One of the many amazing storey to come out of the Boston Marathon tragedy is that of the blood - donating runner . In lawsuit you have n’t read about it , many of the runners finished a grueling 26.2 mile ( or near to it ) , then kept on run to the infirmary to give origin , even in their depleted states .
Because we could all use an extra back breaker of humanity this week , here are eight other feel - good stories about runner .
1. A helping hand
In December 2012 , Kenyan Abel Mutai was the first to hybridise the finish line of merchandise of a cross - country subspecies in Burlada , Spain . At least , hethoughthe crossed the finishing line . Ivan Fernandez Anaya , a Spanish competitor who was right behind Mutai , hump well . Mutai had pull up a niggling scant of the finish wrinkle , but or else of taking advantage of the berth and handle flop back him , Anaya used gestures to urge Mutai frontwards to finish his lawful first place coating .
“ I did n’t merit to win it , ” Anaya said afterward . “ I did what I had to do . He was the rightful achiever . He created a col that I could n’t have closed if he had n’t made a mistake . ”
2. First place finish
exhaust from a previous raceway , a eminent schooltime racecourse star from Ohio was in last place in a 3,200 - beat race last year when she saw the challenger in front of her start to come down just a few meters from the finish . Though runners can be disqualified for physically helping other runners , Meghan Vogel put her branch around Arden McMath and help oneself carry her to the final stage — even verify that McMath frustrate first . “ It ’s strange to have people telling me that this was such a knock-down act of kindness and using dustup like ' man , ’ ” Vogel enounce . “ When I listen wrangle like that I think of Harriet Tubman and save people ’s life . I do n’t consider myself a hero . I just did what I bed was correct and what I was supposed to do . ”
3. World’s Best Dad
This story is not about a runner doing something dainty for someone else , but rather someone doing something touching for a runner . Derek Redmond ( above ) was just over halfway through a 400 1000 race at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona when his hamstring popped . As the medical stave showed up with a stretcher for them , Redmond wave them aside , determined to end the race . While he limp slowly toward the finale line in unbelievable pain , his don fought his way down through the stands , jump over the railing that divided looker from competitors , and outran security system guards adjudicate to chase him down . About 120 meters from the culture , Jim Redmond see up to his son , put his arms around him and helped him most of the rest of the elbow room . About two measure from the line of merchandise , Jim permit go so Derek could cease on his own . “ I ’m the proud father alive , " Jim say afterward . " I ’m prouder of him than I would have been if he had win the gold medal . It took a good deal of guts for him to do what he did . "
4. Catch you when you fall
Last month , Michael Stefanon was come down the final stretch of the Rock ‘ n ’ Roll Marathon in Washington , D.C. , when he spotted a slower runner forward of him and intend he could in all probability pass him . As Stefanon perish to go through , the man staggered backward . Stefanon caught him , say , “ We are go to do this together , ” and mostly carry the exhausted blue runner 15 yard to the finish cable . The runner , Ryan Gregg , said he was especially grateful for the help because his two young sons were catch him lead a marathon for the first fourth dimension and he did n’t want them to see their papa throw in .
Stefanon was proud of the example he set for his sons as well :
5. A marathon of support
When the New York Marathon was canceled last crepuscle due to Hurricane Sandy , many runner regrouped and devise themselves into volunteer squads . wear their orangish battle of Marathon shirts , the runners brought back pack full of supplies to Staten Island , help with clean sweat and handed out water .
6. Never too late to start
Think you ’re too erstwhile to start run ? Or too out - of - form ? Look to Margaret Hagerty for inspiration . The 90 - year - former battle of Marathon runner guard the Guinness Record for “ honest-to-god individual to discharge a battle of Marathon on each of the seven continents , ” which she achieved at the age of 81 . Hagerty took up running when she was 64 to attempt to help her fall by the wayside smoke . Though she believe that everyone should know the Great Wall of China Marathon , her personal favorite is the grueling “ Arctic Marathon . ”
7. I’ll Carry You
Then - eminent school day junior Josh Ripley was in the first mile of a two - international mile crabbed - country meet when he heard a fellow Caranx crysos scream . He found competition Mark Paulauskas badly bleeding from the ankle and discover that he had been “ spiked , ” or injured by someone else ’s metal - lace dog horseshoe . Ripley carried the injured runner for half of a mile to get him back to his coach , then went on to finish his slipstream . Paulauskas needed more than 20 stitches .
8. Taking a Stroller
Iram Leon was diagnosed with final brain cancer in November 2010 . Not wanting to give up runningortime with his 6 - twelvemonth - quondam daughter , Leon decided to flux the two . So far , he ’s take to the woods six endurance contest while pushing daughter Kiana in a stroller .
Leon and Kiana most recently completed the Gusher Marathon in Texas in three hours , seven minutes and 35 second — good enough for a first - place finish .
" This is supposed to eat aside at my memory in the end , " Leon said . “ But I hope this storage is one of the last things to go and one she never loses . "
A college investment firm for Kiana has been startedhere .
