HEARTBREAK HILL

Today, bombs exploded in at least two locations near the the finish line of the Boston Marathon. A scene of celebration was rapidly transformed into a scene of carnage rivaling the horrors witnessed in war zones. Based upon the most recent reporting, at least two people have died and over 130 people have been injured - many of whom have lost limbs or whole parts of their bodies.

It is still unclear who is responsible for such a heinous and cowardly attack.  Finding out who perpetrated this disaster and why is the question of the day. However, even once the guilty are caught and their motives are clarified, our hurt and our spirits will remain shaken.

This is because sport and running, specifically, are the ultimate acts of freedom.  One only needs a pair of shoes and a surface to run.  In this country, the young, the old, men, women, and children are all free to run, to push themselves, and to test their limits in a race like the marathon.

I ran the New York City marathon in 2004. I was injured during that race and took several years to get back into running. However, I have no regrets about running and completing that 26.2 mile race. 

That race taught me about human perseverance in the face of pain - physical, mental, and emotional. That race taught me that I could do something that most people find unimaginable. That race taught me that we never walk or run alone. 

I still remember a young man my age - his bib had the name Dan it and said he was from Indiana - who helped carry me through the final miles.  Dan saw me struggling, half-walking, half-stumbling, and he encouraged me to keep going. We walked/ran for several miles, and our shared suffering and strength helped propel me forward.  Each of us knew nothing about the other, except that we were both runners and that we both needed a helping hand. That is the essence of the marathon for those who run it and those who cheer the runners on.

In many ways, our lives are marathons. We face steep uphill challenges like the crest of Boston's Heartbreak Hill. We have starts and stops. We sometimes fail and have to wait until the next year to accomplish our goals. However, we are never alone - in victory or defeat. To those who sought to terrorize us, we are terrified today by your violence. However, we know that we are not alone, and our solidarity will give us strength in the coming days.

Today, we are all Bostonians.  Even in New York City, the rival of all Boston rivals, fraternity replaced scorn. At the Brooklyn Academy of Music, a simple tribute was projected on the building's facade. It is shown below.

Tomorrow is a new day in America. Legions of runners like me will face that day tomorrow morning. We will be greeted not by darkness... but by light.