Running for good

Martin Luther King Day is a celebration of the life and work of generations of people, recognizing how far we've come, but also how far we have yet to go. It's more than a day off work – it's a day to remember, pay tribute to a great American, and get out and do something positive for the community.

On my Monday run this week I ran past a few kids picking up trash in the neighborhood. Normally, they would be at school, and I wondered if the community service was part of a MLK-inspired spirit. As I often do, I started thinking about the opportunities we have every day to make a difference in our community, and I started thinking about all of the things the running community does to strengthen the neighborhoods we live in.

I've participated in dozens of races, from the tiny school fundraisers to giant marathons. In between, I've raised money for playgrounds, preventing human trafficking, First Responders, cancer research, AIDS projects, animal welfare, housing for Veterans, and pool safety awareness, just to name a few. Almost every race out there donates some of their proceeds to charity, and that adds up!

As distance running became more popular and race bibs became tougher to get, race directors decided to reserve a few coveted spots for charity runners. In exchange for a fundraising, an aspiring marathoner could gain entry to Boston, Chicago, New York.  A 5-hour marathoner won't qualify for any of these, and without a little bit of luck in the lottery, they may not otherwise have a chance at running in these events. Today there are thousands of runners that gain entry every year to races, each raising thousands of dollars each.  Depending on the race, a charity runner may need to raise anywhere from $500 to $4,000.

Think about how much money runners generate for our communities. Sure, our races shut down a few streets for a few hours every now and then. That may be an inconvenience for a few bystanders and nearby residents, but they probably have no idea what good is being done for the communities they live in. According to the New York Marathon, the 2014 race included 8,500 charity runners who raised $34.5 million – all of that money goes directly to dozens of accredited charities. The marathon also donated approximately 26 tons of discarded clothing from the race, and they sent that to Goodwill.

As a runner, I am proud that my hobby and passion can generate some good for the communities I live and work in. There's more to the story, however. The dedicated race organizers and volunteers – not to mention the Police, Fire, and EMT's that work the events - that make these events a reality never seem to get the credit they deserve. On this special week when we honor a great American, I'm grateful for those in my community who work hard to improve our neighborhoods each and every day.

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