OK, the jig is up. It’s time for us to come clean: We’re running the Boston Marathon. Why? Good question. Admittedly, we’ve traversed all of Boston, logged hundreds of miles, consumed more Gu and Gatorade than one can fathom, and, still, we’re left contemplating the same thing. Were we bored this winter? (Um, you know us; we’ve never been bored a day in our lives). Do we have an affinity for bitter temperatures and running over sheets of ice for fun? (We like hot yoga, people, which has very little in common with running in sub-zero conditions). Have we gone completely mad? (Well . . . the jury’s still out on that one).
Nevertheless, we’ve learned a lot through our training. We’ve talked a lot. We occasionally play chicken with oncoming traffic. Believe it or not, we also express a lot of gratitude—for the ability to attempt such a daunting goal as completing the Boston Marathon and having the drive to achieve it. For both of us, this seed was planted long ago, as a high school track athletes—or even sooner.
And, truth be told, what we’ve learned is that sometimes, goals choose you.
We both believed that beyond reason and regardless of our many time constraints we needed to run this race. We can’t wait to witness the sea of athletes in Hopkinton, hear the screams of the girls in Wellesley, and draw strength from the crowds in Kenmore.
It’s an honor to run on behalf of Fit Girls, an organization that combines running, reading, and community outreach programs for girls in 4th and 5th grades. These three positive influences have shaped both our lives, and put simply, we feel as though we’re running for the younger versions of ourselves.
The goals of this organization are:
· Addressing the childhood obesity crisis.
· Promoting a love of literature and regular reading habits.
· Building self-esteem and confidence.
· Fostering caring and supportive relationships between girls and women.
· Encouraging girls to give back and connect with community.
Thank you for supporting and encouraging us. Donating through this website is fast, simple, and completely secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to our fundraising efforts. For more information on Fit Girls, visit www.fitgirls.org.
Namaste,
Cara & Rebecca
See Cara Run! Cara Cameron is the regional manager for lululemon athletica. She's affectionately known as "the Canuck" at Crossroads on Thursday nights (a regular training run in Boston). She grew up highland dancing, running cross country and track, playing soccer and rugby, and skiing. Her favorite book as a youngster was To Kill a Mockingbird.
See Rebecca Run! Rebecca Pacheco works at Boston magazine, teaches yoga, and writes a yoga and wellness website called OmGal.com. She grew up swimming, sailing, dancing, running track, playing field hockey, and doing yoga. She was often busted for reading past bedtime with a flashlight beneath the covers.