The Boston Marathon: An Intense Means to an Important End

This year, two dedicated athletes are running the Boston Marathon to raise funds for UUSC. One of the runners, post author Mark Cronin-Golomb of the UU Church of Reading, Mass., is excited to have this opportunity to support an organization that reflects his values.

I love to run. It lets you get out in the open air, and if you go a long way, you can take in some interesting scenery. You meet fascinating people with similar philosophies and goals. And I enjoy that those not in the know sometimes think we are a little crazy. There is nothing like getting together at the starting line on the day of a race with hundreds, or even thousands, of people whose main goal is to challenge themselves and maybe get a little fitter.

I ran my first marathon — the Boston Marathon — in 2008, with the Tufts University Marathon Team, a group of some 200 students, faculty, staff, and alumni. We raised money for nutrition research at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, whose mission is to improve the nutritional well-being of people worldwide. I learned a lot that time around, about how deceptively difficult the course is and how important proper pacing is. The last third of a mile on Boylston Street was pure pain.

Over the years that my family has belonged to the UU church, I've come to appreciate the importance of the work it does to promote the Seven Principles, which rightly belong to any civilized society. UUSC in particular works tirelessly toward that goal, and it gives me the greatest pleasure to be able to run the marathon this year in support of its efforts. While this is not my first marathon (in fact it will be my fifth), it is the first time I have tried to raise a substantial amount of money specifically for a cause in which I believe. In this case, the marathon is simply a means toward an end. If the fact that I am running 26.2 miles encourages people to give, well that's great. But my real goal is to convince others that UUSC is an organization worth giving to, for the good that it does.

And maybe this time with a little marathon experience under my belt, that last third of a mile won't be quite so painful.

Help Mark reach his $2,500 goal at Crowdrise.com!