Kelly: Why I'm Running for #BostonMarathon

Running is a global sport that isn't considered just one nation's historical pastime, but is a universal sport that reaches all corners of the globe. To me this is what makes it so special. The 117th Boston Marathon on April 15 consisted of more than 23,336 runners representing over 96 countries across our world. The runners' ages ranged from 18 to 80-years-old. Forty of them were visually impaired and over 55 were considered handicapped.

I'm sure if every Boston marathon runner was asked the question "Why do you love to run?," we would gather a wide array of answers and personal stories. I'm also confident one common response would be that most of them run because running brings them a feeling of peace from their everyday stresses and problems.

Running provides me peace every time I step onto the sidewalk on the beautiful Boston trails near my home in Brighton. One of my favorite runs is up the Charles River in Cambridge. I never feel more at peace than when running up the Charles overlooking the sailors and rowers  and with the view of the iconic CITGO sign in my distance. 

Last Monday, an evil terrorist event shattered the peace of Boston. The city was bombed, three spectator's lives were lost, and over 180 people were injured. This hateful act shocked Boston, our Nation, and our World.

Four days later an MIT policeman was killed, while another policeman was put into critical condition. In all of this tragedy, Boston came together to find the two marathon bombers which brought a sense of hope back to our great city. After this tragic week, I have never been more proud to call myself a Bostonian.

This coming Memorial Day, I will be running my second full marathon in my home state of Vermont with three of my best friends. Last November I ran my first marathon in Philly with my inspiration being that it was simply a long term goal of mine to complete one. This time around I am running for a much bigger cause.

I ask for your donations to help us in our mission to not run this marathon for our own self accomplishments, but to run it for the people who lost their lives or were injured by the Boston Marathon bombings. We are running the Vermont marathon for Krystle Campbell, Martin Richard, and Lu Lingzi who were killed innocently cheering on the Boston Marathon runners. We are running for the 180 people injured by the explosions and for the families of those injured and killed. We are running for Sean Collier, the MIT police officer, who was shot and killed Friday night. We are running for the One Fund Boston.  Thank you for any amount you can donate!

"Do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" -Romans 12:21

Catherine: Why I'm Running for #BostonMarathon

I was late to work on the morning of Monday, April 15th after driving my normal commute through Newton and Wellesley. As I attempted to find my way and navigate through the barricaded streets all I could think about was how much I wished to be lining up at the starting line in Hopkinton. It has always been a dream of mine to be one of the 27,000 people running in the world renowned Boston Marathon.

The Boston Marathon is an integral part of Boston's history and culture, filled with excitement and pride, all of which will now be changed forever. When I imagine the camaraderie and enthusiasm spread throughout the sidewalks of the city before these events compared to the devastation caused within seconds is horrifying. The amount of panic and terror that filled the streets leading up to the finish line is unimaginable to have had to experience.

My involvement in the running community combined with the fact that the explosions occurred only miles from my house have made this event have an extreme impact on me. My Monday afternoon was spent frantically calling friends and family to ensure their safety and answering texts that I was safe. I can't even imagine what the families are going through that were involved in this tragedy.

As I am currently training for my second full marathon in Burlington, VT, I can not think of a better reason to participate than for the victims involved in the bombings of Boston. On Sunday May 26th, I will be running 26.2 miles for Boston unity and for all those suffering as a result of Mondays attacks.

I am asking for your help in raising money for this cause. Any amount would be greatly appreciated and all profits will go directly to One Fund Boston. Thank you all!

Sunset Walk to Raise Funds Monday April 22

Thank you to our awesome friend, Lindsay Horne, for donating a portion of her proceeds to our team! 

Team 701 Hall of Fame

Newburyport Half Marathon 2011

Philadelphia Marathon November 2012

Cape Cod Half Marathon Fall 2012

Mid-run Philadelphia Marathon 2012

Turkey Trot 5k Burlington VT 2011

Sarah: Why I am Running for #BostonMarathon

I have been running for 11 years and it has always been a personal accomplishment upon completing a race. For the first time in my running career, when I run the VT Keybank Marathon on Memorial Day weekend in 6 weeks, it is going to be about something bigger than me. It is going to be about inspiration, community, and a city that I have grown to love over the last few years: Boston.

Sitting at work yesterday, watching the news unfold, was heartwrenching. Praying my friends running and celebrating  were all safe and feeling the urgent need to just get home were all-consuming. Receiving texts and calls from family and friends to make sure I was okay made it hit even further home as I remember standing at the finish line last year watching the elite runner's finish. Living a few miles from where it happened and having to take half a dozen detours just to get to my house was surreal. Learning that an 8-year old was one of the casualties brought back Newtown and all of the tragedy that came with that. All in all, it was certainly a day I will never forget.

Over the past few months, I have been training for my first marathon and was doing it solely to say I had FINALLY done one. People have asked me numerous time if I was running for a cause or needed a sponsor and the answer was no. That all changed yesterday. When I run in 6 weeks in my original home of VT, I will be doing it for the place I now call home, and the victims of yesterday's tragic events. 

With that said, I am asking for your help! Less than 6 weeks is not a lot of time to raise money and every penny will go to One Fund Boston to benefit the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. PLEASE DONATE- ANY AMOUNT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! 

"Boston is a tough and resilient town. So are it's people."

Keybank Vermont City Marathon

Keybank Vermont City Marathon
Click the link to learn more: http://www.vermontcitymarathon.org/page.php?pid=1&pname=home