Here's the thing about the running community: It's 100% a tribe... And you don't even have to be a fast, elite athlete to be in it. Heck, you don't even have to lace up or train. It can be as simple as volunteering to pass out t-shirts at registration, or waking up early to hold a sign and holler "GO FAST, MAMA!" to be in it. The running tribe is made up of runners and spectators, volunteers, spouses and offspring, parents and friends, police, medics etc. Every person counts. Every person is necessary in making it happen. If you have a heart full of love and joy beating in your chest, you're in! It's true.
Which is why we are all hurting so bad. Which is why I can say for certain that the evil that did this today was no part of our tribe. We know how hard those runners trained and sacrificed to EVEN QUALIFY to participate. We know that, at mile 26, they were so close to a dream fulfilled. We know HOW LOUD and EXCITED and JOYFULLY those spectators and volunteers were cheering. And we are devastated that someone so cruel could rob countless racers of the dream of those coveted finishers medals, far too many people of their limbs, three families of precious loved ones. Someone could dare rob OUR TRIBE of those three important members.
Oh Boston.
