marathon runners ?

[Anonymous]

Will Boston change your mind with respect to racing the big races?

I ran 7 marathons prior to having my kids. I have taken time off---pregnancy, work, time, young kids, etc. My kids are now elem. school age and I was thinking of doing the Marine Corps this Fall. I have done it 6 times and really enjoyed it. I envisioned my kids cheering me on. They have only heard of my former glory--ha! The events in Boston have changed my mind. While as a runner on the course--I think I'd be safe..the idea of my kids in a crowd on the sidelines now gives me pause. I am not sure I'd feel comfortable having them there. I know, I know it's chance and rare, etc., etc...it just seems risky to me.

What do you think? If you do them---will you want your kids there in the throngs of spectators?

[Anonymous]

Unless you've made a decision to move to a rural area and never go to any crowded event again, I think you should of course do more marathons.

[Anonymous]

MCM is different IMO. I have run it and there isn't a particular place where that many spectators could gather, unless the runners themselves were targeted at the beginning. The finish area is very small and fenced off, runners can't get to the spectators like they could at Boston.

I qualified for Boston next year, and I plan on running. But I may leave my children at home.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a marathon runner, but getting terrified means the terrorists win.

Being killed by terrorism is statistically extremely low. It's unfortunate and tragic, but unlikely.

I still fly on planes, ride public transportation, will go to malls, parks, museums, parades, and other public events. Life happens - being stressed out and anxious all the time, is probably much more harmful than the miniscule risk of being killed in a blast like at the Boston Marathon.

Life your life, and enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

OP--Clarification....

I will keep running them. I am more concerned about bringing my kids to the sidelines.

I know the terrorist win--blah-blah, blah schtick. I was 2 blocks from the Pentagon on 9/11 and I ran the Marine Corps 5 weeks after that event and kept on flying. I think in the near future concern over kid's safety at crowded places is not the level of being crazy... at least until we know more about the details behind Boston,e.g., a lone crazy person or something more.

[Anonymous]

I don't get the hype about Boston. Sure it would be nice to be fast enough to qualify, but to travel that far, and to pay so much to run. I can do the same thing at any other marathon

[Anonymous]

Also a veteran of 7 marathons. . . my kids have cheered me on in several of them (including MCM and NYC), and I won't think twice about having them come to another one if/when that happens. I don't think marathons are any more likely to be targeted now than, say, a professional baseball game or something. If terrorism can happen in places as random as some obscure federal building in Oklahoma City, they can happen anywhere. But the odds are still greatly in your favor that nothing will happen. It's a risk I'd be willing to take.

I'm not trying to be non-chalant-- my aunt ran on Monday, and my cousin & uncle were at the finish when the bombings happened. Thankfully, they were unhurt, but it has shaken our entire family.

As a separate issue, the MCM filled for this year the day registration opened. Unless you already have a number, you might be out of luck (for this year, anyway). It's the new trend in big races- sign up the minute they open, or forget running it. (Crazy!) Good luck, and happy running!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also a veteran of 7 marathons. . . my kids have cheered me on in several of them (including MCM and NYC), and I won't think twice about having them come to another one if/when that happens. I don't think marathons are any more likely to be targeted now than, say, a professional baseball game or something. If terrorism can happen in places as random as some obscure federal building in Oklahoma City, they can happen anywhere. But the odds are still greatly in your favor that nothing will happen. It's a risk I'd be willing to take.

I'm not trying to be non-chalant-- my aunt ran on Monday, and my cousin & uncle were at the finish when the bombings happened. Thankfully, they were unhurt, but it has shaken our entire family.

As a separate issue, the MCM filled for this year the day registration opened. Unless you already have a number, you might be out of luck (for this year, anyway). It's the new trend in big races- sign up the minute they open, or forget running it. (Crazy!) Good luck, and happy running!

Nope! I have until August 31st-guaranteed entry. Once you do the MCM 5 times you are in the MCM club and have a guaranteed entry for life. You still have to pay the fee. You have to sign up and show proof; certificates/results.

[Anonymous]

I'd do it. Security will be high and the likelihood of it happening again will be low. If you are concerned about your kids, move them away from the finish line to the middle of the course and then meet them elsewhere after the race. It will be fine. It will be good for them to see their mom doing something tough.

[Anonymous]

I'd also do it. The benefits of them seeing you participate in such an event would (to me) far outweigh the risks of something happening. They're more likely to be injured in a car accident two blocks from your house, statistically speaking.

As for the "hype" around Boston: it's Boston. I don't know how else to put it. Running it is definitely on my bucket list, though probably not for at least five years or so, after I recover from punching out a few more kids.

[Anonymous]

As a runner scheduled to run Sunday's GW parkway 10-miler, yeah, it's weird to have a race on the calendar when something so senseless/tragic/scary just happened at a race. I'd be lying if I said my enthusiasm for running this weekend hadn't been dimmed a bit. But we can't stop living our lives because of stuff like this. That said, I'm really glad my race this weekend is not a major, iconic race starting or ending in a big city. I feel like the potential for issues is much less, though I suspect security may be a pain.

I was supposed to run Boston in 2006 and got injured in training and had to drop out. I've always been bummed about that and had been pondering another BQ attempt. (was actually pondering it during my run on Monday, before the news came out.) I would still run it, if I were to qualify. It's Boston. It's still an amazing, iconic race in a city that LOVES its race and its runners. One horrifying act of terror can't and won't and shouldn't change that.