Local-Area Boston Marathon Participants Named Grand Marshals For Saturday’s Wild Asphalt Run Half Marathon & 5k

In a tribute to the victims of April’s Boston Marathon bombings, two local runners that were part of that ill-fated day will serve as co-Grand Marshals for Saturday’s “No Limits” Wild Asphalt Circus Run Half Marathon & 5k benefitting Speedway Children’s Charities at Texas Motor Speedway.

 

Toni Biggerstaff, of Keller, and Jennifer McAlister, of Fort Worth, were chosen in the honorary roles to acknowledge all those affected by the senseless blasts and also represent all the North Texas runners that competed in this year’s Boston Marathon. In addition to their honorary roles, both women will compete in the “No Limits” Wild Asphalt Run half marathon.

 

They will be joined by more than 1,000 expected participants representing 15 states and traveling from as far as Alberta, Calgary, Canada, and Oberhausen, Germany to compete in the second annual NASCAR-themed running event.

 

“With this being the only running event we host at Texas Motor Speedway, we felt it was important to let all those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings know that they remain in our thoughts and prayers,” Texas Motor Speedway Vice President of Media Relations Mike Zizzo said. “We wanted ‘Boston Strong’ to know that they are also ‘Texas Strong’ in support.”

 

During pre-race ceremonies beginning at 7:45 a.m. CT, Biggerstaff and McAlister will briefly share their stories of that day and their unwavering passion for the sport with their fellow competitors. There also will be a moment of remembrance for all those affected by the bombings.

 

“As far as the ones who were lost and injured, that is something you don’t know why and I truly believe from all tragedy good comes out of it,” Biggerstaff said. “You use it for good in some way by these events. How many people will do good deeds out of this and those who lost their limbs may help inspire others to do things. There was a woman who was a dancer that lost a leg (in the bombings) and she was engaged, and she is going to dance at her wedding. She has new goals and inspirations, and that is powerful.”

 

Added McAlister: “I will continue to share my story, pleading with all who will listen that we are not promised tomorrow.”

 

After the two women address the starting field, the Keller ISD Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps will handle the presentation of the colors and 12-year-old Devan DeLugo, who attends Carroll Middle School in Southlake and has performed with Fort Worth’s Casa Manana Theater, will follow with the singing of the National Anthem.

 

Biggerstaff and McAlister will give the field the racing command of “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines” and then wave the green flag for the start of the 5k at 8 a.m. They then will quickly depart and head to their running corral for the start of the half marathon at 8:15 a.m.

 

Retired U.S. Army Staff Sargent and decorated war hero Michael Edelstein will serve as the Honorary Starter for the half marathon. Edelstein, a third-generation combat veteran who lives in Richardson, Texas, had tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq and earned numerous medals for valor and courage, including the prestigious Purple Heart. Edelstein, wounded in Iraq from an IED, is attending on behalf of Team RWB, which enriches the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.

 

Considering Biggerstaff and McAlister’s proximity to the bombings that terrifying day, the two are fortunate that they are competing Saturday and did not sustain any serious injuries from the incident.

 

Biggerstaff and McAlister, along with a third friend Chimene Fikkert from Mansfield, are veteran marathoners and had a goal of competing together in the Boston Marathon. Biggerstaff was the only one of the trio that qualified for the 2012 Boston Marathon and participating without her friends was “bittersweet.”

 

That changed this year as all three qualified, achieving their goal and anticipating running together in one of the sport’s premier events on Monday, April 15. The day prior, McAlister posted a photo to her Facebook page of the three of them posing at the Boston Marathon finish line with the caption, “This will be our happy place on Monday after the race.”

 

But there was no happy place for anyone after the race.

 

Two bombs exploded on Boylston Street near the finish line of the 26.2-mile race and chaos and confusion reigned. Fikkert already had completed the race at that point while McAlister was in the final stretch to the finish line and Biggerstaff had just reached Mile 26.

 

“I made it to about Mile 26.1 when all of a sudden I heard a loud boom and then I saw the building in front of me partially blow up – fire and smoke everywhere,” McAlister recalled in her running diary. “It’s crazy, but I didn’t stop running. My mind couldn’t conceive that this was something sinister.

 

“Then another loud blast was heard. … Panic and confusion reigned as emergency workers pushed us away from the finish line. In less than five minutes, I had experienced so many emotions: exhaustion, euphoria, joy, confusion, fear, panic, terror, relief, and then nothing. I became numb. I didn’t realize it at the time but I was in a mild state of shock. I felt like I was watching a movie as hundreds of emergency vehicles passed me and helicopters hovered overhead.”

 

Biggerstaff only was able to hear the loud blasts and had no idea what was transpiring ahead on the course.

 

“I heard the second bomb go off, but I didn’t know what it was and at the time I looked in sky and asked, ‘what was that?,'” said Biggerstaff, who along with McAlister were competing in their 13^th marathon. “We continued to shuffle along and I had forgotten what I had heard and then we got stopped (at Mile 26) for two hours. It’s was so surreal being stopped and how you are going to make up time slashing through your mind and then trying to process what was happening after I heard there were bombs.

 

“On Facebook, I said I’m on Mile 26 and okay and got something like 300 likes and that had never happened before on a post. The entire day was quite surreal.”

 

Although no one in their group was injured, the bombings had their effects. The three women were separated during the race and there were immediate concerns of each other’s safety. Biggerstaff’s husband and son usually attend her marathons and wait at the finish line, but fate was on her side and they did not attend the Boston event.

 

 “I had a form of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) for a few months before I started coming down from it,” Biggerstaff said. “I can’t imagine people who go to war and come back and deal with it every day.”

 

McAlister knew Biggerstaff was behind her and safe, but her husband was at the finish line with Fikkert and her husband and panic began to set in about their safety. A Good Samaritan spectator allowed McAlister to use their phone to call her husband and find out they were all safe and sound. Still, the whole ordeal stayed with her upon returning home.

 

“It took about three days before the ‘numb’ feeling I had began to subside,” McAlister said. “It was like the anesthesia was wearing off and I began to feel all the emotions I should have had immediately following the explosions. I began to feel nervous and irritable. My heart rate was elevated and even the simplest of tasks seemed overwhelming to me.”

 

Boston Marathon organizers are inviting all those competitors who crossed the halfway mark of the marathon but did not finish to return for the 2014 edition. Despite the harrowing experience, Biggerstaff and McAlister are definitely returning.

 

“Jennifer and I didn’t finish, but we were really close and more determined than ever,” Biggerstaff said. “It’s patriotic and we are running for our country and no bomber is going to stop us. It’s not how marathoners think. This is for our country and love of America than just for ourselves. Now it’s a cause.”

 

Interested runners can still sign up for the half marathon or 5k by visiting www.nolimitsrun.com until 5 p.m. CT Friday. After the online registration deadline, runners still can register Saturday prior to the race, beginning at 6 a.m. in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage.

 

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage will serve as the area for race-day registration, packet pick-up and the post-race awards ceremony. Race-day registration and packet pickup will begin at 6 a.m.

 

Parking will be available to competitors and guests in the South Paddock area of the infield. The South Paddock parking area is located to the left after coming through the South Tunnel into the infield.

 

TMS PR