Marathon Monday was April 20. For an avid, albeit slow, runner who will never qualify for the Boston Marathon, I am amazed at the speed the human body can achieve through natural ability, training and determination. Running a marathon is no easy task and, as they say, the race begins at mile 20.
I've become very attached to the Boston Marathon since the bombings in 2013. Bryan and Krista Jones, who live and work in the area and two of my oldest and dearest friends, were at the marathon that year, their first Boston Marathon. My friends and I went from tracking them and rooting them on through athlete tracking, to horror and worry that they were injured. Luckily, they were not physically hurt by the bombing, emotionally is a different story. This year marked their third Boston Marathon race and each one becomes more dear to them because of the bombings and proving that the terrorists will not win. Running accomplishes so much. Through training, common goals arise and new friendships are born. Krista did that with Colleen McCormick, Ironton, who also ran the Boston Marathon in 2014 and 2015. Running a marathon is a physical accomplishment but it is also a mental accomplishment.
Here is to all the athletes that can accomplish the physical and mental toughness to complete a marathon.
Nicole McCormick
Minneapolis
