Millbury woman recalls finishing 2013 Boston Marathon soon before bombings
The last time she ran the marathon, it was 90 degrees, she said, and she was ready for a much better experience as she headed to the starting line in Hopkinton in 2013.
“It was perfect marathon conditions — 60s and overcast,” she said. “It was me and four or five of my friends. We had a good morning all together. We all got lined up according to corrals and waves and we were on our way.”
None of them knew that about four hours into the race, two bomb blasts would upend the event, killing three and injuring more than 250 others — and sending police on a nearly weeklong hunt for those responsible.
Ryan, who lived in Auburn in 2013 and now lives in Millbury, never thought she would become a marathoner. Growing up, her focus was soccer, and she only joined her school’s track team to stay in shape.
After college, she changed gears and got involved in creating a running community, mostly running 5K and 10K races. It was encouraging to be a part of a group, training through “the awful winters of Massachusetts.” Soon she became inspired to run a longer race, running the Vermont City Marathon in Burlington, and winding up with a qualifying time for Boston.
“I thought, ‘Wow, this is awesome. Of course I need to do Boston. I’ve lived in Massachusetts my whole life,’” she said.
- Read more:A timeline of the 2013 marathon bombings
That first year in Boston — 2012 — her whole family had showed up cheering her on. Ryan remembered feeling disappointed that her mom and stepchildren couldn’t come in 2013. Even her husband, Gene Ryan, had a big work commitment and was on the fence over whether he would be able to make it.
When she crossed the finish line in 2013 after a solid race, it was only her husband waiting for her in the family area. She grabbed her things, got changed and came back to take a photo with him.
About 15 seconds after they took the photo, the first bomb blast went off.
As the commotion unfolded around them, Ryan remembers thinking how grateful she was that her other family members had not been able to make it.
“It was craziness, within 10 seconds you just saw sirens,” she said. “It was just chaos everywhere you look.”
Ryan and her husband were with a couple of friends they had planned to stay with in a nearby hotel, and they walked to the hotel lobby. Cell phone service was nonexistent — and she couldn’t reach her step-kids or her mom.
Trying again and again, they finally reached the children, who were 8 and 10 years old, and Ryan’s parents.
“To finally hear their voices, and for them to hear ours — so they could let everyone know we were OK — was such a relief for everyone on both ends,” she said.
They decided they would head home as soon as they could, but hotel staff convinced them to stay while events unfolded at the finish line. They waited for a few hours in the hotel lobby and eventually in the hotel’s gym area. It was about 8 p.m. by the time they were let go.
As rumors flew around as to what might have happened, Ryan remembered thinking about how this was supposed to feel like an amazing, accomplished day. Yet here they were, confused and searching for answers.
Many subway trains were shut down as they stepped outside. They went to one of the Green Line stations that was open to ride back to their car.
“It felt like we walked forever, but I had just run a marathon,” she said.
She didn’t sleep after she got home that night, and spent the next several days obsessively watching the news as the hunt for the bombers took place.
The bombing didn’t make sense to her — why would someone attack what she thought was one of the most amazing events in the country, featuring people who worked so hard to be there and many who are raising money for important and personal causes?
“Marathoning is no joke whatsoever. All these people put in all the work and someone tried to take that away. How dare you. What is wrong with people? We still question that in different times of our lives,” she said.
Ryan was back to run the next year. And she had never run a marathon with so much joy. The 2014 race was uplifting, and the crowds that surrounded Ryan were filled with emotion and triumph.
Ten years since the bombing, Ryan still runs marathons, though she hasn’t run Boston since 2015. She said you have to be aware that terrorist attacks can happen, but you can’t let that control your life.
Year after year, as she proudly joins marathon, she appreciates the community that running inspires, and admires the people she sees trying to improve themselves and striving to accomplish goals.
“I hope no one from that day feels like they don’t want to get back out there,” she said. “I hope everyone stays strong and will stand up for what they enjoy doing. For most people, they’re not just out there training for a marathon. There’s more meaning behind it.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
Disclaimer
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023).
Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information
© 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us).
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.
YouTube’s privacy policy is available here and YouTube’s terms of service is available here.
Читайте другие статьи, похожие на марафон букмекерская приложения ищут:
- игровые автоматы марафонбет альтернативный адрес
- marathon инструкция
- бк марафон беларусь
- movie marathon
- автоматы марафонбет бесплатно
- марафон бесплатная ставка