Despite the summer heatwave, St John’s has had a great July!  We kicked off the month with the BoMF birthday run at City Hall, had an impressive showing of support at the Fourth Annual 20in24 Relay Challenge, attended the Soul Game, and held our first St. John’s Bootcamp on the steps of the Art Museum.

The best moments for St. John’s this month undoubtedly occurred during our participation in the 20in24 Relay Challenge.  Leonard, Ron, Mike P., Malcolm and Joe completed the Bronze Relay with impressive individual times, and Chris rocked the Pajama Run coming straight from working overnight to complete his loop! Despite the heat and lack of sleep, all of our runners logged their longest distances yet and supported each other from start to finish.

Congratulations and thanks also go out to our non-res teams, lone rangers, midnight madness and pajama loop participants and volunteers!

To mix things up at the end of the month, our team coach, Heather led the team in a “St. John’s Bootcamp” on the Art Museum steps.  As a group, we ran the stairs, jump-roped, lunged, and did push-ups and sprints to get our heart rates up in a fun and unique way!

Like July, August will without a doubt be a busy month for our team.  We are planning to begin training for Fall half and full marathons, participate in a volunteer opportunity together, and keep things interesting with cross-training activities like spin class and boxing!

Res Member of the Month: Leonard

Leonard began running with St. John’s at the end of June and has been inspiring the team with his unwavering enthusiasm and dedication ever since.  As a former semi-pro football player, Leonard has applied his athletic instincts to test his endurance and push the pace during morning runs.

Always up for a challenge, Leonard ran the first loop of the 20in24 relay for the St. John’s Team, finishing his first race with an impressive time and a positive attitude.  In a short 5 weeks, Leonard has already logged over 50 miles and maintains 100% attendance, making him a reliable presence at our 5:30 runs.

The entire St. John’s Team is looking forward to witnessing what Leonard will accomplish next!

Non-Res Member of the Month: Alison Reis

Alison is a long time Saint John’s BoMF volunteer and just completed a six-month term as The Organizer on the core team. In addition to attending nearly every morning run, weekend race, and Saint John’s social outing, Alison offered her leadership skills to track resident attendance and progress towards incentives/financial aid. Alison has been one of the most positive,energetic, and consistent Saint John’s volunteers.

The Saint John’s family is privileged to have Alison as a member.

Hello, Chicago summer!

The warm temperatures we were missing when the Lake View team first started, are hitting us ten fold. It’s always one or the other…

that’s the way Chicago works don’t you know? It’s been a quiet month but a steady one.

Laura, Jay and Mick accompanied a couple of the guys to the first-ever Beach-a-thon. Steven made sure to choose his words carefully when describing how “fun” it was.

I think it was harder than they thought it would be. But fun, it was.

All of our members have maintained an above-90% attendance rate! We’re so, so proud of all of them.

And, congrats to both Joe and Steven, who flew past the 50 mile mark this month—these two are powerhouses, but watch out—Carmacho and Raymond are hot on their tails.

Michael is still enjoying his position with the Park District as a counselor—and already looking for another one to round out his summer. Fingers crossed, it all works out.

We’re all looking forward to our first 5K and 10K next weekend… let the racing begin! Read more…

On Sunday, August 14, 10 members of Back on My Feet took on the legendary New Balance Falmouth Road Race. Thanks to the behind-the-scenes support from BoMF supporter Phill Gross and the folks on the Falmouth Road Race staff, five FundRacers and five resident members had the chance to experience one of the most scenic races in America first-hand.

Resident members from Hope House, St. Francis House, and Somerville Homeless Coalition all took to the starting line in beautiful downtown Falmouth along with their supporters and Team Falmouth FundRacers Jay Murphy, Nicole Reilly, Sam Hallowell, Tom Mandile, and Bill Maffei. Of our amazing FundRacers,  Hope House core team member Jay Murphy hauled it in first at an awesome 48:51. Way to go, Jay!

Jay Murphy makes it look easy four miles in

Of course our FundRacers weren’t the only ones kicking asphalt on the Falmouth course. Team Vet’s resident member Andy Negron came flying into the finish line at an impressive 53:54. Barely inching over the one hour mark followed newly inducted marathoner Mike Adams at 1:00:47 of Team St. Francis House. Mike was followed by Hope House’s Jared Gately and Harley Kata, as well as Team Somerville’s Brian Doucette. Way to go, guys!

Team Vet's Andy Negron looking festive!

Back on My Feet team member Kate Klim and Team Leader Daniella Piccirilli also participated in this year’s race. Congratulations, ladies! If you’re Back on My Feet member and were at the Falmouth Road Race, we want to know! Send us your photos and your stories from this year’s race.

Check out more photos of this year’s face on our Facebook page.

Check out the post from last year’s Falmouth Road Race!

Kenny’s road to Back on My Feet was one wrought with hardship and life lessons. Stemming from the tragedy of 9/11, Kenny lost a well-paying IT job, went through a tough divorce and suffered some financial difficulties. Trying to get back on track, he found a program for people wanting to rebuild their lives. It was through this program that he came to the YMCA Lawson House and joined Back on My Feet. Kenny had always wanted to get into shape and had even fantasized in the past about becoming a bodybuilder. While he knew running with Back on My Feet wouldn’t transform him into the next Arnold Schwarzenegger, he was excited to give running a try. Kenny knew that having the support of a team would help keep him motivated. Now, Kenny says, “Ironically, I look forward to running.” He feels like he’s accomplishing something great when he runs without frequent stops and is able to keep up with the rest of the group! Through his involvement with Back on My Feet, not only has Kenny met his physical goal of getting into better shape, but his self-esteem has increased as well! He enjoys his teammates and likes being a part of the organization. Back on My Feet has helped him get to know more YMCA Lawson House residents and he enjoys socializing and hearing others’ stories. Likewise, his teammates appreciate everything that Kenny brings to the team. Kenny’s cheerful demeanor has been a constant on the team since day one. He is sure to boost anyone’s spirits at 5:45am! And his teammates are impressed with Kenny’s running improvements. Despite his chronically sore knees, Kenny continues to show up every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning to put in miles without complaint!

As an exemplary Back on My Feet member, Kenny’s drive to succeed is not only shown in his running; he works hard to better his life professionally as well! Back on My Feet resonates with Kenny as a name and a way of life, “It should be a mantra for those who have fallen,” he says. “The program is perfect because it gives tangible things. They help you with credit and give job training right from the very beginning.” And Kenny would know because he eagerly takes advantage of all the programming opportunities that Back on My Feet has available! He was one of the first in Chicago to attend Bank of America and Money Management International’s Financial Literacy Course and he has also attended Accenture Skills to Succeed. You can hear first-hand how Kenny feels about Back on My Feet:

“I have made wrong decisions in my life and now it’s time for me to make some right ones. There’s a quote from Ice T that goes, “You need to seize the moment and seize every opportunity that comes your way.” That’s what I’m doing with the Back on My Feet program. That’s why when there are seminars I try to sign up. Those are opportunities that you don’t get every day. It’s a shame if any of us don’t take advantage of that. I like the team. The focus of the team is running, of course, but the team and staff are genuinely concerned. They aren’t just in it for tax write-offs! I truly believe that they care about us. They ask about us and think about us and just the fact that they get up early and have to travel to get here proves that. This is something that we should cherish and embrace with joy and excitement!”

Team Ridge has had an amazing July, despite the record high temperatures!

Several res- and non-res members participated in this year’s BoMF 20in24 event.  Team Leader Amina and res member Randolph had the pleasure of meeting and running with Today Show anchor Natalie Morales on her bronze relay team.  Randolph and Amina had a great time representing Team Ridge in this event!  Jerome also competed on a bronze relay team later in the day, and ran an impressive time, considering how hot it was.  Congrats to Randolph and Jerome!

Another Ridge non-res member really made Team Ridge proud by competing as a Lone Ranger at 20in24.  He ran an impressive 9 laps of the Kelly Drive loop… that’s 75.6 miles!!! Congratulations Chris!

Some other non-res members competed in various events throughout the day.  Kate T. competed as part of a silver relay team, and Amina, Shannon, and Liz S. raced in the midnight madness loop.  Awesome job everyone, and thanks to everyone who came out to volunteer at the water station!  Your efforts were greatly appreciated.

Team Ridge took a break from running in the heat to cool off, by heading to the beach for a day.  The gang headed to Island Beach State Park on July 9th, and had a fantastic time swimming in the ocean and relaxing on the beach.

Members of the month:

Res- Kevin M.

Kevin is new to Team Ridge, but despite his short time with us, so far he has made a big impact.  Kevin has improved so much over the past couple of weeks, and he continues to push himself every week.  He always has a big smile on his face, and is such a great source of inspiration for the whole team.

Non-res-  Liz Schnitz

Liz is a great presence on Team Ridge, and is always the first to volunteer for events.  She is an amazing runner, and pushes the team during morning runs.  Liz is always bright, chipper and ready to run even on the hottest early mornings!  Thanks for everything you do, Liz!

On Monday, August 15th, Back on My Feet staff, members and supporters were invited to participate in the live taping of the Today Show at the NBC 5 Plaza in Chicago as part of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Charity Program. While Al Roker broadcast the weather from the NBC 5 Plaza, several marathon charities vied for air time to promote their cause. The BoMF Chicago St. Leonard’s and YMCA Lawson House teams joined BoMF Chicago staff at the event, where they were armed with giant feet and posters. Members held up signs with such catchy phrases as, “Back on My Feet thanks our Bank of America Chicago Marathon Fundraisers”, “I run with Back on My Feet for health and happiness”, and “Back on My Feet Chicago loves Natalie Morales!”

Back on My Feet sends a big “thank you” to Dave from the Chicago Marathon Charity Program for inviting us to participate! And thank you to all of our fundracers and members – both residential and non-residential - that came out to support us!

View more pictures from the morning here!

Wednesday August 3^rd the team members from Clean and Sober streets went out to support the Washington Nationals in their game versus the Atlanta Braves. It was a cheerful, fun afternoon of team building as everyone got to know each other a little better between handfuls of popcorn. The rain didn’t dampen anyone’s spirit and the whole group celebrated by singing Take me Out to the Ball Game in honor of one member Charles King’s first baseball game. We were even featured on the jumbotron!

CSS Volunteers and Members @ the Nationals Game

August brings record breaking temperatures in Dallas and an awesome new batch of Members of the Month! What does it take to be recognized as a Member of the Month? These runners demonstrate the spirit of BoMF, determination, confidence and strength. They understand the meaning of a team and are an integral part of the BoMF family. They are more than deserving of double hugs this month!

	Deborah Witt, Non-Residential Member, Dallas LIFE “Since joining the Dallas Life team, BoMF has provided additional opportunities for me to be involved with the program and residents. I participated in a 2.0 Orientation, facilitated a Financial Literacy class, planned special events, and recruited two co-workers.  Needless to say, I believe in this program. I know how lives are touched and changed – especially mine! BoMF adds value to my life.”
	Joe McCullough, Residential Member, Dallas LIFE “I joined BoMF to better myself and improve myself in areas where I thought I was lacking. I like the environment that I wake up to in the morning. If it wasn’t for ya’ll inspiring me, I wouldn’t have made it this far. I like all aspects of it. I think it’s good for a person to get up to learn discipline.”
	Nelson Prater, Non-Residential Member, Salvation Army “I guess my favorite part of running with BoMF is seeing the courage and determination on the faces of those getting out there to run. I’ve been running for a long time, and for some long distances, so I had forgotten that running is really a very hard thing to do. For me, it’s leisure time. So, when I get to run with people who are really giving it their all, it inspires me tremendously.”
	Audelia Polk, Residential Member, Salvation Army Audelia completed her first 5K on August 6, 2011 at the Melon Dash 5K. At the tender age of 71, Audelia placed in her age group and continues to inspire others on her team.
	Erica Martinez, Non-Residential Member, The Bridge “Gloria [Residential Member] and I have done several races together with a run/walk approach and we always finish races with our hands up high. She warms my heart. I love how supportive she is of everyone; and whether she knows it or not, she’s a valuable mentor to a lot of the members.”
	Trina Stimpson, Residential Member, The Bridge “I needed more structure in my life. It helps motivate me to move onto the next step that I’m trying to get to. The running in the mornings clear my mind. In the future, I see myself stable, with my own place, a part time job and in school. BoMF has taught me that I can do anything I put my mind to. I hope to complete a half marathon in November.”

On August 6th, all four Back on My Feet Chicago teams gathered at Montrose Harbor to run the Champions Run. BoMF was the official charity of The Champions Run, which offered participants a 5k or 10k option. The rainy morning didn’t scare our members away! We had an impressive number of residential members participating, with nine running the the 5k and 11 running the 10k! Four of those 20 residential member participants ran their first race ever and many of our veteran racers set personal bests! A huge congrats to Steven Love from the Lake View YMCA team who placed third in his age group and ran his longest distance to date!

Back on My Feet manned an aid station at the first mile marker of the course. Here, they passed out water to the runners and cheered everyone on! Thanks to all who volunteered!

Not to be forgotten are our dedicated non-residential members who participated in the race as well! A special congrats to our volunteers who placed in their age groups: Julie Justison, Jay Ohms (who also gets an honorable mention for running his first 10k race), Jim Kelly, Tracy Dougherty and Josh Perry!

Back on My Feet would like to thank Adrenaline Sports Management for allowing us to participate in this event! We had such a great time!

To view more pictures from this event, click here.

July has been a busy month for the Back on My Feet St. Leonard’s team! On July 9^th, residential members Domingo, Issac, Francis, Jorge, Howard, George, and Nick, accompanied by several non-residential volunteers, met the other three Back on My Feet teams at Montrose Beach for the Back on My Feet Beach-athon! The event included beach-themed relay races, a fastest member contest, and a water balloon toss! Howard and non-residential members Gavin and Anne were on the winning team, George won an award for “Most Team Spirit”, and Jorge won awards for “Best Crab Walk” and “Most Dramatic Finish” (he nearly passed out)! After the events, all members gathered for a potluck brunch and one thing is for sure-the St. Leonard’s team sure loves to eat! On the evening of July 14^th, Frank, Osie, and Issac met volunteers Catherine, Alex, Sarah, and Kelly at Millennium Park for the Music Without Borders show featuring Sierra Maestra and Funkadesi. They enjoyed the music and beautiful summer night! Read more…