Half Marathon With Meaning

What's better than running 13.1 miles through the streets of New York City? Running a half marathon across Manhattan with more purpose than simply crossing the finish line. And here's one way to fill that purpose component: by running the NYC Half-Marathon as a Fresh Air Fund-Racer.

There's no denying that the NYC Half-Marathon on Sunday, March 20 is one of the Big Apple's big-time races. Shutting down A-list streets--and through Central Park and Times Square--so runners can march through is no easy feat, and it's one that only happens at such a magnitude one other time of the year, for the New York City Marathon. Enlisting a lottery to determine who can even run the race. Drawing elite competitors to make the run even more drool-worthy--ahem, our favorite, Kara Goucher, will be there this year.

But maybe you didn't get in through the lottery or by boasting one of the time standards that gives you automatic entry. Or maybe you forgot about the race until mid-January and by then it was too late to even think of registering for 2011. Or maybe you are indeed signed up and ready to go but you need some extra motivation. Or maybe.... Well, I'll stop there because I probably could devise enough scenarios to further prove that you want to consider fund-racing with The Fresh Air Fund. Here's a charity team that raised $100,000 at the 2010 race. Here's a way to gain entry into a bucket-list-worthy event that's close to impossible to get into--Fresh Air fund-racers gain race entry by fundraising for the organization before race day. Here's an organization that impacts nearly 10,000 New York City children through free programs annually and has provided 1.7 million New York City children with free summer vacations since 1877.



If you have hopes of running this half-marathon, you need to hurry and contact The Fresh Air Fund. Not only to gain a spot, but to start training. But have no fear if March 20 isn't in the forecast for your running feet. You can always get out and ride in the Five Boro Bike Tour--a 42-mile cycle that closed just hours after opening registration--or by volunteering to be a host family for the organization's summer programs. Need more details? Check it all out at www.freshair.org.

Photos courtesy of The Fresh Air Fund.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Planning to run the NYC Half Marathon in August and need more reason to log those 13.1 miles? Need a spot into this exclusive race after not having the qualification standard or not scoring a lottery slot? Whatever the case may be, the Fresh Air Fund may have the answer. The organization's Fund-Racers team is looking for runners--and sponsors, too--to participate on its team at the August 16th event.

Not to be confused with a "protect our air"-type organization, the Fresh Air Fund has provided summer vacations for more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income neighborhoods. Kids have spent summers with host families around 13 states and Canada as well as time at overnight camp in the Adirondacks where they can learn to swim, canoe and more. Last year the Fund-Racers raised more than $125,000 for the organization, which has provided these fun experiences for kids since 1877.

Fund-Racers are responsible for paying the entry fees for the NYC Half as well as raising a minimum of $1,000 for the Fresh Air Fund. But the camaraderie--as well as the fundraising--is well worth it. Are you in? Click here for more info about the team. And yes, running for a charity team does guarantee a spot into the race.

Can't make it to the race but still want to help out? The Fund is still in need of Friendly Town hosts during the month of August. Host families open their hearts and home to a NYC child who would not otherwise have the opportunity to escape the hot, crowded city streets. Check out freshair.org for more details. Photo of some of the 2008 Fund-Racers grabbed from freshair.org. Posted by Kate