Shake out Run: BMR and BGR for Boston Marathon Fun Fest Weekend

COVID-19, “ The Rona Era”

I got back from Portland and jumped into activities for Boston Marathon weekend. Boston Marathon is normally in April. Last year because of Covid, the Boston Marathon was virtual. This year, the Marathon was moved six month past April because of Covid. After over 20 months, it is happening. The 125th Boston Marathon is happening. Months earlier, I told the BAA community coordinator, Suzanne, that I would participate in the first BMR and BGR shake out run and I would be on a panel about how to start running. This was way before I decided to run in Portland and spend a week there. :).

Saturday, was the first ever, Black Men Run(BMR) and BGR( Black Girls Run) Shake out run for Fun Fest. Captain Jeff and his BMR crew planned the 3.5 mile Black History running route in Boston. We weren’t sure how the turn out would be. It was great. There were people from New Mexico, Texas, Hong Kong, Brazil, and Iowa. We had BMR and BGR members show up from New York, Texas, and Atlanta.

Captain Jeff, lead the BMR intentions for why we are here and for us to share with each other before we started.

We ran to Back Bay from Copley, our first stop. Cap. Jeff, talked about Tent city and the brotherhood of sleeping car porters and A. Phillip Randolph. We ran through the station, so people could take pictures.

Then we ran to were The Abraham Lincoln statue “ The Great Emancipator” use to be before it was removed.

We continued to the Boston Commons and learned about Crisp Attacks and his memorial. We stayed in the commons and stopped at the Massachusetts 54th regiment. One of my favorite statues.

I did interrupt and brought everyone’s attention to the detail in the men’s faces compared to the horses as they entered into battle.

From there, it was an African-American Freedom trail tour of going down and up the hills of Beacon Hill.

For the finally miles, we ran through Commonwealth Avenue Park before making our way back to Copley Plaza.

The weather was great, the running crew were engaged and they had a good time. This was such an awesome Saturday.