The 2011 Boston Marathon From a Spectator's Viewpoint

My experience at the 2011 Boston Marathon differed considerably from the way I envisioned it .

Namely, I ended up as a spectator instead of a participant.

My marathon training was a rollercoaster ride that ended up flying off the track. First I dealt with in January and February that caused me to miss four weeks of training. When I got the all-clear to start running again , hoping that I could build my way back to being ready for the marathon.

But I’m afraid I was just a bit too eager to increase my mileage. A few weeks before the marathon I was on a long run and started to feel pain in the arch of my left foot. It didn’t get any better after resting and icing for a few days, so I saw my doctor and he told me it was tendonitis in my arch. 

The 2011 Boston Marathon was off the table for me.

While I am disappointed that I had to bow out, I am trying to remember that it is just one race. There will be more, and listening to my body when it tells me it needs a break will help ensure that.

Besides, since my boyfriend Brian was running, it gave me the chance to experience the Boston Marathon as a fan.

My parents were there with me and we were able to find a viewing location about a quarter mile from the finish line on Boylston Street. Since we knew we would be dealing with a huge crowd, we claimed our spot early, at 8:30 a.m., even though Brian wouldn’t be coming by for another four and a half hours or so. 

This gave us the chance to see the elite women and men fly by us at simply impossible speeds. Desiree Davila came so close to being the first American woman to win Boston since 1983, but she ultimately lost to Kenyan Caroline Kilel by three seconds. Still, it was thrilling to see them go by us in a literal race to the finish.

On the men’s side, Kenyans Geoffrey Mutai and Moses Mosop sprinted by a short time later, with Mutai on his way to setting a new course record (and an unofficial new world record).

But while catching a glimpse of these professional athletes in action was pretty amazing, I found that cheering on the “regular” folks as they made their way to the finish line was most inspiring to me.

And I realized that when it comes to witnessing the strength of the human spirit, watching the final few hundred yards of a marathon ranks pretty high.

A lot can happen to the body over the course of 26.2 miles, from muscle spasms to charley horses, stomach cramps to plumbing issues, dehydration to extreme fatigue.

But time after time, I saw runners pushing through their pain.

I saw determination in their eyes as they willed their way to the finish. I saw gratitude in their faces as they used the roar of the crowd to carry them. I saw selflessness in their hearts as they offered support to those close to their breaking points.

If ever there was a metaphor for life, a marathon is it.

Don’t give up. Be appreciative. Help those in need.

In the end, it doesn’t matter if you win, lose, finish at the back of the pack – or don’t even make it to the starting line of the race. Whether a spectator or a particpant, it’s the lessons you take away from the experience.

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