What the Boston Marathon means to a Bostonian

For locals, it's more than a race: It's a day-long, all-inclusive celebration

Runners head out at the start of the 116th Boston Marathon on April 16, 2012.
(Image credit: Darren McCollester/Getty Images)

On Monday, two explosions erupted near the finish line for the Boston Marathon, injuring scores of people and killing at least two.

The scene was horrific and frightening and dumbfounding, and as any Bostonian can attest, it couldn't have come on a worse day for the city. Marathons everywhere draw thousands of spectators, the grandeur of the events enticing people from all segments of the general public. This is especially true in Boston, where the marathon is just one piece of a full-fledged local holiday that sees over a half million spectators, participants, and blissfully drunk revelers all celebrating together.

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Jon Terbush

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.