The Boston Marathon had a bit of everything on Monday. There were stories of strength, determination and courage. There were stories of faith, hope and trust. And yes, it was all about more than 30,000 runners proving America was standing
The Boston Marathon had a bit of everything on Monday. There were stories of strength, determination and courage. There were stories of faith, hope and trust. And yes, it was all about more than 30,000 runners proving America was standing strong. The victory by 38-year-old U.S. citizen Meb Keflezighi was the stuff of legend. Who would ever have predicted Meb still had the leg speed to win the grandest marathon of them all? It was glorious. It was a brilliant day to be in Boston, and we applaud all the runners who ran 26.2 miles on Monday in Boston. No matter where they placed, they won by just being at the starting line.
It wasn’t just the runners who stood out. If you’re looking for resolve, examples of bravery we wish we all had, few showed more than these folks as outlined by the Associated Press.
• Newlyweds who each lost a leg in last year’s bombing completed the marathon together this year, riding handcycles for the 26.2-mile course.
Patrick Downes and Jessica Kensky were newly married last year when they went to the marathon finish line to watch the runners cross. They suffered severe injuries; each lost a left leg.
On Monday, they rode side by side in the handcycle race, completing the course from Hopkinton to Boston in about 2 hours and 14 minutes. Both smiled as they rolled across the finish line, holding hands.
A spokesman for Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital said the couple wanted to make sure they completed the race together.
• Jeff Bauman, who lost his legs in the bombing, stood in the stands just past the finish line with his fiancee, Erin Hurley, and fellow amputee Adrianne Haslet-Davis. They were applauding runners as they crossed.
Bauman was wearing his prosthetics and had the help of two crutches. The group sat a few feet away from Carlos Arredondo, who helped save his life.
It was the first time Bauman had returned to the finish line area since the attacks.
“It feels great” to be back, he said. “I feel very safe.”
• Joe Ebert, 61, of Hampton, N.H., was cheering on his son-in-law near the spot in downtown Boston where the bombs went off. He was in the same area last year at the time of the attack.
“I wanted to be in this spot,” said Ebert, who wore a jacket and medal from when he ran the race in 2010. “Just wanted to let them know that they can’t beat us down. I think it makes us all stronger when something like that happens.”
Patrick, Jessica, Jeff and Joe are just a few examples of all that was right in Beantown on Monday. Whether running, walking, watching, volunteering, guarding or cheering at the Boston Marathon, we hope you all know this: You made us proud.
