Patriots’ Day

Michael Maillis finished the 2013 Boston Marathon less than an hour before the first bomb went off

I remember my excitement that day. It seemed like nearly perfect running weather. At 44, I was in the best shape of my life, regularly running marathons between three hours and 10 minutes and three hours and 30 minutes with an occasional slower day thrown in when I piled on four marathons in two months’ time in the spring and fall. I was wearing a moisture-wicking shirt with my firm’s name on it.

The race start, and it had the usual beauty: You pass the bar of bikers early in the race to your left; then about halfway, you pass to your right the women from Wellesley College, offering hugs and kisses to all the runner, or a hand slap. They are all screaming and cheering you on like you were lifelong friends…

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