Tom's Long Run

Moving article about an excruciating decision that one Boston Marathon survivor has to make.

We saw this couple two days before the 2014 marathon, walking down Boylston street with the support of their friends, family, and service dog Rescue.  A very moving moment - one that I'll not forget any time soon.

3788th place in the 18-39 year old division?  

I woke up this morning and thought yesterday was just a dream until I looked over and saw this….

I’ll write more later but in short, yesterday was everything I could have hoped for and more. Seeing so many friends and family along the route was incredible. The spectators really brought their “A-games” this year and cheered harder, longer and louder than before. Having a stranger thank you for running is a moving experience.

So was crossing that finish line, that place I’ve seen countless replays of the evil that occurred there last year. But this year, it was all positive for me. No concern about safety, just pure elation.

Thank you to everyone that supported me along the way, from physical therapy to coaching to cheering me on to donating to Gateways. It all just means so much to this runner. You’ll actually never know just how much.

Today I run.

I run for Boston Marathon volunteers. I run for the little kids handing runners oranges in their front yards. I run for the first responders at last year’s finish line. For the doctors and nurses who helped the over 260 people injured.

I run for Richard Martin, Krystle Campell, Lu Lingzu and Sean Collier. I run for everyone injured.

I run for my brother Greg and everyone with autism.

I run for me, for my friends and family.

I run for our city.