Running Heroes

“And each man stands with his face in the light of his own drawn sword. Ready to do what a hero can.” –Elizabeth Barrett Browning

On Memorial Day we honor heroes who have made sacrifices in the name of freedom. For us, our swords were our running sneakers, and we laced up for the 2^nd annual Memorial Day Marathon over the holiday weekend to raise money for a great cause. A portion of the proceeds from the event benefits the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, formed in 2000 to support the men and women in the armed services and their families.

The weekend featured the Memorial Day Marathon and Half-Marathon, and the Berkshires 10K and 5K. I ran in the 5K, while my colleague and running ace Erin Papa participated in the full marathon. We started our respective races at the Tanglewood Music Center, in historic Lenox, Mass., in the heart of the Berkshires.

We were filled with American spirit and pride before stepping off, with a military flyover, the National Anthem sung and the local Color Guard from the Lenox Veterans of Foreign Wars seeing us. We ran through patriotic streets that were lined with supporters and American flags. The course was challenging, but offered great views of the local area.

We wrapped up back at Tanglewood. I finished the 5K in 39:46, while Erin finished the marathon in a solid 4:02:20, placing sixth overall among women. We’re proud to have been able to participate, and to honor our servicemen and women with such a fun event. I don’t know about Erin, but I’m already planning for next year.

Erin (left) & Holly (right)

Holly Terry is the production manager interactive for Winstanley Partners, and Erin Papa is a graphic designer. Both have been training for more than a year and have recorded better finish times as well as smaller waistlines.