The Boston Marathon and my sensitive side.

Whenever I go to expos for my races, I get so pumped knowing I will be in a building surrounded by "my people". These people GET ME. They love running as much as I do... and I'm not crazy to them, because they are just as crazy as me!

I couldn't sleep last night cause I could hear my heart beating. Yesterday put me at a loss of words, but today I feel like I want to speak my feelings. "Runners" don't just run as a form of exercise. They don't hate running.. and they sure as hell don't complain that they "STILL have to run today..uuuugh...". We incorporate running into our lifestyles. It molds us, helps us grow, helps us grieve, meditate, whatever it may be. I have runs where I could smile the whole time, jamming to my music. I also have runs where I cry and pray out loud the entire time. I'm usually hoping cars passing are assuming i'm singing to my music, even though I'm actually crying so it probably just looks a bit odd. Honestly though? I never care.. cause i'm running.. and most of the time that's the only time I feel like I can be 100% free. I know there are milllllions of people out there that share the love of running that I do. I know that most of them were in that race yesterday. 

You don't just run the Boston Marathon. It's not a very casual thing to do. You have to train for it. For months.. years.. You need a specific time to even qualify for it. That means you need to have run a full marathon once before AND get that awesome time. Yesterday's runners were at that starting line at 10am.. nervous, chills, excited, wanting to pee their pants I'm sure. 4+ hours later, devastation. What kind of SICK people do this? I was at my internship and the second I heard, I ran around the hospital trying to find a TV, computer, anything to let me know what's going on. My heart sank for all of the runners, families, and people who were hurt :(. One of the dietitians I work with was actually in the race, so knowing she was already in the hotel was so good to hear (yes, she's incredibly fast).

Each day there are more deaths and more injuries being heard of. It makes my heart sink to have this happen to a group I feel so close to. Runners are family.. the 23,000+ people out there are family. We all share this desire to run like there is no tomorrow (no pun intended.. no, but really). 

I feel so fortunate to be able to keep running and continue doing what I am so passionate  about. I encourage ALL runners to never give up, even though I already know they won't. Runners aside, we have a strong country and we'll find these fools. Now more than ever do I feel blessed to have a soldier as my boyfriend. It makes it that much more real.

Allllright. Venting is over.