12 seconds that will now be forever etched into the memory of runners everywhere. Confusion. Panic. Sadness. Bewilderment. These are a few things that many have felt to one degree or another, whether there was a training partner or family member running, or just because you feel the camaraderie from being a "runner" and imagining what it must have been like to be there. But most of us who weren't there can't really know...only imagine.
What happened on April 15 will likely change our sport forever. I imagine there will be some surface level changes, like more security at large races, but the lasting changes will be in the minds and hearts of we who run. No runner alive today will likely complete another marathon without recalling, at least momentarily, the horror of that day at Boston. As 4:09 ticks past on the finish line clock, there will be some who pause for a moment at the memory of the explosions, the screams, the confusion, the blood, the tears. And that's as it should be. We would do well to remember that there are those in this world who believe that violence is the way to get attention, or that it is the way to solve problems. We should recognize that it is the same evil that motivated this attack which motivated the British Crown to oppress and kill its own citizens in the Revolutionary period, including the first Boston Massacre. It is the same evil that was behind Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong, and more recently the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 and the host of other injustices and horrific tragedies which have taken place throughout the history of this planet. We would do well to hope to eradicate this evil, and to hope that justice can be served upon the heads of those responsible where it is possible through the judicious application of just and fair laws.
We should also remember the consequences of the actions that we take in searching out justice. Before we hasten to exact vengeance, we should perhaps pause to ponder on what it is we are really looking for. Perhaps runners, more than most who have not experienced a tragic loss of this nature, understand the value of blood and tears. In our never ending quest to reach deeper within ourselves through running, each of us has shed a few drops of both. We know the worth of freedom, as each of us has experienced this in a way that many do not. We know at least one kind of happiness. With this in mind, let us remember the value of life, of liberty, of happiness, and not let the thirst for vengeance overcome our sense of humanity. In our search to make sense of these events, lets remember that the best tribute to those who lost their lives, or part of their freedom, or who are sorrowing because of the evil acts of a few, is to reach out to one another. To counter Evil with Good. To be a little bit better person. To sacrifice something for someone else. To offer assistance to someone in need. To say a kind word as you pass a stranger on the trail. These are the things that will win out in the end. No amount of armed force, fear, or hatred can change history, but love and service can change the future. Love in the face of death, pain, and terror is the deepest kind of courage, and I believe it is the ultimate source of power in this existence. It's not unlike the will to keep running through pain to the top of the next ridge, knowing that there are still many more mountains to climb, but that each successive summit will bring more breathtaking vistas than the last.
My Mormon faith leads me to believe honestly that God can make good out of anything--even something as tragic as the events in Boston. But in order for this to happen, and in order for us to be more like Him, we each need to learn to do this individually. So don't let fear, anger, and hate take over. It only leads to more suffering. Become someone better, something more. We know how to do this, but we also know it takes a little work. So lace up, and RUN!
