Run the Boston Marathon World Run & Support the City's Recovery

If you can't run this year's Boston Marathon but want to be there in spirit, check out the Boston Marathon World Run. For the first time, the Boston Athletic Association and its sponsors are encouraging runners anywhere in the world to "pledge to run, walk, or wheel any distance, and complete that distance at one time or over several weeks leading up to or on April 21."

 Join the thousands of people taking part in the Boston Marathon World Run.

Sign up and you'll bet a printable bib number and a digital finishers' medal and certificate. Registration is free, but participants are encouraged to make a donation to The One Fund Boston to aid in the city's recovery. (The One Fund was created after the marathon bombings last year to help the families most affected by the tragedy.)

It sounds like a great way to show solidarity with the Boston Marathon runners and the city, and to raise money to help in the recovery.

So far there are nearly 10,000 runners participating in the Boston Marathon World Run, representing six continents and almost 650,000 miles pledged. Participants have raised nearly $19,000 for The One Fund. See the website for more information on the run, including photos and stories of participants from all over the world (and feel free to upload your own).

I'll be running the Boston Marathon World Run on Monday, April 21st, the day of the marathon (for a yet-to-be-determined distance).

Check out the Boston Marathon website for information on the actual race, including course maps and details, qualifying times, participants, and tracking runners. This year's Boston Marathon will feature more than 36,000 participants.