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The Boston Marathon Experience

Each year, the Boston Marathon is an incredible event that brings people together from all over the world! We were so excited to have two runners supporting Be Like Brit, Ashley and GR, who were both Britsionarys as well! Combined, they raised close to $20,000 for BLB AND ran the 26.2 miles in the rainy, cold weather!! Amazing job! We can't thank them enough!

If you'd like to support their run, there is still time to donate and help them reach their $20,000 goal! Copy this link to donate - https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/belikebritfoundationincboston2018


In this week's post, our runners are sharing their marathon stories with us!


Written by GR:

While running a marathon may seem tedious to anyone, I’ve always considered it a goal of mine. However, I never thought it would be easy. That is, until I had a purpose that was bigger than myself. Running the race in honor of Britney, for the 66 boys and girls over in Grand Goave, and for the entire organization made the race feel 26 miles shorter than it was.

In Spring 2016, High Point University took its first alternative spring break trip with Be Like Brit. The trip was coordinated by Richie Gengel, brother of Britney, and was an experience that I was incredibly fortunate to be a part of. I, along with every other student on the trip, was impacted by the work we were able to accomplish. Through helping the Haitian workers build an earthquake resistant home in the day and bonding and playing with the children in the orphanage at night, it was a trip like none other. Because of my amazing experience, I applied in the fall of 2017 and was accepted as to run the Boston Marathon for Be Like Brit as a charity entrant. I’ve had the opportunity to work for many nonprofit organizations, but there are none I hold as highly as Be Like Brit. It didn’t matter how much it rained, how cold it was, or how much the wind gusted, I was honored to be able to run the race for such an awesome organization.


Around mile 21 in the race, after Heartbreak Hill, I found myself out of energy and exhausted. I started walking and found myself unable to be able to break into a run. My leg cramped, my mental state deteriorated, and I didn’t know if I could even finish the race. When I was at my worst, I started to find myself thinking about why I was running this in the first place. I thought of my training, my trip back in 2016, of the kids, of Brit, and prayed that I would be able to find some way to feel better and finish the race strong than ever. Someone must have been listening, because a mile later, I found God in the form of a banana. After a kind (and probably freezing cold) spectator handed me one from the side of the course, I immediately found myself able to slowly but surely break into sort of a shuffle step, then jog, and then finally I was able to run again.


Running the next four miles on a combination of hope, faith, and caffeine (those gel packs really pack a punch), I was soon able to see the finish. I heard the roar of the crowd, but as soon as I was about to pass the finish line, I heard silence. Most runners look forward to crossing the finish line to the roaring cheers of the crowd, but that was not my experience. Five years ago, on April 15th at 2:49 PM, the first bomb exploded at the finish line of the marathon. This year, on April 16th at 2:49 PM, I crossed the finish line as the moment of silence began to remember the victims of the Boston bombings. Such an emotional finish is one that I will never forget, and truly showed the meaning of resilience and being Boston Strong. Although there were countless hours of training, of blood, of sweat, of tears, of rain, and cold, and wind, I wouldn’t pass this experience up for the world. Running for Be Like Brit was such an incredible honor, and I wouldn’t have rather had my first marathon any other way.


Written by Ashley:

I became involved with Be Like Brit 5 years ago when I made my first trip to Haiti. As all Britsionarys know, it was a life changing experience and I knew I wanted to stay involved with the BLB family. Since then, I have made a few more trips back to Haiti, volunteered at many fundraising events and ran the Falmouth Road Race for Team BLB this past summer! 


I have always loved going to watch the Boston Marathon each April. I was volunteering at the finish line of the marathon when the 2013 bombings went off. It’s still hard to think back on that day and remember the tragedy that took place. I didn’t think I would ever be able to go back to watch the Boston Marathon after having experienced such a horrible event. It wasn’t until several months after I realized I had to go back. I had to go back, and I had to run the Boston Marathon one day. 


When I got the opportunity to run the marathon for Be Like Brit I really doubted myself if I could do it or not. Not only would I have to raise a lot of money, but I would also have to run 26 MILES! I would say I’m a pretty low-key, amateur runner. I have run many 5k’s, and half marathons but never thought I could actually run a FULL marathon! Most of my friends and family knew my motive to run races was for the “free” T-shirt, and not for the joy of dripping sweat. Running the Boston Marathon definitely meant getting a brand new t-shirt I could show off, but this time I knew I was running for a greater purpose. What better motivation to train for a marathon than knowing all the hard work would be making a difference in lives of 66 children living at Brits Home! 


Training and fundraising to run the Boston Marathon was a challenge. Setting my alarm at 6am on Saturday mornings to go run a quick 15 miles in the snow was something I loved doing... just kidding... it was pretty rough! Luckily, I had a lot of support and met a great group of charity runners I trained with each week!


Raising money was another challenging part of preparing for the marathon! With the help of so many of my friends, family, co-workers, friends of friends, and strangers, I was able to meet the fundraising requirement to secure my bib number! It truly is an amazing feeling knowing how many people came together to help support me and raise money for such an amazing cause. 


The week leading up to the Marathon was intense, mainly because of the weather that was being forecasted. I got many emails from our running coach telling us how to prepare for the 20 degree wind chill and the rain that was supposedly going to happen on Marathon Monday. I kept thinking to myself, “the weathermen are never right... it’s going to end up being the perfect spring day... why is everyone freaking out”... well I guess the weatherman were right for once. 


I opened my front door on Marathon Monday to get into my Uber and that’s when I got a little nervous. The wind was slamming my door shut, the rain was pouring down and it was FREEZING out! How on earth was I supposed to run 26 miles in a mini hurricane?! My Uber driver asked me if he should turn around and drop me back off at my apartment, but I politely declined and decided I was actually going to run the Boston Marathon that day.


If my hands weren’t numb, I would’ve taken a picture of all the crazy runners at the starting line. If you can picture everyone having a trash bag costume on top of their running gear and sneakers covered in mud... that’s what the majority of people looked like starting the race! 


The first few miles were tough to get used to-- torrential downpours and strong wind blowing me over. After a few miles, I got used to the weather... and after a few more miles I didn’t even really notice it. Instead, all I noticed were the amazing runners I was running next to and the crazy crowds yelling on the sidelines! When the rain would start coming down harder, the crowds would cheer even louder. I couldn’t believe all the spectators coming out in this weather to cheer the runners on! If it wasn’t for all the strangers yelling for me on the sidelines, or my friends and family holding signs for me along the way, I’m not sure I would have made it all the way to Boston! From running through the scream tunnel at Wesley college, to being handed “energy” drinks in red solo cups at Boston College, to seeing hundreds of people screaming at the finish line, I had all the motivation I needed to finish. When I didn’t think my legs could possibly run another mile, I just thought about everyone who helped me get to this point, and all 66 kids at Be Like Brit who I was running for!


Running across that finish line was such an amazing feeling! I just finished the BOSTON MARATHON! I couldn’t walk or feel my legs... but I finished!! I just ran 26.2 MILES!! I just raised $10,000 for BLB! I am so beyond grateful for everyone who helped me get here! It may have been my first and last marathon, but what an amazing experience!



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