Comments on: Channeling the Spirit of the Marathon: Hope Going Forward

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:50:48 +0000

@Ces: Like you, I was also teary-eyed reading accounts from Boston. But there is so much kindness and goodness shown during this tragedy that this does instill faith in humanity and the good we can show to each other when times are tough.

@Kristin: Thanks so much for your fantastic comment! The idea of positive coming from negative is sometimes hard to believe when things seem so, so bad. But I do believe in this. And we’ve been shown this over and over again when people do incredible acts beyond what they could have imagined when faced with adversity. Congrats on running the Color Run this year! I’m also more motivated than ever to train for a half marathon and be able to finish it. Maybe we can keep each other accountable in training for it 🙂

By: Kristin Pedemonti

Kristin Pedemonti — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:37:48 +0000

Audrey
Beautiful post. Sorry for the late reply.

Thank you for a wonderful piece focusing on the incredible Human Spirit, breaking stereotypes, pushing our boundraies and that Positive comes from negative. What I saw afterwards were all the acts of kindness extended. I LOVE how you framed marathons as life lessons; indeed. Sending HUGS to you and letting you know I’m running in the Color Run this year; first time doing an organized race. My goal is to do a half marathon in the next 3 years.

By: ces

ces — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:36:36 +0000

I can’t help but get teary-eyed each time I read posts or news about the Boston incident. The stories of heroes doing various acts of kindness made my heart swell with joy despite the tragedy. Because of these heroes, my faith to humanity has been restored.

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:23:30 +0000

@Sutapa: I’ve been heartened to read several articles about the spirit of marathons and especially the good will of the people cheering for hours in every kind of weather. Let’s hope that we can keep this spirit alive, especially as we sort through what happened and why.

@Jenna: You’re welcome. It was my way of processing and focusing. And thank you for linking back to this in your lovely post.

@Kent: Although I’m not a marathon runner (Dan is), I still got really emotional thinking about what happened in Boston in light of what joyous and hopeful events marathons usually are. So glad that this post resonated and provided a bit of positive focus in these sad times.

@Don: And thank you for such a thoughtful and hopeful comment. There’s so much that marathons can teach us about being inclusive and support. And when we apply that to our friends, families and even strangers, those mountains and “it’s not possible” suddenly become within reach. Pump your arms, your legs will follow. I hope this message continues even after the people who were responsible are caught.

@LJ: I’m also a sucker for the ordinary folks in races, the ones that surprise you and defy those stereotypes or boxes we put them in. Each marathon has so many thousands of stories of personal triumph and there are thousands of marathons each – imagine if we could bottle that spirit and energy. I have a feeling that next year the Boston marathon might be even bigger.

@Suzanne: Thank you for your kind comment and I’m so glad this piece was uplifting. Really appreciate it.

By: Suzanne Fluhr

Suzanne Fluhr — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:55:25 +0000

I’ve felt myself drawn to travel blogs I follow since the Boston Marathon bombings, looking for words of wisdom from other wanderlusters. So far, your essay has been the most uplifting and thoughtful. IMHO. Write on!

By: LJ Cohen

LJ Cohen — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 02:09:40 +0000

Thank you for this. Boston is my home. I have cheered runners on at the base of Heartbreak Hill going back the 20 years we’ve lived here. While everyone loves seeing the elite runners pass, it’s the ordinary folks who get the most love and support. There are people who run in costumes, wearing silly hats, in wedding gear, tutus, and juggling. There are old and young runners, people pushing wheelchairs and strollers for the course.

It’s an amazing event full of thousands of stories of personal triumph. That is what I will hold on to.

By: Don

Don — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:55:15 +0000

Thanks Audrey for sharing your thoughts during such a difficult and sensitive time. The spirit of the marathon as a metaphor for life is such an uplifting thought especially during these sad times. Having occasionally followed the comments of your post readers I’m sure many of them instantly identified with the advice – pump your arms and your legs will follow. Now I’m thinking Audrey and Dan and Kilamanjaro and how many times this advice must have applied as you and your friends made your way to the summit. Cynicism and despair are understandable reactions in these times. We need gentle and healing thoughts to soften these tendencies. You have given them to us.

By: Kent

Kent — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:30:10 +0000

As (former!) marathon runners, Caanan and I were both left feeling especially contemplative after hearing about what went down in Boston. I love that you found/shared such powerful life lessons based on the spirit of a marathon.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:11:16 +0000

Lovely post, Audrey. Thank you for your inspirational words and sharing some positivity in this sad time.

By: Sutapa

Sutapa — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:20:34 +0000

Also agree with all the other points….building personal motivation from friends is so good for such a tough sport.