Scott Thatcher Representing ChildrenVietnam in 2013 Boston Marathon
Thank you, Scott!!!
Excerpt of an email from Scott Thatcher:
Moments like this make me realize how lucky my life has always been, and Monday was no exception. It was an interesting race for a variety of reasons. My goal time was 3:45 (my previous record was 3:47) and normally I would have made a more aggressive goal - maybe a 10 minute reduction - but this year was so difficult to train with all the storms we had - I really was focused on simply improving a bit and enjoying the race rather than aggressively going after a personal record.
I always have a GPS pacing watch and also print a pace bracelet on the other wrist. I use that to track my miles - and I really set a goal of looking one mile at a time. It is pretty cool. Anyway, the start was a bit difficult this year, I think, mostly because a lot of the runners I was surrounded by were slower than me. For the first 2 miles I ran below my target pace - simply because it was so congested. By mile 3 I assumed it would be hard to make up the lost time and I settled in accepting that I probably wouldn't beat my other years. But - by mile 4 or 5 everything opened up - I felt great - and I started running under my goal pace - slowly making up the lost time. In fact by the half I had made up all the ground and was completely enjoying the race. Around mile 16 something new occurred to me though - I realized I had family and friends along the course - at mile 17, mile 22, mile 25.5 all waiting (some for hours) for me to run by for a few seconds. I also thought about how unique running is in that we train for so long for the big event - and then success is defined as finishing the race as quickly as possible - essentially the better you do the less time you have to enjoy the accomplishment.
At that point - I decided - all these people came out to see me and I really love this run - I was going to ignore the pace bracelet and not look at my watch for the rest of the race - and just run based on feeling. The result was that I enjoyed the last 8 miles and felt my best ever during the last 4 miles. I truly had fun - which is the whole reason to run anyway. My wife, mom & husband, and dad were all standing at the top of the underpass by the Mass Ave bridge (the race goes under Mass Ave). They were standing there as usual and I stopped, hugged and kissed my wife - and posed for a picture (and video). It was a great 10 or 15 seconds and my smile was from cheek to cheek. Oum gave me a flower as well and I carried the flower with me for the last part down Hereford and then onto Boylston street. It was a great feeling - and I couldn't stop smiling as I was so happy about completing my 4th Boston and that my family was there. I crossed the finish line flower in one hand and I decided I would take a photo of me after the race with the finish line behind me. I took my phone out and started to pose when the first blast went off. Everyone immediately started moving us forward - I immediately tried to call Oum to let her know I was ok the 2nd blast went off before I actually got through to her. I said I was ok and we changed our meeting place to further away on Marlborough street and hung up. At this point almost everyone was still completely confused and unsure of what to do. Another runner asked me to use my phone so he could notify his family - we spent about a minute trying to get through - finally I suggested text as that more easily would get transmitted - and it went through. At this point the fire trucks started responding to the second explosion (the first house is closer to the 2nd explosion than the finish line).
We continued onwards and still the BAA volunteers were covering us with foil, handing out our medal and food pack (now we were between Clarendon and Berkley on Boylston). Then all of a sudden I think the police and volunteers were told to clear the street - and all the runners just started running. We didn't know if somebody was shooting or another fire or bomb was coming - that was the scariest time ironically. A few seconds later the first ambulance was racing down the street. From there I quickly made the decision to continue to Marlborough street and find my family. As it turns out they had gone inside as their phone batteries were done they texted me and I met them at my home (I didn't have my keys etc so that was lucky they were there). We had 3 other friends that were stuck in the T stop also coming to see me at the finish that came to our house and then we just watched tv and listened for directions on what to do next as they started to evacuate areas. It was and is scary. We were all so lucky.
The feelings I have now are of both sadness and anger. Sad for all the victims and anger that someone could do this to us. The attack was against innocent people and runners and at least so far we have really very little idea even why (not that that really will change our feelings). The attack literally also is in our back yard. The GU I used during the race was purchased at marathon sports (where the attack happened). My eye doctor and friend has his practice at the lens crafters next door that had their windows blown out. And we often eat at Forum restaurant and buy coffee at that Starbucks. The proximity is heart sinking. Oum and I were walking down the street yesterday to get lunch and a loud bang happened (probably a car backfire or sign falling) and both of us dropped almost completely to the sidewalk in fear. We are both still scared and simply want everyone to figure this out as quickly as possible. That said-time will help all of us.
Despite everything that happened, I am very appreciative of the opportunity to run and help, and look forward to it in the future.
-Scott
Moments like this make me realize how lucky my life has always been, and Monday was no exception. It was an interesting race for a variety of reasons. My goal time was 3:45 (my previous record was 3:47) and normally I would have made a more aggressive goal - maybe a 10 minute reduction - but this year was so difficult to train with all the storms we had - I really was focused on simply improving a bit and enjoying the race rather than aggressively going after a personal record.
I always have a GPS pacing watch and also print a pace bracelet on the other wrist. I use that to track my miles - and I really set a goal of looking one mile at a time. It is pretty cool. Anyway, the start was a bit difficult this year, I think, mostly because a lot of the runners I was surrounded by were slower than me. For the first 2 miles I ran below my target pace - simply because it was so congested. By mile 3 I assumed it would be hard to make up the lost time and I settled in accepting that I probably wouldn't beat my other years. But - by mile 4 or 5 everything opened up - I felt great - and I started running under my goal pace - slowly making up the lost time. In fact by the half I had made up all the ground and was completely enjoying the race. Around mile 16 something new occurred to me though - I realized I had family and friends along the course - at mile 17, mile 22, mile 25.5 all waiting (some for hours) for me to run by for a few seconds. I also thought about how unique running is in that we train for so long for the big event - and then success is defined as finishing the race as quickly as possible - essentially the better you do the less time you have to enjoy the accomplishment.
At that point - I decided - all these people came out to see me and I really love this run - I was going to ignore the pace bracelet and not look at my watch for the rest of the race - and just run based on feeling. The result was that I enjoyed the last 8 miles and felt my best ever during the last 4 miles. I truly had fun - which is the whole reason to run anyway. My wife, mom & husband, and dad were all standing at the top of the underpass by the Mass Ave bridge (the race goes under Mass Ave). They were standing there as usual and I stopped, hugged and kissed my wife - and posed for a picture (and video). It was a great 10 or 15 seconds and my smile was from cheek to cheek. Oum gave me a flower as well and I carried the flower with me for the last part down Hereford and then onto Boylston street. It was a great feeling - and I couldn't stop smiling as I was so happy about completing my 4th Boston and that my family was there. I crossed the finish line flower in one hand and I decided I would take a photo of me after the race with the finish line behind me. I took my phone out and started to pose when the first blast went off. Everyone immediately started moving us forward - I immediately tried to call Oum to let her know I was ok the 2nd blast went off before I actually got through to her. I said I was ok and we changed our meeting place to further away on Marlborough street and hung up. At this point almost everyone was still completely confused and unsure of what to do. Another runner asked me to use my phone so he could notify his family - we spent about a minute trying to get through - finally I suggested text as that more easily would get transmitted - and it went through. At this point the fire trucks started responding to the second explosion (the first house is closer to the 2nd explosion than the finish line).
We continued onwards and still the BAA volunteers were covering us with foil, handing out our medal and food pack (now we were between Clarendon and Berkley on Boylston). Then all of a sudden I think the police and volunteers were told to clear the street - and all the runners just started running. We didn't know if somebody was shooting or another fire or bomb was coming - that was the scariest time ironically. A few seconds later the first ambulance was racing down the street. From there I quickly made the decision to continue to Marlborough street and find my family. As it turns out they had gone inside as their phone batteries were done they texted me and I met them at my home (I didn't have my keys etc so that was lucky they were there). We had 3 other friends that were stuck in the T stop also coming to see me at the finish that came to our house and then we just watched tv and listened for directions on what to do next as they started to evacuate areas. It was and is scary. We were all so lucky.
The feelings I have now are of both sadness and anger. Sad for all the victims and anger that someone could do this to us. The attack was against innocent people and runners and at least so far we have really very little idea even why (not that that really will change our feelings). The attack literally also is in our back yard. The GU I used during the race was purchased at marathon sports (where the attack happened). My eye doctor and friend has his practice at the lens crafters next door that had their windows blown out. And we often eat at Forum restaurant and buy coffee at that Starbucks. The proximity is heart sinking. Oum and I were walking down the street yesterday to get lunch and a loud bang happened (probably a car backfire or sign falling) and both of us dropped almost completely to the sidewalk in fear. We are both still scared and simply want everyone to figure this out as quickly as possible. That said-time will help all of us.
Despite everything that happened, I am very appreciative of the opportunity to run and help, and look forward to it in the future.
-Scott
