DURHAM – Patriots’ Day, April 15, 2013.
The unthinkable happened. Images of a typical Boston street looked more like those we’re used to seeing from the streets of Baghdad during the Iraq war. Bombs had exploded made from pressure cookers, filled with nails, bits of metal and ball bearings meant to inflict harm. Three people died in the terror attack, including an eight-year old child and the lives of hundreds changed forever in an instant. The world was shrunk to the size of the finish line as people around the world tried to find out if loved ones were injured.
With more than 30 runners in the race, Durham Region was no exception.
There’s no way to sugarcoat people dying or losing limbs. Life for those family and victims will never be the same -- the search for normalcy, never ending. From the tragedy came the stories of perseverance, the good in humanity and the coming together of people to overcome an evil deed.
“You know anything can happen, because you can’t control 26.2 miles, but you can’t live your life in fear, you still have to go forward.” Robin Rickard
The world saw the good that can come from sport, the healing it can help provide. When terrorist attacks occur, life gets postponed. Everything stops, like the world holds its collective breath. It’s a sign of returning to standard when events like baseball and hockey games come back. They’re a communal gathering.
Now, a little over one year later, Durham residents who were there have the chance to head back to Boston when the 118th Boston Marathon is held on April 21.
For Newcastle resident Robin Rickard, the choice was easy. This will be her sixth Boston Marathon. Last year, she did not get to finish the race, but made it through the halfway mark. Early registration was offered to runners in her position and she took advantage of the offer. She’s not afraid to be returning to Boston.
“I think it’s familiar to me,” said Rickard. “I have some very positive memories there, as well as the devastation that happened last year. I think for me, I was about to round the corner to come onto the street where the bombings took place, I didn’t get to see any of that.
“For me it’s not about the destination, it’s the journey to get there. You know anything can happen, because you can’t control 26.2 miles, but you can’t live your life in fear, you still have to go forward.”
John Houston of Oshawa will be going forward. Last year, for the first time in 26 years, he was not in the marathon. Houston now has arthritis and can no longer run. He had a spectator spot near the finish line but left with his wife before the explosions. He will return to the spot again this year.
“It was a tradition to go to Boston for so many years,” said Houston. “I want to still go down and take part in the experience.”
His only fear is that security is going to be so high that it might actually restrict his usual movements.
The Durham runner who was about as close as possible to the explosions will not be returning to Boston.
Ajax native Liane Barber finished her marathon last year at four hours and three minutes. She was about 200 metres past the finish line when, at 4:09, six minutes after she finished, the explosions went off.
Fear is not the reason she will not be returning to Boston, though. She did not qualify this year, as her age category changed and she missed by less than 10 minutes.
Durham runners seem ready to return to standard.
Rickard sums up the thoughts of all runners, not just Durham’s, nicely.
“For us, it’s closure, it’s taking the race back.”