Last Saturday I participated in the Back on My Feet (BOMF) Running Festival. While I have slowed down on doing virtual races this year, I’m always up for supporting a good cause.
Disclaimer: I received a free race entry as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!
Back on My Feet Running Festival Recap
BOMF is a great organization working to combat homelessness in 14 major cities across the U.S., including my hometown of Boston. With all the challenges of Covid, BOMF opted to host one large virtual running festival this year, instead of attempting multiple in-person events.
I liked that the Festival offered a range of distances (5K, 10K, 15K, 30K, or you could run all 4 distances) so there was something for everyone! I had originally planned on running the 15K, but my hip had other plans. When I couldn’t make the longer training runs work, I opted to swap distances. The beauty of a virtual event is that there were no restrictions to changing plans – so 10K it was!
As a perk of participating as a BibRave Pro, I received a free race t-shirt (there was a $100 fundraising minimum to receive a shirt). While I didn’t participate in the fundraising I did make a donation as this was a cause I really wanted to support.
A week before the Festival started I also received my bib, along with a GU gel, and finish line banner. I thought the finish line banner was a fun touch!
Race morning I woke up to less than ideal conditions – light rain and off-the-charts humidity. For half a second I toyed with the idea of holding off, but since I did not know how I was going to feel following Monday’s cortisone shot, I stuck with my plan. I had hoped that the rain would make for a cool, refreshing run, but unfortunately, the rain stopped shortly after mile 1 and then the humidity really cranked up. Miles 1 – 3 went by fairly quickly, but my right hip did not love the long gradual climb of mile 4.
The final stretch
I did my best to stick to my 4:1 intervals, but between the humidity and my increasingly angry hip, I was glad I had chosen to just do the 10K. On the plus side, the roads were quiet so it was a nice peaceful run. And, a huge shoutout to my husband J for being a mobile water stop and cheerleader around 4.5 miles!
Just because it’s virtual doesn’t mean you can’t run “with” friends! Cari, Deborah, and Fellow BibRave Pro Kim also took part in the Festival.
Kim, me, and Cari! Thanks to Cari for the photo skills 🙂
The only downside of the Festival for me was the lack of communication from the event organizers. Especially with it being a virtual event, I think this was a missed opportunity to create more excitement among runners — maybe even to have provided a way to connect runners in the 14 cities they operate in.
Overall, I would recommend the BOMF Running Festival and supporting this great organization addressing homelessness across the country. (The Festival is being held through Saturday, September 25th, so there’s still time to get in on the action – click here to register and use code BibRave5! to save $5 off the registration fee).
I’m linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up.
I’m also linking with Debbie, Deborah, Lisa, Jenn, and Laura for the Runners’ Roundup.
Such a worthwhile cause!! That was a great concept in having one big virtual event as opposed to several individual ones. It’s nice that you, Kim and Cari did a nice “group” high-5 😉
So much fun, and such a good cause. I thought their level of communication was excellent an appreciated the touch of the Spotify playlist. Wish I’d seen the finish line sooner, would have asked mom to hold it even though I didn’t finish at the house.
Great shirt weather free or fundraised for.
and I totally commented in the wrong spot. But Kim you get photo credit. You taught me about that app 😀
I really think the large virtual event was better than lots of smaller local virtual – it was a nice way to highlight all of the good work they do nationally.
Congrats on your race! It was so humid on Saturday. This is a great cause and its awesome that you were able to support it!
Thanks Lisa!
Well done, Michelle! Running through a 10k with an angry hip must be hard!
So nice that your husband supported you and that Kim and Cari ran with you virtually. Love the high five photos!
Thanks Catrina – The support in person and virtually definitely helped!
a great cause and if you can’t race in-person, virtuals are perfect.
Too bad about the weather. I ran Saturday too.
It’s fun when I others run the race too even when you’re not physically together.
When’s your next one? I’ll join you.
Right now I’ve only got one more race left on my calendar – an in-person 10K! We need to find something to run together 🙂
Congratulations on completing the race! It looks like it was a ton of fun! I need to sign up for another 5k sometime soon!
Thank you Lauren!
Oh yes, i know those days when the rain stops and then it’s horribly steamy. Not the easiest conditions but you did it! Sounds like a fun race for a great cause.
I hope the cortisone shot helped your hip- I’ll look forward to an update on that.
The humidity was ugly, but running for a great cause was the right motivation.
It always feels good to run for a cause you believe in. Sorry the weather didn’t cooperate! Saturday was definitely super humid!
Good ob getting it done & good for you for donating, too.
Thanks Judy!
Definitely a great cause to run for! I completed the 10K as well thanks to your posting. Nice job on the high five skills!
Thanks so much for running Deborah 🙂
Congrats on running for a great cause.
Well done, it’s not easy to run 10K with hip pain. I know very well what it is, just this morning my doctor stopped my runs for 4 days because of piriformis syndrome.
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Oh no! Piriformis syndrome can be quite painful. Are you able to run at all?
So much fun, and such a good cause. I thought their level of communication was excellent an appreciated the touch of the Spotify playlist. Wish I’d seen the finish line sooner, would have asked mom to hold it even though I didn’t finish at the house.
Great shirt weather free or fundraised for.
Thanks so much for joining in to support BOMF! And so true, the Spotify playlist was a nice touch.
Great job, Michelle! How fun that others ran with you as well!! Ugh on the humidity.
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Thanks Zenaida – running with others, event virtually is always fun!
Congrats on completing the virtual 10K!
I’m so glad that this running festival gave me the opportunity to learn more about BOMF. It’s an organization I want to continue supporting.
Thanks Kim! And I agree BOMF is definitely an organization I want to continue to support.
This sounds like a great event for a great cause! I’m sorry about the lack of communication. That’s frustrating.
I’m really glad I got this opportunity to support them!
Back on my Feet does amazing work!