AFSCME People Fun Run Boston 2010

The final day of the Convention began early when participants in the annual AFSCME People Fun Run gathered at Castle Island, a park next to the bay.

We boarded the bus at 5:30 with many folks acknowledging that they were having trouble waking up after the dance party at the hotel the night before. I never did catch the name of the band but they were hot and kept everyone hopping until late.

While waiting for the bus many folks commented on the pasta dish that they had eaten at the party the night before. “That was not pasta, that was calamari.”, someone said. You should have seen the faces of the people standing there drop when they realized that they had not been eating pasta, but in fact some strange arrangement of squid. I'm glad that I avoided the pasta/squid dish.

It was pretty cold at the park but someone had been up even earlier than the Fun Runners and there was hot coffee, fruit, juice and water to help energize us. I was not a runner but was there to support the five folks from Council 28 who committed to participate in the annual fund raiser for People, the union’s political action program.

Each runner had to raise at least $100 for People in order to participate. I don’t know how much money was raised this year but every little bit helps when we are competing with the corporate class who throw money at politicians like its water.

The runners took part in a group warm-up and then it was time to start. Bang and away they go. Down the hill, around the lake, around the park, back up the hill for a total of 5 kilometers. That’s about 3 miles.

There were about 40-50 participants and everyone who started the event also finished. The youngest participant was 14 years old. There were many elders also participating, some of whom walked and some who did the course as a relay team. One brother missed the bus and took a cab to the park, arriving a few minutes after the run had begun. He took of running and finished in the top ten. Each participant received a medal upon completion. I was pressed into service as a finish line marshal so I got a medal as well.

Congrats to everyone who participated, especially our Council 28 staffer Daniel who finished first at 21 minutes and some-odd seconds. We need a lot more participation in this event next year! It was lots of fun and for an important cause.

After the run we went back to the hotel where we could rest awhile before the Convention reconvened later in the morning. My roommate had been so infuriated by the election shenanigans that he refused any further participation in the Convention and gave his Delegate Credentials to me so I could participate on the final day.

I was honored to represent Local 53 on the Convention floor but that was quickly dampened by the behavior of our Supreme Leader as he presided over the final aspects of the Convention.
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