Boston 10k for Woman Run Club: Third Session

ERA of… WTF… Joy and Resistance

This was the second session I signed up for, the Boston 10K for Women Running Club. This year, Brooks is the sponsor for the race. The location of Marathon Sports on Boylston Street makes parking challenging — no one is trying to get a $75 parking ticket. My plan was to park on the street and wait to put money in the two-hour meter as late as possible. We had to be there at 8 a.m., but run club didn't start until 9.

This week, four of the ambassadors ran the run. I, by default, was the "fast" runner — which I was not a fan of. I like to be in the middle. My safe, comfortable middle. But no. Today I led the pack. Damn it.

Forty women signed up, but only about half showed. This week, the run was timed — everyone had to run for 45 minutes, which for me is about 4 miles and change. There was a 3.5-mile route and a 4.6-mile loop. What? Again, I'm a middle person — if it had been about mileage, I would've taken the 4.6 route. But this was timed, so it was one of those "let's just see what happens" situations.

I wanted to make sure we passed the elephant herd on display. Part of the route took us along Commonwealth Mall to see the elephants, then a right on Mass Ave to cross the Charles River, a right on the Salt and Pepper Bridge, back into Boston along the Esplanade, and a left on the bridge back to Back Bay.

We'll see what happens, I thought. There were a couple of first-timers, and one of the lead ambassadors led the warm-up with strength bands and Jane Fonda music. I was cracking up.

I led us out, not totally sure how my body would hold up since I haven't been running as much lately. She held up pretty well. Slow, steady, and strong was my motto. It was hot.

Pacing for the Heartbreakers has helped me with pacing and leading runners. I was able to check in with everyone running with and alongside me. Two women were like "f*** it" and took off way ahead of me — apparently I was too slow. That was fine. I wanted to make sure the group was good and nobody got lost.

Shocker: we lost some people. They found their way back to Marathon Sports on their own. On my way back, I passed the old church with signs to stop ICE and stories of people who've been kidnapped and killed by ICE. Then I loved the sign that said God loves trans people. Running is more than running. This shit is still going on, and I'm glad there's awareness out there to make me think about what we're doing — when are we, as a community, going to stop this madness of running the country into the ground?

I thought about my recent trip to New York's Ellis Island and what the immigrant story really is. We are all immigrants, and I thought about how that narrative is being erased as I ran along Boylston to meet back up with the crew.

Overall, a good running day. I held a 10:37 pace for 37 minutes. Not bad.