--- title: Adidas Apologizes for 'You Survived' Boston Marathon Email description: Adidas sent Boston Marathon 2017 runners an email congratulating them on "surviving the Boston Marathon" canonical: https://time.com/4745066/adidas-boston-marathon-email/ author: Jennifer Calfas article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-04-18T19:43:32.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T08:04:14.669Z article:section: Sports og:title: Adidas Apologizes for 'You Survived' Boston Marathon Email og:description: Some finishers questioned how Adidas did not realize the connotations of the message og:url: https://time.com/4745066/adidas-boston-marathon-email/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7de6692d5900bcf3/6988c3640b72e3a3696ed660/boston-marathon.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3870 og:image:height: 2177 og:image:alt: 120th Boston Marathon og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Adidas Apologizes for 'You Survived' Boston Marathon Email twitter:description: Some finishers questioned how Adidas did not realize the connotations of the message twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7de6692d5900bcf3/6988c3640b72e3a3696ed660/boston-marathon.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Adidas Apologizes After Sending 'You Survived' Email to Boston Marathon Finishers > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: Boston Strong: The Marathon One Year Later [Watch (HLS stream): Boston Strong: The Marathon One Year Later](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/SHM9nz5L.m3u8) (7:51)  _Published 2014-04-17. A year after tragedy hit their hometown streets, the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings continue to rebuild, drawing strength from the heroics they saw that day._ by [Jennifer Calfas](https://time.com/author/jennifer-calfas/) ## Jennifer Calfas Apr 18, 2017 7:43 PM UTC  Runners are seen wearing blankets after completing the 120th Boston Marathon on April 18, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. Runners are seen wearing blankets after completing the 120th Boston Marathon on April 18, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer, Getty Images by [Jennifer Calfas](https://time.com/author/jennifer-calfas/) ## Jennifer Calfas Apr 18, 2017 7:43 PM UTC Completing the [Boston Marathon](http://time.com/4742885/boston-marathon-winners-2017/) — the pinnacle of [marathon running](http://motto.time.com/4719371/running-marathon-kidney-injury/) for many — is quite a feat. But some finishers of [Monday’s race](http://time.com/4742299/boston-marathon-kathrine-switzer-50th-anniversary/) have taken issue with a congratulatory email sent by [Adidas](http://time.com/money/4730626/adidas-sportswear-3d-technology-soles/), 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](http://nation.time.com/2013/04/18/the-horror-the-heroism/). 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: > [](https://twitter.com/jasonlonsdale/status/854379502264242177) > [](https://twitter.com/mikd33/status/854377690408906753) > [](https://twitter.com/PassMeAColdBurr/status/854379974513577985) > [](https://twitter.com/WyattGFerrell/status/854377798797885440) ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] Yeah, you know, like a lot of people. Just trying to process the emotions and the, what you are feeling and sometimes it's easier to write it down than to, to express it. So I wrote this thing, and we, we just gave it out. It's just kind of a sentiment that, that I had. [ MUSIC ] I will run in the dark before dawn. I will run in the noonday sun. I will run in the bitter cold. I will run in the stifling heat. I will run even if I am tired. I will run even if I ache. But I will not run away. I am Boston, I will run. [ MUSIC ] Far back as a little boy, I have watched it on TV. [ MUSIC ] And, it's just as magnificent an event. Hear people talk about it all the time. Like, oh, you're running the Boston Marathon. It's a big deal. So, last year the marathon, it started out really the perfect weather. Everybody was enjoying themselves. Me and my partner were on Berkeley and Stewart Street at the family greeting area. So it was probably the happiest place on Earth at that time because people had just crossed the finish line. [ MUSIC ] It was a beautiful day. There were people everywhere. It was my first year going to the finish line. Kate had been standing on my right hand side and couldn't see the, the street very well because a, a girl was holding up a pink sign and Caitlin couldn't see by it. You know I offered to switch sides with her which we did, and literally right when we switched sides is when the first explosion happened. [ SOUND ] It sounded like a canon. Leo and I were blown about two feet apart. There was glass all around. I tried to turn over on my forearms and get up. And I was yelling at her to, to stay down. I had a feeling, I guess, that, it would be another ex, explosion. 12 seconds later, [ SOUND ] Same sound. You know, zone one to UCC, what was that? [ SOUND ] One question I've been asked a lot is you know, did you know it was a bomb? And I knew right away. It felt very surreal. She was yelling at me that, I'm hurt, I'm hurt. You gotta get me outta here. And when I got off of her, she was actually trying to get up. Then I realized my, I couldn't step on my right leg. And Leo saw it right away. At this point, I was starting to get really, you know obviously, I was shaken and I was getting really nervous because you know, it was pandemonium. What I've been heating from eyewitnesses, so again, this is unconfirmed updates. Somebody asked me for help with a tourniquet. [ MUSIC ] From that point on it was just one patient to the next to the next to the next. There's a point of like, disbelief. But right away you gotta snap out of that. Because there's a lot of people who needed our help. 130 victims [ MUSIC ] Are being transported to six area hospitals. We pulled up in front of the hospital and you know, I drove, like, 50 miles an hour into Mass General with the horn beeping. And you know, once all of that madness kinda happened, they got her onto a bed that's when I kinda, you know, I try remember falling into the chair. [ UNKNOWN ] we're like wow. What the, how did that, what happened? Couple hours sort of after everything that happened. The news had released like oh an eight year old boy. Confirmed three people have been killed by the explosion. My initial thought actually was like wow I wonder if I know him? Because I've been teaching in Boston for a long time. When I found out, it just, it just completely floored me. Not only to hear about my student but also the other injuries. It was probably one, a night I will never forget. To have that innocence or that quality of it ripped apart is it's just a shame. You know, we all ran the right direction, and [ COUGH ] you know, I just gotta like, I think the worst thing I ever saw brought out the best thing that I ever saw. And, so I just tried to like, build off that inspiration and I think that's what got me to run the marathon this year. [ MUSIC ] So I got a letter from the, the B. A. A ., telling me that I would get two free entries in the marathon. Run this year, and it never crossed my mind to run. I never was a runner before, but I saw so many people running the marathon that weren't runners, either. And I remember saying to myself, you know, what, what's your excuse? You're too lazy to train? Like, that's just such a pathetic excuse. So I made the decision that night that I was going to give it a shot. I feel lucky that I wasn't injured. And I have a healthy set of legs. And in a way it's, kind of feels like my responsibility that I need to be using them to the fullest of their ability. Martin was really into sports. He loved all kinds of sports. And he ran track, and baseball and everything. And he said to me one day, he goes, how old do you have to be to run in the marathon? And I said, well let's look it up. And he looked it up. And he goes, 18, okay. And he goes, when I turn 18 we're gonna run our first marathon together. And so I was, like, okay that should give me enough time to prepare. [ LAUGH ] I didn't necessarily plan on it being this soon. You know? I've called on Martin a lot to help me get through those really long runs. And you know, feel like this is exactly what he'd want me to be doing. This marathon in particular is going to be really meaningful. So, and you know, we'll get to run it with Martin. [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] I mean the slogan Boston Strong came out, and it, it's just so true. [ NOISE ] We don't run away. it, it's just not gonna change us to be intimidated like that. Like that. We had to become stronger. And we did. And, and now it's you know, we're like, like a super power you know? You know people make the comments about like oh you know life's come around full circle. There's nothing in the world that can compare to this to me right now. Like from finish line, to finish line a year later, is just like a whole revolution. The negative side that I'm trying to transform into the positive. [ MUSIC ] So, crossing the finish line this year, and, not only that, but I'm going to continue right over to the family greeting area where I was when I heard the first explosion. And that's my second finish line. And I'm gonna take a moment there and, and just reflect. And I'm not sure what's gonna come of it. But I like the becoming apart of it. 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