First Run : 2026

ERA of WTF……..resistance and joy

I miss the way I used to kick off the new year, starting in 2015, by running the First Run 5K/10K race in Lowell. That race ended a couple of years ago. I’m not sure why—maybe funding, permits, or something else entirely. The race business is a business, after all. It involves money, logistics, politics, and community investment.

Last year wasn’t so bad because we flew to Vegas on New Year’s Day. This year, though, I decided to create my own 5K. The question was always: where?

Then it hit me—run downtown and search for the ice sculptures scattered throughout the city for First Night. On New Year’s morning at 8 a.m., I knew the city would be quiet. I could find parking, run my route, and head out to enjoy the rest of the day.

It was cold and snowy, and the wind was no joke. Damn it, I was doing this thing. I may not have dressed perfectly for the weather, but I was committed. Most of the ice sculptures were around the Seaport area.

I wasn’t alone on my running scavenger hunt. I ran into other runners on the same mission, and to add to the mix, there were tourists wandering around, snapping photos of the ice sculptures.

I also kicked off the Winter Warrior Challenge today. I’m not usually one for challenges, yet here I am. Every day in January, I have to walk or run at least one mile. Low stakes, right? I’m determined to give it a real try to keep myself moving. Honestly, I want to get my body into wedding shape—not to lose weight or buy into any of that nonsense, but to be healthy and strong enough for a night full of dancing and celebrating. I’ll be 53 when I get married, so it’s time to commit to cardio and strength training.

As I ran from the Seaport to the Rose Kennedy Greenway, through Christopher Columbus Park, and back again, I encountered things that not only made me happy but also sparked my critical thinking and curiosity. One ice sculpture depicted a park ranger. I love and support our park rangers. Unfortunately, in this current WTF era, their numbers have been cut, along with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts that the National Parks have long embraced. These workers already put in long hours doing important work, so defunding them makes absolutely no sense.

While running, I paused to appreciate a monument acknowledging the transatlantic slave trade—something Boston was a part of. Slavery was systemic; it wasn’t just a regional issue. Running through Faneuil Hall, I noticed an acknowledgment of the Native American tribes of New England.

This is American history.

As I made my way back toward the Seaport, I passed the Hoops + Swings installation by a Black female artist, highlighting the beauty and power of her creativity. This is the kind of art that inspires me and puts a smile on my face.