It has been a rough week for several reasons, but I finally feel like I’m back in the groove after running “The Nasty” (route 12 of the East Nasty Running Club circuit) last night. It never ceases to amaze me how that course makes me feel like a better runner the next day (more on that later). What also never ceases to amaze me, is how awesome the Nashville running community is.
Everyone was shocked, horrified, and touched in different ways by the Newtown shootings. It truly is unfathomable, and I think the only way to counteract things like this is to pour more love and compassion into the world. That is exactly what’s happening here.
On Monday our coach for Ironman Wisconsin, Robbie Bruce, put out a feeler idea to see if anyone would be willing to run 26 miles for the 26 victims in Newtown. The responses trickled in for a few hours, then went viral.
As of this morning there are over 500 runners signed up to either run 26 alone or as part of a relay team. Each mile will garner a minimum of one dollar for families of the victims in Newtown.
All of the local media has embraced the event and runners, along with several volunteers will flood the streets of Nashville Saturday morning to spread their love and energy to people who need it more than ever. I’m very proud of the way Nashville responds to people in need and feel blessed to be surrounded by runners, bikers, and triathletes who are always willing to spend their time to do the right thing.