As you undoubtedly aware, on April 14, the Boston Marathon—the oldest continuously run marathon in the U.S. and arguably the most prestigious marathon in the world—was interrupted by the horrific bombing incident near the finish line that left 3 spectators dead and dozens severely injured.
A mere two weeks later, on April 29, a beautiful Monday evening in Portland, Maine, I had the pleasure of participating in the One Fund Boston 5K Run/Walk. Portland was one of many cities to host an event to honor the marathon bombing victims and raise money to support their treatment, recovery and return to as normal a life as possible.
The Portland event was capped at 500 “official” participants. Two of my friends and I arrived too late to register officially, but we were still allowed to purchase a shirt for $25 (all proceeds went to One Fund Boston) and run with the crowd.
It felt great to run with a large group of people in support of such a worthwhile cause. One of the highlights for us was passing a high profile woman runner who is the top ranked 40+ marathoner in the country. Although, truth be told…the only reason we passed her was that she was running with her 8-year-old daughter.
There are now many events that encourage people of any ability to participate, have a blast, get a little exercise, and raise money for a good cause. These events come in all shapes, sizes, distances and, yes, even colors. Examples include road races, triathlons, bike rides, “tough mudders,” obstacle courses, and The Color Run (an event where runners pass through clouds of colored cornstarch).
If you’re interested in learning more about these events, check out the following links, as well as listings in your local newspaper. Find an event that appeals to you, invite some friends, get some exercise, and raise some money! It’s a win/win/win!
https://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/running/tips/get-fit-for-a-cause/
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/charity-races
https://www.thewalkingsite.com/events.html
https://www.grouphealthfitnessnetwork.com/index.php/events/charity-events-2