We’ve had less than a day to absorb the chilling scenes that went down in Boston. Our Nebraska running community experienced anxious moments as we waited to hear from loved ones, ultimately everyone accounted for.
We are pulling together, for better, at this darkest hour. I was contacted by three of the local TV channels, two of them sent out remotes for interviews. It was with relief that I reported that our Nebraskans were physically, if not psychologically, unscathed. My phone continues to light up with follow ups and requests for interviews. Surreal.
A lot of concerned emotions this morning. My friends that were in Boston to run or to support. My friends at the Boston Athletic Association. Those injured, their families. The first responders. The spectators. The City of Boston.
Two of Nebraska’s fastest women were within minutes of the explosion. Stacy Shaw hobbled by her bad ankle, walking the last several miles, putting her close to ground zero. Kaci Lickteig running with her mom and finishing just 3 minutes prior to the blast. We are so thankful that they will return safely.
I offered a different perspective in my interviews yesterday. My opinion is that major road races, especially marathons, will now have participant security at the top of their management priority lists. They have been soft targets for years, this now glaringly exposed. Road racing will change forever. Casual runners may not notice but the landscape has forever been altered. I related my experience in Rio de Janeiro at the World Half Marathon Championships in 2008. Much of the course was lined with a 10′ chain link fence. What security measures will now necessarily be in place at the 2016 Olympics in Rio?
Just before tragedy struck it was a beautiful day. And there were several performances worth noting. Nate Stack finished his successful training cycle by running 2:39:18. I want to thank Nate again for trusting my coaching. Only Cameron Cummings (2:36:33) would finish ahead for 1st Nebraskan bragging rights. Alex Cassar ran a personal best 3:28:00 (1:45:13 at the half, nice negative split), thanks to her as well for accepting my training. Haleigh Riggle was first Nebraska female running a personal best 3:09:59.
My old buddy Jim Garcia is remarkable. He continued his streak of sub 3 hour marathons finishing in 2:59:02. He has run sub 3 hours for 34 years and 6 months, and counting. And he’s in the 60+ age group, that impresses me.
And Joan Benoit Samuelson ran 2:50:29 at age 55. That is a world record for the 55-59 age group. Excellent.
Congratulations to Mike Morgan, he ran 2:17:05 at last weekend’s Rotterdam Marathon. Still getting it.
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