The Finish Line: Life is a Gift not a Right!

Today was SF Marathon. I faced my fears and walked the finish line, which was nothing like the finish line of the Boston Marathon 2013! The SF Marathon’s finish line was happy, vibrant, and celebratory. This was the opposite of the Boston Marathon 2013 finish line, which was terrifying, confusing, and devastating!

I had goosebumps all over my body walking the last 0.5 mile of the SF Marathon line today. I felt uncomfortable walking in the packed crowd and felt at any moment something could go wrong! I was terrified and insecure. I had tears in my eyes and flashback to the past.

I was 0.3 mile away from the finish line of the Boston Marathon 2013, when the bombs went off and our race was put on hold. I saw the explosion in front of me, but had no idea what just happened. In a few minutes, I saw the crowd — families and friends of runners — is running around and fleeing from the finish line area. Runners, including myself, whose bodies were already shocked from 26 miles of running, wandering up and down the street trying to find their families. Police cars were rolling into Boylston St. Ambulances were rushing to get the injured people to the local hospitals. Siren, tears, horror are all I could remember.

I couldn’t find my boyfriend (now husband) who was waiting for me at the finish line. After walking around for an hour, confused about what just happened, I burst into tears and started walking back home hoping I can find him back there. After 26 miles of running, walking home for 6 miles with no water or food all day was as hell of an experience as you can imagine. But I was so numb and so terrified that I couldn’t feel anything…..

That day was a horrifying day that will never be forgotten in my life and the history of Boston Marathon. I realized today, walking the finish line of the SF Marathon, that the story of the Boston Marathon bombing might be fading away, but for many of us who were part of that race that non-healing trauma still exists! Going through that experience taught me a lot. What I walked away with from that marathon wasn’t a medal, but instead life lessons: I learned to not take life for granted; I learned that life has unexpected events that no-one could predict them; I learned to live my life and celebrate every moment of it.

What I want to do to is to invite you all to appreciate your life and enjoy it to the max. Don’t let your life, energy, and talent go by without being at your best. Appreciate every single moment of your life. Life is a gift not a right!