Mike Atwood on Boston Marathon Bombing: 'This Was Personal'

Editor's note: Mike Atwood, with local ties to Attleboro (ran at Bishop Feehan), Foxborough (coached at Foxborough High and teaches at Foxborough Regional Charter School), Easton (coached at Oliver Ames) and Mansfield (coached at MHS) shared his thoughts from Monday's tragedy on his Facebook page Tuesday.

This was personal.

Boston is my city, where I run, where I went to college, where my family spends our weekends, where I go to Red Sox games with my dad, who was born there 81 years ago.

It is our playground.

Yesterday started out as a monumental day that I had obsessed about for six months, a day where my running club celebrated our hard work, a day where I ran past enthusiastically cheering friends on the route, friends from high school, college, and work and my own family in Natick, Newton, and Brookline.

The Boston Marathon is a giant reunion and it truly started out as a remarkable day. I made it through the 26.2 miles, not in my goal time, but I finished my third Boston Marathon, which in retrospect is an accomplishment that I now appreciate more than ever although it is significantly shadowed by the day's events. 

Part of me can't help but think that this tragedy could've been much, much worse for all of us: for my family, for my friends, for their families, and the runners still out there.

The "What ifs" are absolutely mind-numbing.

This morning, I spoke to a friend who was on the second floor of a building overlooking both explosions. My high school track coach and a former student were making their way to Marathon Sports just minutes before the bombs went off and felt the explosions. Another friend told us their family left the grandstand three minutes before the first blast. My sister, niece and nephews were standing across from Hereford Street shortly before the second blast.

This was personal. 

I feel whoever did this obviously studied our beloved city and event and meticulously planned this evil for maximum bloodshed.

For those of us who were lucky, I feel that we should be thankful that we avoided this near miss. My heart is broken for the three victims, the 17 critically injured, many who have lost limbs, and the 150 wounded - as they simply stood supporting all of us who ran on a sunny April day. 

And, although they would tell you it doesn't matter now, I feel a sense of disappointment for those thousands of uncomplaining runners who worked so hard to finish Boston, raised money for charity, and were halted at 25.5 miles. From all accounts, there was no arguing, only concern and compassion as the realization set in that this was extremely serious. 

And finally, we must recognize how fortunate we were to have such brave first responders, police, EMTs, military, doctors, officials, even runners and volunteers who ran toward the blasts to help the victims and may have even saved lives. 

The Boston Marathon will be back.

The city of Boston is already back.

The race will forever stand in remembrance of those innocent people who died and were hurt here. This was an attack on our city, on all of us.

Let us pray for those who were not as fortunate as we were. 

This was personal.

We are Boston.