in the London Olympics under the Olympics banner
 

They're heroes because they race after character, using their gifts, and helping others. Winning comes later. Inspiring stuff. Wow - big week! (Imagine if I’d also got to meet Ryan Hall!).

And people on buses, planes, over breakfasts who were ordinary folk telling me about the fundraising they'd done, the personal commitment (running in memory of someone) - and of course, how they came to qualify - and then be accepted - into this 117 year old event, sometimes known as "the people's Olympic marathon". 

9. Let’s do it again

I’m thinking I’d like to do it all again. Boston was on my marathon bucket list and I had thought “tick. done” but now I think I might like to do it again, as an act of support for the people. If God is for me who can stand against me?

This must be a life-changing event. This is not cliché, nor is it emotive sap. When you are in a war zone with no idea what's going on or what's going to happen next it can be a positive life changing experience if you allow it. If not, we’re in for a lost opportunity.

 

Flags fly at half-mast (top).  This statue (bottom) is right in the shadow of the bomb area.

Ironically, it’s called “Quest eternal’, and depicts man reaching for the heavens.

When you celebrate life through running and watch life being taken away it clarifies that for you that I need to be much better at living life for the now. Enjoying each day. I need to try each day to be a better husband, father, colleague, friend, leader - as much as I try to improve my training for my next marathon time.

10. And now they’ve captured the suspect

Ironically they tried to run. To run away.
I’m glad they are caught. I struggle with what I want justice to look like now.

 

I’ll think about it while I keep running. 

20 April, 2013