Much has been written in the press, on social media, and blogs everywhere about One Boston Day, the date that now commemorates the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings with a hopeful eye toward making it a positive ideal to help others and move forward.
This year, Andrew and I headed in to Boston to buy some running swag at the Boston Marathon Expo at the Hynes Convention Center and found ourselves back on Boylston Street at the same time - 2:49 p.m. on April 15 - when the bombs went off, killing three, and injuring hundreds of others. Regular readers of this blog know that Andrew and I, along with so many of our loved ones and fellow runners, were all out on that stretch of road at the fateful moment when the marathon - and our country - was attacked.
This year's anniversary was marked by an eerie moment of silence on the street, followed by a tolling of the nearby church bells. Potted yellow tulips adorn almost every doorstep along the street.
April 15 has now been rededicated to creating good will, and encouraging everyone to do good deeds for one another.
Judging by this pic, for Andrew and I, that meant getting this year's Boston Marathon E Streeter representative Sean Kenny psyched for his 26.2 mile voyage come Monday.
Here's Sean posing before his expected finish time. Or as he hopes, at least his halfway mark.
Andrew took to the Brooks treadmills to test his running mettle. He bumped into fellow Lowell High Cross Country runner Padraic Donovan working at the Expo.
Sean and I both have a history of running greatness. You can re-read any of my past blog posts to revisit some of those moments. It might take you a while to find them, but they're there. Somewhere.
Lots of official marathon gear could be found at this expo.
This inspirational wall from Asics seems to speak to the seemingly endless cavalcade of Saturday morning Group Runs that so many of us have taken part in over the years.
BOLD. It says run BOLD.
Heading out of the Hynes, bumped into an old friend, Boston Police Commissioner William Evans. This guy is not only a police legend in Boston, he's a running legend as well. He helped lead the Boston Police response to the Marathon attacks, but is also a perennial runner of the vaunted race. His finishing times are CRAZY fast. But he's taking this year off from competing because he wants to make sure he's on scene to personally oversee the police protection for all the runners and spectators of the race. He'll run the whole route at a later time.
A classy guy, and a true leader. Proud to know him.
Pick your word. They all describe this guy running on Monday.
Pick another word to describe this guy for just looking good at the Expo.
Out on Boylston Street, Andrew shows us the pose he plans to strike Monday looking for Sean coming down Boylston Street. Hopefully the stands won't be THAT empty when it happens.
Sean will be back here in a couple of days, a little more tired for the wear, and in even more impressive form.
Us? We're just appreciating the history and lore of the finish line.
The site of where the first bomb went off
And further up the street, where 8-year-old Martin Richard was killed by the second bomb.
Looking at the topographical elevation map of the course, Sean is having second thoughts.
But get those thoughts right out of your mind, Sean! Listen to the dancing vegetables!
I'll be back later this weekend with instructions on how to track Sean and some other members of E Streeter nation running on Monday.
Now get out there and do some good for someone!
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