Boston Marathon Stories

thisismynickname2

I don't know if it's my time-of-the-month hormones or what, but two stories on Runners World today got me all teary!

This one- Dad led the race for the first few minutes so his kids could see him on TV (and then he stepped aside to have everyone pass him): 

http://www.runnersworld.com/boston-marathon/who-was-the-dad-leading-the-boston-marathon-at-mile-one

This one- Guy has friends hold signs along the course in order to propose to his girlfriend at the finish (and two other nice stories): 

http://www.runnersworld.com/boston-marathon/a-missing-wedding-ring-a-beer-and-a-proposal-in-boston

It's my dream to one day qualify for the Boston Marathon, but man, all the feels this week!

kvruns

I watched live coverage of the elites and it always makes me teary-eyed, let alone watching the "regular" people out there. My marathon PR is 20 min off my qualifying standard, I think, so yea that's not happening

Hadn't heard about the dad who lead - wow.  I mean he has to be fast enough to have even gotten to start with the elite men, let alone keep up for a mile. I will admit part of me hates stunts like this bc I hate when people start races further up than they should, but his is a little different and sounds like he did it respectfully.

sarahufl

The NY marathon always makes me tear up, too- I go watch it every year.

On a side note- one of my friends finished this year in 2:37. 206th place, overall.

Ridiculous.

thisismynickname2

@kvruns I'm 30 minutes off a QT and I keep getting hurt. It's probably not in future either but a girl can dream!

@Sarahufl yeah that's... impressive. Wow! 

kvruns

@thisismynickname yea I pretty much told myself I was retiring from full marathons after last fall when I hurt to walk for days but the only exception might be Chicago as I've had it on my bucket list and we have a connection to the race and could get in kind of last minute if training goes ok.  I might start training for it soon and just see

redheadbride15

Oh I'm a total sap. I live in Boston and this stuff is plastered everywhere but I still can't get enough. I like the story of the woman who won the wheelchair race (Tatyana McFadden) who gave her crown to the father of the boy who was killed in the bombings. And Lelisa Desisa, who won the men's race, gave his medal in 2013 to the city of Boston. And I love the engagement story! And all the husband/wife, father/son, etc teams out there! And this guy, who has muscular dystrophy but finished the race even though it took 20 hours in the pouring rain.

ETF typo

thisismynickname2

kvruns said:

@thisismynickname yea I pretty much told myself I was retiring from full marathons after last fall when I hurt to walk for days but the only exception might be Chicago as I've had it on my bucket list and we have a connection to the race and could get in kind of last minute if training goes ok.  I might start training for it soon and just see

Do try to do Chicago, it's awesome! It's well known for its crowd support. I ran it 3 times before they instituted the lottery. DH keeps saying he won't do more marathons after the one we're doing this fall, but you never know when the itch will strike. 

500days

redheadbride15 said:

Oh I'm a total sap. I live in Boston and this stuff is plastered everywhere but I still can't get enough. I like the story of the woman who won the wheelchair race (Tatyana McFadden) who gave her crown to the father of the boy who was killed in the bombings. And Lelisa Desisa, who won the men's race, gave his medal in 2013 to the city of Boston. And I love the engagement story! And all the husband/wide, father/son, etc teams out there! And this guy, who has muscular dystrophy but finished the race even though it took 20 hours in the pouring rain.

I found him to be so inspirational! 20 hours?! It just proves that your body is an amazing thing. I wish I had that type of determination.

kvruns

thisismynickname said:

kvruns said:

@thisismynickname yea I pretty much told myself I was retiring from full marathons after last fall when I hurt to walk for days but the only exception might be Chicago as I've had it on my bucket list and we have a connection to the race and could get in kind of last minute if training goes ok.  I might start training for it soon and just see

Do try to do Chicago, it's awesome! It's well known for its crowd support. I ran it 3 times before they instituted the lottery. DH keeps saying he won't do more marathons after the one we're doing this fall, but you never know when the itch will strike. 

what one are you doing this fall? I spent a decent amount of time in Chicago for work years ago so I've always felt like I "know" the city to an extent which is why I've wanted to run it. FI was on board until this past weekend when he ran a full (I did the 1/2) and it was hot and he crashed and burned hard and says he is done with fulls now hehe.

thisismynickname2

kvruns said:

thisismynickname said:

kvruns said:

@thisismynickname yea I pretty much told myself I was retiring from full marathons after last fall when I hurt to walk for days but the only exception might be Chicago as I've had it on my bucket list and we have a connection to the race and could get in kind of last minute if training goes ok.  I might start training for it soon and just see

Do try to do Chicago, it's awesome! It's well known for its crowd support. I ran it 3 times before they instituted the lottery. DH keeps saying he won't do more marathons after the one we're doing this fall, but you never know when the itch will strike. 

what one are you doing this fall? I spent a decent amount of time in Chicago for work years ago so I've always felt like I "know" the city to an extent which is why I've wanted to run it. FI was on board until this past weekend when he ran a full (I did the 1/2) and it was hot and he crashed and burned hard and says he is done with fulls now hehe.

We're going to England. There's a marathon in close proximity to a lot of my extended family, who were unable to come to our wedding. So, they'll get to meet DH and we get to experience a marathon while jet-lagged. Should be interesting, LOL. 

I did a half in Miami and it was so humid, I crashed and burned too. I actually got a "PW" - personal worst- for the half there! 

@redheadbride15 even just reading that post gets me teary! 

arrippa

There was a story last year that always makes me teary

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2014/04/22/hull-woman-last-runner-to-finish-boston-marathon/

I loved that as she was running the course, the cleanup crew were rooting her on as the race was essentially over.

 

thisismynickname2

arrippa said:

There was a story last year that always makes me teary

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2014/04/22/hull-woman-last-runner-to-finish-boston-marathon/

I loved that as she was running the course, the cleanup crew were rooting her on as the race was essentially over.

 

I get teary about "last runner" stories too. The mental fortitude to keep going even when most others have long since finished... wow. 

huskypuppy14

I didn't hear about the man leading the race during the first mile. My husband I watched the race at about the 3.5 mile marker (we live in one of the marathon towns). They go by so fast, you wouldn't know who was who unless you're looking for someone in particular. 

There was another proposal as well.

redheadbride15

I always love to watch the back of the pack cross the finish line. It's all the ordinary folks we can relate to - all the runners who are older, or overweight, or maybe not in peak condition, or injured. They remind me that anyone can achieve something great with enough gumption. I find that way more inspiring than watching the elite runners who are there to try to win money. Every year that I go down to the finish line late in the day, after the crowds have left, and I watch the stragglers finish, I think to myself "If these people can do it... maybe I'll run a marathon one day!"

erinkelsey3

redheadbride15 said:

Oh I'm a total sap. I live in Boston and this stuff is plastered everywhere but I still can't get enough. I like the story of the woman who won the wheelchair race (Tatyana McFadden) who gave her crown to the father of the boy who was killed in the bombings. And Lelisa Desisa, who won the men's race, gave his medal in 2013 to the city of Boston. And I love the engagement story! And all the husband/wife, father/son, etc teams out there! And this guy, who has muscular dystrophy but finished the race even though it took 20 hours in the pouring rain.

ETF typo

Aghhh now I'm crying at work! So inspiring.

mj8215

Such amazing stories! I especially liked the one of the woman who lost her leg in the bombings and this year was able to run the last 3.5 miles! 

I ran my first marathon (NYC) last year and am dreaming of one day qualifying for Boston... not anywhere close my QT right now but hey! 

Edited to include link: http://espn.go.com/espnw/athletes-life/article/12729607/bombing-survivor-rebekah-gregory-runs-boston-marathon