March Brotha/ Sista Run: Women's Month
Era of WTF……………………joy and resistance
Winter has made it known that he is here. The last several weeks have been brutal with snow, school closings, shoveling, and bitter cold. Yet we had a little tease of spring when it reached 60-something degrees last weekend. Then winter said, “Nope, I’m still here.” All of that to say—it’s been rough, and the week has been long.
Today is the second Saturday of the month, which means the BMR/BGR Brother–Sister Unity Run. I needed the energy, community, and joy that gathering together always brings.
Since we’re running during Women’s History Month, BMR Captain S planned a route to the Boston Women’s Memorial so we could see the Phillis Wheatley statue. The route there and back was close to four miles. Boston, unlike many larger cities, feels like a small big town—and it’s incredibly dense. In just four miles we moved through Roxbury, the South End, and Back Bay. Big small town.
Today the Walk B4 Run BGR ladies were gifted running shoes from Brooks, thanks to co-ambassador Katonya. I arrived at the Reggie early to take pictures and cheer them on before heading out for my own one-mile run.
This girl here has to start upping my mileage to get ready for the half marathon in April. I need to start putting 25–30 miles on my feet each week. So I got my pre-run in before our 8 a.m. start.
When I came back around from the one-miler, everyone had arrived. A group of BMR men will be leaving next Thursday to run the Selma to Montgomery 51-mile Relay Race. I didn’t have the energy to plan for it and go this year, but considering that voting and voting rights are being threatened again—especially for Black and Brown communities—retracing the march from 1964 is incredibly powerful.
After our strengthening exercises and sharing our “whys,” we started the route. Physically I felt good, though I’m continuing to check in with my body and my knees because of my meniscus and cartilage issues.
We ran on Pi day. It was a good day . I got 4.85 miles in. Yeah
