DKM

Today, the Irish punk rock group, Dropkick Murphys, released their new album, entitled, "11 Short Stories of Pain and Glory."

It is already downloaded on my running power playlist.

Dropkick Murphys is all Boston, and for runners, DKM is all in.

One of the songs on the new album is, "4-15-13," written in honor of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.

Dropkick Murphys is not a group of loudmouth, spoiled entertainers. After the bombings, the group sold t-shirts, and gave 100% of the proceeds to victims of the bombings and their families.

On 4-15-13, I finished my 16th Boston Marathon. I wrote the account of that day in my book, "Personal Best," amazon.com/author/joemuldowney , in chapter entitled, 'Was That Thunder?'

We witnessed terror up close and personal, and the day is indelibly forever etched in my mind.

Three weeks later, at a Dropkick Murphys concert in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, DKM lead singer, Ken Casey spotted my Boston Matathon yellow shirt, asked me if I was ok, and we embraced.

This is a special group of entertainers who give back to the community.

For Boston!

NO FOOLING

The month of April has begun with April Fool's Day, a concept I really can't grasp any more.

In an age of social media and 30-second news cycles, we're never sure if we have been fooled each time we pick up a device or turn on our televisions.

Don't be fooled by imitations.

There's only one.

There will only ever be one.

It'll never be held on a Sunday.

It won't be deterred by snow, rain, wind, or blistering temperatures

It will be run from point to point, the way it has been run since 1896.

Although it is truly a "people's race," you have to earn your way into it.

The crowds, rowdy, raucous, and respectful, will always carry the participants.

The 120th Boston Marathon will be run on April 18.

From now until then I will devote all my blogs to this iconic race. Three years ago I ran my 16th, and probably my last, Boston Marathon, dating back to 1977.

 A series of injuries which began with a torn hamstring tendon suffered three weeks after the 2013 race have severely curtailed my running.

But the Boston Marathon is, and will always be, my favorite race, for many reasons.

No fooling around here.

Boston Marathon facts, legends and lore will abound on this age for the next few weeks.

You can read my personal account of the events surrounding the 2013 Boston Marathon in my book, Personal Best, available at: www.muldowneyrunning.net, and at amazon.com/author/joemuldowney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SALE INTO SPRING

Spring is right around the corner, and it's time to implement your running goals for the upcoming season.

Following is an excerpt from my latest book, Personal Best, the chapter entitled, "Was That Thunder?," my personal account of the 2013 Boston Marathon.


"A good day to run a marathon is usually a bad day to watch a marathon.

That was not the case on April 15, 2013.

 

The day broke with a deep blue sky; a chilly wind fluttered from the west, the air was dry.

An endless procession of yellow school buses departed from the Boston Common to begin the journey along the Mass Pike to the village of Hopkinton, the center of the running world on Patriot’s Day.

My morning began in an unusual manner. Preparing to run the Boston Marathon for the sixteenth time, my wife and I decided that, rather than deal with the crowds at the bus loading area, she would transport me to the athletes’ village, drive back to the train station at Riverside, and later assume her place near the finish line on Boylston Street.

At the toll plaza, buses were lined up like yellow jackets at the hive, and despite some congestion on narrow country roads, we reached the quaint “Welcome to Hopkinton, Incorporated in 1715” road sign by 7:30 a.m. In the forested area on the edge of town, placards nailed to the trees bore the warning, “No Stopping Monday.” Between the words, “Stopping,” and “Monday,” was the image of a runner breaking the finish line tape.

Within three blocks of the athletes’ village, all roads were barricaded, and as my wife and I exchanged farewells, an achy, empty feeling of loneliness enveloped me, even as I approached a small city of more than 23,000 runners. I stood, motionless, for a few moments, as her car faded to a small silver dot. On a magnificent mid-April morning, something didn’t feel quite right to me."

Both of my books, Personal Best and Running Shorts are available now, for the lowest price yet, $7.99 each, AND, we'll pay the shipping and handling.  Visit www.muldowneyrunning.net, and just click on the 'store' tab. Heck, that's about what we pay for a pair of socks today.

 

You can also go to Amazon, at: amazon.com/author/joemuldowney where you can find both books, reviews of them, and the Kindle version of Personal Best for $1.99. Try finding a pair of socks for that price these days!

 

The books are also available from my publisher's site: www.lulu.com

 

Fact is, if you plan to take you first running step, run your first marathon, or want to learn how to drop that marathon time, Personal Best will offer ways for you to achieve your goal.

 

If you want to be inspired, to laugh or cry, with stories from the road, read Running Shorts.

 

And, as my readers know, I pride myself as a "hands on" author. Having trouble with plantar fasciitis? Let me tell you about the 'donut' cure. Want to break 3 hours for the marathon? We can develop a training plan together to make that happen.

 

Spring is near. A time for new goals, hopes and aspirations.

 

Want to achieve your personal best?

 

Let me know.

 

I'll help you get there.

 

PERSONAL EMPATHY

Today's blog was supposed to contain a description of my rehab since my arthroscopic surgery which was performed on Thursday. My one mile leg-strengthening walk, however, just doesn't seem so important today.

Last night, another group of extremists, possessing an agenda no rational human being has the ability to grasp, engaged another senseless killing spree in Paris, France.

They call it terrorism, and it is. Gutless cowards murder and maim innocent civilians, none of whom have had even the least bit of influence in placing the terrorists in the oppressed state in which they feel they are immersed.

Resenting the fact that civilized, rational folks enjoy each other's company at restaurants, nightclubs, concerts, or sporting events, these savages 'terrorize' by striking at the very core of what makes us human.

As I watched the television last evening, my mind raced back to April 15, 2013, at Legal Seafood, a restaurant two blocks away from the finish line of the Boston Marathon, on Boylston Street. Pleased with my race, which had completed an hour earlier, I raised a glass of Guinness as I waited for my sandwich.

With the sound of a cannon blast, terror, the embodiment of evil, struck.

Fear, disillusionment, chaos, and anger filled my mind that afternoon, as I became a witness to the events as they unfolded..

I wrote a complete account of my feelings about that day in my book, Personal Best, in the chapter entitled, "Was That Thunder?" www.muldowneyrunning.net

In the writing of two books, no chapter was as important for me to get right. It was a day I will never forget, as terror struck home for me.

Terrorism is our new norm. It grips us. It follows us wherever we go. There is no vaccine. There is no immunity.

All of us are targets. All of us are civilian soldiers in a global war.

The enemy doesn't wear uniforms, and the rules of war do not apply here.

At the 2013 Boston Marathon, three people died, and nearly two hundred more were injured, some severely.

Their crime?

Cheering for their friends and loved ones at one of the world's most revered sporting event.

Last night, in Paris, folks watched a soccer game. They ate dinner and attended a concert.

More than one hundred of these innocents were slaughtered.

Their stories will be told over the next weeks and months.

Their family and friends will mourn their loss. The world will never benefit from their potentially positive contributions to society.

I'm not sure what the answer to global terrorism is. I guess there really is no answer.

Is it a "Holy War?"

I don't thing any religion's supreme being advocates the senseless destruction of human life as a way of honoring him or her.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Paris, France.

Having been close to a terrorist attack I offer my personal empathy.

Our world has shrunk and we are more global than ever before.

It is time for the civilized nations on this earth to band together and do whatever it takes to end the scourge of global terrorism.

 

 

BOGO BOOK EXCERPT

Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial kickoff of the summer season has passed, and now it's time to train, race, and relax in a big way.

If you're heading to the beach, the mountains, or to your favorite vacation spot, you could probably use some good reading material.

In a few weeks we'll celebrate Father's Day. Not sure what to get for dad?

Well, I have just begun the biggest sale and savings ever on my two books, Personal Best, and Running Shorts.

Go to: www.muldowneyrunning.com where you can buy one of the books, and receive the other ABSOLUTELY FREE. That's right. You can buy one for you and give the other to dad. Or keep both for yourself. Give one to the person who inspired you to begin training. Give one to your spouse, your son or daughter...well, you get the picture.

My first book, Running Shorts: A Collection of Stories and Advice for Anyone Who Has Ever Laced Up a Pair of Running Shoes, published in 2011, is a compilation of my experiences as competitive runner for 39 years, but many of these tales reflect experiences YOU have had during your years as a runner. As one of the Amazon reviewers stated, "It will make you laugh and it will make you cry." amazon.com/author/joemuldowney, A KIndle version of Personal Best is available on Amazon at the low price of $1.99.

Following is an excerpt from the opening chapter of Personal Best.

It is my account of the chilling events, as I witnessed them, at the tragic 2013 Boston Marathon.

WAS THAT THUNDER?

     A good day to run a marathon is usually a bad day to watch a marathon.

     That was not the case on April 15, 2013.

     The day broke with a deep blue sky; a chilly wind fluttered from the west, the air was arid.

     An endless procession of yellow school busses departed from the Boston Common to begin the journey along the Mass Pike to the village of Hopkinton, the center of the running world on Patriot’s Day.

     My morning began in an unusual manner. Preparing to run the Boston for the sixteenth time, my wife and I decided that, rather than deal with the crowds at the bus loading area, she would transport me to the athletes’ village, drive back to the train station in Needham, later assuming her spot near the finish line on Boylston Street.

     At the toll plaza, busses were lined up like yellow jackets at the hive, and despite some congestion, we reached the quaint, “Welcome to Hopkinton, Incorporated in 1715” sign by 7:30 a.m. In the forested area on the edge of town, placards nailed to the trees, bore the warning, “No Stopping Monday.” Between the words, “Stopping,” and “Monday,” was the image of a runner breaking the finish line tape.

     Within three blocks of the athletes’ village, all roads were barricaded, and as my wife and I exchanged farewells, an aching, empty feeling of loneliness enveloped me, even as I approached a small city of over 23,000 runners. I stood, motionless, for a few moments, as her car faded to a silver dot. On a magnificent mid-April morning, something didn’t feel quite right to me.

THE SIXTH AMENDMENT

"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence."

The Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights

Twenty five months ago, after months of careful, calculated planning, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his brother, Tamerlan, calmly placed their backpacks filled with instruments of death, next to innocent spectators,children among them, detonated the explosive devices, pressure cookers filled with gunpowder, BBs, and nails, killing three, and injuring nearly 300 more. Many of those injured will never fully recover.

After finding Dzhokhar Tsarnaev guilty on all counts, today, a jury of his peers, following the constitution of the greatest democracy the world has ever known, sentenced him to death by lethal injection.

A young man whose family fled political strife in his own country, came to America, enjoying all the benefits this country has to offer, and chose to commit a senseless, brutal act of terror at a sporting event which celebrates human achievement.

In his country, justice would have been swift and equally as brutal. Those who he claims America "persecutes," treat women as second-class citizens, and behead innocent victims.

Tsarnaev was afforded due process of law, and was represented by attorney.

He will spend the rest of his days in a supermax prison, of course there will be endless appeals, but, in the end, he will die.

The Richard family will not get their 8-year old son, Richard, back. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's backpack bomb killed him.

Seventeen people will never get their limbs back. His bomb made sure of that as well.

George Patton once said, "God may forgive you, but I won't.

Justice has been served.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will die for his hideous crimes.

                    8-year old Martin Richard

COURAGEOUS-AGAINST ALL ODDS

As dawn broke on the morning of April 19, 1775, approximately 700 British "Regulars," the finest soldiers of the most powerful military force on the planet at that time, marched into the tiny Massachusetts village of Lexington.

On the village green, seventy brave colonists, all ages, from all walks of life, bravely blocked the path of the mighty British army. A skirmish ensued, the first shots of what would become the American Revolutionary War were fired, and in a span of five minutes or so, eight colonists died. No British soldiers were killed.

The bravery displayed by the Lexington militia set the stage for one of the greatest military upsets in the history of the world, leading to the independence of the United States of America from Great Britain.

Each year, New Englanders celebrate the events of that day on the third Monday of April. The holiday is known as Patriots' Day. For the past 119 years the Boston Marathon has been run on Patriots' Day. The race is rich with tales of courage and bravery.

At Monday's Boston Marathon, however, a runner who displayed the against-all-odds attitude exhibited by the seventy militiamen at Lexington so many years ago, taught us all the true meaning of courage.

Rebekah Gregory DiMartino and her then-fiance, Pete DiMartino, attended the Boston Marathon on that beautiful day, April 15, 2013. They were there to cheer for Pete's mother, who was a competitor in the race. After seeing her at mile 17, they hopped on the MBTA to watch her finish on Boylston Street.

Pete and Rebekah's son, Noah, then only 5 years old, were severely injured by the first blast from one of the bombs, placed near the finish line by the terrorists, the Tsarnaev brothers, and Rebekah endured 15 surgeries before having her left leg amputated below the knee last November.

At the 2014 Boston Marathon she tearfully crossed the finish line in a wheelchair, pushed by one of the nurses who helped her through her ordeal.

On March 4, she wrote a letter to one of the surviving animals who tried to destroy her on April 15, 2013. Following is her statement, taken from her Facebook page.

Dear Dzhokhar Tsarnaev,

My name is Rebekah Gregory. We don't really know each other and never will. But over the last two years, I have seen your face not only in pictures, but in almost every one of my nightmares. Moments before the first blast, your stupid backpack even brushed up against my arm, but I doubt you remember because I am no one to you. A complete stranger. And although I was merely just a blip on your radar, (someone that happened to be standing 3 feet from your designated "good spot" for a bomb), you have been so much more to me. Because you have undoubtedly been my source of fear since April 15th, 2013. (After all, you are one of the men responsible for nearly taking my child, and for the permanent image embedded in my brain of watching someone die.) Up until now, I have been truly scared of you and because of this, fearful of everything else people might be capable of.

But today, all that changed. Because this afternoon, I got to walk into a courtroom and take my place at the witness stand, just a few feet away from where you were sitting. (I was WALKING. Did you get that?) And today I explained all the horrific details, of how you changed my life, to the people that literally hold YOURS in their hands. That's a little scary right? And this afternoon before going in, I'm not going to lie..my palms were sweaty. And sitting up there talking to the prosecution did make me cry. But today, do you know what else happened? TODAY...I looked at you right in the face....and realized I wasn't afraid anymore. And today I realized that sitting across from you was somehow the crazy kind of step forward that I needed all along.

And I think that's the ironic thing that happens when someone intends something for evil. Because somehow, some way, it always ends up good. But you are a coward. A little boy who wouldn't even look me in the eyes to see that. Because you can't handle the fact that what you tried to destroy, you only made stronger. And if your eyes would've met mine for just one second, you would've also seen that what you "blew up" really did BLOW UP. Because now you have given me (and the other survivors) a tremendous platform to help others, and essentially do our parts in changing the world for the better.

So yes...you did take a part of me. Congratulations you now have a leg up...literally. But in so many ways, you saved my life. Because now, I am so much more appreciative of every new day I am given. And now, I get to hug my son even tighter than before, blessed that he is THRIVING, despite everything that has happened.

So now...while you are sitting in solitary confinement, (awaiting the verdict on your life), I will be actually ENJOYING everything this beautiful world has to offer. And guess what else? I will do so without fear....of YOU. Because now to me you're a nobody, and it is official that you have lost. So man that really sucks for you bro. I truly hope it was worth it.

Sincerely,

Someone you shouldn't have messed with.

On Monday, Rebekah, along with her trainer, also an amputee, ran the last few miles of the Boston Marathon, and triumphantly crossed the finish line, against all odds.

Next year, she plans to run the marathon, in its entirety.

And, you know what, I wouldn't bet against her!

Thank you, Rebekah, for through your strength and courage, you have made us all strong. You are Boston Strong and a true inspiration to us all.

REBEKAH GREGORY-A TRUE HERO

A true hero!

Inspiring victory over the forces of hate who tried to tarnish this event as well as our way of life.

Way to go Rebekah!

You are an inspiration to us all.

Fox Boston

MARATHON INSPIRATION: Watch as Rebekah Gregory, a marathon bombing survivor who had her leg amputated just 6 months ago, crosses the finish line of the 2015 Boston Marathon.

Watch the entire moment & see what she said about the day: http://bit.ly/1P6H5fz

ALWAYS BOSTON STRONG

The frosty glass of Guinness tasted particularly good.

After a long, arduous walk, which was more like a shuffle, my blister-covered feet bore blood stains around the baby toes. Although my gear bag was filled with nearly everything, I had forgotten to pack an extra pair of shoes.

My wife and I landed at a Legal Sea Foods restaurant, located in the Lord and Taylor Mall at the Prudential Center on Boylston Street.

After an epic failure at the 2012 Boston Marathon, when temperatures in the 80s forced me to drop out at mile 18, we were prepared to celebrate sweet vindication after I crossed the finish line in a time of 3:04:13, It was about 2:45 p.m. on April 15, 2013.

My 16th Boston Marathon did not disappoint.

From the time we entered the city on Saturday, Bostonians continued their tradition of treating runners like rock stars. Proudly displaying that finishing medal after the race serves as a badge of adulation.

My wife posted a picture on Facebook of my glass of Guinness beer, now half full, foam clinging to the sides, with the words, "A great day at Boston."

As our waitress tapped another beer, a sound, like a blast from a cannon, shook the building. Calmly, the waitress asked, "Was that thunder?"

My reply was, "No, it's beautiful outside."

At 2:49 p.m., the first pressure cooker bomb, created, delivered, and detonated by Tamerlin and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, exploded near the finish line. 12 seconds later, a second bomb spewed shrapnel a mere 210 yards away.

Joy turned to terror. In a senseless, heinous act, 3 people were killed, and 264 others were injured.

The rest of the day remains somewhat of a blur to me two years later. I devoted the first chapter of my book, "Personal Best" to the events of that day, and I titled it, "Was That Thunder?"

Few runners are filled with hatred.

On the contrary, we can be fiercely competitive. But take it from one who has been doing this for a long time, some of the greatest friendships of my life have come to me through the sport of running.

Hatred and evil attempted to spoil an event that celebrated determination, accomplishment and pure joy.

Hatred lost!

Hatred failed!

One of the perpetrators is dead. The other will never experience freedom, the very reason his family immigrated to America, again. He may well receive the death penalty.

Meanwhile, runners everywhere rallied, raising money for the bombing victims.

Jeff Bauman, after having both legs amputated, helped police identify one of the bombers.

Extraordinary stories of courage abound, as bombing victims attempt to forge ahead with their lives, thumbing their noses at those who tried to destroy them.

On Patriot's Day 2014, runners, some of whom were unable to complete the 2013 race when the bombing occurred, celebrated yet another Boston Marathon.

Next Monday, they will do the same, for the 119th time.

In this world, in the end, good will always triumph over evil.

Determined human beings will always defeat adversity.

Strength will conquer weakness.

We will always remain Boston Strong.

JUSTICE

America is a nation of immigrants.

In the 1600's, millions escaped religious, political and economic strife and came to America. Often they suffered unspeakable hardships in this rugged, harsh land.

Along with others from many different countries, my Irish ancestors came to the anthracite coal fields of northeastern Pennsylvania in order to escape the devastating Irish potato famine in the 1860's. They worked long hours for little pay, and labored under dangerous working conditions.

Today, the United States of America still stands as a beacon of hope and opportunity for oppressed individuals across the globe. It remains, in the words of Ronald Reagan, "That shining city on a hill."

In 2002, the family of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev came to America from Kyrgyzstan.. His father applied for asylum, citing persecution due to his ties to Chechnya. They were granted asylum, received welfare benefits, and his parents obtained jobs in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Upon graduation from high school, Dzhokhar Tsasnaev received a $2500 scholarship from the City of Cambridge. He enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. His brother, Tamerlan, became a boxer.

Again, America opened its arms, providing an oppressed family access to the American Dream.

On April 15, 2013, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his now deceased brother Tamerlan (Dzhokhar ran him over with his vehicle while escaping from the police) constructed two deadly pressure cooker bombs, methodically placing them in the jam-packed crowd of spectators on Boylston Street, near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. They detonated the horrible devices, killing three people and injuring nearly 300 more. Many of those individuals will be maimed for life. Later, he and his brother killed MIT police officer Sean Collier in cold blood.

When captured, Tsarnaev told the FBI that he and his brother were angry about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and how Americans killed Muslims there.

A handwritten note, scrawled by Tsarnaev as he cowered, bloody, inside a boat, as he hid from the police and the FBI,  read, "The Boston bombings were in retribution for the U.S. crimes in places like Iraq and Afghanistan and the victims of the Boston bombing were collateral damage, in the same way innocent victims had been collateral damage in U.S. wars around the world."

The savage, uncivilized, wild animal-like behavior of these two disgusting individuals, who came to this country in order to escape savage, wild animal-like behavior in their own country, is astounding.

In their country, in their world, their crime would have been met with swift, ruthless justice. They would have been thrust into the bowels of a filthy prison, and IF they survived, they may have been publicly executed, possibly beheaded, after a sham of a trial.

But this is America.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was arrested, read his rights, received a high-powered attorney to defend him, and, yesterday, was convicted by a jury of his peers, on ALL 30 counts.

Beginning on Monday, a week before the world's greatest footrace, the Boston Marathon, the jury will decide whether he should be executed or spend the rest of his days in prison.

The American dream wasted.

Some solace for his many victims, whose lives will never be the same.

Americans are strong, resilient, and just.

Justice has been served and we are all Boston Strong.

A PROUD TRADITION-THE GREATEST RACE

It began for me in 1978.

Having run my first marathon in the fall of 1977, I fell in love with the race itself. There's something about training for a marathon. It truly is an endeavor in which one gets out of it what one is able to put into it. There are no shortcuts, there are no excuses. Do the work or the marathon will humble you.

I quickly decided, after a marathon debut time of 2:49, that I wanted to run the Boston Marathon.

Over a span of five decades, I've run Boston sixteen times. In 1983, on one of those perfect race days we all experience on rare occasions, I ran my personal best marathon time, a 2:22:54, finishing eleven seconds behind Joan Benoit,  (Samuelson now) who set the women's marathon world record with a 2:22:43.

A back injury in 1981 sent  me to the Mass Pike, where I hitched a ride to the finish, and in the searing heat of the 2012 race, I bailed out at mile 18.

At the Centennial race in 1996, I participated on a team that finished second in the Master's Division.

The two 'Top 100' medals, along with the certificate memorializing my 1983 race adorn my wall, and are among my most prized running awards.

In 2013, I crossed the finish line in 3:04:13, began celebrating with my wife by quaffing a sip of Guinness, before terror struck the world's most iconic footrace.

Two torn hamstring tendons may prevent me from returning to the world's oldest marathon, but with two weeks until the 119th running of the Boston Marathon, I will share some of my memories of the race.

If you've run the Boston Marathon, you'll relate to many of my stories.

If you haven't run Boston, put it on your bucket list now,

There's no footrace like it in the entire world.

www.muldowneyrunning.com

1099-IT'S MORE THAN A TAX FORM

Before the income tax deadline of April 15, you can visit my website: www,muldowneyrunning.com, and I will personally sign and send a copy of my latest book, Personal Best, to you. Currently, both of my books are on sale for $10.99 (not the tax form), plus shipping and handling. You can also go to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, to purchase running books that will positively influence your future running efforts. Recently, I checked my author page on Amazon, amazon.com/author/joemuldowney  and I was happy and humbled to read the following words from John M, 4.0 out of 5 stars very inspirational, March 8, 2015 By  John M - See all my reviews Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Personal Best (Kindle Edition) Coming back from an injury that sidelined me over the fall and winter, Joe reminds me what started my running career. Thanks, Joe!

I don't know John M., but, upon reading his review, it reaffirmed my reasons for writing Personal Best. By reading Personal Best, you will receive great running advice, tips on training, yes, some inspiration. And if you purchase an electronic version of my latest book, Personal Best, will cost you less than a popular running magazine, without the advertisements!

My first book, Running Shorts: A Collection of Stories and Advice for Anyone Who Has Ever Laced Up a Pair of Running Shoes, published in 2011, is a compilation of my experiences as competitive runner for 39 years, but many of these tales reflect experiences YOU have had during your years as a runner. As one of the Amazon reviewers stated, "It will make you laugh and it will make you cry."

Traveling the country, promoting my first book, prompted me to write, Personal Best, my second book, published in September 2014.

Runners told me what they wanted in a running book, and I tried to respond by writing a book that is instructive to runners of all ages and abilities.

Personal Best took a tragic turn in April 2013, soon after I crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon. I devoted my first chapter, entitled "Was That Thunder," to the events, and my experiences of that day. I guarantee you, it is worth the read, and it is my fervent hope that I was able to capture the emotions of that fateful day in a manner in which every runner can relate.

If you would like read an electronic version of Personal Best, it is available for only $2.99 at Amazon, Lulu, iBooks, Nook, and Kobo.

Read the books and stay in touch. email me here, look me up on Facebook at: Joe Muldowney Running, or on Twitter at: rdrunnr00. Tell me about your running, ask me questions, discuss training or injury issues.

I love this sport, and I love runners.

If one word of what you read in this blog or in one of my books makes you a better runner, or makes you feel better about running,then I feel I've paid it forward, and that's as satisfying as winning any race.

SPRING TRAINING MANUAL

Spring has arrived, and it's time refine our goals for the new racing season.

How are you going to improve your running and racing this year?

Have you figured how you're going to remain vertical on the tightrope without falling off?

That is, how you're going to run your fastest times without getting injured?

Or, perhaps you're coming back from an injury and you need some inspiration.

Believe me, I've been there, so I feel your pain.

Here's a guarantee I'll make to you.

If you want to receive some great running advice and tips on training, an electronic version of my latest book, Personal Best, will cost you less than a popular running magazine, without the advertisements!

My first book, Running Shorts: A Collection of Stories and Advice for Anyone Who Has Ever Laced Up a Pair of Running Shoes, published in 2011, is a compilation of my experiences as competitive runner for 39 years, but many of these tales reflect experiences YOU have had during your years as a runner. As one of the Amazon reviewers stated, "It will make you laugh and it will make you cry."

Traveling the country, promoting my first book, prompted me to write, Personal Best, my second book, published in September 2014.

Runners told me what they wanted in a running book, and I tried to respond by writing a book that is instructive to runners of all ages and abilities.

Personal Best took a tragic turn in April 2013, soon after I crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon. I devoted my first chapter, entitled "Was That Thunder," to the events, and my experiences of that day. I guarantee you, it is worth the read, and it is my fervent hope that I was able to capture the emotions of that fateful day in a manner in which every runner can relate.

If you would like read an electronic version of Personal Best, it is available for only $2.99 at Amazon, Lulu, iBooks, Nook, and Kobo.

You can visit my website: www,muldowneyrunning.com, and I will personally sign and send a book to you. Currently, both books are on sale for $11.99, plus shipping and handling. You can also go to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, to purchase running books that will positively influence your future running efforts.

And, it doesn't end there!

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WAY TO GO REBEKAH!

Moments ago I published today's blog, with a picture of Rebekah Gregory entering the courtroom in Boston.

Here is what she had to say in the courtroom.

She's a REAL hero!

"IT WAS HIM"

The Code of Hammurabi, written by King Hammurabi of Babylon over 3700 years ago, established the first written set of laws. One of those tenets stated, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."

Clearly we have evolved in to a more "civilized," compassionate society, but certain human acts are so heinous, it is hard for most civilized people to wrap their brains around the evil that exists in minds filled with deranged hatred.

After nearly two years, as thousands of runners brave the winter in an effort to train for the 2015 Boston Marathon, the trial of one of the men who perpetrated one of the most cowardly attacks on civilians since the events of September 11, 2001, began on Wednesday with a surprising revelation.

Following is an excerpt from Boston Globe staff writer, Milton Valencia, written on Wednesday.

'After thousands of pages of legal briefs and nearly two years of hearings, a lawyer for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev stood in federal court Wednesday, the first day of the long-awaited Marathon bombing trial, and made a startling simple declaration: “It was him.”

Yes, she said, it was Tsarnaev who dropped a backpack containing a bomb on the ground, killing a young boy and a graduate student. And it was Tsarnaev who, along with his brother, went on a violent spree that ended in bloodshed in Watertown.

“There’s little that occurred the week of April the 15th . . . that we dispute,” attorney Judy Clarke told jurors.

In just over 20 minutes, Clarke provided a detailed account of Tsarnaev’s role in the horrific attacks, though she ultimately sought to portray the now-21-year-old defendant as a reluctant participant in the bombings, coerced by a dominating older brother who was the mastermind. He was less culpable, she said, and therefore should be spared the death penalty.

Prosecutors gave their own vivid narrative of the bombings, providing new details in the moments leading up to the explosions and their aftermath, including Tsarnaev’s trip to a grocery store 20 minutes later to shop for a gallon of milk

The opening statements were a sweeping — and at times heart-wrenching — attempt at justice on the same day that several survivors recounted frightening ordeals to the jury.

“I started screaming out for somebody to help us,” said Karen Rand McWatters, who lost a leg. She recalled that after the explosion she leaned toward her friend, Krystle Marie Campbell, who softly said that her legs hurt. “Her hand went limp in mine, and she never spoke again after that,” McWatters testified.

“I remember thinking, this is it, I’m going to die, I’m not going to make it,” said Sydney Corcoran, who was 17 when she and her mother were injured in the bombings. “I just felt so cold.”

The long-awaited trial officially began Wednesday after two months of jury selection and nearly two years of legal challenges. Tsarnaev’s lawyers have repeatedly and unsuccessfully sought to have the trial moved outside Boston.

Scores of spectators passed through security at the John Joseph Moakley US Courthouse in South Boston Wednesday to view the proceedings, as did several survivors and family members of the victims.

Those killed in the bombings were Campbell, a 29-year-old from Medford who died from the first blast; Martin Richard, an 8-year-old from Dorchester; and Lingzi Lu, a 23-year-old Boston University graduate student from China. Lu and Richard were killed by the second bomb, the one planted by Tsarnaev.

Assistant US Attorney William Weinreb told jurors that Tsarnaev stood with his backpack outside the Forum restaurant on Boylston Street for nearly four minutes, while several children played in front of him, before he slipped off the bag and walked away.

“He pretended to be a spectator, but he had murder in his heart,” Weinreb said.

He provided graphic details of the victims’ last moments, saying Richard “bled to death on the sidewalk,” Lu had the “inside of her stomach pouring out,” and Campbell was left with “gaping holes” in her body.

He later detailed Tsarnaev’s actions less than a half-hour after the bombing: He was at a Whole Foods store in Cambridge, shopping for milk.

“The defendant pretended nothing had happened,” Weinreb said.'

My wife and I heard the blast as we prepared to eat lunch Legal Seafood in the Lord and Taylor mall on Boylston Street. Terror surrounded us, but we were never in danger. It was one of the worst days of my life, but, for hundreds of innocent spectators, their lives will never be the same thanks to the cold-hearted, calculated actions of these two animals.

I'm sorry, but all of us have free-will. Plotting and creating devices designed to kill and maim innocent human beings, in my estimation calls for the death penalty. This young man knew exactly what he was doing, and showed no remorse after doing it. 

Nothing can bring three dead people, one of them a child, back to life. Shattered and amputated limbs, perforated eardrums, burns and scars can never fully be restored, but justice must prevail.

I think a jury in Boston will get it right.

                 Marathon bombing victim Rebekah Gregory arrived at court