This morning I was supposed to run a 5k by the beach with a few thousand people in support of the Marine Corps in Seaside, NJ at the Seaside Semper Five. Instead, this happened:
According to the news, a pipe bomb exploded near the 3/4 mile point at around 9:35, which, if the race started on time, would have put all of us exactly in harm’s way.
But, as luck would have it, the race was delayed because of a suspicious backpack that turned out to be a false alarm, so we had already been evacuated from the area.
Now we’re hearing about two more bombs wired to the first that luckily didn’t go off. We’re hearing that the FBI is investigating the whole thing. We want to know what happened, who’s responsible, why they did this. Eventually we’ll find out, and hopefully we’ll run the race again despite what some coward with some pipe bombs might want us to do.
But right now, I’m going to sit on the couch with my cats on my lap and have a big piece of cake for dinner.
I’m relieved that the race officials were so on top of their game and kept every single one of us safe. They deserve a huge thank you for doing that.
I’m thankful – beyond thankful, really – that luck was on our side today and everything happened the way it did.
But most of all, I’m angry. Angry that someone would find it necessary to harm a group of people – runners and spectators and babies in strollers and volunteers and combat injured veterans – that came out to support the MARSOC Foundation. It completely baffles me and frustrates me when I try to make sense of it.
Because it makes me feel like safety – even at a relatively small, local race on the Jersey Shore – is an illusion.
I’m sure I’ll get over it eventually but for now, I’m just going to stay here with my cats and eat my cake.
Jess Runs Happy 
Omg!! I am so glad to hear that you are safe. I do not blame you for being angry. That is just horrible! How dare they do that! Race officials made amazing decisions which saved many lives. Be safe today. Eating cake sounds like a good choice.
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❤ thank you so much!
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Jess, this brings back so many bad memories from 3 years back. I am here if you need to talk; I know the anger that you feel. I am so glad that you guys are safe! This world is a scary place and why people continue to want to harm innocent people in this way is beyond me. The race officials took the proper precautions and saved many lives with their quick thinking. I’m here if you need me. Love you!
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❤ thank you so much Mer! It's been a rough few days but having you there to vent to makes it so much easier to deal with!! So glad they caught him today ❤ ALSO *very* looking forward to our wine night soon 😉
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Very scary situation and my heart dropped for a moment when I head the news. Glad that you and so many others are safe from harm. #Angry
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❤ thanks Jermal – we're gonna keep on running, no doubt!
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I saw that in my news email and wondered if that was the race you were planning to run. I’m so sorry – I don’t know you, but I can only imagine how frightening, frustrating, scary, and difficult that must have been. The unknown and unknowable… and the difficulty trying to figure out what’s behind what is truly an insane act of unprovoked violence. Who thinks that’s okay? I mean, really? Take care of yourself.
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thanks so much ❤ the last few days were weird, especially with the bombing in NYC later that night. but now that they've got a suspect in custody, hopefully things will start to calm down! ❤
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Glad you’re okay. Heard about it on the news. Bunch of sissies.
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I hate this. I’m so glad you’re safe. Things like this make me so angry- why would you hurt a group of innocent people? I don’t know, the logic of it just really frustrates me. Like with the Boston bombings…why runners? What particular vendetta do you have against that group of people? Ugh. Sorry for the rant. I feel your frustration. But thankfully you’re safe, and you can just go and lounge about and eat chocolate cake. It sounds like a good plan.
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❤ thanks so much! The cake was so worth it, and now that they've got one suspect in custody hopefully things will start to get back to normal 🙂
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OMG … this is insane – to think that a ‘false scare’ backpack actually very likely saved lives and/or prevented injuries from a real bomb!
My son’s dorm is just a few blocks from the NYC bomb (it was right next to where we parked our car for move-in a couple of weeks ago) … and he said it sounded like a cannon blast. This is nuts.
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That’s terrible, I hope everything turned out ok for your son! The past few days have been a whirlwind for sure, but now that they’ve caught the main suspect they’ve been after for both incidents we’ll get some answers!
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I just don’t get it at all. What did this prove, bombing a stupid small race? Nothing. So, so, so dumb.
Unrelated to the disbelief and anger, but I think I saw you at the race before all this shiz went down! However, I was totally too chicken to go up to you and be like “hey I read your blog and we’re both skirt sports ambassadors!” – LOL. I’m a social media/internet wimp.
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oh my goodness I wish you had said something, I love meeting folks IRL! I’m woefully unaware at these things and never recognize anyone.
BUT it looks like we got some good news and that asshat was caught today!
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I can’t wrap my head around why people do this. CANNOT COMPUTE.
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took the words right out of my mouth! ❤
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