Thanksgiving through New Years can be a hard time for people in the best of circumstances, and for our shelter runners it can be a very dark time as memories and re-engagement with old friends and family may serve as relapse triggers.

BoMF’s goal during this time is “over-engagement.” This means the staff and volunteers pack the teams’ schedules with socials, races, and activities. We cannot assure relapses, arrests, or worse. But we can make a difference in a few people that are on the border.

Opportunities: Contact a Back on My Feet staff member in your respective city for the following holiday opportunities.

• Come to a Back on My Feet fundraising event, such as the Baltimore Bash on December 1 or the Boston Snow Ball on December 8 or sponsor a shelter resident’s ticket. Tickets are still on sale.
• Collect running related gifts to share with teams.
• Provide a night out of pizza for a team.
• Adopt a team and we’ll put you in contact with the team leader.

YMCA Lakeview was excited to welcome Darl this month! November marked the start of the F^3 Lake half marathon training. Joe and Carmelo are among the Chicago Back on My Feet members training for the race.  

Members participated in the 2^nd annual Feaster 5k with fellow REST, YMCA Lawson House and St. Leonard’s teams. The run was along the scenic lakefront path and members enjoyed the potluck feast at the YMCA Lawson House afterward. Several “mile”stones were passed this month. Raymond approaches 130 miles, Michael surpassed 100 miles and Carmelo passed 220 miles. Joe approaches 270, Francisco ran 30 miles and Darl, who joined in mid-November, has already run more than 20 miles! With these confidence-boosting miles beyond them, the Santa Hustle 5k has some members looking forward to possible PRs in December. Read more…

 On Tuesday, November 8th, Back on My Feet hosted its final Orientation 2.0 event of 2011. Orientation 2.0: Recovery, Rejuvenation and Running featured a four residential member panel comprised of one member from each Back on My Feet team. Team members Jorge (St. Leonard’s), Robin (REST), Carmelo (Lake View YMCA) and Andy (YMCA Lawson House) shared personal stories of recovery and the impact of running as a Back on My Feet team member with non-residential attendees. The panel also took questions and discussed topics ranging from marathon preparation techniques to reconnections with estranged relatives. Back on My Feet wishes to thank Jorge, Robin, Carmelo and Andy for sharing their stories and candid thoughts, and those in attendance for supporting panel members.

View pictures from Orientation 2.0: Recovery, Rejuvenation and Running here!

For the 10th year running, the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club hosted and directed the Potomac Heritage Trail Run. The run is 50 km (approx. 31.1 miles) long, taking participants along the Potomac River and across the DC, Maryland and Virginia state lines.

This year, Back on My Feet DC was represented at the event!

We’ve had many members run full & half marathons – but BoMF doesn’t stop there! On Sunday, November 13, Chris H., Walter B., Marvin O. & Lewis S. completed the Potomac Heritage Trail 50K! We now have 4 members who have completed an ultra marathon!

They all displayed a new level of determination and heart, leaving it all out there on the trails. We’re so excited for the runners, and can’t wait to see what they continue to accomplish!

We are so grateful to the Monumental Marathon for all of the support and exposure they have given Back on My Feet Indianapolis over the past few months.

They donated bibs to our members and welcomed us into their opening ceremonies with open arms. We started the day in front of 11,000 people with the serenity prayer. It was powerful.

Joe, Christel, Rob & Kelly staying warm before the race!

We had a very successful day at the marathon- lots of firsts for our team! Many of our new members ran their first 5K, four members ran their first half marathon and three ran their first full marathon. What a beautiful day!

HVAF member Lee Wilcher with Steve Kerr after his first half marathon finish: 2:46

Other half marathon finishers included Progress House members, Shane Stultz, Mike Sommer, John Brawley and Rob McEntire. 1:57, 1:57, 1:58 and 2:20 respectively.

Three members completed their first full marathon- Eric, James and Mitch. They all ran a very smart race and their dedication to training really paid off.

Eric Arnold: 4:19

James Boyd: 4:46

Mitch Rightor: 2:58

Thank you to all who ran with our members, volunteered at a water stop and a VERY BIG THANK YOU to our FundRacers! The Monumental FundRacers raised over $7,000 and we are so thankful for their hard work!

Congratulations to all who ran! You should be proud!

On Saturday, November 12^th, Back on My Feet Chicago hosted its 2^nd annual Feaster 5k and Thanksgiving Potluck. Over fifty team members competed in Back on My Feet’s 5k race along the lakefront. Participating members were greeted with a nice surprise – beautiful fall weather – and several rejoiced after completing their very first 5k race! Following the race, team members convened at the YMCA Lawson House lounge, where an array of homemade entrees and baked goods awaited. Participants enjoyed good company and feasted on the largest thanksgiving meal many had ever seen!

Thank you to all that participated in the Feast-er 5k race and contributed to the Thanksgiving Potluck.

View more pictures of the event here!

Carmelo reluctantly joined the Back on My Feet Lake View YMCA team in June 2011, shortly after the team’s launch. From the start, Carmelo did not hide his loathe of running, and made it clear that he intended to walk through each morning route. Despite his adamant stance, Carmelo found himself running on his very first day with the team, and he hasn’t looked back since. Though he still claims to hate running, Carmelo continues to show up every morning, and has even begun to run on Saturday’s. Through his participation with the Lake View YMCA team, Carmelo has improved his endurance, strength and overall health. He has also noticed something he did not expect – he is happier! Carmelo attributes his newfound positivity to the teammates that support him every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Carmelo is a frequent attendee of Back on My Feet Chicago’s educational courses, and has successfully completed Harris Bank Financial Literacy and Accenture Skills to Succeed classes. At Back on My Feet Chicago’s November Orientation 2.0 event, Carmelo served as a guest speaker, and discussed how his participation with the Lake View YMCA team had helped him overcome some of life’s greatest obstacles. Carmelo has also made great strides in his running ability. At Back on My Feet’s Pilgrim Kids Care October 5k race, Carmelo posted a personal record time of 24:42, nearly eleven minutes faster than his previous 5k mark. More recently, Carmelo has begun training for the January’s F^3 Lake Half Marathon. Carmelo was motivated to train for the half marathon after cheering on runners at the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Carmelo’s determination motivates his teammates to run further and faster, and his positive disposition brings joy to the team runs. It has been a pleasure to watch Carmelo grow as a runner and as a Back on My Feet team member. As Carmelo would tell you:

“At first I didn’t think much about running, but now it’s something I look forward to. I feel a void when I’m not running and when I am running, I never want it to end! It’s becoming fun! I’ll look back on these mornings in ten to fifteen years and think about all the camaraderie and how fun it was!”

October was an absolutely incredible month for the St. Leonard’s Back on My Feet Team!!

The month kicked off with the long anticipated Bank of America Chicago Marathon. What an inspiring day of running, camaraderie, and fun! We were so proud of our residential members Issac and Mingo for completing their very first marathon and doing it in style! Many non-residential and residential team members were inspired by the effort and grace of both Issac and Mingo and have made plans to run the marathon in 2012! Non-residential members Kelly, Carl, Crystal, and Sara also completed the marathon! What a fun day. While the hot weather was an obstacle for our runners, the St. Leonard’s cheer section enjoyed getting some rays. Jerry, Akbar, Howard, George, Mayo, and Dyron joined with several St. Leonard’s non-residential members to cheer on their teammates. Everyone’s voices were hoarse from all the shouting but all still had smiles on their faces. As a team it was a day we will not soon forget! Read more…

On the palindrome day of 11/11/11 (also Veteran’s Day!), Accenture employees teamed up with Back on My Feet DC for their second annual Day of Service. We had volunteers join for the morning runs, and then provided a breakfast for our Resident members & runners! Following this, Accenture employees presented a professionalism seminar, titled “Skills to Succeed”.  It was definitely a successful morning; we loved having the extra hands on deck!

To wrap things up, Accenture invited us to their annual member meeting. Resident member, Thornell M. from team CSS, spoke to the crowd! His success is inspiring, and his words of wisdom are aplenty! Check out the video (link below) to hear his take on the Back on My Feet effect.

BoMF at Accenture Day of Service, Thornell Speech

“I went online, and I googled Endorphins….it came up, “running high”. It really works!…When I show up in school {now}, I’m able to grasp what’s being taught to me – I blame that on running.

I’ve always wanted to be healthy, and go to school. Now, I’m doing both of those things.”

Thank You to Accenture, from the BoMF DC members and volunteers! Your support helps to keep us going! We hope you enjoyed this Day of Service as much as we did.

The MVM (Most Valuable Month) Award undoubtedly goes to October. The Lawson House Machine saw members reach goals spanning the full spectrum of distances. We welcomed new members who tackled their first mile with the whole team and not one, not two, but THREE Lawson House residential members completed the Chicago Marathon! Our team is beyond proud of Wahid, Al and Anthony for this spectacular accomplishment. To think back on the year we’ve been a team and recall these members’ first run and see them with their medals the Monday (yes, the day after!) the marathon is truly inspiring. Read more…