One Of Many Marathon Runners Who are Segregated from Monday's Race

I am writing this as one of many perfectly healthy runners, qualifying and charity runners alike that were told we would not be welcome to compete in the race unless we submitted to taking the COVID-19 vaccine. I didn't feel comfortable doing this like many other Americans across the country. I reached out to the B.A.A. for a religious exemption and to allow me to be tested 48 hours before the event just so I could still do what I love. My requests fell on deaf ears at first. Then I was finally told the B.A.A. will not honor religious exemptions. I feel my religious freedom, one of the bedrocks of why our country exists was ignored.

I understand that some of you who do not respect someone's right to choose what they will do medically or religiously will mock this article. You will tell me I have nothing to complain about and that I should just shut up and roll up my sleeve. That is what makes our country so great. You have that right. You can tell me that. And you don't have to care that something I love was ripped away from me because it didn't happen to you. And unless it does you will never really understand how I feel.

I got back into running about 10 years ago. I was over 300 pounds, but I loved it and despite my size, my slow pace and my mostly late to last place finishes I was accepted. The running community in this area truly accepted me. For someone that doesn't have a runners build that truly meant a lot. I ended up getting good training in 2015 and ran my first half marathon. After that race I truly felt Boston and a full marathon were possible. In 2016 I got my weight down to 228 pounds and I ran the Boston Marathon for The Perkins School for the Blind, my nephews' school. I raised $7,000 and I finished Boston.

In 2017 I got the courage up to write my first children's book, "Big Dan Runs the Marathon" due to the confidence I gained running this race. I have since run Boston two more times raising another $13,000 in charity money and I also have run the Marine Corps Marathon twice.

A month after my 3rd Boston in 2019, running a 5-mile race in Norwood, I had to have a surgery to repair a condition known as compartment syndrome. I ended up in the Norwood Hospital for 10 days. I had a surgery known as a fasciotomy. I tore a calf muscle and it bled into my right leg causing a lot of swelling and pain. Before this surgery I faced the real reality of losing that leg. Luckily the surgeon was able to save it. Unlucky for me the leg didn't recover as I had hoped, and I had pins and needles and numbness from nerve damage. I was depressed for a while, but despite the drawbacks from the surgery I kept trying and then after getting on a charity team for 2020 COVID-19 shut down everything.

The Marathon became a virtual event, and I was still having problems. I couldn't feel my foot hitting the ground and it was scary as I had to look down instead of in front of me and it was very frustrating. I was unable to do the virtual and then I was able to get on a team for the 125th this past October. It wasn't until right before this race that I finally found a doctor that could help me. Through a series of cortisone shots, I regained the feeling in my leg and foot and was starting to run like myself and though It was suggested I not run the October version of the race, I figured I'd get on a new team or an existing one and train through the winter for this Monday.

That was until the announcement was made that the entire field would need to be vaccinated. My heart was completely broken that day. I feel like I've been fighting a losing battle for 7 months. The B.A.A, were mostly unresponsive or responding with form answers. Later in January they said they wouldn't honor a religious exemption. They would only honor medical ones. Well, I didn't have anything physically wrong with me which is why I felt confident running. It would've felt dishonest to request a medical exemption. Unfortunately for me the B.A.A. doesn't seem to care about people's religious freedoms nor their freedom to make their own choices about their personal health.

This year Boston celebrates 50 years of women running the race. I think it is amazing they are doing this as women have been a huge part of the races history and personally I think this is awesome but equally amazing that they didn’t learn anything from this history as now 50 years later they are segregating men and woman from running over two shots.

So Monday, Instead of chasing after my fourth Boston Marathon finish, I will be doing anything but watching what I refuse to call the 126th running of the marathon because to me it is the first annual segregation marathon. They claim all of this inclusiveness and said they are back to normal for Monday. Excluding healthy people over freedom of choice is anything but that. I truly wish they understood how many people they have hurt and how many dreams they crushed. I will be 50 this year and as I get older marathons get harder and harder especially for someone not built like a runner. They definitely crushed my dream this year.