I’ve been fascinated by history for as long as I can remember. So when I ran across the finish line at the Boston Marathon three years ago it only made sense to clean up, grab the cameras and head out to explore the wealth of history in our nation’s birth place. One of the first stops we made was Minute Man National Historic Park in Concord where, on the old North Bridge, the shot that was “heard around the world” was fired at the start of the Revolutionary War. I got a chill as I looked at the monument and realized that the date was April 19th, the same day I had just run 26 miles across the Massachusetts countryside and stood on that bridge.
While there’s little comparison between resisting an oppressive government and running a marathon, the spirit is the same. The desire to be our best and the resolution to make it happen are the necessary fiber. The tragic events of this year’s marathon have been heavy on my mind, but I find a certain irony in the fact that for the better part of its 117 year history, the race has always coincided with Patriot’s Day, a celebration of our country’s founding in the face of adversity.
The marathon itself, like any endurance sport, is a challenge that thousands of people, young and old, fast and slow, rise up to meet each year at races around the world. As anyone who runs will tell you, it’s not so much about the physical act, but the sense of accomplishment and collaborative spirit against the odds that fuels the desire. Thousands of volunteers make the race possible, thousands more come as spectators to support family members and strangers alike, and the feeling on the course is always one of encouragement – all of which makes it feel like a giant family reunion.
It is often said that history will teach us nothing, but I think that it has. It’s no coincidence that each time we’re faced with a tragedy, we see that same spirit that founded our country rise up to meet the challenge and squelch the forces that attempt to stifle our way of life. As a photographer, a runner, and an American, I’m grateful for that common thread called freedom that we all share, and which gives each and every one of us the opportunity to be our best by whatever avenue we choose.
©Russ Bishop/All Rights Reserved
