On September 18^th, Back on My Feet Chicago volunteers hosted an aid station at the CARA Ready to Run 20 Miler. The Ready to Run 20-miler is an annual training run organized for those gearing up for the fall Chicago marathon, and marks the longest training distance for many marathoners prior to the race. Back on My Feet’s aid station was positioned at mile 10 of the course. Back on My Feet volunteers greeted thousands of runners with encouragement, smiles and hydration as they passed the halfway point. Aid Station participants had a blast cheering on all the runners, including Back on My Feet’s five residential members that have been diligently training for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon all summer. Congratulations to our five residential members, our numerous FundRacers and volunteers, and everyone else that completed the CARA Ready to Run 20 Miler. We can’t wait to cheer you on at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 9^th! Best of luck!

View more pictures from the morning here!

The Lawson House team is continuing to grow as we welcomed more members this month. They have quickly become part of the Back on My Feet family and a great addition to our morning runs; already tackling 2 miles regularly! Early this month the Lawson House joined the other Chicago teams at the Champions Run at Montrose Harbor. Back on My Feet was well represented as we had members run both the 5K and 10K and even man an aid station. It’s easy to say Back on My Feet has become a regular fixture on the Chicago racing scene! On the national scene we got our 15 minutes of fame when members came out to see Al Roker film his famous weather segments right outside the NBC tower! Some Lawson House members were even lucky enough to get some face time on the small screen! Later that week we joined the rest of the teams for a Wednesday evening Sox game. Our very own Anthony got to be on the Jumbo-tron in between innings! August has been full of activities and we hope September will bring just as many because there’s nothing this team won’t take on!

Residential Member of the Month: Kenny A.

Ever since Kenny joined the Back on My Feet Lawson House team last April, his cheerful demeanor has been a constant on the team! He is sure to boost anyone’s spirits at 5:45am! And Kenny’s teammates are impressed with his running improvements as well. Despite his chronically sore knees, Kenny continues to show up every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning and put in those 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! Kenny 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

“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!”

Non-residential Member of the Month: Ben L.

Ben has brought many smiles to the Lawson House team. His caring and outgoing attitude is a great addition to the team!

Residential team member John started communications classes at Northeastern University in August to finish his bachelors degree.  He also got a job at RDI Business Development in sales.  He is off to a great start and is receiving much praise from his boss.  Read more…

What a month! We officially have more than 50 Residential members in our Dallas program and more than 140 Non Residential members that dedicate their time and effort to making this program stellar. We would be insane not to recognize some of the individuals that have shown teamwork, dedication and spirit over the past month. Keep rocking guys and continue to show us what you’re made of!

	Theresa Mullins, Non-Residential Member, Dallas LIFE “Back on My Feet has given me a great opportunity to connect, to give to others, as well as receive through running.  An extra gift is enjoying participating with my husband.  It is such a great way to start the day – & together!”
	Sheretta B., Residential Member, Dallas LIFE “If it wasn’t for Back on My Feet, I would have left a long time ago. I’m more prepared for a job and it’s overall helped my self-esteem really. I was not trying to do anything when I first came here, it helps me a lot. If it wasn’t for Back on My Feet, I probably would have never gone back to school.”
	Melissa Dvorocsik, Non-Residential Member, Salvation Army “It’s a real tangible way to reach out to someone, while still being able to do something I love…..RUN! It’s early in the morning so it doesn’t interfere with my day.  Our team has had some ups and downs….and one member told us on his birthday that he used to not like celebrating birthdays, but now with a Team to celebrate with it made it more fun.  How can you not have a great day after hearing that?”
	Anthony R., Residential Member, Salvation Army “I’m most looking forward to getting my weight down and getting my blood pressure down. At first I didn’t like to run but now I feel great and I look forward to getting back to the next 5K. After that, I look forward to getting my own place and finding a job.  I just think Back on My Feet is a wonderful program and I hope to be a member as long as I can run.”
	Charla Lee, Non-Residential Member, The Bridge “Back on My Feet has been such an eye opening experience for me. I had no real knowledge of homelessness before Back on My Feet and it’s shown me that we are all the same, just experiencing different things. It’s been amazing to see the growth in the members over the past few months and see their dedication to Back on My Feet, their desire to get back on their feet, and their positive attitudes in times of trial.”
	Paula T., Residential Member, The Bridge Paula has spent more than two months with Back on My Feet and already has a reputation for listening to gospel music when she runs and encouraging others to push the pace. She is a blessing to all those that encounter her sense of humor. Paula hopes to go back to school for medical billing and coding to support her disabled son.

Troy running at the Wissahickon Wanderers track meet

Troy is the standard by which all other gentlemen are measured. Troy occasionally stops by the office to keep us updated on how things are going with him. Every time he leaves he expresses thankfulness for everyone’s time. Troy will always get the last thank you even if he says as the elevator doors close as he leaves our office.

When Troy is not cheering people up around our office he is working at Oasis in the kitchen. After spending 14 weeks at the Philabundance Community Kitchen completing the culinary arts training program he quickly found employment, but Troy’s ambition does not stop there. He is currently looking for a second job in the food industry. Troy has also recently moved in with family. With steady employment he was able to furnish his new house and finally create a home.

Amidst all of Troy’s vocational accomplishments he is also an accomplished runner. In the past year Troy completed a half marathon and is currently training for upcoming fall races.

Whenever Troy visits the office I am reminded of how a simple expression of gratitude can make someone’s day. As one of our volunteers said about Troy “it only takes a short while for anyone to be impacted by Troy’s determination, spirit and dedication”.

Thanks Troy!

On Saturday, September 10th, all four Back on My Feet Chicago teams gathered at the Lakeshore Park track for our first outdoor track meet.  Track events included a medley relay, fastest Back on My Feet team competition, and fastest member races.

Read more…

Back on My Feet Indy made quite the splash at the Ripple Effect run on September 4th. We showed up in full force. All of us ready to run. As usual we had multiple levels of runners represented. We covered the entire running spectrum. We had members training for the Monumental Full Marathon, others training for the Monumental Half Marathon and new runners who were completing their first race ever. Regardless of what their status was, all of the runners finished with heads held high. Speaking for myself I can honestly say that there is no greater feeling than encouraging your fellow runners as they cross the finish line.

Out of Site Mike finishing strong!

Cheering Rodney and Andy in to the finish!

Our evening could have been complete at that point; we all showed up, we all ran, but there was more. Back on My Feet treated all runners and volunteers to pizza at Baxbeauz in Broad Ripple. This I have to say was the perfect ending to a great day. Run a race, set a new PR and enjoy great pizza with great friends. I’m fairly certain it gets no better than that. How lucky are we? If you are reading this and want to experience the magic that is BoMF Indianapolis, come run with us. I promise you it will be a life changing decision.

Thank you to all who volunteered at the event! It is because of you that we received donated bibs for the BoMF members!

Mitch receiving his award for winning his age group! 5:44 mile pace for 4.5 miles!

Celebrating our accomplishments as a team!

Thank you to the Broad Ripple Village Association for donating bibs to the members on our team! We appreciate your support!

Wow…what a month it was!  August brought Back on My Feet’s first duathlon, our 3^rd Annual Wipeout and more long Saturday runs as our teammates train for the Baltimore Running Festival!

Many of our team members participated in their first duathlon.  The event was a 2 mile run, 26 mile bike ride and 4 mile run through the hilly streets of Howard County.  The homes and scenery were beautiful, but we didn’t take much time to notice as we were climbing those hills with all of our energy!

On Saturday, August 20^th, we had our 3^rd Annual Wipeout.  Wipeout is a field day for adults where all 5 Baltimore teams, and this year a team from DC, battle it out in various events for bragging rights.  The events included relay races, tug o’ war, water balloon toss and many more. Baltimore Station took home the prize this year, while American Rescue Workers were awarded the most spirited team with painted faces and wigs showcasing the team.  We ended the day by enjoying the awards ceremony and lunch (and some trash talking!).  Everyone really enjoyed the event and we are already gearing up for next year.

The Saturday training runs for the Baltimore Running Festival continue to get longer.  By month’s end, some of our teammates training for the marathon will be up to runs of 18 miles.  With the race only 7 weeks away, it’s crunch time!

Now for some great highlights from some of our teams!

Here are some amazing things that have happened at American Rescue Workers and BoMF in August:

~Enjoyed and learned a ton from Dr. Josh who went over a brief overview on what they do in the Running Injury Clinic including learning what mistakes many runners make in their form, went crazy on the Alter-G anti-gravity treadmill, and then did some exercises that should be in every runner’s program.

• Celebrated a couple of birthdays including our Floyd!
• Both Floyd and Harold celebrated their 100 mile marker!
• WipeOut practices at Rash Field!
• Took home the best trophy ever! Disco Ball for the BEST SPIRIT! We honored Joe since we couldn’t have done it without his one-of-a-kind songwriting skillz.
• Most of Team American Rescue Workers are training for the Baltimore Running Festival in October, including res members; Floyd and Quentin are training for the half, Harold for the relay, and Joe for the 5k!!

At Team Helping Up Mission Baltimore (THUMB), Mike B., Nicko R. and Dave H. all completed their first duathlon, Du the 2, while Barry B. used his experience as a triathlete to complete this event as well!  The course was tough and the guys battled many hills, both on bike and on foot, and celebrated with other team members upon finishing the race.  It was a great day for these team members and all those that came out to support.

The team competed in Wipeout on August 20^th and THUMB got all decked out in orange tube socks and white shirts and brought our usual spirit.  The team competed in a field day with events like tug o’ war, relay race, water balloon toss and more.  THUMB even supported their Back on My Feet friends from DC by providing a few extra teammates to their team.

On August 5^th, our teammate and friend, Mike B., graduated from Helping up Mission and celebrated 1 year of sobriety.  Mike looks to attend college, maybe as soon as the fall semester, and also is training for his first marathon.  Congrats, Mike!

At Baltimore Station, both Kenny M. and Len L. completed Du the 2, their first ever duathlon event.  Though the rolling hills, 6 miles of running and 26 miles of cycling left them tired, they were both extremely proud of their accomplishments!

The Sharp-Leadenhall Green Team, a group of teenagers who spent the summer keeping the streets around Baltimore Station clean were supervised by our very own Sam M.  He was even quoted in a Baltimore Sun article about the group.  Though unable to make it out to run most mornings, we are certainly all very proud of him!  Now as summer is winding down, he is back out with the team.

Baltimore Station, the Station Nation, the underdog of underdogs showed up to Wipeout 2011 on a mission to go from lovable losers to champions.  Residential members George H., Kenny M., Len L., Alumnus Mitch S., and non-residential members John B., Dan M., Pat H., Travis, Kelcy N., Shawn, Mark M., and Erin M. provided just the right mix of speed, strength, and finesse to give the Station 56 points and the victory.  As our cheer so eloquently put it: we can bench 500 pounds, run an 8 second 100 meter dash, throw water balloons with finesse, and win, in dominating fashion!

American Rescue Workers Members of the Month: Joseph & Carrie

Joseph is one of the founding members of ARW and is still running strong.  Though he admits running up hill is one of his biggest weaknesses, he doesn’t let that get in the way of his accomplishments (such as finishing the St. Patrick’s Day 5K) or his goals (getting a job).  You might recognize Joseph showing off his musical brilliance as the bass behind the ARW team cheer.

Team Leader Carrie has been with the team since October and is gearing up for her biggest race since the B10: finishing the Baltimore half-marathon.  You’ll be able to spot her on race day amidst the sea of runners if you are on the lookout for the ARW team uniform – green wipeout wigs and warpaint.  She’ll be the one keeping pace to the tune of “keep breathing-keep talking-keep breathing-keep talking.”

Team Helping Up Members of the Month: Eric & James

When he’s not cleaning up the community around Helping Up, Eric can be found pushing himself to train harder as he prepares for the Baltimore Running Festival Relay.   Still reeling from his first race at the MCVET 5K, Eric takes an introspective approach to thinking about life when he’s out there getting his wind up to run longer distances.  His team leader Rob says  ”he’s has been a great addition to our team.  He has been very dedicated and focused since coming out for his first run.  He’s worked hard to overcome some obstacles that stood in his way this summer and has not let anything get in his way of enjoying his running.

Though the highlight of James’ Back on My Feet career up until this point was working at the Baltimore 10 Miler waterstop, he’s destined to top that as he prepares for the his first marathon at the Baltimore Running Festival this fall.     Running with his Helping Up Team relieves him of the obligation to THINK, and also gives him the opportunity to get to know his teammates.  He’s been a big inspiration to the team both through his consistent presence as well as his dedication to the training regimen.

Team Christopher Place Members of the Month: Chris & Jeanne

Chris has steadily been improving his endurance, not just in distance running, but areas of water balloon toss and tug-o-war, making him a versatile asset on any Wipeout team.  As of late, his running has been compromised by his newly acquired job hours.  While the team misses his presence, they are very excited for his next steps forward.

Mean Jeanne is a founding member of the Baltimore chapter, who, even after two years still “love[s] every run with BOMF. From the first mile for a new member, to celebrating mileage milestones, to any weekday run – there’s always something to smile about out there with the team.”  She has poured her heart into making sure her teammates are trained properly for the Baltimore Running Festival and claims she will be the loudest cheerleader as they cross that finish line. Is that a challenge?

MCVET Members of the Month: Tim & Dee

As one of our newest members, Tim has already accumulated over 100 miles and is well on his way to accomplishing his Baltimore Half Marathon goal.  As Tim’s teammates have noted, “From day one, he’s had a positive, enthusiastic attitude.”  He’s been dependable and committed, even on days when he worked 2-4am firewatch, or mornings when couldn’t run with team, and he’s also the first  to volunteer and support his teammates in whatever capacity needed. When he’s not out there focusing on his running form and movement, he’s enjoying some of his best moments with the team, running with people who are genuinely interested in who he is.

Dee is better known as our “Team Mom.” She still recounts her greatest BoMF moment completing the Philadelphia Marathon side by side with her teammate Gary.  She has the big SUV and is quick to carpool to BoMF races and events, and always has plenty of waters and Gatorades to keep everyone properly hydrated.  TL Peter says, “Her maternal nature goes beyond the clichés of carpooling or the fact that she is actually the mother of our teammate Lauren though. When our teammate, Sean, was in an accident that left him in the hospital for the past month, Dee has been quick to be there to look after him, visiting regularly and organizing activities at the hospital for the team to take part in.”  Not only does Dee truly does have the best interest of our teammates at heart, but she sets the bar very high for stylish running tights! You can catch her in those tights as she chases down a BQ at the Richmond Marathon in November.

Shrell has been part of team Progress House from the very beginning of the Indianapolis chapter. She started running with the team in March and has been faithful ever since. Shortly after the launch, she stepped up to be the Team Leader. She is dedicated and really cares about the members on this team.

Shoe size: 9

Favorite post run food: Potato chips

Favorite race I’ve ever done: Geist Half  Marathon

Favorite Music: Christian and Country are the two that I listen to the most, but I also like Rock, Hip-Hop, Pop and Jazz

Bucket List Item: Running the New York City Marathon (which she is running for our national Chapter- check out her FundRacing page!)

Favorite Athlete: Chrissie Wellington, Tameka Catchings

Years Running: 3 years. I started because I’ve had faced a lot if obstacles in my life and running is a way of healing for me. It keeps me focused.

Why do you run today: To improve my running, to maintain good health and to keep me going through life

How did you  find out about BoMF: The launch was mentioned on Facebook on the day of the launch

Why did you chose to get involved: I enjoy volunteering and I love to use running as a tool to reach out to the resident members

What BoMF has meant to you: It has really changed my life in so many ways and I get to celebrate with those who are striving to get their lives back together.

What does being the Team Leader mean to you: I never thought that I would be a Team Leader for Progress House the week after I joined. I have learned so much during my time with the group and it has made me a better person.

All time BoMF memory: Carmel Half–Beth and James were about a minute behind me towards the finish line and James was encouraged to keep going. I smiled when he crossed the finish line. It was a great accomplishment.

Over the past winter and spring, Back on My Feet Boston teams were joined by some friends from the MGH Institute of Health Professions who did a comprehensive study on the effects of the BoMF program on both our resident and non-resident members. Led by dedicated BoMF non-res member and assistant professor at MGH IHP DJ Mattson, second year physical therapy students tracked stats such as members’ body weight, resting heart rate, muscle length, and attitude.

Dr. DJ Mattson and five MGH IHP students gather at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans for a morning run