FPC Boston Marathon runner Craig Kiest part of west coast Remembrance Run

2013 Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon Runner Craig Kiest was was part of Remembrance Run in his native Portland, OR last week. After an overwhelming greeting by family and friends when he stepped off the plane, he gathered with over 1000 local runners to pay tribute to last Monday's tragic events.

Craig Kiest said he remembers fellow runners who dropped everything to pray.“You definitely think you missed a bullet,” he said. “I’m not going to let it stop me.” Kiest is considering rejoining the team for the 2014 Boston Marathon.

To view the article and watch the news footage, please visit: /www.kgw.com/news/local/Thousands-cross-Willamette-for-Boston-Remembrance-Run-203630051.html

Please join our team in a moment of silence at 2:50 p.m. today

The Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon team will be observing a moment of silence at 2:50 p.m. today in commemoration of last Monday's tragic events. 

Here are the details from the Boston Athletic Association Website:

One Fund Boston, Mayor Menino, and Governor Patrick Call for Moment of Silence at 2:50 p.m. ET on Monday Afternoon

One Minute of Silence Followed by Ringing of Bells Across the Region

Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Governor Deval L. Patrick, and One Fund Boston are calling upon Boston and all communities across the Commonwealth to join together in a Moment of Silence on Monday afternoon, exactly one week following the Boston Marathon bombings.

The minute of silence will take place at 2:50 p.m. ET to honor the victims of the attacks and their families. It will be followed by the ringing of bells throughout Boston and the Commonwealth.

Mayor Menino and Governor Patrick are humbled by the support shown by the public and the business community, and they continue to encourage everyone to visit onefundboston.org to make a donation to help the victims of this tragedy.

The B.A.A. will join in support and in honor of the victims and their families.

2013 Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon Team Update

Many thanks to our followers and fans of the Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon Team for their continued support to our team. We are in the process of working on a "debrief" of the season and will have that posted soon. Needless to say our 2013 season was amazing--full of dedicated runners, staff, volunteers, friends and family. Unfortunately, the tragic events of April 15, 2013 marred an otherwise excellent season and picture perfect day.

We also want to thank the many that have reached out for us to consider running for the Franklin Park Coalition in 2014. At this point, we have not been contacted by the Boston Athletic Association about the amount of charity numbers we will have and are not accepting applications at this point. You are welcome to review the application on this site or at www.franklinparkcoalition.org to learn about the basics.

Feel free to contact our Marathon Charity Team Leader, Julie Arrison, at julie@franklinparkcoalition.org with any questions. Inquiries will be responded to within one week.

Again, gratitude from the Franklin Park Coalition for the massive amount of support for the 2013 team.

Making the world a better place

A note from our Marathon Charity Team Leader to the runners:

I just want to say a quick thank you to all of you for what you did yesterday. Whether you cleared the finish or not is irrelevant. You made the world a better place. For months you trained, you did outreach, and you worked your asses off for an amazing place in Boston--a peaceful "calm in the storm respite" for so many. You made a difference. 

While I proud of the abilities of qualified runners, I am also extremely proud of the abilities of fundraisers and especially you guys. Your dedication and determination make this world a better place.

The staff at the FPC makes this world a better place. By giving urban youth a fighting chance at meaningful work, athletic opportunities, and education, they offer chances. By offering arts and culture on a summer night, they offer relaxation and fulfillment  By knowing and working in the park and directing others, they maintain a historic place--a Boston place--and a place filled with love and happiness for so many.

I toast each of you today, through any stress and anguish you feel, for making the world a better place and am a proud team leader and team member of the Franklin Park Coalition. 

Making the world a better place

A note from our Marathon Charity Team Leader to the runners:

I just want to say a quick thank you to all of you for what you did yesterday. Whether you cleared the finish or not is irrelevant. You made the world a better place. For months you trained, you did outreach, and you worked your asses off for an amazing place in Boston--a peaceful "calm in the storm respite" for so many. You made a difference. 

While I proud of the abilities of qualified runners, I am also extremely proud of the abilities of fundraisers and especially you guys. Your dedication and determination make this world a better place.

The staff at the FPC makes this world a better place. By giving urban youth a fighting chance at meaningful work, athletic opportunities, and education, they offer chances. By offering arts and culture on a summer night, they offer relaxation and fulfillment  By knowing and working in the park and directing others, they maintain a historic place--a Boston place--and a place filled with love and happiness for so many.

I toast each of you today, through any stress and anguish you feel, for making the world a better place and am a proud team leader and team member of the Franklin Park Coalition.