Personal Cartography - Latest Comments

Re: My marathon

Marissa Curcuru — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:30:30 -0000

You are an inspiration Tamsen! Thank you for sharing.

Re: My marathon

bobledrew — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:32:05 -0000

Tamsen, you were one of three runners I was tracking, and I was thankful that you were slow enough to not be caught up in what happened Monday. I'm sorry for your marathon interruptus, and sorrier for those who were hurt and killed. And Im glad that you used your talents as a communicator to share this story with us.

Mayb this song will reinforce and support your spirit. http://www.youtube.com/watc... I look forward to watching your times go all the way to the finish line and beyond soon.

Re: My marathon

paigeworthy — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:02:39 -0000

Oh this is just gorgeous. It sat open in my browser for more than a day while I waited to have the stillness of mind to read it, and I'm so glad I did. You will finish, even though this marathon will never be over, in a sense. I applaud your strength and the honesty in your pain.

Re: My marathon

Tamsen Webster (@tamadear) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:27:30 -0000

You're welcome, Alex. I'm so sorry you didn't get to finish the race you planned -- but each of us finished the race we had in front of us. I take solace in that.

Re: My marathon

Tamsen Webster (@tamadear) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:26:29 -0000

Thank you. I'm grateful for every reader on this post.

Re: My marathon

Tamsen Webster (@tamadear) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:25:59 -0000

Writing it helped me enormously. I'm glad it's helped you, too.

Re: My marathon

Tamsen Webster (@tamadear) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:25:21 -0000

Thank you so much, Mindy.

Re: My marathon

Tamsen Webster (@tamadear) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:25:04 -0000

Thank you, Laura. I'm eager to get back out there and run. And run and run.

Re: My marathon

Tamsen Webster (@tamadear) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:24:18 -0000

Thank you, JoAnna. You are a very, very big reason I even thought I could to this. I'm deeply grateful for that, and for you.

Re: My marathon

Tamsen Webster (@tamadear) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:23:47 -0000

They speak of you often, Margaret! Thank you for your kind words.

Re: My marathon

Tamsen Webster (@tamadear) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:23:22 -0000

Love *you*, Meg.

Re: My marathon

andreacook — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:41:28 -0000

I'm glad you are processing it how ever you can! Grief is never fun, or comfortable. Thank you for being a genuine gal. I hope you are refreshed with healing words in the days to come.

Re: My marathon

Meg Tripp — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:03:23 -0000

I bought running shoes yesterday. I haven't owned any since 2009, despite my early days with spider legs and lungs that never gave up. You've shown me what it looks like to step out with grace and passion and determination. I'll run in those footsteps, proudly. Love you.

Re: My marathon

Margaret Carter — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:14:39 -0000

Tamsen, Your mum and dad are dear friends of mine..and I'm a runner. Never qualified for Boston...but was so glad to hear you were safe. If you want to break human spirit, marathoners are the wrong group to target, I heard it said. I am a runner. many marathons under my belt.You embody that spirit.... Run on, comrade!!

Re: My marathon

JoAnna French — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:12:41 -0000

Brava, my friend.

Re: My marathon

Laura Click — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:59:59 -0000

What a moving story, Tamsen. Thank you so much for sharing it and for for choosing to see the possibility and goodness during such a dark time.

As someone who wasn't a "runner" until a few years ago either, I can relate to so much of your journey. It's funny how you think running a marathon is absolutely crazy. But once you decide to do it, you pour your heart into training and fundraising. And, somewhere along the way, you realize that through it all, it IS possible. There's something about this process that changes you. And, then once you step out on that course, the spirit of community - both from runners and everyone who supports them along the way - is truly remarkable.

I'm proud of you and Tom. And, I'm glad you're eager to get out there and do it again. I as I wrote in my blog post earlier this week, there's nothing better we can do than to keep on running.

Re: My marathon

Mindy Artze — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:50:56 -0000

This is beautiful! I will share it on my facebook page. Thank you for sharing and telling it from the heart! xxoo to you and your family. I am so glad to hear you are okay and safe!

Re: My marathon

Ann Handley — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:47:55 -0000

Beautiful, raw, and awesome. The whole thing... But this? love. "And I guess that’s what I’m left with: we all, every one of us, can only run as far and as well as we can in the time we have. Every step is precious. Every minute is. Every breath."

I've been struggling to make sense of Monday. This helped. Thank you for writing it.

Re: My marathon

Rafdarrow — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:07:29 -0000

thank you.

Re: My marathon

Alex Byer — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:50:18 -0000

I, like you, was stopped short on Monday. I was cresting Heartbreak when someone answered their phone and screamed about an explosion. It was just before 3pm. I was on track to finish before 4pm, my marathon goal. I just kept going, because I, like you, made a pledge to run 26.2 miles for my friend Dena, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 29. I told her I would do this. I told Dana-Farber I would. And so I did until just shy of the 25th mile marker, where I was unceremoniously stopped by barricades. I stood just before the Citgo sign and, like you, sat down on the curb and cried.

You wrote many words that I haven't been able to yet. When they put that medal around my neck on Tuesday morning, I felt like a fraud. I immediately took it off and held it and I haven't put it back on since. We will get our marathon. We will do it. Because we are runners. And running is what we do. And we made promises. So we will come through on our promises.

Thank you, for writing the words I can't. For articulating everything I've been feeling these past two days. For understanding what it is to be one of the ones who didn't finish. Not because we couldn't. Because I have faith that you and I, we both would have crossed that finish line. But because cowards took it away from us. We will get our marathon. I hope I get to meet you at next year's marathon.

Re: My marathon

Tamsen Webster (@tamadear) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:18:23 -0000

Thank you, Shannon. I hope it does.

Re: My marathon

Shannon Mahaney — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:17:47 -0000

Thank you for sharing this! I came across this post on a friends twitter and I found it profoundly inspiring. We are all still running in the marathon of life and things can happen on any given day to end it. Getting the strength to live with courage instead of fear after such a tragedy can seem impossible. Your post gives us all hope. :)

Re: My marathon

Tamsen Webster (@tamadear) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:00:33 -0000

Thanks for running, DJ. For yourself, for Boston. I don't think I've ever felt more a part of something than I do now -- the community of runners. And I never thought I was one.

Re: My marathon

Tamsen Webster (@tamadear) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:59:49 -0000

Thank YOU, Jen. We're all a part of it.

Re: My marathon

Tamsen Webster (@tamadear) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:59:01 -0000

I love that idea. There are runners trying to organize a "last mile" event this weekend. I hope to take my two boys along on the run from Kenmore to Boylston.