Sean Astin's Boston Marathon Report

Submitted by Sean Astin, @SeanAstin

Boston Marathon 2015. Finish Line.

Denise and Jane Richard are cheering and smiling as each of the 73 members of their Team MR8 come across.

I did what I said, and tried to honor young Martin Richard (8yrs old) as I passed the site of the tragedy by reflecting on everything that happened that day and since. After 4 hours and 49 minutes of cold and rainy 26.2 mile crowd fueled, leg demolishing awesomeness, I had prepared myself to end the run on a note of reverence.

Then there they were, Jane (9 years old), standing, jumping up and down with her prosthetic leg, courtesy of that awful day, and Martin's mom, Denise with a huge smile of, can you believe it, gratitude of all things. A smile back and a kiss on the hand later, I turned and lost it.

Sean Astin: My Team MR8 Jersey

Submitted by Sean Astin, @SeanAstin

Look what came in the mail today. My Team MR8 Jersey.

{I have to raise $3,000 more to reach my fundraising goal. Please Sponsor MY Boston Marathon. It's only 32 days away. Every $10 gets me closer. Boston Marathon Team MR8 Fundraising}

It's been a long time since I earned my way onto an athletic team. In fact, the last running team I was on, was the Crossroads High School Varsity Cross Country Squad, Santa Monica CA 1989. 

Whew, that takes ya back. 26 Years. Give me a sec. I have to sit down on the couch to finish writing this. I don't even want to think it, but it may be a full 2 pounds for every year. Ugh. Now I'm sitting on the floor. 

I wore a size 8 in High School. Now I wear a size 9. Then, I could run three 6 minute miles. Now, I can run six 9 minute miles (almost). Back then, I felt alone a lot. Now I don't. My High School Cross Country Team had less than 15 people. Team MR8 has 73. In my youth, I tried my very best. In that department, nothing has changed.

Sean Astin to run Boston Marathon for Team MR8

Submitted by Sean Astin @SeanAstin

Hey everyone,

THANK YOU SO MUCH for visiting my 2015 Boston Marathon Celebration of Martin and his message of PEACE fundraising page!!!!!

I never could have imagined that I'd get to run Boston. In order to qualify, I'd have to shave over an hour off of my best marathon time. Eeeek! As fate would have it, Dave McGillivray, Boston Marathon Race Director, invited me to join Team MR8 and run on behalf of young Martin Richard and the amazing foundation that his parents established in his honor.

For those of you who know about my #Run3rd Inspirational Campaign, you can see that I'm taking the next step and actually trying to encourage charitable giving. Education, Athletics & Community make perfect sense!!!

I wore the Boston jersey, with a Boston Strong Ribbon, and embroidered with #Run3rd and my wife and children's names in the days after the April 2013 events, to demonstrate my solidarity with the victims, their families, the people of Boston, the peace loving running community and our nation.

With this page, I continue in that spirit and ask you to help me turn my hope and passion into action!!!!

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.

Again, many thanks for your support—and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!

Much Love and Respect,
Sean Astin

I #Run3rd for YOU!!!

Lord of the Rings star Sean Astin joins Vancouver Sun Run

Lord of the Rings star and avid long distance runner Sean Astin has signed up to run The Vancouver Sun Run on Sunday, and will be wearing a Boston jersey in homage to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.

The Goonies actor will arrive in Vancouver Friday for the Fan Expo at the Vancouver Convention Centre on the weekend.

He contacted Sun Run organizers to register when he found out about the race and its plans to commemorate the Boston terror attacks Monday that left three people dead, including an eight-year-old boy, and more than 170 injured.

In an interview Thursday, Astin said he’s always saddened when there is violence, but the attacks hit him hard because of his close ties with the running community.

“I just skipped over shock and went straight to fury,” he said. “Since then I’ve just been running hot … so when I found about (The Sun Run) on social media, well, I just wanted to be a part of it.”

Astin, who has run the Los Angeles Marathon four times, said he was excited to be running in Vancouver, a city he knows well having filmed here several times. He’s hoping for a 10 km time of about 57 minutes.

“I am just so damn proud to be running with thousands of Canadians, it just melts away all the anger (about the bombings).”

Astin said he has many friends in this country, and in his experience they’re always banding together to help others.

“When bad things happen you can always count on Canadians to demonstrate a show of support,” he said. “That’s what I love about Canadians, they are always visibly caring about each other. And that’s what we need, to double down on caring about each other.”

Astin is part of an inspirational running campaign called Run 3rd that encourages people to “run first for me, second for family, and third for a you,” or a cause that helps people.

In Astin’s case, he’ll be running for his wife and three daughters. He’s also planning to run the San Francisco Marathon this summer, if he isn’t too busy shooting a film.

The 42-year-old actor, director, voice artist and producer is best known for his film roles as Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Mikey Walsh in The Goonies. He also appeared as Lynn McGill in the fifth season of 24.

ticrawford@vancouversun.com

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