Burke Area Running Groups to Host Memorials in Remembrance of Boston Marathon Victims

Two scheduled running events in the Burke area this weekend will have memorials to remember and honor the victims of Monday's Boston Marathon bombings, which killed three people and wounded more than 170 near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

The Potomac River Running Store, which has a location in Burke, will host a Marathon Monday Memorial Trail Run Sunday, April 21 at 8 a.m. in Burke Lake Park. The run was originally planned to be part of their Saucony Sunday Trail Run Series, but the purpose of the run was changed following Monday's events.

According to a post on their Facebook page, donations will be collected at the run to support the American Red Cross. Runners are asked to wear old race T-shirts and the store will also hand out blue and yellow memorial ribbons for each runner to wear.

Refreshments will be available to all participants, provided by Select Physical Therapy. To join the run, all those interested are to meet at the ice cream parlor parking lot near the blue and red tents.

George Mason University (GMU) will have a special moment of recognition for the victims of the attack in Boston during their 17th Annual Victims' Rights Run & Walk on Thursday, April 25 at noon. The annual event honors victims of crime. The run will begin in front of the Center for the Arts.

To participate in the event, residents can register online by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 21 or register on the day of at 10:30 a.m. It's $20 for community members, $15 for Mason faculty and staff, and free for Mason students who register in advance. The cost increases to $25 for community members and Mason faculty and staff who sign up the day of the race.

Proceeds from the race support the GMU Victims of Violence Fund and the Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Program. Donations to these programs for the Victims’ Rights 5K Run & Walk are made through the GMU Foundation.

For more information, visit the event's Facebook page.

Do you know of any Burke runners or groups holding events for victims of the Boston Marathon bombings? Share the event with us and your neighbors in the comments.