Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 107, June 2018 | Page 11

KALMER’S
CORNER
Our Modern Athlete Brand Ambassador’s Blog
By Rene Kalmer
BOSTON STRONG
The Boston Marathon has a special place in my heart ever since I took part in 2013, which was the same year as the
Boston bombings, and it was an emotional experience watching the 122 nd edition of the race.
M
onday 16 April was just a normal work day
for us in SA, but in the USA they celebrated
Patriots Day and ‘Marathon Monday.’ In the
spirit of the Boston Marathon, Andre and I decided to
watch the movie Patriots Day, about the two bombs
that went off close to the finish line on the 15th of
April 2013, killing three and injuring hundreds. Twenty
minutes into the movie a sea of emotions exploded
in me. I still can’t comprehend the fact that someone
was planning a bomb attack while we were wandering
the streets of Boston prior to the marathon.
That day I wobbled the last 14km to the finish after I
pulled my calf 28km into the race, and I still believe this
injury was a lifesaver, as I had a physio appointment
in the hotel 200m from the finish line. My appointment
was at 3pm, and the bombs exploded just before 3pm,
while we were inside the hotel having lunch, instead
of walking to the hotel. What followed next were like
hysterical scenes out of a disaster movie, and I was
truly grateful that Andre had accompanied