The best of humanity

When I got home from work yesterday I sat down to write a blog post.  I had lots of things going around and around my head that I wanted to get out - good news and not so good.  But my thoughts and emotions were all a bit jumbled and I sat with an empty draft blog open (that I couldn't even come up with a title for) for quite some time before I just gave up and got on with my preparations.
For a first time marathoner, there are lots of unknowns, and therefore lots of seemingly ridiculous preoccupations - I have been worrying about when to cut my toenails, and making sure they are painted (you'll be relieved I'm sure to know that I did that last night!), which sunglasses to wear and which trousers.  In fact what to wear full stop to be honest!  Worrying about the small details has become a way of taking my mind off what is coming I am sure!

As I sat down to try and eat my second carb-loaded meal of the day, I saw the news about the explosions at the Boston Marathon on the news.  My immediate reaction was one of utter shock and disbelief.  And when I say shock I do mean that in a physical sense - I felt sick and started to shake (still shaking a little bit as I write this post), and tears started falling.  The running community is quite a close-knit one, with a significant online presence which is used to inspire, motivate and support one another, and this attack immediately sent shockwaves amongst us all.  I have running friends online who were trying to account for friends they knew to be running.  It felt very personal to me that such an event was targeted.  An event which brings together people of all ages, nationalities and faiths.  Running is a sport that has no boundaries and makes no such exceptions.  It is a sport that celebrates achievement at all levels - those who win, those who finish and those who simply give it their best shot are all respected within this community.

There is a saying, which I had shared on facebook a few days ago, that if you are losing faith in humanity you should go and watch a marathon.  That an event such as this was targeted is beyond belief for me and my heart goes out to those in Boston who have been affected.  When I line up at the start of the London Marathon on Sunday, those people will be in my thoughts, and I will be wearing a black ribbon as a mark of solidarity and respect.  From what I know of the running community, I have no doubt that many others will be doing the same, and I am proud and honoured to be a part of something that represents the very best of humanity.