Looking for an exciting place to work? Back on My Feet has numerous career opportunities for motivated individuals seeking positions with an impacting and innovative organization. We are hiring focused applicants for the roles of Controller, Human Resources Director and Baltimore Program Director. For the appropriate individual, Back on My Feet offers a competitive salary and an array of benefits: health coverage, vacation time, sick leave, and generous holiday schedules. With all positions at BoMF, we are looking for individuals dedicated to respecting others and seeking to empower those around them. If you are interested in these positions, please see the contact information on the job posting.

Back on My Feet is made up of energetic and dynamic individuals who know the value of supporting one another.

Back on My Feet Indianapolis met a new friend, Daniel Baerg. Daniel, a truck driver, stopped by to run with team Progress House. He contacted BoMF Indy to run with the team as he made his way through the city on his truck route. His goal is to run with every BoMF chapter his truck routes encounter.

This is Daniel’s blog post about his run:

The Indianapolis 500 is only about winners. When a driver wins that race, everyone talks about it. Just like I-465 that circles around the city of Indianapolis, the 500 only goes in circles. As my Peterbilt with her CAT 500 grumbles through traffic on I-465, I know that the only winners here are those fighting for life.  The only circle of life that I know about are the ones who have come full circle and realize that there is more to life. The only checkered flag that is flying for them is when they could look back and say ‘I won!;’ I won when BoMF came to Indianapolis and became my pitt stop!  The tires they put on the front lines of humanity give us fuel, strength of body, strength of mind, identity, running shoes, and the love of running through life!

I was exhausted as I looked through the windshield of my Peterbuilt at the skyline of Indianapolis. I was parked right out front where I was supposed to run with team Progress House. I wasn’t here to race in circles. I was here with the rubber on my feet to run with life, a race that goes on forever. Even through my sleep deprived mind, I knew what I was getting up for- those who had to fight through much more than a sleep deprived mind and body.

The team greeted me that morning for our run with hugs. Who just shows up for a morning run and gives some stranger from Portland, Oregon a hug? I was pleasantly surprised the other runners knew who I was and where I was from. One of the first people that greeted me said she hopes BoMF will someday make its way to Portland to form a chapter. But it isn’t just about BoMF coming to Portland, it’s about connecting with the front lines of humanity so that those choosing life through running can learn a tool that will forever be with them. That is what BoMF is all about and why my endeavor is to run with every BoMF chapter.

When our group of 20 plus runners finished with the Serenity Prayer, I laughed while I said, “Keep coming back. It works if you work it.”  It’s something those of us that go to AA always say. One man turned to me, laughed and said, “You’ve been there haven’t you?” Yup, those of us who go to AA know who we are. It’s part of the bridge that connects those of us who fight addictions and try to reconnect with life.

I ran with the volunteers and those who operate BoMF Indy. They were all so engaging and validating. Since I’m such a competitor, I felt compelled to run with the lead group of runners. I was exhausted afterward and probably as orange as my LA Marathon running shirt.

With my new BoMF Indy friends.

It’s not easy to come full circle and know that there is more to life than going in circles. It’s about choices. It’s about deciding to go on. It’s about choosing to reestablish relationships and lacing up our ‘running tires,’ knowing that if we keep on running we can fight any battle as long as we lift our legs and run the ultra-marathon that is life. It’s Indianapolis, Indiana. It’s running. Thank you BoMF Indy for welcoming me into your family.

BoMF Indy is thankful to call Daniel a friend and an inspiration. To read more about Daniel’s running adventures, check out his blog.

With the same love for fitness (running!) and community, CrossFit Center City and Back on My Feet have joined together for a weekend at the Philadelphia Triathalon Expo June 24th-25th.

So what IS CrossFit? “CrossFit is a strength and conditioning system built on constantly varied, if not
randomized, functional movements executed at high intensity” (Crossfit Journal).  Besides the abundance of frequently used abreviations, like WOD (workout of the day), METCON (metabolic conditioning) and AMRAP (as many rounds/reps as possible), CrossFit is best known for being the vehicle to reaching your highest fitness potential through skills based training in olympic lifting, gymnastics, running and more!

So if we haven’t sold you yet…

CrossFit Center City will be offering a discounted month membership at the PHLY TRI expo all day Saturday and Sunday! AND, to top off a great deal,$50 of every membership sold will go to support Back on My Feet. What better way to improve your running/biking/swimming, than with pullups, pushups, ring work, deadlifts, snatches, double-unders, handstands….the list goes on!

Want more information? Visit the CrossFit Center City website or email crossfitcc@gmail.com.

When you first see Randolph, you notice his smile–that is, until he’s already down the street and you just see the back of him. Since joining Back on My Feet in October, Randolph’s been go, go, go, and if you don’t pay attention when he’s running, you might miss him.

He joined BoMF because he would see a friend at Ridge get up every morning to run with the team and thought if he can do it, I can do it. Randolph’s favorite part about running with BoMF is meeting and connecting with so many people. Being with people who will not only support you and run with you, but who are willing to make a fool of themselves in a good way can be a rare thing to find, and Randolph’s found it. For proof, check out the Ridge team cheer, which he sees as very representative of the team.

Randolph’s first race was the Burlington River Run, a 5k in New Jersey, and it’s still his favorite race, at least so far. He enjoyed the scenery and the peacefulness of the race; personally we think he liked it the best because it gave him his first taste of racing and running fast, which he loves. Since the fall, he’s run the Caesar Rodney Half Marathon and the Broad Street 10 miler, along with most of the shorter races.

Randolph’s drive is not limited to morning runs and races. He has set and achieved many of the personal goals he’s set. From day one he had the goal of earning his GED.  He continues to take classes and learn from the practice tests, and will no doubt pass the last two parts very soon. Right now Randolph is searching for a job, and has been relentless in his pursuit of one in the food service industry.

Ridge team leader Amina said the following about Randolph:

Randolph is consistently a source of inspiration and motivation for me and for the other members of Back on My Feet throughout Philadelphia. In addition to running, Randolph has demonstrated his remarkable character and intelligence. He is an extremely fast learner, a great leader and excellent team player. He is not afraid to ask questions and is the first to rise to a challenge.  Randolph pushes me in our training runs just as much as I push him, and he has become one of my favorite training partners.

On Sunday, June 19, the Back on My Feet Washington DC teams participated in an 8k race through Georgetown. The cloudy and cool weather made perfect conditions for a highly enjoyable and successful race, for both members and volunteers alike.

Washington DC Team Members after the Fathers Day 8k

Representing Blair House, there were strong performances by Shon K. and Chris G., along with volunteers Barbara Poppe, John Murray and volunteer coordinator Alyson Shade.

From La Casa, members Dwight S., Alfonso T., and Chris G. ran alongside volunteers Brittany M., and Craig G., and were cheered on by their teammates Byron C., Felix B., and Dean B.

There was a strong showing for Clean and Sober Streets, with members David C., Marvin O., Thornell M., Lewis S., Darius C., Marque E., Charles K., team leader Nick F., volunteer Taishya Adams, and team leader Shannon Smith, all finishing with great times.

Representing Emery House was Scotty W. and volunteer Chris Hatton.

The members and volunteers were all extremely supportive of each other, encouraging strong performances and 110% effort. Even after an 8k run, everyone was thrilled to find Georgetown Cupcakes at the finish line. What a great end to Fathers Day!

This past Saturday, Philadelphia witnessed perfect weather, great food, fun, friends and dizzy bats! The afternoon started off quite calmly with everyone enjoying pizza from The Couch Tomato Café and sandwiches from The Cranberry Café.

The noise level in the park dramatically increased due to our team cheer competition. Congratulations to Sheila Dennis House for winning the team cheer competition and to Ridge for their second place finish. All the cheers are available on Facebook.

Teams and individuals competed in dizzy bats (spinning 5 and 7 times around), the water balloon toss, the wheel barrow race and a basketball shooting contest. We saw some very impressive performances in each competition proving that the Philly chapter is more than just great distance runners: we have hand-eye coordination, flexibility, cat-like reflexes and slick moves!

All the pictures are available on Facebook. Weren’t able to join us? Come hang out with us for 20in24! Sign up to run or volunteer: www.20in24.com.

This past weekend was incredibly special for the Indianapolis teams. We have been training for a half marathon for the past three months and the day finally arrived! There were a total of eight resident members who ran the Carmel Half Marathon and two who ran the 8K.

I had the privilege of running with Eric Arnold, who is a member of team Progress House. During the training process I have had the opportunity to run with a good handful of the guys on the team- each one of them special to me. On race morning I had pretty much decided that I would be running with Eric for the race.

I honestly had the most fun in a race that I have ever had…. and I have ran a lot of races. For the first five miles, I was running back and forth between different team members while taking pictures and videos. After those first five- I decided to stop being the crazy girl with loud footsteps, a backpack and a camera sprinting back and forth between runners and stuck to running right with Eric the rest of the way.

We worked hard, we laughed, we met new friends along the way and learned a little bit about what it means to be a real runner. You have to OWN the hills! (Right Eric?!) Other than the tiny incline the team used to think of as a mountain, we hadn’t been training on hills.  If you are familiar with Indianapolis at all, you know that there are no hills downtown! Well, there were quite a few long, gradual hills waiting for us up in Carmel. We all marched right up those hills like we were born to do it.

A couple of highlights from my race with Eric-

1. The sarcasm & humor through the whole race- even when it was painful

2. Running with Brian Donnelly for the first 7 miles

3. Seeing all of the BoMF supporters along the course working water stops and cheering us on

4. When I told him we were doing great and nobody was passing us- and as soon as I said that it seemed as though herds of runners came stomping past

5. The friend we met at mile 10

6. Finally catching up to John & Guy – and working together to finish a strong race

7. Sprinting it in on the last straight away

8. The hugs & tears at the finish line

9. Eric donating his hard earned medal to Medals for Mettles without thinking twice about it

10. Cheering on our teammates once we were done

Thanks Kelly McCulluch for supporting us while you were out of town!

After Eric & I finished our 13.1

Eric & John celebrating after racing neck & neck almost the whole race

Group pic of some of the team while we waited to cheer on the one and only Joe Kendrick!

Thank you to the Carmel Marathon for donating bibs to our team and thank you to all of our friends, family members and supporters who came out to work a water stop on behalf of Back on My Feet! We appreciate all who supported us in this journey!

Congratulations to our Half Marathon Finishers:

Mitch Righter, Doug Griffith, Eric Arnold, John Stultz, James Boyd, Rob McEntire, Ron Gephart, Joe Kendrick, Glenn Hein, Courtney Sheppard, Guy White, Beth Olson, Christel Avenhall-Harding, Susan Fox, Brian Donnelly, Marty Posch, Krista Washington, Shrell Sims, Brent Wadkins, Tom Gardner, Steve Kerr, Phyllis Parker, Niki Schmidt & Sandy Knox

Congratulations to our 8K Finishers:

Brian White, Leslie Ray, Tony Alexander & Deb Gardner

And a big Congratulations to Progress House non-res teammate Kevin Fine for completing the Full Marathon with a brand new PR!

Back on My Feet, DC teamed up with La Casa, Deloitte and the Positive Coaching Alliance to host a Deloitte Impact Day on Friday, June 10. The day started on the right foot with BoMF team La Casa welcoming Deloitte team members to the circle and on a run. After breakfast sponsored by Deloitte, residents of La Casa joined Impact Day participants for a motivational coaching session hosted by Positive Coaching Alliance. Employees also facilitated a computer training session to help residents with resume building and writing skills. Deloitte and BoMF team members who wanted to get their hands dirty spent the remainder of the day sprucing up La Casa’s landscaping and fixing up the facility interior with fresh coats of paint and general labors of love.

Roger Jasek, the Deloitte Partner in Charge said about the day, “While Impact Day is primarily a day of service, it is also a day designed to meet new people, have a good time around a worthy cause and to positively impact the lives of others that may not be as fortunate.  Reflecting back on Friday, I can say that all of these items were accomplished!”

Born and raised in southern Arkansas, Rhonda A. moved to DC to stay with a cousin to seek out better employment opportunities.  She taught in public and charter schools for almost a decade in Washington, DC as well as out in Prince George County.  After turning to substitute teaching,  Rhonda  found herself moving in to Luther Place Night Shelter, a part of the N Street Village community, in late 2009.  She lived in a basement apartment over in Southeast DC until it began to repeatedly flood when it rained.  With repairs nowhere on the horizon, she moved in with a friend for a while, but eventually it was time for her to move on and she made her way over to Luther Place Night Shelter.  She had known about N Street Village before that and had been going there for some of the daily activities.

Rhonda found a community at N Street Village that was a welcoming environment where all people were treated with respect and decency.  She admires John and Irna Steinbruck, the founders of N Street Village.  “They used to minister at Luther Place, and knowing them and their mission, their purpose, I get the feeling that this is something done in earnest, not for show or awards.”

Rhonda liked the movement and yoga classes held at the community, and when she heard that Back on My Feet was starting up a team she was a little hesitant at first but soon became a big believer in the support and community she found within the team.  With 8 months on the team and over 100 miles(!) Rhonda has run in 4 races and shows no signs of slowing down.  “I see that I’m able to do that now.  I’m able to move forward.  Remembering that first block when I didn’t think I could do it.  But I had people around who continually encouraged me, and it helps keep me going.”

One of the things she’s found in BoMF is the sense of pride and the feeling of having an extended family throughout the city.  The social events such as the BoMF Blue and Green Birthday Bash and the BoMF Night at the Nationals help reinforce the sense of family and accomplishment for her.  “When I looked out on the field [Nationals Stadium] the game doesn’t seem as intimidating as it used to.  I couldn’t say that if I wasn’t with Back on My Feet – for me that shows a new level of confidence and perspective,” said Rhonda.

She had nothing but high praise for the team over at Accenture that have helped with the Skills to Succeed Seminar, part of the Next Steps phase of the Back on My Feet program.  “Jorge and Mike are just wonderful, very uplifting and helpful and they carried you through the whole session – they extended themselves if we needed help further down the line – they really cared.”

Rhonda is setting her sights on continuing her education.  Whether returning to Trinity College to continue taking classes or applying to American University, she would like to work with kids again in education or special education.  Currently she’s interning with Reading Partners, here in Washington, DC. The motivation and confidence to take on these new challenges has been bolstered by running.  “I remember the last race when I was coming up the hill and all the people on the sidelines were cheering and supporting you, encouraging you to do what you didn’t think you could do.”  That belief in herself is something that is going to carry Rhonda for a long time.

“The way you work with people, the way you treat people and respect each other, that’s what I got from the whole experience with Back on My Feet.”