The Boston Red Sox paid tribute to the tragic victims of the Boston Marathon bombing today before their ALDS Playoff game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The outfield grass was cut in centerfield to a giant circle with a massive ‘B’ with ‘Strong’ underneath it.
‘Boston Strong’ became the theme in the days after the attacks to raise money and hope for those that were injured, killed, hurt in the attack and their families.
Jeff Buckley’s ‘Hallelujah’ played over the PA system to the crowd as a moment of silence was held for all those that lost life or were injured during the bombing attack that took place back in April.
It was a beautiful and touching tribute that reminded us of how sports can be used to heal and bring us together as a collective group when tragedy happens or the world gets turned upside down.
The cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated is powerful with the famed photo of marathoner Bill Iffrig collapsed on the ground, after the bomb had exploded, with Boston Police officers surrounding him.
Two things: 1. Bill never would have believed yesterday morning that he’d be on the cover of Sports Illustrated today and 2. There is no way in hell he would have ever believed the reason for him being on the cover.
The photo is powerful, iconic, and will be the lasting image from a horrible day in marathon and U.S. history.
Three people to date have died from the tragic Boston Marathon bombings. One of them was a 8-year old boy named Martin Richard (photographed above).
Martin was at the Boston Marathon with his mom, Denise, and sister to watch his father, William, finish the famed marathon. Both of them are in serious condition. His mom underwent brain surgery last night at the hospital. Martin’s sister, who is 6-years old, lost a leg in the explosion.
The family is from Dorchester, Massachusetts. WHDH also reports that Martin has a brother in the 5th grade as well. It is believed that he wasn’t at the race.
The photo above of Martin is chilling!
Our deepest and sincere thoughts and prayers go out to the Richard family.
A race official came to check on him and helped him up.
Then, accompanied by the official, Iffrig walked the last 12 feet or so across the finish line.
“I ended up second in my division,” he said. “After you’ve run 26 miles you’re not going to stop there.” His timing chip marked his finish at 4 hours, 3 minutes, 47 seconds.
However, Bill was rattled as we all would have been in that situation:
“It was a close one though, boy. I’ll tell you, that scared me.”
Bill started running in the 70’s and hasn’t slowed down. In fact he’s very fast for his age. He know’s that he is not only fast but has outlived much of his competition as well.
“Not many old guys are as fast as me.”
He reminds me of my good friend, Dallas Smith, who is 72-years old and finished 4th in his age division on this tragic day.
It’s been a day full of bad news, stories, Tweets, and updates so it’s good to read something positive today.
I’m happy that Bill is ok. I’m even happy he got off the asphalt and walked the remaining 20 feet to the finish line.
He’s tough like everyone who ran Boston today and like all of the first responders and volunteers who did an amazing job under a lot of pressure.
Bill is lucky. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those that have been wounded and to the families of those that lost someone.
You can view a GIF of the explosion that knocked Bill down at the bottom of the page by clicking HERE. (I didn’t want to repost the video or GIF again on another page. I think we’ve all been traumatized enough by it today.)
UPDATE 37: Fox News is reporting that the Boston police have arrested the suspect they believe did the Boston Marathon bombings. CNN and AP were also reporting the same thing. Other networks are saying that an arrest HAS NOT been made.
UPDATE 36: The name of the second victim killed in the blasts is Krystle Campbell from Arlington, Massachusetts according to CNN.
UPDATE 35: Investigators found circuit board believed used to trigger marathon bombs per Boston Globe.
UPDATE 33: Photo of 8-year old Martin Richard who was killed in the Boston Marathon bombings. Pray for his family! His sister lost a leg as well and his mom has a brain injury.
UPDATE 32: Ed Davis: “176 is the best number I have right now, 17 of them are critical, 3 have died.” [via Huff Po]
UPDATE 31: U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel calls bombings ‘cruel act of terror’ per AP.
UPDATE 30: President Obama: Not known whether Boston bombings an act of an organization or an individual [CNN]
Pope Francis offers prayers for all Bostonians (story).
UPDATE 29: The Boston Celtics game against the Indiana Pacers for Tuesday night has been cancelled (NOT POSTPONED) and will not be made up per ESPN.
UPDATE 28: Three deaths are too many but the good news is that number has not risen in the past few hours.
UPDATE 27: Keep passing this story around on Facebook and Twitter: FULL STORY It’s a good story from a very bad day in Boston. Keep sending good thoughts and prayers to those impacted directly by today.
Several reports of this or that regarding the investigation into the bombing suspects floating around at the moment. Nothing that I think is link worthy at the moment.
UPDATE 26: Report (updated): 23,326 started, 17,584 finished, 4,496 made it to 40k but never crossed the finish line, and 1,246 never made it to 40k. (via @flotrack)
UPDATE 25: The man who went crumbled to the ground in the bombing video? His name is Bill Iffrig and he’s ok. He’s 78-years young. He dusted himself off and finished the remaining 20 feet to the finish line where he placed second place in his age division. (FULL STORY)
UPDATE 22: Reports that more undetonated devices are being found in packages near marathon route. Officials are going to scour the entire 26.2 mile route with bomb sniffing dogs to try to find any bombs and info.
UPDATE 11: Via ESPN’s Darren Rovell: The avg Boston finish time (when the most people are crossing) was 4:18 last year. Explosion went off at 4:09:40. Most people in area.
UPDATE 8: Third explosion at the JFK Library just confirmed by Boston Police during their press conference.
UPDATE 7: There are many updates I could post from what I’m hearing from the local hospitals. You can easily read them on Twitter and one in particular from Darren Rovell. I’ll just say there is no good news coming from the hospitals in Boston. Many victims including both runners and spectators. Hopefully most will survive and live but their lives won’t ever be the same.
UPDATE 6: The Boston Globe is reporting 2 dead with up to 64 wounded.
UPDATE 5: NY Post reporting, “Authorities have a identified a suspect, who is currently being guarded in a Boston hospital with shrapnel wounds.”
UPDATE 4: Reports are claiming that a 3rd explosive device was found…undetonated.
UPDATE 3: Boston police confirming 2 are dead and at least 22 are wounded.
The inaugural Jackson Jackass 50K was held Saturday, February 4, 2012 in Jackson, TN on a 4.3 mile trail. The runners ran 7 loops before concluding with a shorter eighth loop of 1 mile.
Here are several more photos of the finisher’s medal from the 2012 Jackson Jackass 50K
Royal little-sis Pippa Middleton competed in the 2011 Highland Cross 50 Mile Duathlon in the Scottish Highlands last weekend.
She completed the 20-mile run and 30-mile bike ride in 5:07:58.
Pips finished 15th out of 116 women who competed in the event.
Middleton competed in the BE Blenheim Triathlon Relayearlier this month where she did the running leg. Pippa has also completed a solo triathlon and several running races of varying distances.
The best part of the medal is the background of it which is a collage of words made up of all of the highlights and cities the 26.2 mile race travels through.
