Happy 2nd birthday, Back On my Feet Baltimore! March was a big month for Christopher’s Place and the entire Baltimore chapter, as we celebrated our birthday week, ran a 5k race, and ran a half marathon! March events also included the first Game Night, hosted by CP and attended by CP and team MCVET.
Team CP participated in the Kelly St. Patrick’s Day 5k race in downtown Baltimore on March 12th. This festive race draws more than 4,000 runners, and Team CP ran this race for the second year in a row. John R., Ron W., Dominique B., and alumni Donnell W. were joined by Kayla, Claire, Diane, Jordyn, Kim, Amy, Justin, and Sarah in the race. Jeanne and Preston came out to cheer. Congratulations to Kayla for placing 3rd in her age group, with a blazing fast time of 21:49!
Birthday celebrations kicked off on Wednesday, March 16th, as all the teams met at Team MCVET for a pre-dawn circle. We recognized our alumni members, new members, and all of those who have been with BoMF in between! All five teams then headed downtown for a 2-mile run along the harbor promenade. The run ended at the MAC Harbor East for a birthday reception complete with cupcakes, muffins, juice, and water. Thank you to the MAC for hosting us!
On Friday, March 18th, Christopher’s Place hosted all of the teams for a birthday party and t-shirt decorating party in advance of the half marathon. We enjoyed relaxing with everyone and celebrating the past year!
The 2nd Annual Nikia’s Nippy Nor’easter Half Marathon & Relay capped off our birthday festivities on Saturday, March 19th. We once again met at the NCR Trail in northern Baltimore County for our very own half marathon and relay. Team CP had three half-marathoners participating – John R., Brian C., and Mike M. – and one relay racer, Harvey N. Unfortunately, Dominique B., Avery B., and Donnell W. were unable to attend due to work conflicts. They were missed!
Team CP dominated the awards categories, as Eric finished first in his age group with a time of 1:30, Reisel was the first overall female finisher with a time of 1:33, and Kayla took first in her age group with a time of 1:48. Claire, Abbie, Jose, Elina, Andrea, Sarah, Stacey, Jordyn, and Krystle all ran the half marathon – representing the longest distance raced for Abbie, Stacey, and Krystle. Erin R. and Amy teamed up with Harvey on the relay as team We Run Baltimore, and Diane, Julian, and Alaleh raced to the finish as the CP Chicks. (Julian, a good sport, subbed in for injured Val on the relay.) Kim and Mike also joined in for the last five miles, as Kim paced Brian to the finish line and Mike ran in with Amy. Sadie, Kristian, and Erin N. came out to cheer on the racers, and joined by Eric on the accordion, a tambourine and a cowbell, the cheer squad quickly turned into the CP Band. Krystle won a best dressed award for her race tutu, and Kristian won a most spirited award for his cheer costume – perhaps you saw him in the rainbow wig? Extra thanks to our Race Coordinators Kim, Mike, and Johannah for all of their work on this amazing event!
CP has much to look forward to in April, including our alumni induction ceremony, a non residential appreciation night, and our next 5k race.
Members of Team CP at the Nikia Half Marathon & Relay
RESIDENTIAL MEMBER OF THE MONTH: DOMINIQUE B.
Dominique, Member of the Month
Shoe size: 11.5
Member since: January 2011
Miles accumulated: 172
Best BoMF moment: The St. Patrick’s Day 5k
Biggest challenge with running: None!
Goal in the next three months: The Delaware Half Marathon in May
What do you think about when you’re running?: Finishing the run
What’s the next race you’re doing with the BoMF crew?: The Delaware Half Marathon
“Dominique has to be one of the happiest runners I’ve ever met. He always has a big smile, and he clearly loves running and being with the team. Dom consistently challenges himself to run longer distances and he recently signed up for the Delaware Half Marathon – his longest race distance to date. He’s committed himself to the training and has such a positive attitude. We’re all cheering for Dom in Delaware and can’t wait to support him in this new goal!” – Sarah O’Connor, team leader
NON-RESIDENTIAL MEMBER OF THE MONTH: AMY U.
Amy (left), Member of the Month, with relay partner Erin
Shoe size: 7.5
Member since: March 2011
Best BoMF moment: Seeing my teammates push themselves and reach their goals at the Nikia Half.
What do you think about when you’re running?: Running in the mornings, I think about what the day ahead holds for me and my running partners. I think about what different lives we all lead and feel lucky that running lets us be part of each others lives.
What’s your next race with the BoMF crew?: The Bruckenthal 5k in April.
What would you tell someone considering joining BoMF Baltimore?: Waking up at 5 am is not as bad as it seems!!! The rewards far outweigh the early bedtime.
“Amy has only been with team CP for a short while, but she’s already made a huge impact. She jumped right in and signed up for the Nikia Relay (as part of Team We Run Baltimore, with Erin and Harvey), and she’s also running in our April race. She’s always willing to run whatever distance is needed and frequently joined the marathon trainers on their mid-week longer run. Amy’s positivity and encouragement helps everyone wake up in the mornings!” – Sarah O’Connor, team leader
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