After the Cabot Trail Relay in May, I’ll start planning for the Grand Manan Half  in July. I’ve been wanting to write about the 2014 race–my second half marathon–but a shadow was cast over the entire island last summer due to a series of tragic events; I decided it would be best to wait a while before posting. The race took place shortly after a horrible accident–one of several tragic deaths on the island in 2014. Danielle Shaw Park, a 17-year-old girl, died in a car crash a few days before the race, in an accident involving several other teens. The island was clearly in mourning, and as we gathered for the race that Friday evening (it’s an evening race), we were surrounded by tributes to Danielle. She was well known on the basketball court (#9), for her volunteer work in the island art gallery, and for her dream of becoming a teacher. The race (a 10k, in addition to the 13.1) was populated by friends and family wearing t-shirts honoring Danielle, all running together to share their disbelief and to experience the support of the island community. The experience was a communion of sorts, and we could feel the raw energy ripple through the participants before, during, and after the race. This year will hopefully be a joyous one for the island, but I’m sure that as we gather, we’ll remember Danielle and the other losses that the island sustained last summer.