I RUN FOR BOSTON

As many of you know, I am a runner and often compare running races to chasing wins in ball games.  Today was a different kind of race for me in a different kind of city with a very unique message: #BostonStrong.

Today, I ran in Philadelphia for Boston in the 34th Annual Broad Street Run- a Philly tradition.  I am born and raised a Staten Islander, now New Jersian, and I bleed Yankee blue!  So, it is rather unorthodox for me to be running in Philly for Boston- what kind of sickness is that?  But the silver lining of this message is very clear- with all competition set aside, we are all Americans, and we run and fight for each other. 

Major league baseball players have been wearing arm bands, swinging pink bats, and adorning #42 to memorialize and support anyone from lost players to mothers across the universe.  We as Yankee fans support our veterans, support victims of tragedies like Sandy Hook Elementary and Hurricane Sandy and support charities posting millions of dollars in donations each year.  MLB recognizes the Boys and Girls Clubs at its annual All Star Game each year and each player supports their own club’s and personal philanthropies. 

The motto for this year’s Broad Street Run became very clear following the tragic events at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013.  “From Philly to Boston with LOVE” is the heart shaped sticker each runner wore on their hearts today, including yours truly.  We also swapped our favorite running socks for Red Sox in support of Boston’s own team (I do usually wear Yankee blue).  And instead of listening to the traditional motivating running music at the start of the race, we were greeted with high fives from the mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter, to the tunes of Sweet Caroline, a Red Sox favorite- they sing it a games much like we sing Sinatra’s New York, New York. 

“Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino have announced the formation of The One Fund Boston, Inc. to help the people most affected by the tragic events that occurred in Boston on April 15, 2013,” according to http://onefundboston.com.   And in support of Boston, more than 40,000 runners decorated Broad Street in Philadelphia with their red socks, Boston shirts and even B Strong caps.  I saw the runners wearing the tees of Dustin Pedoria, David Ortiz, Jonathon Paplebon (now a Phillie) and yes, even Kevin Youkilis (now a Yankee- who would have thunk it!).

"It goes to show that in this country there is so much more good than bad and we triumphed over that today," said Adam Joseph, newscaster at Philadelphia’s Channel 6 ABC Action News. 

As a runner, athlete, and participant in today’s race, I have never been more proud to run with and be greeted by so many supportive Americans.  This is what we are made of- this is what makes us strong.  “After what happened in Boston, runners say this year's race showed how close knit the running community really is,” stated Action News.  I say, events like this show us that Yankees can run with Red Sox in the back yard of Citizen’s Bank Park and be proud.  I can beat the Sox and Phillies anytime, but when can I run with them and show the world that nothing can defeat us- now that’s something special- We are all #AmericaStrong.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Opinion Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof




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