The Third Monday in April

This I know to be true; I am not a runner.  If there is ever a zombie apocalypse, my plan is to stab the fastest people around me in the legs so I’m the first to get away from the undead horde.  The only thing fast I enjoy is fast food.  The only thing running in my world is my refrigerator.  If you see me running down the street I’m either being chased by a murderer or running after the ice cream truck.  

This being said, I happen to be friends with many runners and I’m also married to a runner.  The old adage of opposites attract must be true.  I actually know quite a bit about distance running, I am an accomplished Sherpa (one who shleps runner’s stuff around during a race) and race day cheerleader and I also enjoy watching the big marathon races such as New York and Boston.  

This past Monday, probably the biggest marathon of them all; Boston was supposed to occur.  The Boston Marathon has always occurred on the third Monday of April since 1969.  Prior to 1969, the marathon occurred on Patriot’s Day which was April 19^th, but the holiday was moved officially to the third Monday in April.  

Sadly, due to the ongoing crisis of Covid-19, in 2020 the marathon was postponed from April to September and ultimately run as a virtual race.  The 2021 Boston Marathon  will be the first in-person race not held in April as it was rescheduled for Monday, October 11, 2021.  

The Boston marathon was created in 1897 because a man named John Graham was inspired by the spirit and majesty of the Olympic Marathon to organize and conduct a marathon in the city of Boston.  The beauty of the Boston Marathon is that it has transcended the original goal of John Graham and has become a thing of spirt and majesty in its own right.  How many of us were inspired while watching American Meb Keflezighi win the Boston Marathon in 2014 after the 2013 marathon was impacted by the tragic bombing at the finish line?  Meb himself stated he was spurred on to win by the memories of those impacted by the attack.  How many women were inspired to run marathons after watching Roberta Gibb run the full marathon in 1966 despite officials trying to physically remove her from the course?  How many individuals were inspired to greater heights despite physical handicaps after watching Boston become the first major marathon to include a wheelchair division in 1975?  

The Boston Marathon not only inspires, but is a reflection of the spirit and majesty of the human race.  The human spirit’s will to endure, persevere and survive, the majestic human ability to accomplish extraordinary things during trying times.  The marathon may not have happened this past Patriot’s Day, but it will be conducted this October.  I know I will be watching and will be inspired.  Well….not inspired to run, but inspired nonetheless.