Completing the Boston Marathon — the pinnacle of marathon running for many — is quite a feat.
But some finishers of Monday’s race have taken issue with a congratulatory email sent by Adidas, the sponsor for the 121st annual race.
“Congrats, you survived the Boston Marathon!” an email sent by Adidas to 2017 Boston Marathon finishers on Tuesday read.
The message was met with backlash given the history of the Patriot’s Day race. Some finishers questioned how Adidas did not realize the connotations of the message after three people were killed and more than 260 were injured in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
In a statement to TIME, a spokesman for Adidas apologized for the email.
“We are incredibly sorry. Clearly, there was no thought given to the insensitive email subject line we sent Tuesday,” the statement to TIME said.
“We deeply apologize for our mistake. The Boston Marathon is one of the most inspirational sporting events in the world. Every year we’re reminded of the hope and resiliency of the running community at this event.”
Some finishers took to Twitter to express their thoughts on the email:
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Cybersecurity Experts Are Sounding the Alarm on DOGE
- Meet the 2025 Women of the Year
- The Harsh Truth About Disability Inclusion
- Why Do More Young Adults Have Cancer?
- Colman Domingo Leads With Radical Love
- How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone
- Michelle Zauner Stares Down the Darkness
Contact us at letters@time.com