A weekend full of events
Before taking on the 26.2-mile challenge, some of Team 261 Fearless Boston 2022 took to the streets for the B.A.A. 5K. Our group gathered before the start on Boston Common where we met up with members of 261 Fearless Club New England and our fearless co-founders, Edith Zuschmann and Kathrine Switzer. The April morning brought with it a slight Spring chill, but the runners embraced the sunshine and the opportunity to participate in the warm-up for Monday’s main event. After the run, we made our way to Equinox Sports Club Boston for our Community Gathering where we had a chance to connect and catch up with fearless friends, new and old.
Thank you to our partners
Later that afternoon, our fearless team got all the last-minute details, a chance to chat, and their awesome swag bags at our Team Briefing. A big thank you to Adidas, Peloton, Fair Anita, Koala Clip, and Roger Robinson for their contributions to these bags!
The Marathon
Things didn’t slow down from there because we hustled over to the Boston Marathon Expo at the Hynes Convention Center for the panel: Women Fearlessly Breaking Barriers: Three Innovative Women and How They Have Changed History, Running, and Beyond. It was a wonderfully inspiring discussion with Kathrine Switzer, Joann Flaminio, and Edith Zuschmann, moderated by Kim Chaffee.
The Charity Runners
Once Monday morning arrived, after an evening of carbo-loading at our Team Dinner, Team 261 Fearless Boston gathered once again on Boston Common, this time to catch the bus to Hopkinton! Filled with nerves and excitement, our runners toed the start line and then left it all out on the course. Heartbreak Hill had nothing on our tough, fearless athletes as they made their way through Newton, into Brookline, and finally into Boston where they took the famous right onto Hereford, left onto Boylston. Every ounce of glory was hard earned as they crossed the finish! Here is what a few of our runners had to say about their experience:
“Running with 261 Fearless has shown me, once again, the strength, the encouragement, and the acceptance of this community. Growing up, this was not the case or my experience with running. I was too slow and not good enough. 261 though, shows there is a place for every pace and I will be forever grateful for their support.” -Meredith Rice
“I love 261 Fearless- its mission, values, and members! Having the amazing opportunity to run the 126th Boston Marathon in support of 261 Fearless has been life-transformative, life-therapeutic, and life-giving. Running has always been how I identified myself- now, running has a real important purpose.” -Lee Anne Maki
“Running changed my life. It helped me find confidence and strength. I am so happy that this has helped me be able to help other women find the same.” -Michelle Karwejna
“What an honor to run in the 126th Boston Marathon as part of the 261 Fearless Team whose mission is to empower and unite women through running… I leave you with these words as I finish Boston: Inspire… Empower… Celebrate..All women in your world!” – Zelia Magliozzi
We are extremely proud of every member of our charity team for the effort and grit they showed, and extremely grateful for all of their fundraising efforts which will directly support our mission to help empower women through running.
