Runners Needed for the One Run for Boston

The One Run for Boston route. Photo via Facebook

On April 15, three runners from the U.K.—Jamie Hay, Danny Bent, and Kate Treleaven—had been at work for six weeks planning a global relay race. But when news broke of the Boston Marathon bombings, everything changed. “We sat down, looked at each other, and said, ‘Why don’t we use our skills and our experience and do something for Boston?,'” remembers Hay. “We saw an opportunity to unite runners across America and we haven’t regretted trying to make it happen.”

That opportunity manifested itself as the One Run For Boston, an ambitious 24-hours-a-day, L.A.-to-Boston relay to raise money for the One Fund that we reported on last month and begins this Friday, June 7, in California. The 3,000-mile route crosses 14 states and is divided into more than 300 stages, some of which are for individual runners and some for groups, that any interested runner can join if spots are open.

With two days to go before the first stage, Hay says 25 of the 319 stages, including four in Arizona, 12 in New Mexico, five in Texas, and four in Oklahoma, still need runners, in addition to the numerous group stages (including many in Massachusetts) that still have room. “Runners are really pulling together and filling their spots and making it happen,” Hay says, mentioning one runner who will use another’s frequent flier miles to fill a spot in Texas. “If it was just the three of us I don’t think it would have been possible, but the runners have just completely taken this idea and literally run with it.”

If you’re hooked, there’s plenty of time to get involved. “We really would love to get as many runners as we can turning up, signing up, donating to the One Fund, and showing their support,” Hays says. If you’re interested in running, registration will be open right up until June 29, the day before the finish date in Boston, and since all of the Massachusetts stages are for groups—including the 500-person final stage, which is currently at around 280 runners—there are plenty of chances to get involved. Or if running’s not your thing, you can visit the race’s website and add to the nearly $35,000 raised so far. And if you or someone you know lives in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, or Oklahoma, tell them to get out and lace up those sneakers.