More than 600 energized runners gather in the high school parking lot behind a blue ribbon and green inflatable arch reading “AAPI 5K Run ‘n’ Walk”. Bubbly chatter fills the air as the runners take their marks. “3…2…1…Go!” Superintendent Julie Hackett says, firing the sound that commences the race. The runners, ranging from young children to seniors of all backgrounds, take off, and the crowd roars.
On Sunday, May 10, the Chinese American Association of Lexington (CAAL) and the Hey Runners club hosted their annual AAPI 5K Run ‘n’ Walk to celebrate AAPI heritage month. This year marked their fifth anniversary and a record number of participants. This year, the race fell on Mother’s Day, and mothers who joined received a red rose.
The idea for the AAPI 5K Run ‘n’ Walk was conceived during the pandemic when there was an upswing in anti-Asian hate. CAAL co-president Hua Wang said he realized that sports are a good way to bring the community together. He shared his idea with current co-directors of the race and members of the Hey Runners club, Jessie Chen and Lixin Gao, leading to the annual race to celebrate AAPI heritage month in May to bring the community together.
“Society is very divided, and think of a few years ago, with Asian hate stuff, right? But, every year we have more people come to our race. That’s the biggest symbol to us,” Gao said.
“When I moved here, I just felt that this town is very quiet and very academic. But we need some competition and need some race to unite the community. And I just feel a 5K is the best approach, because really it doesn’t set any bar for participating, but it can bring people together,” Tu Xu, a participant of the race, said.
Wang, Chen and Gao welcomed the runners, and then State Sen. Mike Barrett said a few words about the importance of the event.
“Today, we are happy to say that AAPI and CAAL show that Lexington knows how to reinvent the community. We know how to celebrate America…Lexington is demonstrating that America can reinvent itself even in dark moments,” Barrett said.
Then, national-level singer Yan Lian emphatically sang the national anthem.
The theme of the race this year was “Better together.” The goal of this was to express how diversity brings people together, which Wang called the “Lexington spirit.”
To highlight the importance of this concept, every participant was awarded a medal that said “Better together” on the back once they passed the finish line.
“It’s like connectivity, community building, better together,” Wang said.
This year, Jian Deng finished first, running through the finish line ribbon, pumping his arms up in the air while the crowd congratulated him. Deng’s finishing time was 17 minutes and 27 seconds.
The awards were split up by age group for individuals, and there were also group awards such as the biggest family or race group to participate. Winners received a glass trophy.
To continue the celebration after the race, there was food from various Asian cuisines spread out on a table decorated with different flags from the AAPI community.
Proceeds from the event will go to a new water bottle filling station in Arlington Center, near the Uncle Sam statue. Chen said as a runner, she noticed this part of the bike path lacked a water station, so adding one would benefit community members.
Both participants and organizers said the race highlights the diversity of the town.
“It definitely brings greater visibility to the already vibrant AAPI community here in Lexington and greater Massachusetts in general. I think it’s really awesome that we have events like this, and we have people from all types of backgrounds come here and support the AAPI community,” Felix Lou, another participant in the race, said.
“People get together and also break the history, the stereotype, because most people look at Chinese Americans, Indian Americans, that they’re just bookworms, right? And it’s both sides. It’s [the race] a bridge,” Gao said.
“The race is like a window; it lets society see us,” Chen said.