Running In Honor

As a response to the tragedy of 9/11, Americans far and wide felt the need to do something to shake the numbness. Something social, something healing. They went for a run.

"Running itself became more important after 9/11," NYRR President Mary Wittenberg told Runner's World recently. "I think 9/11 marked the beginning of another running boom."

As a result, this time of year the running community continues to heal by focusing on the important lessons learned that terrible day. Raising money and awareness for causes has become the call to action.

On Randall's Island — barely 10 miles from Ground Zero — Sunday will be a day to honor the fallen of the tragedy with the 9/11 Heroes Run. "It's great to be able to provide a space for this run on September 11th when there's so much else going on in the City," said Deputy Park Administrator Eric Peterson.

The Heroes Run will be held in two groups, an open 5k race that begins at 9 am and a 5k run/walk at 10:30 am. The run benefits the Travis Manion Foundation — established by Tom and Janet Manion after their son was killed by enemy sniper fire in Iraq. According to the foundation website, checks poured in from all over the country to support the Manion family after Travis' death, totaling more than $100,000. Now the fund offers leadership programs, scholarships and grants.

In Afghanistan, there will be a special race among 100 soldiers on a 3.1-mile stretch of paved road in the Nangarhar Province on Afghanistan's border with Pakistan on Sunday, reports Stephanie Slepian of the Staten Island Advance.

"I feel as a New Yorker and an American that it's important to remember the reason me and my soldiers are deployed here," said Army 2nd Lt. Kevin Caneco, the Staten Islander who organized the race to honor firefighter Stephen Siller, who ran more than three miles through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel to the Towers on 9/11. The New York City Tunnel to Towers Run is scheduled for September 25.

There are road races galore all across the country to honor first responders, firefighters, police officers and the armed forces on Sunday, from Arlington, Va., to Sacramento, Calif., and from Albuquerque, N.M., to New Port Richey, Fla.

And the Chicago Half-Marathon will have remembrance as part of its core on Sunday with FDNY fire truck Rescue 4 serving as lead vehicle.