Walking up to Clean and Sober Streets (CSS) at 5:43am, I hug everyone in greeting and we all huddle close to try and fend off the cold.  Across the street though, one of our teammates is already warmed-up and eager for the run to begin.  Rodan Hollins is shadowboxing, tall and intent on crushing his imaginary foe.

As we cross the street to join him, he doesn’t stop immediately, but continues his routine until a teammate gently tells him it’s time to circle up.  “Alright, where am I going?”  He’ll ask the nearest neighbor who will help guide him into the group.  After warm-ups, it’s time to hit the road and Rodan keeps close to his guide, Silas Brown.  Rodan relies on Silas to lead him through the dark streets of Washington, DC without hitting poles or getting hit by cars because in addition to his passion for staying fit, Rodan is visually impaired.

“I have glaucoma.  I thought the world would close me out,” he tells me during the interview for DC’s Chapter Member of the Month.  “All my running mates encourage me.”  But there’s something more encouraging about witnessing the teamwork, the partnership, which has been created between these two men.  To passersby, they may appear like any running duo, but for Rodan, being able to run represents something greater than just staying fit.  “I treasure each morning,” he says, “it’s a spiritual gift.”

Rodan is grateful for the gift running gives him each day because it has helped him maintain his recovery from drugs.  “Working out was essential to my recovery and Back on My Feet helped me realize my addiction.”  Rodan’s addiction had broken up his family and when he came to CSS he needed the tools to repair the damage.  When he joined Back on My Feet he was just beginning to rediscover himself and the team gave him that opportunity by opening the door.

“Running is a better high than drugs,” he says with delight.  “Running helps me reach goals and being a part of a team brings me joy.  My team is a family; they’ve really opened their hearts to me.”

Rodan is determined to stay on the path he’s started traveling down, as he continually states how much running has helped him move forward.  When I ask him about his future, he exhales and his face brightens: “My future? God, my future looks wide open!”

We look forward to chasing that future with you, Rodan.  Keep running!

We’re already looking at the end of 2012′s first month, and our January has been the best kind of winter! We’re thankful for warmer-than-usual temperatures on most days, snow-free sidewalks and a team that just keeps running! The votes are in, and DC’s January Members of the Month are:

Clean & Sober Streets (CSS)

Resident Member: David C. -

And, congrats to Gary D. for his newly-elected Captain status!

Non-Res. Member: Linday M.

NSV 

Resident member: LaJuana C -showing strong leadership from the start, and she’s already motivating new team members!

Non-Res. member: Sarah B – a smile that can brighten everyone’s morning, a good attitude and consistent attendance to our morning adventures!

La Casa

Resident member: Michael “Heavy” H – doing wonderfully at his new job, and now officially moved into his own apartment! Heavy continues to show tremendous dedication to his BoMF team, still joining for weekly morning runs.

Non-Res. Member: Sandra – shows up rain, shine or sub-freezing temps, with her cheerful and motivating attitude!

Emery

Resident Member: Duane W. (see picture below)

Non-Res. Member: Kyle R (see picture below)

Let’s start 2012 with a great run of outstanding individuals fighting the perception of homelessness one step at a time! Ryan Harms, Tom Boone and Elysa Nelson (also Non-Residential Member of the year!) have been recognized as Non-Residential Members of the month for January. Check out all of our Members of the Month below! And remember… double hugs are no joke!

Ryan Harms, Non-Residential Member, Dallas LIFE “It may be only for three hours a week, and it may not always give us a full picture of our Residential Members lives, but we at least get a peek in the window of their lives, and have the privilege of sharing in part of their story. I can’t tell you all how many times I hear how thankful our Residential Members are for the love and community we show them in the morning.  I think sometimes I forget how wonderful a listening ear can be… but they do not.”

Ricky R., Residential Member, Dallas LIFE Ricky has been an integral member of the Dallas LIFE team since October 2011. Having lost more than 50 pounds in a few short months, Ricky walks to be a part of the team and to improve his health.

Tom Boone, Non-Residential Member, Salvation Army “It’s a great way to start the day! My favorite part of running with Back on My Feet is the camaraderie.”

James T., Residential Member, Salvation Army James, a Vietnam veteran, joined Back on My Feet in November 2011. James worked as a Greyhound bus driver for more than 20 years but now enjoys the challenge of running with his teammates. James completed the Hotcake Hustle on January 14, 2012.

Elysa Nelson, Non-Residential Member, The Bridge “Back on My Feet has taught me how much room my heart still has left to love others. When I joined BoMF, I was worried I was over committing and that I wouldn’t be able to make as much time for the organization as I wanted. But I quickly learned that my heart had plenty of room for the amazing Residential and Non-Residential Members, and the friendships I have gained are incredible.”

Patrick R., Residential Member, The Bridge Patrick joined the Back on My Feet team at The Bridge in December 2011. He completed his first 5K at the Hotcake Hustle on January 14, 2012. “Back on My Feet means being a productive person.”

How to prevent burning out or fading away as a Back on My Feet volunteer

You volunteer because you are motivated, you want to make a difference, and frankly because it feels good.  Helping others is a good thing right?  But just like in the case of food or exercise, too much of a good thing can become a bad thing.  Time spent volunteering can became a stressor when we are feeling overwhelmed and unable to meet the constant demands placed on us at work, home or even in our training.

How then can we be that superstar volunteer when life is busy?  Author James Robbins suggests 4 steps to maintain harmony and balance.

1. Reconnect with your purpose.  As a team member of Back on My Feet, you are helping to provide a safe and positive environment for all team members.  Just by showing up you are enhancing leadership skills, encouraging and motivating others and modeling responsibility and dedication.  Our team members trust you, and they appreciate that you are there for them.
2. Beware of emotionally draining situations.  Volunteering can have tremendous payback in terms of making a difference, but sometimes it is emotionally draining.  It’s important that you have a friend to talk to when you find yourself in these situations.  “We all need a help sometimes with perspective” Robbins states, “even if it’s just a reminder of our boundaries or acknowledgement of the difficulty of the situation.”
3. Think for the long term, and take a break.  It’s ok to take a few days, a week or even a month off from your role as a volunteer.  We want you to stick around for the long run, and a few weeks off may be just what you need to come back into your role feeling refreshed.  We’ll be happy to see you when you come back!
4.  Know that we appreciate YOU!  Your smiles, hugs and energy breathe life into the team.  You make a difference each week just by being you and for that we thank you, from the bottom of our heart.

Life is a balancing act. Juggling work and play, friends and family, heart and soul, and mind and body can be challenging. We’re so glad that being a member of Back on My Feet is a part of your repertoire.

- Jennifer Kimble, jennifer@backonmyfeet.org

December’s unseasonably warm temperatures made for a wonderful month of running and training for our St. Leonard’s team. Not only were we busy running, but many of our teammates reached some exciting milestones during the month of December!

Our team welcomed two new members in December. Rob and John joined our team and have been a lovely addition to the group. They are very supportive of one another and the team and are a pleasure to be around. We are so happy to have them running with us!

The month started out with a rainy, but fun, Santa Hustle 5k. Despite the crummy weather, the team had a great time running along the lakefront dressed as Santa. Howard, Jerry, Akbar, Osie, Mingo, and a group of non-residential team members braved the weather for a nice holiday run. Read more…

December brought many welcome changes for the REST team (including a name change to the North Side Housing-Uptown team)! The REST facility was taken over by North Side Housing-Uptown. North Side Housing is incredibly enthusiastic and supportive of the Back on My Feet program and mission. Moreover, they have already begun to make much needed improvements to the REST facility – painting, installing lockers and improving accommodations. Read more…

Jamie with Outta Site Mike at the Drumstick Dash

Jamie runs with team HVAF and has been a constant supporter of the Indianapolis program since she started as a volunteer.

We are so thankful for her presence on the team and the heart that she brings to the program.

Running shoe size: 9

Favorite post run food: Frozen Yogurt (Yogulatte’s)

How many half marathons/marathons have you ran: 12-15 half marathons, 1 marathon

Favorite race you’ve ever done:

Dances with Dirt Relay and Back on My Feet 42k Relay. I enjoyed running the relays as it gives me a chance to hang out with good friends and meet new people throughout the day.

Favorite music: All, but ipod run list consists of Christian, 80′s, Country, Rap, Pop.

Favorite athlete: Magic Johnson

Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere warm with a beach, especially the Caribbean!

Bucket list item you plan to cross off soon:

I just crossed off one of the biggest last summer–I went on a mission trip to Zambia, Africa with Alliance for Children Everywhere.

Why do you run: I run to clear my head and to stay fit.

Tell us a little about your family:

I say “8 is Enough”–my parents, older sister, younger brother, brother-in-law, niece and nephew, along with a large extended family.

Where do you work:

My sister, JoBeth Zimmerman, co-own Cox Zimmerman Public Relations. We specialize in PR and Marketing consultation.

Tell us what BoMF has meant to you:

BoMF has meant so much to me beyond running. I wanted to get involved the minute I heard about the organization. The residents at HVAF are so appreciative and loving. If I miss a few days, I feel like I haven’t seen family in awhile. BoMF HVAF entire team feels like my second family.

All-time favorite BoMF memory: My most memorable run was my first run at HVAF.

You run with team member “Outta-Site” Mike quite a bit, can you tell us a little about that relationship and how it was established:

I started running with “Outta-Site” Mike my first run and he didn’t talk much throughout the run. I was thinking he didn’t like me and just wanted me to be quiet. The closer we got to the end he started opening up. He had not been running long so he didn’t want to mess up his breathing. I love that every run we do he will run with me and we can keep the same pace until the end– he takes off and sprints to the end. NO WAY can I keep up!

Anything else you want to share with readers:

Getting up at 5am is not something I thought I would do well, but knowing I’m heading to see my team gets me out of bed with a smile!

Perhaps there is no marathon in the country — even the world — more sought after, admired, and feared than the legendary Boston Marathon. It’s no wonder that a few of our most passionate BoMF Boston Residential Members have subtly hinted at their wish to one day run the race. But the Boston Marathon? You have to qualify to get into that one. You need to be fast. Really fast. Or raise money. A lot of money. It’ll probably never happen. It’s probably better to set your sites on something smaller, easy to get into, right?

So imagine our delight when we were given the opportunity to provide entries into the 2012 Boston Marathon to a few (very) lucky BoMF Res Members thanks to our partnership with the John Hancock Boston Marathon Charity Bib Program, which supplied BoMF with a number of bibs to the 2012 race to use for fundraising.

This is the Boston Marathon. This is much bigger than 26.2 miles. The experience of training for and running a marathon is transcendental. When these guys cross the finish line of the Boston Marathon, they will have proven to themselves and to everyone that there’s nothing they can’t do. This will be the first of many more major finish lines of their lives, be it completing a degree, landing a secure job, or moving into permanent housing; all of which they’ll be working towards as they train for April 16. As we say at Back on My Feet, running is the perfect metaphor for life because hard work, dedication, and perseverance, do and eventually will pay off.

Over the next few months, we’ll be highlighting all of the runners on this year’s Back on My Feet Boston Marathon team, including the four Residential Members who will be lacing up on April 16: Austin Baker, Brian Doucette, Wahid Chaudhary, and Chris Hatton.

But we need your help getting them across the finish line! You can sponsor a runner, support the team, or get your company involved. Contact bridget@backonmyfeet.org for more information about supporting Back on My Feet’s Team Running Home or donate today!

Have a look at one team member, Austin Baker, as he learns he’ll be running in the 2012 Boston Marathon. “This is the happiest moment of my life.” Please help us get Austin and his teammates across the finish line. And stay tuned for more information on the team, the Residents, and the Non Res who will help get them there.

The Lawson House team had a busy and festive December! We began the month with the Santa Hustle 5k, where 11 residential team members and several non-residential members ran the race dressed up as Santa (some even donned a white beard). Our team kept the holiday spirit going the next weekend as we had our own Lawson House Machine holiday party. Team Leader Randi made a delicious home cooked breakfast consisting of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage and biscuits! Other team members contributed baked goods, fruit and other breakfast treats! The best part was when residential member Andy surprised us all by dressing up as Santa Claus! Other holiday events included caroling at Warren Barr Pavilion and the Back on My Feet holiday party at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Read more…

Ron Gephart, Keith Brown, John Howish (Keith in the middle, never ceases to amaze us with his fun, hilarious outfits at races... we love it!)

Name: Keith Brown

Running Shoe Size: 10

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Favorite Music: Everything! Classical to Van Morrison, Little Feat to The Rolling Stones.

Favorite Sports Team: All Cleveland teams, even during the continuing rough years!

One Hero: Dr. Bill Thomas out of New York, who started working with seniors and developed the Greenhouse Project, Eden Project, and continuing spin offs.

What brought you to BoMF:

I was a soccer player in high school and college, and saw BoMF as an opportunity to get back into shape, get my metabolism going at a faster rate, and lose weight. The other reason I came to BoMF was seeing the team every morning having fun and joking around, which I thought was something that could help with my recovery process.

I also know BoMF will help me quit smoking, which will make it easier to run, I’m just not ready yet!

What difference has BoMF made in your life:

It has opened doors, provided mental clarity and allowed connections to be made that wouldn’t happen in a regular recovery program. The timing of some of the opportunities I have been given, allowed me to get my health back up.

BoMF has been the most instrumental resource for me in a full recovery and getting back into the community. I will transition close to the facility to keep the friendships and connections I have gained.

What races have you ran with BoMF & what’s been your favororite:

Monumental Marathon 5K, Back on My Feet 42K Relay, Santa Hustle 5K and The Planet Adventure New Year’s Eve Masquerace 5K

The Back on My Feet 42K Relay was my favorite because it was unique and it was my first race!

Most memorable BoMF memory: True friendships

BHAG: (Big Hairy Audacious Goals – thanks Deb for this awesome question!)

1. Find connection between Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Autism
2. Own a Bed and Breakfast
3. See the world
4. Become an Indiana and US Lobbyist

Advice for new members: Don’t give up, never give up! It is easier than it looks and the longest journey starts with the first step! Also the SWAG is pretty cool!

What do you do in your spare time: Between school, work, and running there is little time left for anything! I do enjoy Turner Classic Movies, trying to keep up with current affairs, and of course running 5Ks!

Keith practiced Law for 28 years as a Public Defender, and now has a passion for helping the elderly, especially those afflicted with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. He also has a passion for holistic and spiritual healing. Keith is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Health Administration from the Ashford University in Iowa. He would like to use this degree to create an alternative for seniors going to a typical nursing home facility.

Currently, Keith is employed with The Citizens Action Coalition where he visits communities in Indianapolis to ensure people are paying a fair price for their utilities and other government services.

“I have found Keith to be one of the most dedicated members of Team Progress House and thoroughly enjoy having him on the team.” said Program Director, Brian Meyer, “He is always ready with a kind word and a helping hand.”