Life can feel heavy.
Depending on what you see in your feed or on a screen, it’s easy to lose sight of how people actually show up for each other.
If you want a reminder of the best in humanity, take in the Boston Marathon at least once.
Half a million people lining the streets of small towns for hours, cheering for strangers. Thousands of volunteers giving their time to make it happen. A police force making everyone feel safe. A city opening its doors to the world and treating everyone like their own.
For a day, everyone is part of it.
For me, this year was about taking it all in.
I had the privilege of running with the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation’s Green Runs Deep team, which raised $400k this year. Part of that will support the Martin Richard Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester’s Fieldhouse+ project — a $70M community space being built in Dorchester.
Martin was the 8-year-old boy who lost his life during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. A photo of him holding a sign that read “No more hurting people, peace” became closely tied to his memory. His family has turned that tragedy into something meaningful, creating opportunities for young people and investing in community.
That perspective carries with you.
30,000 runners, each with their own story just to get to the start line. 26.2 miles to remind you how lucky you are to be here.
🏁
I started my marathon journey ten years ago with the New York City Marathon.
It began as a bucket list goal, a way to get in shape, and a tribute to a family friend who had passed.
Eighteen marathons later, it has become something much deeper.
Every race still finds a way to test me and make me push when there’s nothing left in the tank.
They’re painful and hard, but they’re also beautiful.
The energy of people from all over the world coming together to chase the same goal. The runners who raise money for causes they care about. The volunteers who make the day possible. The millions who stand on the sidelines for hours, cheering for people they don’t even know. It’s pure magic, and it reminds me what humanity can be at its best.
I’ve run for people I’ve lost, for organizations I believe in, and as a guide for the visually impaired. Every time I thought I was doing something for someone else, I realized they were really doing something for me.
Each marathon has its own journey to the start line, and that’s why it never gets old.
That’s the beauty of the marathon.
TMC 🏁
“Never vocalize my visions, actions was my spokespers’…” ~ @nipseyhussle
65 runners, from all different backgrounds, representing 13 states, as young as 21 and as experienced as 57, all pounding the pavement for 26.2 miles to honor Nipsey.
For many it was their first marathon. Times didn’t matter though. Every single person who started the marathon with a TMC singlet on finished the race.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised to continue to do the community development work in LA that Hussle was so passionate about.
And like all marathons, there are many stories just to get to the start line.
The story that matters the most on this day, is that a group of people came together (some to participate, some to make sure it happened) to honor the things that Hussle was doing and had plans to do, and we did it with love and intention.
The Marathon Continues
🏁🏁🏁
Blessed to see another year.
Another turn around the sun is a reminder to spend your time on things that energize you & have impact.
Can’t wait to see what the next 365 have in store.
Marathon #13
26.2 Miles through the streets of NYC on a beautiful fall day.
Each marathon is such a journey.
A journey to motivate yourself, be accountable, and to be disciplined.
To recalibrate and reassess.
An opportunity to support others and give back.
Time well spent.
The marathon continues 🏁🏁🏁
Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia.
3 marathons in 6 weeks.
Temperatures in the high 70’s & low 20’s, good miles & bad miles, moments of feeling unstoppable & moments of feeling like quitting, time to reflect & time to look forward, intervals with a crowd cheering me on & intervals of being alone, phases where I was was focused on just running my own race and phases where I was focused on who was passing me by.
It’s the painful beauty of marathons. The emotions are the same as everyday life.
The only limitations we have are the ones we place on ourselves.
Do more to help others. Do more to push yourself. Do more than you did yesterday.
TMC 🏁
Had the privilege of running 2 historic marathons 125th @bostonmarathon & 50th @nycmarathon within 28 days. Super proud to have helped raised just under $20k for two great organizations @bostonceltics ☘️ Foundation & @achilles_international helping those in need. Marathons are hard, really hard. You train for months just you, the open road, and your thoughts. Then marathon day comes and you start off cruising and everything is going well. And then somewhere along the way things start to break down and you find out who you really are and what you’re made of. Are you a quitter? Do you keep going when things aren’t working out? Do you have a mission that’s bigger than you? That’s for each person to answer but what I will say is, I love (and hate) marathons because there is no ducking the hard questions. It’s up to you to find your own truths. Thanks to all that supported on a great day in NYC!
