Everyone has been affected by the bombings in Boston, but obviously it has a particular impact for marathoners. How could it not? Aside from the obvious ties and respect athletes share, these are the people who had the finish line as the goal. Some made it before the bombs went off, some were stopped by the crime scene and some are now witnesses to a monstrous crime. The sad truth is that in a 26 mile race, total security is nearly impossible. After Boston, you put one foot in front of the other and hope for the best.
Thing is, most runners, after they process all of this, will put one foot in front of the other. It's not necessarily about courage or defiance, although that's in the mix. They do it because they love it and they need it, and now, it's going to be a bit more than that.
Duke grad Dean Schuster is a runner and has some thoughts on all of this we'd like to pass on.