West Bend marathon will pay tribute to Boston victims
WEST BEND (WITI) -- In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, runners from all over the world will run once again Sunday. The biggest race is the London Marathon, but there's also one in our own backyard, which is the West Bend "Adrenaline Marathon."
On Saturday, at the Rivers Shores YMCA, runners picked up their race packets, bibs and t-shirts, and prepare for the 26.2 mile trek.
"Yeah, let's go up and hit Wisconsin," said Bob Stepp from Houston, Texas. He's one of 300 who will be testing his mettle Sunday morning through the Kettle Moraine State Forest.
"Everybody's got a phone or a radio and we're going to keep in close contact we've got bikers out there for the lead runners and for those toward the tail end," said race director, Richard Dodd, who says safety is always a top priority, especially with the tragedy in Boston fresh in the minds of many.
"Prior to the explosion occurring, we had already gone down the nearest steps to the subway station," said Dodd, as he talks about his experience running the Boston Marathon Monday. Dodd ran a time of 3:18, and had already passed the finish line and was on his way back to his hotel when the explosions began. However, Dodd, tells us it was still a chaotic situation, as he and his family walked three miles back to their hotel since transportation was shut down.
"Everybody was running around screaming crying talking into their cell phones," added Dodd.
"I am running for the people who died and also for the ones injured and I hope that they all recover," said Chras Beth, who is running the half-marathon.
Sunday's race is now a tribute to the people who died or who were injured during the explosions.
"Bombers, be damned, you're not going to stop us, and it's in our blood," said an emotional Stepp.
Although hearts are still heavy, seeing how people came together during a dark time in our nation's history, Monday's tragedy is giving people more motivation to keep running.
"I honestly wasn't going to run another marathon, Boston was going to be my last marathon but I did re-qualify for next year and right now I have every intention of going back to Boston," said Dodd.
Before the start of Sunday's race, there will be a moment of silence followed by the playing of our national anthem honoring those who were victims in the Boston Marathon bombings.