Here at runladylike.com, Fridays are all about sharing the inspiring stories of fit people who motivate all of us to be better tomorrow than we were yesterday. My Friday FITspiration series profiles runners, triathletes and casual exercisers who are making choices every day to be as healthy as they can be – in both huge ways and through simple, small victories. Their stories are about the journey of transforming from ordinary to extraordinary each and every day.

At the end of February, a woman named Elizabeth Pederson reached out to me. She ran the Boston Marathon last year and experienced both the terror and the power of kindness from that life-changing day. Like all the ordinary runners and athletes featured on my Friday FITspiration series, she has decided to do something extraordinary. Her mission: To raise 1 million acts of kindness by April 21, 2014, to honor the Boston Marathon bombings and the victims, families, runners and the entire running community that was affected by the tragedy. With the Boston Marathon less than 2 weeks away, I wanted to share Elizabeth’s quest and urge you to take 13 seconds to participate.

“In 13 seconds, 2 bombs killed 3 people and injured more than 250 others at the 2013 Boston Marathon,” Elizabeth recalls. “Let’s come together as a community with a tribute that builds a better world. To honor the victims and the survivors, find 13 seconds to do your part to raise one million acts of kindness to commemorate the first anniversary of this tragedy.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_caHUvwa_Q&feature=youtu.be

Why are you trying to raise acts of kindness?
Last year, I was among the runners who fled from the finish area of the Boston Marathon after the bombing, and I will run the race again this year. I am hoping to bring together the running community from near and far to perform ordinary acts of kindness leading up to the race to stand with Boston, in memory of the victims, and in solidarity against terrorism.

There is no financial ask – the One Fund and other great organizations already raise money. Rather, the idea is to remember what happened through small actions that, in aggregate, act against the ugliness of the bombings. In part, this idea was inspired by Martin Richard. He was my nephew’s age (8), and I was sickened, outraged and horrified at his loss. Then, seeing his poster and message of peace reminded me that we have a responsibility to the next generation to do more to create a better world.

Often, we don’t because we think we need to do something huge, so we let ordinary opportunities to make life better for others in small ways pass us by. The idea is to encourage a sentiment that you don’t need to be a “capital ‘H’ hero” to change the world and that if we come together to honor Boston through a million acts of ordinary kindness, we are creating a movement that truly remembers the victims in a worthy manner.

How does it work?
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 to participate:

• Step 1: Do a small act of kindness in memory of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing (you can do as many as you want).
• Step 2: Go to kindthis.com/post-kindness and log the act (takes several seconds and can be anonymous).
• Step 3: Share the project with others and encourage them to participate.

Note from rUnladylike: Here is the act of kindness I submitted this week. It literally did take just a few seconds.

How can people follow the movement?

• Web site: kindthis.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/kindthisorg
• Twitter: @KindThisTweets

If you or someone you know would be a great candidate for Friday FITspiration, email me at runladylike@gmail.com.

Will you participate by submitting an act of kindness? What acts of kindness will you do this month to honor the Boston Marathon bombing? Are you running the Boston Marathon this month?