We consider this site to be our happy place. A sanctuary away from all the other messes that life can throw our way and a record of the things that we’ll find joy in remembering sometime down the road. So I was hesitant to address this week’s bombings in Boston here, since they’re about as far from happy as you can get.
But two days before the idea ever crossed my mind that participating in a race could end in tragedy, I did just that. Last Saturday I ran Richmond City’s 10k, which USA Today ranked right alongside the Boston Marathon itself. Me and 40,000 others ran 6.2 miles up and down our city’s most iconic street. It was my 12th consecutive time participating and I’d been looking forward to both running it, and sharing it with you guys here (just like last year).
As upset as Monday’s events have made me – both as a person, a runner and a fan of the city of Boston – I figured that maybe offering a reminder of the joy, camaraderie, and sense of accomplishment that can be felt on a race day might be a helpful (albeit small) attempt at bring something positive back. It’s amazing how much love there can be on a day when thousands of runners crowd a city’s streets.
Among the thousands of runners in Richmond that day were my family. Eight of us to be exact. There was my dad, who has run with me for 10 years now (though not literally next to me, since he’s a good deal faster). My sisters Carrie (pink shirt) and Katie (blue), the latter of whom (along with my brother-in-law Martin) traveled from New York City. My cousin Brenna and her son Tyler also traveled (from Northern Virginia) to run with us. And there in the middle is my 12-year-old niece Olivia, who was running it for the first time. We didn’t all start or finish together, but it was still very much a family event.
We also had family on the sidelines cheering us on. Sherry, my sister Emily, and my mom boldly volunteered to (got tricked into?) keep Clara and her three under age four cousins named Emanuel, John and Ben entertained while they waited patiently for the few seconds that each of us would trot on by. That’s dedication if you ask me.
And to my surprise when I approached all four kids were calmly sitting in their strollers, waving some cowbells, and probably wondering where everyone was going. Maybe we all heard an ice cream truck?
This look is the look of someone who has run nearly 4 miles and just got an incredible boost from seeing his wife and child smiling at him from the curb. PS: Note the crowd of runners approaching the turn around point on the other side of the street behind me.
That was also the moment I noticed, as Sherry captured later in this Instagram picture, that Clara had picked out a special outfit to cheer me on. Her “Rad Like Dad” shirt and a neon tutu to match my shirt which, by the way, she helped me pick out the night before. What a girl. Maybe someday she’ll run with me?
It was a really memorable day for our family. I’m so grateful to the people who cheered us on (whether I was related to them or not) and especially to the people who help to organize events like these. I wholeheartedly believe they do wonderful things for us as individuals, as athletes, and as communities. And hopeful they’ll be able to continue to work those wonders as we attempt to process and heal from this week’s tragedy.
PS: Runner’s World has compiled a list of ways you can help and show support for Boston if you’re interested.
RLR says
That was the weekend I was in Richmond (and thanks for the tweets about the book, by the way – I’m @momsmagic on twitter)! I didn’t really prepare for the trip in advance, so didn’t realize there was a 10k that morning. If I had, I just might have run it, too. Although – wow – Richmond is hillier than I imagined. We asked some very helpful runners for directions to a lunch spot that day – ended up at Perly’s. Yum!
Melissa says
Thanks for writing this and supporting us! The title of the post had me in tears. My best friend finished 1 minute before the bomb went off. And my cousins all live in Watertown. This has, emotionally, been the hardest week of our lives but also, in a very strange way, the luckiest.
Keep running John! You are an inspiration!
xo Melissa
Young House Life says
Oh Melissa I’m so sorry for how hard it has been. We are rooting you guys on like crazy. Boston strong!
xo,
s
Kara says
Like. Like. Like.
I, along with 4 dear girlfriends, ran in my town’s Color Vibe run last Saturday. They gave us these white rubber bracelets with “BOSTON” printed on them. It was our way to show our support along with showing that we can “get knocked down. But I get back up again, you’re never gonna keep us down!”
Laura B. says
Love being part of the running community!
..and holy moly, congrats to your niece on her first 10K! When I was 12, I was a lot less cool than that. Kudos to her!
Melissa@TheHappierHomemaker says
Great post, love that Clara picked out a matching outfit! I lived at the corner of Monument and Boulevard in college, it’s such an amazing place!
Kel says
What a lovely post. Beautiful words John.
Virginia says
I want to “like” all these comments- such a great post and so many great comments. thank you so much for being an inspiration and sharing your lives with us!
Eliza says
Thank you for posting this. I am from Boston, I went to college there, my family still lives there, and it will always be my home. I’ve never run the marathon (I’m not a good runner!) but Marathon Monday/Patriots Day means so much to Bostonians that the events of last week really hit me hard. I have felt so sad and angry and helpless for the last week, but I think we all need reminders of how running…and events like this in general….are meant to bring communities and families together. Your post made me smile and remember that, so thank you!
Karen F says
Beautiful post, John!
Kristen says
Great post. Runners have such camaraderie, I love it. Talking to another runner is almost like talking to someone from your hometown– an understanding on another level. Granted, i’m barely a runner, but still…
How fun that so much of your family runs! Have you guys ever thought of doing a long-distance relay? That way you’re working together and get a chance to cheer each other on, I think you’d enjoy it. I’ve done one called Ragnar, they have a few around the country. Just an idea
Young House Life says
That would be really fun! I’ll have to get the rest of the family on board.
-John
DebInNYC says
You guys… xo.
Kirsten says
Thank you for writing this. Being from Boston, it has been a difficult week – such a tragic event on what is an otherwise inspiring day and soon be followed by a lock down / fear-inducing manhunt. Also, it really is a small city and everyone knows someone that was significantly impacted by the tragedy. Your blog has been a welcome break from reading any and all updates on the various news sites – which I did compulsively all week and have just started to break away from… So, thanks again for all the happy writing that you do – and your tribute is much appreciated.
Young House Life says
So glad to help in any small way that we could, Kirsten.
-John
Shreya says
What a beautiful post – Thank you for writing it.
Britiney @ Consider the Lilies says
My husband ran Boston last week and finished at about 2:00. 45 min. before the bombs went off. We were together and so thankful to be safe. We’re home now in Idaho and sending all our love back to Boston. Thanks for this post!
Amanda K. says
i did the 10k this year as well (i’ve done it every year since i moved to richmond in 2005) — but since i’m 33 weeks pregnant, i walked.
like you, i’m always struck by the sense of camaraderie during races. with the 10k the weekend before boston, the events that happened there seemed even more poignant — athletic prowess and camaraderie juxtaposed with tragedy.
i blogged about my 10k experience and boston, too…
boston: http://www.thekriegers.org/2013/04/boston/
10k: http://www.thekriegers.org/2013/04/monument-ave-10k-race-recap/
Rachel Dowd says
I love that your family runs together!!
Amanda says
Thanks so much for sharing!
As another Bostonian, last week was tough. The marathon is just so special, so Boston. It’s a holiday–we take the day off–and everyone, EVERYONE watches the marathon.
And it’s beautiful. People cheering people on. People giving every ounce of energy they have to cross that finish line.
Today, Copley square re-opened, and we’re quietly taking back the heart of our city. Next year, so many will run and so many will remember, but it will be beautiful again.
Heidi says
Boston really hit home for me for two reasons. First because I’m the one cheering from the sidelines, just like Sherry and Clara, and second, though I’m not from Boston, I was standing on that same soil where the first bomb went off just 3 weeks earlier. It’s tough to think about, and I pray for everyone affected.
Stacy says
This year was the first year I knew someone running the Boston marathon. The first year I had friends at the finish line. The first year I thought seriously about going myself but decided against it because my 2 year old had school and I’m 7 months pregnant.
Even if you did not know someone there, you knew someone who knew someone. Boston is NOT a huge city. You have to walk through Copley Square to get to Fenway. My husband works in Cambridge, across from MIT. We have friends who live in Watertown.
I am currently sitting here watching a memorial service for Sean Collier, the MIT police officer killed on Thursday night, and was just thinking that it really is time for the city to move on, get past this tragedy and run again.
Thank you for your post and for remembering the city of Boston. I love your blog and I appreciate that you took the time to say something.
Lisa says
Well said and well done. Boston strong!
Lo says
What a sweet little story! Running in races makes a special bond of camaraderie for all involved. And seeing your family on the side, cheering you on really does give that boost needed! I was in a mtn bike race a few years back, and drove out to the course with some friends… my family arrived a while later (It was on mothers day and a 22 mile race in the woods, not much to see for most of it). When I finally got to the final loop around the finish, my then-boyfriend now-husband ran up to the trail and ran alongside me for a bit, he totally motivated me to push through and finish strong! So I LOVE that photo of you smiling as you ran by the fam… So sweet and special!
Carrie says
I’m not from Boston, nor am I a runner, but I am part of a team who organizes a full, half and 5K and the news hit us hard. I have been embraced by the running community due to the race organization and they are a strong, proud, dedicated, loyal family. I love interacting with them and love how they always try to get me to run. :) We were shocked and sadden by the events on April 15 and could hardly pull ourselves away from our social media, trying to check on our runners and make sure all were ok.
I can only speak for local race organizers but we are already looking at how to up our security. Our courses are tight, we run through 6 cities and 3 states so we have lots of police on site, but I don’t know that our finish line is as well covered as it could be. We aren’t on Boston’s scale (though we are a qualifier) but we also don’t want to live in a world where we think it can’t happen to us because we aren’t a giant marathon.
We wish good things for the city and our heart is with all who were hurt and effected. Boston will prevail.
Darcy says
You guys are so classy. Thanks for this beautiful post. So many bloggers just ignored the tragedy or put a foot in their (virtual) mouth, and I love that for something pretty off-topic for you guys, you’ve added something worthwhile to the conversation. I’m hyper-sensitive to this one, as it was a tough week to be Bostonian, and I chose this year to introduce my 5-year-old to the amazing yearly show that is the marathon. So I have a stupidly high standard, and you’ve exceeded it. xoxo #BostonBeautiful
Kym says
Wonderful post! Love that you pulled it back to why you or anyone runs in the first place. Time to focus on the positive following an event like that.
Megan says
I ran my first 5k on the Sunday after Boston. A few of us wore shirts that said “running for boston” and I really felt like I was a part of something bigger. My husband ran my (very slow) pace with me the whole time. I definitely felt the race day / running love. Thanks for reminding us of the joy of running / the running community!
katrina says
I just saw this article written by Haruki Murakami and thought you might enjoy it – Boston, from one citizen of the world who calls himself a runner:
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2013/05/murakami-running-boston-marathon-bombing.html?mbid=social_retweet
Young House Life says
So funny, you’re the second person to mention that to me today! Gotta go read it… Thanks!
-John