Olympia Runners Join Forces For A Cause

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By Anne Larsen

I wasn’t always a runner. In fact, my feet where firmly planted in the “non-runner” camp for many years. Then, in the fall of 1998 I did a crazy thing. I ran. Certainly not an earth shattering event, you probably didn’t even noticed it happened.  Here’s how I became a runner.

A few years earlier a very dear friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was scary, horrible and sad, but she received treatment, went through all the surgeries, and survived. That was the start of our annual trek up to Seattle to participate in the Komen Race for the Cure. It was at this race that I learned a valuable lesson. The greatest gift of running is what it can give to someone or something greater than your self.

Over 70 runners joined Guerilla Running to raise funds for the Newtown Memorial Fund.

I woke up that morning planning to walk, because really, as a smoker (gasp, I know!) and serious consumer of jerky, pizza, and beer I was not lining up to hit a personal record in the 5k. But something happened out there. All around me were women in pink shirts- survivors of cancer- walking, jogging, and RUNNING! These women had overcome enormous physical, mental and emotional pain to line up and run for their cause. That was it. I can’t clearly explain it, but I hugged my friends and told them I’d meet them at the finish line.

That was the first 5k I had ever run. It was NOT pretty. It was certainly not fast and I was sore for days! But, it was the start of my own running revolution. I quit smoking, bought some shoes and ran (carrying a Sony Discman and most certainly wearing cotton!). It was a charity run that pushed me through my first 5k and another charity training group that inspired me years later to run a marathon in Maui. Today it seems a month doesn’t go by that I’m not sponsoring a runner, cyclist or triathlete in their fundraising goals. I love supporting the athlete and the cause.

Last month I received a note from Guerilla Running about a community run to honor and pay tribute to the innocent people who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Guerilla Running hosts a free community run every Wednesday night starting at the Olympia Farmers Market, but this run was different. This was a time for runners old and young, fast and not so fast, to come together and make a difference for others.

Guerilla Running participants pose in front of the Capitol Dome. The group gathered together with a 5k run to support the Newtown Memorial Fund.

It is typically impossible for me to squeeze in a run at 5:30pm midweek….the demands of soccer, school, work, and family usually dominate that time of the day, but the stars aligned, and the cause was great, so I spread the word, put on my shoes and showed up ready to run. The greatest joy of that 3-mile run was not the calorie burn or workout; it was running with friends, kids, dogs, and our community. When tragedy strikes we all want to help, but often feel helpless in “how.”

Seventy-seven runners showed up that Wednesday night and raised over $700 for the Newtown Memorial Fund.  Friends of mine whom I love, but have never run with before, showed up because of the cause (I didn’t even know some of them ran!) That is the power of running for something greater than your self. It pulls you in and engages you. One woman posted after the run, “I walked with Guerilla Running tonight. I might not have run with them but I was there with them helping to make a difference. Thank you Guerilla Running for all you do.”

The night was cold, but we stopped along the way to snap pictures, grab a drink, and wait for the pack. Rachael Jamison and Craig Dickson, Guerrilla Running organizers, summed up the evening perfectly, “We are just one small community but together we shine bright and together we are a source of hope not only for each other but for the world. Nights like tonight, running beneath a starry sky, make clear to us that light and kindness will always, always, always win.”

2013 is YOUR year to run for a cause!

I know that I am not the only one whose life has been changed through running, so it makes sense that I want to change the lives of others in the same way. Runners can take the drive, ambition, and dedication we used to transform ourselves and channel that into making a difference for someone else. Who should you run for? Your options are limitless. You can choose a large charity that offers a training program, or a smaller cause that is personal to you. Run for the child in neighborhood who needs medical treatment or the teacher that needs surgery. Run for the planet. Run for the salmon. Your joy will be enormous and your efforts rewarded in measures way beyond medals or super-fast times.

Local Charities

So many races, so little time or space to include them all in this article! Not a weekend goes by that you can’t find a worthy cause to run or walk for. Locally and nationally, thousands of races take their name and mission from charities they support. These local races inspire and motivate hundreds of thousands of runners.

Just a few good races to get you started!

For a complete calendar of events for local races visit ontherunevents.com.

Get involved and get out there! I’ll see you on the road!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  Margaret Mead

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