Training In Gratitude: Honoring My Mom’s Strength At The Boston Marathon

 Training In Gratitude: Honoring My Mom’s Strength At The Boston Marathon

By Kate Ryan

Sweat was trickling down my back, and I was using all my strength to push myself during my training to run. The one thing that helped me continue on my journey was remembering why I was doing it: to honor all of the people who lost their lives or were maimed.

It was the morning before the Boston Marathon back in 2013, and Erin Ryan was eating her breakfast before her big race. She had a bagel with cream cheese to help give her fuel for her run. Her goal was to run the race in three hours and 23 minutes. 

Erin felt great as the race started. The weather was perfect running temperature at 60 degrees. Once the gun went off, a surge of drive and determination boosted Erin to run her mile in 7 and a half minutes for the first half of the race. At the time, she didn’t realize that her mile times would ultimately save her life. 

At mile 6, Erin had a blister the size of the ball of her foot and had to stop at the first aid tent. Erin’s blister was a blood blister, and it impacted the way she ran and her speed. However, Erin's determination and drive enabled her to continue. “This blister could have been the reason I lost my family, or the reason one of my family members could have lost a limb,” I said. When Erin was crossing the finish line, she sprinted so she could beat the time of 3 hours and 40 minutes.  

The celebration at the end of the race lasted about 20 minutes. Erin turned to her friend with fear, and her friend said, “Maybe it’s a transmitter explosion, and then the second explosion occurred.” Smoke filled the air, and Erin immediately was in fear, processing that something tragic was occurring. In this moment, Erin was in complete shock and froze. From this moment forward, fear was engraved in Erin and her family's eyes. Erin’s brother-in-law was there, along with Erin's husband, Mike. Her husband picked Erin up and threw her on his back because she couldn’t run. Erin had many emotions running through her brain at the time of this disaster. 

“Feeling of helplessness that I couldn't, I wanted to stay and help and make sure everybody was okay,” said Erin.

My brothers and I were in class at the time of the Boston Marathon Bombing. It was a usual day of third grade when everything changed. 

“I was called into the office in the middle of class and told my grandma was here to get me, and I immediately questioned where my mom was,” I said. 

My grandma, Mares, walked me and my brothers to the car. When we got to the car, Mares said, “I don’t know if you guys have heard about the bombing in Boston, but your mom was there running the marathon, and I’m still trying to get in contact with her.”

“At the time, I didn’t fully grasp the concept of what was happening. I knew about death but didn’t fully understand the danger my mom was in,” I said.

Erin was able to get away from the bombs and to safety and to call and let her family know she was okay. When Erin got home to her family, both my brothers and I felt so much gratitude to get to see her and see that everyone in my family was okay.

“When you finish a marathon, you have a runner's high. And I was elated about the run. And then I would feel guilty about feeling elated about my run and finishing the race because thousands of people didn't get to finish.”

Erin was watching TV at home when she discovered Mike and her brother-in-law were in the exact place where the bombs went off, at the time Erin was finishing the race. Erin stared at the TV with shock, fear, sadness, anger, and gratitude that her family was safe. At this time, the Ryans being able to hug each other and be alive was something they wouldn’t take for granted. 

After the race, this experience changed the way my brothers and I saw life as we got older. “I see the gratitude in being with my family and knowing that they are my rock,” I said. When I was in 8th grade, my family and I went to a movie, and someone walked in with a backpack alone. I looked at my mom and immediately saw the fear in her eyes. I could see her pain and trauma from her experience showing through. Erin turned to me and asked if we could quietly leave because she was feeling anxious that the backpack had a bomb. “To this day, I question what my life would be like if my mom or dad lost their lives that day, and I’m so grateful they are still here,” I said.

Running was never my favorite. I didn’t enjoy the discipline and commitment that it takes to run. I was a three-sport athlete in high school, but never really appreciated what it was like to just run without chasing after a ball. However, when I turned 22, I decided I wanted to express my gratitude for my family being united by choosing to train to run the Boston Marathon. 

I knew I wanted to commit myself and run for everybody who was impacted. As I continue to train, the reason I keep going even in pain and soreness is that my mom did it, so I can too. My mom and I are going to attempt to run this race together in the 2027 calendar year. 

This race will be dedicated to my mom, who embodies a woman who never gives up, and my dad, who has always shown up for my family with support and care. My mom and dad are my strength and guidance. I see my dad as a superhero for the way he carried my mom on his back to safety and away from the bombs. I want to live my life and embody the qualities that my parents have always been and are.