Blessings for Beantown

Dubbed “the Super Bowl of Marathons,” the Boston Marathon is the apple of every marathoner’s eye. It’s the race of all races, the one open only to the speedsters who qualify. Anyone can run a marathon, but not just anyone can run Boston.

For me, Boston has an added significance. I grew up in Massachusetts, where the marathon is a big deal, and not just to runners. It takes place on Patriots’ Day (a holiday unknown to the rest of the country), which means that no one there has to work or go to school that day. Marathon coverage is on all the TV stations. People line the streets to watch. As a kid, I never knew that Boston was the granddaddy of all marathons, I just knew it was one of the great annual civic events of the city.

I also remember when Mr. C., the late dad of my childhood best friend, ran Boston, and how our families met downtown to try to get a glimpse of him when he dashed by. (Then, while he was still running, we all went out and celebrated at a restaurant!) The race holds a dear place in my heart, and although I’m a long way off from qualifying, to run it someday remains a definite (albeit unlikely) dream.

Special prayers for all those running the Boston Marathon tomorrow, most notably Fr. Ian Bordenave and the good folks at Boston Catholic Charities. May the Lord’s grace carry you all the way — especially up Heartbreak Hill!