I feel like I need to do something. Something more than a donation. Something more than a blog post or a photo or a graphic. I’m inspired by the community and how we have come together and shown our support, shed our tears and expressed our fears. With a simple look at your Facebook page, a refresh of your twitter feed or scroll through Instagram and you can SEE the love.
But I want to FEEL it. I want us to embrace the community in a REAL and HUMAN way. I want us to do what we do best.
I want us to run… together.
I’m organizing a global event: #BostonStrong<city>
A run for us to unite and show our strength.
A run for those that were unable to finish.
A run for those that may never run again.
A run for us to try and make sense of the tragedy that has forever changed something we love.
This may be idealistic or a reach in the dark, but it’s a reach I’m willing to make. It’s a reach I’m hoping to make with your help. We runners are strong and resourceful… that has been proven under tragic circumstances.
On Monday, April 22, a week after the 117th Boston Marathon, I’d like an organized run to happen in each city, put on by the community of runners . This will involve someone stepping up from their city to coordinate either on their blog, facebook or twitter.
It could be 3 people running together, 10 people running together, or hundreds running… but we do it together.
Keep it simple.
Pick a location large enough for a meet up and safe enough to allow a group to run X miles.
Use the hash to spread the word: #BostonStrong<city>
BostonStrongSF, BostonStrongLA, BostonStrongNYC, BostonStrongMIA, etc.
I’m organizing a group run in San Francisco at Crissy Field.
Details will evolve over the next couple days as things develop, but here are the basics:
Location: Crissy Field, San Francisco
Date: Monday, April 22, 2013
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Distance: 3-4 miles
Facebook Event Page: RSVP here.
If you are in the Bay Area, come join me and show how strong the running community is. If you are not in the Bay Area, find fellow runners in your community and see if they would be interested in running some miles together. Help spread the word and let’s show the world our strength, our determination, our BOSTON STRONG.
San Francisco permit is currently in progress.
Note: There are some cities that are bringing up concerns for gatherings in parks or other city locations. Please check with your city or park guides or seek an alternate location that might not require getting a permit. Local running store perhaps?
I have created an entire board over on Pinterest with graphics for (most) cities. Pin, tweet, share. Unfortunately, I wont be building any more.
Check them out on Pinterest here.
Add your city below!
Pin, share, instagram, RT — join or organize your city by doing what we do best: RUN
Great idea! My local running group has already planned a group run for Monday. Will try to get the word out about #BostonStrong so more will attend!
Yes. I’ll work on helping to spread the word
love this idea!! spreading the word!!!
I’m in. I’m on it. I’ll organize NYC.
I’d love to join you! im in jersey, about 40 minutes from the city. im a beginner runner; my max is about 4 miles. but i will push my hardest. please let me know what you come up with! my work schedule is busy in the afternoons but if a day run is an option im totally in
Someone organized a Boston Strong run along the waterfront in Jersey City. There’s a route map, but no details on what time it starts.
Posting this on a local running facebook group for Arkansas!
Love this idea. Our group did one Tuesday night, but I bet we can pull another one together for Monday.
Love this idea and sentiment. Spreading the word.
I LOVE this. Currently trying to figure out how to orchestrate this with the ladies of barre n9ne. Such a wonderful idea!!
Love it! Let me check out bus times to get from work to Crissy Field to see if I can make it!
I have organized a gathering in a little town in the middle of Utah, Mount Pleasant, Utah. Here is part of the email sent out today regarding this event:
Please join me for a 5K run April 22 at 4:45pm. We will meet in front of Craighead School Building at Wasatch Academy on the East side. Wear blue and yellow (the colors of the Boston Athletic Association) or a race shirt. Don’t worry about ability or time. This is a run to show support and to unite as a community. I will be there rain or shine (or snow storm!). Here is a link to a map for the 5K:http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/194236136.
You are amazing! Shared!
If anybody is interested in meeting in morris county, NJ please let me know!!
Great idea! I am in the south bay, i wish I could make it to the Crissy field after work but can not make it there by 6:00, will try to organize one down in the Peninsula.
Run event in the Twin Cities on April 28th at Veteran’s Park in Richfield
We’re in! Any other MSP runners want to help out?
I ran solo today. I’m on vacation with my family and I am the only runner in my group. BUT, every runner that I passed on the street was in my group. We ran together. We nodded. We waved. We gave each other high fives. Today we ran together in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and we ran for BOSTON.
This is a great idea! I just emailed a local running group to see if they would be interested in turning their Monday night free run into a #BostonStrong run. If not my running friends and I will reach out on Facebook and organize a small run. Either way I will be running BostonStrong next Monday!
I am at a loss for words! You’re always full of great ideas :)
Great idea. We are forming a group for BostonStrongPhx as I type and look forward to seeing the turn outs for each event listed above. #runforboston
I’m organizing one in El paso, Texas. I hope I get enough interest. Thank you for this!
some one please call/ email me to let me know if you are interested in running.
Lake Placid is in the works. Thanks for the inspiration.
BostonStrongAllendale for Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI! Thanks for the inspiration!
I love love love you and this idea~ I love that Orlando is the first name on the list! #BostonStrongOrlando
This is spreading so far and so fast even last-to-know news stations are picking it up! Great work. You, and all the city organizers and runners, are awesome!
Yes! Thank you for putting this together! I’ll be joining @RunEatRepeat at #BostonStrongOC / #BostonStrongLB
Just set up the #BostonStrongTampa event. Thank you for organizing.
Great idea. Thanks Pavement Runner. I’m not really a good organizer but I hope someone will start in Cincinnati or Dayton! :)
is there an event in/near boston? i looked, maybe I missed it if there is…
Our local running group in tallahassee fl has organized a run for this Sunday! #bostonstrongTLH
http://m.facebook.com/events/?ref=bookmark&refid=8#!/events/518718811517655?ref=bookmark&__user=5200071
#BostonStrongMilfordNH
https://www.facebook.com/events/644979892195299/
@JaJa got it covered for Cincinnati: https://www.facebook.com/groups/150343898399993/355920871175627/?ref=notif¬if_t=group_activity#!/events/443696482388059/
Thanks!!! :) Great! Will definitely go with my husband!
Do we need to RSVP?
Not absolutely required but it looks like you already did!
When? Where? I don’t use Facebook, so I can’t get the info.
Cincinnati’s event starts at Hyde Park Square at 630pm. Route options will vary as this is a regular weekly run for a group of us, some of whom have a race 5 days later, others 12, others later than that. Probably 4 and 6 mile options.
I have just created and organized #BostonStrongCalgary on Monday April 22, 2013 at 6:30 in Calgary Alberta, Canada
Sorry I forgot to mention the website for my #BostonStrongCalgary event. https://www.facebook.com/events/447003238722105/
Pittsburgh, PA is on the ball for a Monday run
#BostonStrongPittsburgh:
https://www.facebook.com/events/508924339172040/
Wonderful idea, thank you for inspiring a nation! We have a group in Sacramento, CA. #BostonStrongSAC
I’m in, no Facebook Page though. Is their another place to RSVP or can we just show up?
Thanks and love the cause!
You are free to show up at any of the runs. An RSVP is not necessary. The more, the better.
Thanks for the inspiration, Pavement Runner! I’m trying to get a group together in Akron, OH. It’s awesome to see how many people are coming together in the face of tragedy.
Thank you for doing this. I am happy to see that Fort Collins already has a run scheduled. At first, I was disappointed because I won’t be able to run since I will have my kids. But I might just bring them with me.
Thanks for always being such an inspiration.
I wish you could access these without a Facebook account. I do not use Facebook, but wish I could get more info :(
Which city were you looking to run in? I can send you the info.
Love from Stowmarket England
Jersey City organizer – What time on Monday should we start? Anytime we like, or should there be a group all starting at the same time?
I am in the Bay Area and will be there in Chrissy Field! See you Monday and thanks for putting this together. I was in Boston and it was such an emotional day!
I have a running club in Coppell, Tx. We will be doing a #BostonStrongCoppell 5K Monday 4/22 @ 6:30 pm. Meet at the gazebo in Andy Brown Park next to the Aquatics Center
Is there a run in Miami?
Yes miami beach. See the flamingo track club page on facebook
I’m down in Homestead. I will join you virtually.
Tuscaloosa, AL has an event!! We already have a facebook event page.
https://www.facebook.com/events/462906377130357/
you are amazing!! i’ll be doing this virtually!
We had a great group today at our #BostonStrongMPLS! 40+ runners and all 4 local news affiliates showed up. Very fun and huge thank you everyone who participated.
We will be running at the High School tonite
Matawan Regional High School 6:30pm
We are running tonight #BostonStrongCoppell
in Coppell, Tx in the Dallas Metroplex.
We’re hitting the pavement for Boston @6:00 pm
Andy Brown Park, Coppell.
Meet in the gazeboo by the Aquatic Center
We don’t have anything set up in San Antonio, TX but I will still be out hitting the pavement today. If someone in SA is setting something up please email me!
Any runs happening in the clearwater Fl area please email me is there is
I ran 5 miles for Boston in Homestead, FL.
I looked at some #bostonstrong tags on instagram… Some places like San Diego had over 400 participants. I wonder if we could get a full head count..
I wrote earlier in the week that I was organizing a 5K run as a tribute to Boston and the running community. We met tonight at 4:45pm and ran 5K. There were about 75 people who came out to run/walk. Pretty great support for the little town of Mount Pleasant Utah. Thanks so much for getting the ball rolling on this one. What an amazing experience this was. Thanks again. Kara
Thanks for putting the framework together for this. We held our event this evening and had over 100 people come run! We also raised $185+ for OneFundBoston.org. Thanks again for helping create a concept that allowed people an outlet. Really great idea.
Tim and Lori
West Seattle Runner
https://www.facebook.com/events/461874343892689/?ref=2
Holy Moley This was AMAZING!!! I was so sad I had to work last night…sigh…
RUN STRONG FRIENDS!
Good for you! Kinda’ makes me wish I weren’t on a running hiatus right now… :)
#BostonStrongATH was AWESOME – somewhere around 250 folks, and families on their porches cheering for us. Such runner love.
Blog post coming soon, but wanted to thank YOU for starting such an amazing movement! <3
Had a great turnout at Long Beach/OC last night – so cool to feel the presence of our local community together PLUS every other city participating at the same time. Thank you so much for organizing this and finding a way to bring us all together, near or far.
Thank you so much for getting this started! Boston Strong AZ – Glendale was a huge success. We had over 170 supporters turn out! Fantastic day for the running community <3
Fantastic day for the running community! We had over 170 supporters for Boston Strong AZ – Glendale. Thank you for getting this started <3
Oops…sorry for the double post. It didn’t look like it worked the first time. Oh well, that’s how happy I am about the support shown from all over the world!
13 people for our Eagle River, AK Boston Strong run! We ran 3 miles up the highway and through Eagle River.
Thanks so much for everyone who showed up!
Just hearing about this now and was biking across the Golden Gate Bridge just before your run started. I’m visiting San Fran from Boston so love that you organized this! I started a group from people all over the country who are running 3 (or walking, biking, etc.) for 117 days for the 3 lives lost during the 117th running of the Boston Marathon. Join our Facebook group #run3for117boston and post your runs on the FB page and/or Twitter. Share with others!