4:09:43: Boston 2013 Through the Eyes of the Runners

Hal Higdon's latest work "4:09:43" , the title alludes to the time on the official clock when the first bomb went off, attempts to capture the drama of the tragic incidents of the 117th Boston Marathon from an interesting perspective; that of the actual runners. The story is told almost as a race report, which interestingly enough was how the majority of it was researched. Now to be honest, I have a love/hate relationship with race reports. I love to read them for the human story; I hate to read them when they become "look at me" tales of self-indulgent ego trips. Hal has managed to write the ultimate race report from the views of 75 different runners (and background organizing officials.) Hal weaves their stories into a tapestry of perseverance, triumph, struggles and failure; the basic ingredients of a classic Shakespearean masterpiece. Opening up with the various routes the runners had arrived at Boston, their training successes or failures; their BQs or charity successes. Moving through the struggles and exhilaration that running a race like Boston provides to the disaster itself. The story is told in stages, with emphasis on the towns that make up the early part of the race to the Hills of Newton and finally those last miles to the finish. He does well to give you a feel for what the course feels like and even to lay out the perfect Boston strategy. All the while presenting the race route itself as living, breathing grand lady, the ultimate mother if you will. Tormenting those that seem who did not give her enough respect; rewarding those who have shown her the respect. If you were to classify it as a Facebook relationship status every runner would choose "it's complicated". The explosions present her as mother whose children (runners and spectators) are hurt as well- physically or emotionally. But yet in the end she provides the comfort that only a mother can. Comforting when we hurt, knowing we can always (and will) comeback to her as the runners and spectators will on the third Monday next April of 2014. You get chills, you feel inspired, you read mocking the Newton Hills, you tremble with the fear of how the participants will find the courage to conquer Heartbreak; as if it was Mount Everest itself. This race report leaves you feeling some joy even amongst the tragedy that was the 117th Boston Marathon. The tragedy will be the story told of this Boston, but Hal once again masterfully tells it from the human perspective and not of the horrible events itself. As you read you feel as if you were there. It's as if you were viewing it first person. He gives you an "onboard camera" view of what transpired. It is the apex but he treats it almost as a zenith. The story inspires you to go to Boston. It creates and bonds you with what surely must be one of the Pillars of Running; "You will run the Boston Marathon -either through BQ or charity- at least once in your lifetime if at all physically possible." Terrorism will only succeed if we allow it to create the fear. A marathon is in many sporting terrorism; it can only scare you if you allow it. There should be a healthy respect of the fear that drives you through training and the race. Cowards who try and profit from fear, should not be a reason to fear 26.2 miles. Throughout the story telling Hal manages to pump you up in the way a good song gets you ready to fight, leaving you as if flight is not the option. And the way a great race report has you either smiling or sad but feeling well wishes on the future to the writer, this book leaves you with well wishes to the race, the city, the participants, the crowds and those who responded with greatness when greatness was thrust upon them.

A look inside the 2013 Boston Marathon through the eyes of the runners who were there. As one of the runners in the book, I couldn't think of a better person to tell our story than Hal. His flowing narrative of the events as they unfolded, built through our stories on Facebook, Twitter, and blogs, tells the events in a unique way. The focus on these stories and each runners journey to the event and after make for a fascinating read. The story is sometimes hard to relive, but the personal struggles and achievements of the runners are the focus and not the bombers. Hal blends all the stories wonderfully into a story that flows from the start of the race to the tragic events that unfolded at 4:09:43. A great read, highly recommended!!

I bought this book with the assumption that it would tell the story of the Boston Marathon bombings from a journalist covering a crime perspective. I was surprised and delighted as I read this book that the story is told through the eyes of the runners and the impact this event had on thirty lives. I appreciate that Mr. Higdon did not give any publicity to the cowards that perpetrated this tragic crime. If you are looking for a book that gives explicit details of the bombings, this book is not for you. If you are a runner, however, and you know the value and power of the running community and the human spirit, this is exactly the book for you.

As a runner and finisher in the 117th Boston Marathon, and one of the runners highlighted in his book, I can say I was moved and inspired by the stories. Having read excerpts along Hal's journey, I knew this book would be different, special, and capture the hearts and minds of the reader...runner and non-runner. As an author, Hal was beyond passionate about writing this book, and even stayed in the same hotel room I did the days before and after the race to truly capture the emotion of what I felt. He painstakingly made sure each and every account was true and accurate and was compassionate and thoughtful as he had all of us go back in time to recreate the day. When discussing the picture of me taken by my daughter as I was finishing, he brought it all back for me, and the emotions were not only captured accurately, but written beautifully. This book takes you on a journey we all faced, not just the ones in the book, and "spoke" for all of us who worked so hard to qualify for this special race and those there to raise money and awareness for charities. The 117th Boston Marathon will always be special to me, and sad at the same time. I will never forget feeling and seeing the explosions that day and the aftermath of what was soon to be realized by the world in the hours and days after. If you are considering reading this book, please don't hesitate. If you already read it...thank you for spending the time to come along our journey Hal Higdon so brilliantly recreated. I will be back next April for the 118th Boston Marathon.

I bought this book in 2014, having run Boston in 2013, when the bombings happened. I suppose it's taken me this long (late 2018) emotionally and psychologically to actually pick up the book and read it; I have tended to block out a lot of thoughts and memories of that year. And in all honesty, I am only about two thirds of the way through the book; the bombings haven't come into the narrative yet. What compelled me to review the book was the fact that it is hands-down the best capsule of the true experience of running Boston. Higdon and the runners he drew his stories from really do capture what it is like to run Boston, and all of the sensory details of the experience come to life in this little book. I've run 10 Bostons, and I know it will never be the same again after 2013, but if anything the spirit of the race and of the city came out of it even stronger, and Higdon expresses this wonderfully well.

It was like I was there running the 26.2 miles..... Hal Higdon has captured the lost and the spirit of the day.

Hal Higdon has based this books on what a number of runners put on to social media in response to running or volunteering at the Boston marathon 2013. I knew one of those people which is why I bought the book. The book does give you a good picture of what this day was like for the people there. One of the difficulties with the book is that it is written for those already in the know about running, who would be interested in and understanding of the normal trials and tribulations of a marathon runner. Not sure it will work if you are a non runner simply interested in understanding the tragic happening of this day. It is also clearly (though understandably) aimed at the US market, explaining British runner tech speak for the Americans but not vice versa. Despite all this I would recommend it as it does give you a flavour of what it was like for the athletes and organisers to have their event turn into a tragedy.

Good read