Boston Marathon Supporters form International Friendship

Photo [L-R]: Judy Mackey, Essi Seppala and Sari Kankanen

BOSTON, MA - Judy Mackey patiently stood in line at the Boston Marathon security checkpoint, wearing two layers of clothing under a bright yellow raincoat, a sun hat and sunglasses, prepared for every conceivable weather possibility.

She explained that during last year's wet and chilly Marathon she was the only one in her area with an umbrella. This year she took it a step further and in addition to donning the raincoat, eschewed her leather shoes in favor of sneakers.

For the second year in a row Mackey has trekked north from Atlanta in support of her son, Ty Ragan. In line she carries herself like only someone instilled with a sense of southern hospitality can - self-assured, confident and unflinchingly friendly.

Within minutes she's struck up a conversation with two young women from Finland. Essi Seppala and Sari Kankanen, there to cheer on their husbands, barely speak a word of English, but soon the three are epoxied to each other for the rest of the event.

After finding that none of them have Grandstand tickets, required to get through this particular checkpoint, Mackey, Seppala and Kankanen set out in search of a more promising entrance. Eventually they find standing room on Boylston Street, a little over two blocks from the finish line.

The three women have become inseparable as they fend off intrusive spectators and help each other track their runners' progress. At the end they exchange email addresses and promise to keep in touch.

It isn't only competitors from around the world who share the bond of the Boston Marathon; it's the runners' families, friends and supporters who find themselves forming the unlikeliest of friendships.

"[The race] brings in a lot of pride because you've got people from all over the world," Mackey said. "You know of Boston because of the Marathon."

Though its roots are planted firmly in Boston, the Marathon's reach extends globally. As competitors rounded the corner of Boylston Street for the final leg of Monday's race, they ran through a sea of support in a variety of different languages, flanked by the flags of nations around the world.

Spectators flocked to rooftops and balconies, stopped on overhead walkways in the Prudential Center and stood on any elevated platform they could find to catch a glimpse of the runners as they fought their way to the end of the 26.2 miles.

And though they may not all speak the same language, practice the same religion or come from the same culture, the roar from the crowd Monday could be understood worldwide.