A first person account of the Boston Marathon

Point of view

6hr

A first person account of the Boston Marathon

(David Butler II – USA TODAY Sports)

By CAMERON SMITH

There are few things that are certain in life. Mark Twain cited life, death and taxes. The greater Boston community can add another to their list: they’ll always have each other.

On a race day like no other, with throngs in crowds deeper and more passionate than any I’ve ever seen (across 17 marathons), it was the crowds and volunteers that stood out. Yes, Meb Keflezighi’s victory was incredibly inspiring, particularly after the events of 2013. Yes, the stories among the runners were remarkable, from double amputees participating in honor of fallen victims of 4.15.13.

Nothing compared to the crowds, which is appropriate. They were the ones who were directly attacked a year earlier, so it was they who truly took back their race. As documented in the Q and on For The Win all day, they did so in creative, inspiring and redeeming ways on many levels.

I am not a runner prone to sentimentality, but more than once along the course I had to catch my breath as I was moved by other runners or the crowd’s response.

Then, at the finish, where the running world and city of Boston were thrown into a maelstrom 371 days earlier, the volunteers showed just how much this race means to them and the city.

It’s common courtesy for runners to thank the volunteers for taking part, particularly as they are congratulated for finishing the race. In Boston, it was the volunteers who thanked the runners for returning to run. Some hugged exhausted runners. Others offered a simple thanks. I saw multiple volunteers, including members of the Boston Police Department, moved to the verge of tears as the mutual appreciation between their group and the runners went back and forth.

Both groups were right to offer thanks. We could all give thanks for one day in which the city of Boston embraced thousands of runners as its own. Even those living in New York.

Boston ran as one, and the race ran stronger than it ever has before. It may never be the same again, but this time, it has been transformed for all of the right, inspiring reasons. Those of us who were on site on April 21 should all feel privileged to have been a part of it.