The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck
For many runners, the Boston Marathon represents the Holy Grail of marathons. Only runners who meet the marathon’s stringent qualifying times can enter the oldest marathon and one of the toughest courses around the nation. Therefore, acceptance comes with major dedication, hard work, and skill. In a sense, this particular marathon represents some of the strongest and most proven runners around the world. Thus, it remains at the top of many runners’ bucket lists.
In 2013, the bombings at the Boston Marathon ruined thousands of runners’ dreams. For some runners, it took years of dedication to make it to that race—only for the dream to be ripped away through an unexplainable act of violence. But more importantly, the bombings literally disrupted lives with the death of loved ones, loss of limbs, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more.
This tragic event made people around the world rally for the 2014 Boston Marathon, making it one of the most successful and invigorating races that Boston has ever had. The rally provides a great example of how to overcome tragedy. Here are some things we can learn from this year’s marathon:
1. Set fear aside. The 2013 tragedy made runners even more determined to qualify for the race and show the world that they are strong. Therefore, the 2014 race had the most registered runners in nearly 20 years. While we face many challenges in life, we cannot let fear dictate how we will live.
2. Lend a hand. The media captured many momentous instances during the race. However, one that really stood out was when four runners who were near the finish line stopped to help a fellow runner. There are times when nothing else matters than to lend a helping hand.
3. Move forward. Tragedies happen. If we let them alter our lives, then we lose out on so many opportunities. If Boston cancelled its marathon, the loss would be felt around the world. Instead, we have to learn from tragedies, build from them, and move on.
4. Be a team player. Citizens from around the world showed major support for the Boston Marathon. While each year a tremendous amount of volunteers and staff help make the marathon a reality, more and new safety measures and other strategies had to be formulated to ensure a safe, yet fun event. Many events in our lives could not happen without support from others.
5. Be heard. According to spectators and runners of the 2014 Boston Marathon, this year marked one of the loudest and most supportive crowds in its history. Runners drew strength from the cheers and presence of the spectators. In the event of a tragedy, we should make our voices heard.
While overcoming a tragedy is not easy, Boston has proved that it can be done with lots of determination and support.
Jill Starbuck has 20 years of experience as a business writer, editor, and market research analyst. She is a certified health coach through the Integrative Institute of Nutrition and a certified running coach through the Road Runners Club of America. She is also the co-owner of a running business. She can be reached at jillstarbuck@hotmail.com.
