In the days after the Boston Marathon bombings, a quiet determination began to grow. Between candlelight vigils and moments of silence, Bostonians sought a way to express solidarity with the runners, spectators, and families affected by the senseless attack.
A Facebook event called The Last Mile invited people of all abilities to run or walk the final mile of the marathon route “to finish the race for those who ran, and for those who can never run again.” Another grassroots effort, Boston Redux, encouraged runners to re-run the full 26.2-mile course. Individual groups coordinating locally soon connected with each other to synchronize plans and navigate necessary permits.
These initiatives coalesced into a single, unified event on May 11—26 days after the marathon—under the banner #onerun. The combined effort honored those affected while demonstrating the resilience and solidarity of the community.