Today I was incredibly lucky to be a medical volunteer at the 118th Boston Marathon. It was my first time even attending the marathon, let alone working there, and it was so much fun to be a part of everything. Obviously this was a very emotionally charged day after the tragedy of last year, but I think it could really be described as a day or rejoicing, even defiance. More than 36,000 runners, plus all the volunteers, showed up to tell the world that Boston would keep on running, keep on cheering, and violence would not stop that. The speaker at my orientation today said that he disagreed with Vice President Biden, who had said that today would be the day that Boston reclaimed the finish line. Rather, our speaker said, Boston had reclaimed that finish line within minutes of the bomb blasts last year as the first responders, volunteers, runners, and really everyone there had sprung into action and did what needed to be done. I agree with the speaker, and I'd even go further: I'd say that the people of Boston didn't simply take back what was theirs immediately, but they have been taking it back daily for the last year as the city has stood in unity. Today was simply icing on the cake. I was very proud to be a part, and I hope these pictures can help you experience a bit of my wonderful day.
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| Orientation was at 8, but I was supposed to be there by 7:15. Hence the 6 AM train. |
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| The finish line before the race |
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| Trinity Church |
Originally I was assigned to Zone 22, which was the furthest area from the Finish Line, and outside of the secure area for that matter, so my group amused ourselves until the race began. Eventually we did settle down enough to pose for some pictures, even one for a lady from the Boston Magazine. For some reason she thought we were all from New Hampshire, but oh well.
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| Photo Credit: Melissa Malamut Boston Magazine |
Eventually my group was split up and sent to areas where we were more needed. I ended up just two blocks from the finish line, in the chute through which most of the runners were funneled.
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| Watching the first woman finish in Medical Tent B. It was the length of a football field. |
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| View from my post for most of the day |
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| An older man ran the entire race barefoot |
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| Watching the final runners cross the finish line |
Some highlights:
-The standing ovation for the speaker who reminded us what it meant to be Boston Strong
-Seeing the final race for Team Hoyt
-The woman who just wanted a hug from me and my classmate because her family couldn't make it to Boston to see her run -We will now be in a picture in her scrapbook.
-The spectators who stayed to cheer for the stragglers even though they finished hours after most people
-So many people who looked like they were in their 70s or 80s, but who finished the Marathon like it was nothing
-Being part of such a big day, and feeling like everyone in the city was united and cheering each other on
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