(Newswire.net — April 18, 2013) New York City, NY — In wake of the terror that took place at the Boston Marathon last Monday, the running community is pulling together to show their support for the victims and to prove to the world that their determination to run on has not waivered. From virtual marathons to a movement of runners across the globe wearing their race jerseys, the running community is making it very evident that although shaken, they will continue doing what they love – and now with more purpose than ever.
The Boston Marathon has always been a widely publicized and photographed event, but this week thousands, millions of people who were never interested in the sport of running have been touched by the stories of horror and pain that have been met with an outpouring of love and kindness from the running community. Like never before people who have never considered running in a race are now looking for ways to support the victims, the injured, and the family and friends of those 3 innocent bystanders who lost their lives at the finish line.
In a matter of hours after the 2 bombs went off, races and events were being scheduled and blasted out to the world via social media as a way to show whoever or whatever was behind the attack that the freedom and the courage of the people of the United States cannot and will not be broken by a senseless act of hate.
Karen Pettine, an avid runner and author of A Woman’s Step-By-Step Guide To Running For Balanced Living, turned to running in college as a way to do more than exercise, but also to reduce stress and boost confidence. Pettine, along with many other runners, love running for its ability to improve lives; running and daily life is inextricably connected for so many. So when news broke on Monday of the attack at the Boston Marathon, it became personal.
And if the running community has learned anything from the hundreds of hours they’ve spent hitting the pavement it’s that when things get hard, sometimes the only answer is to run through it.
To learn more about the events scheduled to support the victims of the Boston Marathon go to http://www.runnersworld.com/general-interest/how-help-or-show-support-boston.