November was a great month for Back on My Feet Baltimore with good energy still lingering after the Baltimore Running Festival.  We kicked off the month at the Tuerk House 5k which is an annual race for us, and one at which we usually take home a few medals.  We met all expectations, with several residential and non-residential members placing not only in their division, but overall as well.

Later in the month we geared up for Sneaker Week and kicked off the promotion with a surprise flash mob at our morning run on the 14th.  The Baltimore Bash committee showed off their moves and gave everyone a sneak preview of how much fun the Bash will be.  Teams are continuing to compete to see who has the highest percentage of members attending and there will be a great showing of non-residential members this year.

The Philadelphia Marathon came and went this month and we had several non-residential members join the Philly crew to race.  We are winding down the marathon season and looking at darker, colder mornings for the foreseeable future, but people have already started talking about the D.C. Marathon and the Nikia Half so winter will be over before we know it.

In team news:

Team Baltimore Station (BSTAT) has been the scene for a lot of fast running, with the fall road racing season in full swing.  At the end of October, four of our non-residential members participated in the Marine Corps Marathon.  It was a cold day, but good for marathoning.  Erin M., Ben F., Chris L., and Christen V. all ran and did well!  A mere two weeks later, Ben also ran the Richmond Marathon.  We certainly had an impressive showing from our non-residential members.  On the5K front, three of our residential members ran the Tuerk House 5k, including Len L., Sam M., and George H.  It was a brisk morning, but once again, good for running races!  Having three of our residential members inducted into the Alumni Program left the team with more than a few open spots for new members. One of those spots was eagerly taken by Daniel B., who is off to a very, very fast start.  He is already doing three and four mile runs with ease.  He admits to struggling with the hills, but will be focusing on them to become a stronger runner!  BSTAT is also making sure to rally as many people as possible for the annual Bash.  We may not be the biggest team on the block, but we’ll represent with our professional dress and hot running sneakers!

Team Christopher’s Place has had a great month!  We saw Jerome win his age division at the Tuerk House 5k and he was joined by Ursula H. and Caroline S. as they placed in their divisions as well.  Erick was offered a full time position with the MTA and is gearing up to be very busy during the holiday season as people travel into the city for shopping.  Sarah O. and Kayla A. represented Team CP at the Philadelphia Marathon, which was Kayla’s first, and she also fund-raced for Back on My Feet.  Go Kayla!  November has definitely been a busy month, but we’re really looking forward to the Baltimore Bash and the Christmas Party in December.

Team Helping up Mission Baltimore (THUMB) enjoyed a fun month.  We thought things would slow down after the Baltimore Running Festival in October, but we had many great things carry us through this month.  First up was the Tuerk House 5k.  THUMB represented with Mike B. taking 3rd overall (20:45), Mike H. 4th overall (20:57) and Emily B. 3rd Female!  We had several more guys running:  Eric L. 36:25, Tim B. 23:28, Bill B. 35:09, Steven W. 35:10, Barry B. 24:55, Dave H. 26:16 and David F. 27:07.  Awesome job to all!  On November 17^th, THUMB attended Family Night at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.  Our teammate Charmaine S. was nice enough to invite our team and a group of more than 30 people attending.  The team had fun touring the aquarium, shopping in the gift shop for discounted gifts, and watching a 4D movie.

Team MCVET welcomed our newest residential member Duane to the team. Duane got busy racking up miles and ran his first race with the team at the Tuerk House 5k only a few short days later. Ja-Aura and Tim, having jumped into the racing world with a splash at the Baltimore Half, added the 5k distance to their resumes that day as well. Our own Lauren L. meanwhile took first place overall! In non-racing news, the team recognized Veterans Day by having all our residential members and non-residential veterans share their military experience with the rest of the team during the morning run on the 11^th.  We also kept Ricky in our thoughts, our non-residential member currently deployed in Kuwait, who sent us an email assuring us he’s still getting his runs in each and every morning before it gets too hot. Alumni member Arnold wasn’t able to join us during that morning’s run because he was already at work being interviewed by WBAL about his own experiences! We’re all excited for alumni-member Carlos to start training at the Fire Department Academy at the beginning of next month and alumni member Greg S. received a promotion at the Aquarium!

Back on My Feet at the BRF

October for American Rescue Workers (ARW) was an amazing and exciting time. As the temperatures started to dip, our spirits stayed high! Patrick instilled Fun Fridays to keep that momentum going. No matter if it was Crazy Hat Fun Friday or Favorite Sports Team Fun Friday, Team ARW got up ready for fun on the run!

The Baltimore Running Festival had a lot of firsts for the team – with many members running their first marathon or half marathon. Floyd sped through the finish line at 2:15 – very impressive for his first half marathon! Quentin teamed up with three guys from Christopher’s Place to run a relay – beating the rest of his team’s splits! Finally, Harold PR’d from Nikia’s Nippy Nor’easter 5k with a time of 36:06. Alumni Darius ran a really strong half too! Thanks to Harold, Kevin, and the rest of Team ARW for helping at the Mile 22 water stop – we never could have run those last couple miles without your tasty beverages!

In other very exciting Team ARW news, Kevin A. was inducted as a Back on My Feet Baltimore Alumni. Current Alumni Darius was on hand to present Kevin with his monumental award along with a few touching words. We are so proud of Kevin as he moves his life forward with a great big smile on his face! Stay cool Kevin!

October was a big month for team Baltimore Station. At long last, October 15^th brought the Baltimore Running Festival – the pinnacle of many impressive training efforts. We had two residential members participate in the half marathon, Len L. with a time of 1:53:16, and Gary A. with a time of 2:41:33. It was Gary’s first half marathon, and Len pointed out that he had run another half more than 20 years ago only a couple minutes faster. As he put it, age has not slowed him down very much! We also fielded a marathon relay team, with three of the four spots taken up by Baltimore Station members. Kenny M., Sam M., and George H. each ran a leg of approximately 6.5 miles. Another runner from Philadelphia joined them to fill out the team. Eight of our non-residential members joined the party as well, many running the half marathon.

Team Christopher’s Place also had a great showing at the Baltimore Running Festival with more than 15 non-residential members running, and almost all of our residential members participating as well! Kani, George, and James all ran the 5k, while Jerome, Solomon, Abdullah, and Steven raced in the relay! Brian cut 30 minutes off his marathon time and Dominique completed his first marathon and crossed the finish line with the support of team Christopher’s Place and other Back on My Feet Baltimore runners. If you haven’t seen this video yet, chronicling his journey, you have to check it out! Even Tony and Ricky, alumni, came out to cheer us all on, and several Christopher’s Place teammates manned the BoMF water stop. It was a day many of us will never forget.

In other news, many of our members are also are looking forward to the Tuerk House 5k on November 5^th to cut time off of their previous races.

Finally, Team Christopher’s Place is happy to report that Erick got a job working for the MTA and Michael got a new job in the kitchen at the NSA. We’re also very excited to celebrate the alumni induction of Johnathan and Brian this month.

October was also a great month for Team Helping Up Mission Baltimore (THUMB)!  Many of our teammates ran in the Baltimore Running Festival, with several running a distance for the first time. It was quite a celebration with all five Baltimore teams as well as Philly and D.C. in attendance.  Here is a recap of the time for the members who ran:  5k – Eric L. 34:50, Stefan B. 28:49, and Bryant J. 30:07.  Relay (approx. 7 miles) – Eric B.  1:07:00. Half Marathon – Nicko R. 2:05:13, Tim B. 1:58:25, Steven W. 3:11:53, and Dave H. 2:11:10. Marathon – Barry B. 4:44:54 and Mike B. 3:46:52. We are so proud of all our runners!

Not only did Eric L. run the 5k at the Baltimore Running Festival this month, on October 7^th he graduated from Helping Up Mission. Congrats, Eric! Steven W. celebrated 250 miles with the team and ran his first half marathon while Mike B. passed 500 miles and completed his first marathon!

Team MCVET also had an exciting October. Alumni member Carlos entered the Baltimore County Fire Department. Residential members Tim, Ja-Aura, and Jay all ran their first half marathons at the Baltimore Running Festival, while Kevin and Henry ran the 5k. Alums Greg and Arnold ran the half marathon at BRF and also ran the Marine Corps Marathon on Oct 30 (the third marathon for both of them). Greg was inducted into alumni status on October 27^th. Finally, non residential member Ricky O. left for a year-long deployment with his Airborne Unit in Kuwait. Our thoughts are with him and we are looking forward to running with him when he returns!

American Rescue Worker’s Members of the Month:  Quentin and Jocelyn

Quentin and Jocelyn

Quentin L. joined Back on My Feet as a residential member in March 2011 and has more than 90 miles under his belt. He says his biggest challenge while running is finishing, but he had no problem finishing his leg of the Baltimore Running Festival Relay, which he accomplished in a quick 49 minutes. His advice for new runners is to “be determined!” Quentin likes to refuel after a race with bananas, and his next race with Back on My Feet will be the Tuerk House 5k on November 5^th. Good luck Quentin!

Jocelyn S. joined Back on My Feet as a non-residential member in August and says her favorite moment so far was her first run “because everyone was so welcoming.” She jokes that her biggest challenge while running is “keeping my tonails” as well as making it up hills at the end of a long run. While running, she thinks about the finish line and how happy she will be to cross it again. Jocelyn’s goal for the next three months is to finish the Annapolis Half Marathon on November 19^th in 1:55. Her next race with BOMF will be the Zoo Zoom the next day on November 20^th.

Team Helping Up Mission’s Members of the Month: Eric and Phil

Eric L.

Eric L. joined the team as a residential member in April 2011 and has since logged more than 127 miles. He says his best memory is “the Baltimore Running Festival! It was great having the big group out there and the positive energy from all the Back on My Feet participants was amazing!” Eric says his biggest challenge while running is getting out of his head (you’re not alone there, Eric! Such a common runner challenge!), and his goal for the next three months is to stay focused and keep the enthusiasm. While running, Eric often thinks about how he can use his experience to help others.

“I first met Eric in the group circle as he attached the adjective ‘Effervescent’ to his first name,” says Lauren Shimek, THUMB teammate. “I quickly discovered an enthusiastic running buddy who is passionate about life, learning, and self-betterment. We’ve logged many early morning miles together, and I’ve watched Eric progress over time from a Seed of Hope to a Graduate of the Helping Up Mission. He has worked through a challenging year of recovery with steadfast dedication and the courage to share his personal experiences with others. I am so proud of Eric and look forward to seeing him as a role model for others.”

Eric’s next race will be the Tuerk House 5k on November 5^th.  His advice for a brand new runner? “Never give up and you’ll get stronger every day.”

Phil Strikes a Pose

Phil B. joined Team Helping Up Mission as a non-residential member in January 2011, and his best moments include “training with Nicko and watching Mike Bennett’s flowing locks blow in the wind.” While running, Phil often thinks about what’s for breakfast, as well as whom he will connect with that day. His next race with Back on My Feet will likely be the Celtic Solstice in December.

“Phil has been a great addition to our team,” says Rob Carfango, team leader. “He has a fun and relaxed attitude and gets along with everyone. He likes to joke around with his teammates and he has gone out of his way to run with many different people since joining the team. He comes out early to help support our teammates for longer runs and varies his pace to meet the needs of others. He is a true team player and I appreciate all that he does for our team!”

Team Christopher’s Place Member of the Month: Amy

Amy N.

Amy N. has been a non residential member since the very beginning of Team Christopher’s Place! She says that seeing her teammates along the course and on the sidelines cheering during her recent half marathon run at the Baltimore Running Festival is her best moment so far: “I never could have done it without my team!”

While running, she thinks about the hills she has to climb, but when asked what she would tell someone who is considering joining Back on My Feet, she says, “Just do it! 5:30 a.m. never looked so good. I promise you, you won’t regret it. Meredith Tyler from THUMB gave me that same advice two years ago when I was afraid of how early we ran. She was right!”

Amy’s next race with Back on My Feet will be the Tuerk House 5k. Her advice for a brand new runner is to “pace yourself and don’t start too quickly. Try to find someone who runs at your pace.”

Fun fact about Amy: She studied and worked in Thailand for four years and can speak Thai. But her favorite post-race meal is a good old American breakfast of eggs and toast.

MCVET’s Members of the Month: Kevin and Dave

Kevin R.

Kevin R.’s best moment to date with Back on my Feet was finished the Baltimore Running Festival 5k. “The amount of people lining the streets and cheering was unbelievable,” he says.

Kevin notes that his biggest challenge in running is hills. “There are a lot of hills in Baltimore.” (You got that right, Kevin!) While running, he thinks about distance: “How far I’m going, how far along I am, and how many miles I’ve run.”

Says Peter, MCVET’s team leader: “Kevin was one of the original members of Team MCVET when the Baltimore chapter launched in March of ’09 and it’s been great getting to know and run with him ever since. Although rarely one for many words, Kevin quietly demonstrates his commitment to his own self-improvement each and every day by the way he goes about taking on his responsibilities, whether it’s coming out every morning, working a long day of carwash at MCVET, or pursuing his welding training. Despite the unassuming fashion with which he goes about his business, Kevin’s progress has not gone unnoticed by his teammates who have taken note of his ever improving outlook and hard work.”

Dave W.

Dave W. joined the MCVET team as a non-residential member on February 14, 2011. His best moment so far was running the MCVET 5k: “I came in thinking about myself and what times I would run.  However when talking to another non-res (Jenn) about running times, she reminded me that it wasn’t about times, it was about being part of the team.  Just then Wayne came up to me and asked to run together with him. We had such a fantastic time talking, laughing, and complaining the whole way that I couldn’t tell you what our times were. At that moment I knew I was part of a true Team and that has stuck with me to this day.”

When asked what his biggest challenge has been, Dave says, “Day 3 when I couldn’t finish 2 miles?  No, actually running the Baltimore Running Festival half marathon.  It was actually two challenges. The first was the actual run and the second was running as a FundRunner for Back on My Feet. I had never asked anyone for money before, but as a FundRunner, I asked friends, family, and colleagues to sponsor me. I had no idea how that would play out.  The other issue is that I have problems with stiffness in my legs (one of the reasons I started running again oddly enough) and I didn’t know how I would do running 13 miles. Well I exceeded my fundraising goals and completed the half (though I would like to forget about miles 10 and 11).” Dave’s next race will be the Tuerk 5k.

Says Peter, MCVET’s team leader: “When Dave first started running with MCVET, he told me that the last time he had gone for a run was six years prior in a half marathon in Alaska and that he was wearing the same shoes that he had during that race. I think he started off with a mile that day and his return to running was gradual, but each day he came out to put in his miles with the team. As the month went on, his miles increased as did the relationships he was building with his new teammates. This past month, Dave returned to the 13.1 mile distance, finishing the half at the BRF and has grown into a true friend and example for his teammates, helping several of our residential members through their own training. He’s become not just a runner on his own again, but a teammate, mentor, and friend for all of us at Team MCVET.”

Congratulations to all our Members of the Month!

Greg has never been at a loss for nicknames.  As a youngster, and the smallest and thinnest of his 4 brothers and 3 sisters, his family nicknamed him Po’ boy.  Since he’s been living in Maryland, he is better known as Alabama, or Road Runner.  Whatever you call him though, you can’t help but respect the man, and the story behind the name.

Despite his unsuspecting alias, he grew up as the dependable one in the family.  His family always went to him, relied on him and expected the most out of him; that was until he started running with the wrong crowd in high school.  His reputable name quickly became associated with fighting, cussing, skipping school and eventually dropping out of the 12^th grade.  When he decided to skip school with a classmate one day, they both found themselves in a recruiter’s office and by days end, he had joined the army.  When he returned from his tour in Germany, he spend the next 21 years in a cycle of prison, parole, probation, community service and jail.  It was a cycle so pervasive that the “security” and non-violence that prison offered was no longer a threat.

His family tried hard to support him.  While looking after his 2 year old daughter was certainly a noble act of love, but it was during a visit with his sister in North Carolina where he witnessed perhaps  the most memorable gesture.  She brought him to an AA meeting where he met a woman who was living in SRO at MCVET.  His sister not only suggested he think about going to MCVET, but after the meeting drove Greg around the rougher parts of her town, threatening that he’d be living on the streets like them if he didn’t turn things around.  Greg’s response was, “I’d walk back to Alabama barefoot before I’d live like that.”

Before he even had a chance to argue, Greg’s family had called MCVET and arranged for his arrival.  Despite intake being on Tuesdays, his family collected his belongings and bought him a one way bus ticket for that Sunday afternoon.  His brother handed him $10 in case he needed anything, and only after the fact did Greg find out that his brother followed the bus right out of town to be sure Greg didn’t hop off along the way.

Greg maintains that the plan he formulated on that long bus ride was to get clean long enough to get a job and make enough money to return to Leighton, AL where he could resume his former way of life.  “I didn’t expect to do all this,” he says today.

Those first few weeks were riddled with excuses as to why he needed to go back to Alabama, but once he realized he wouldn’t be leaving MCVET anytime soon, he settled in for the long haul.  His first platoon morning chores brought him outside where he’d see these runners circling up every day.  He’d never been on a team before, and resolved to join as soon as he was time eligible.

Those early days were marked by the encouragement he garnered from each step he took and each teammate who supported him.  It quickly became apparent that Greg had a knack for long distance running.  He set his sights on the half marathon which he fondly remembers not so much because he finished, but because his teammate Cheyanne was there to run it with him, and don him with his favorite nickname, Road Runner.

Since then, Greg has run and completed countless races with grace and dexterity, and in some very respectable times.  But when he recounts his successes since arriving at MCVET, or joining Back on My Feet, he doesn’t list them terms of PR’s, trophies or number of marathons he’s completed.  Greg affectionately attributes his success to the teammates who have helped him achieve every step he’s earned along the way.

From his running partner LL, his surrogate team at CP on Tuesday nights – Shannon, Kayla, Sue, Dom and Harvey, to his training coaches Peter and Audrey who have taught him so much about running, pacing, hills, breathing and becoming a better runner, to Abby who is constantly encouraging him in everything he does, to Karen, Nikia, Erin, Kim, Claire and Mike who were a big part of him passing his GED test, to Audrey, Peter and Abby supporting his job search, to Ricky connecting him with a suit for his interview, to Amy and Abby helping him decorate his new apartment, the number of people he credits with his big successes and the daily decisions to stay positive is endless.

Now an alum of the Back on My Feet program, living in his own place, armed with his GED and a team of devoted supporters behind him, Greg is employed in the Environmental Services department at the National Baltimore Aquarium and is applying to BCCC to start his college degree.   “I didn’t expect to be here,” he keeps repeating, “I didn’t expect to move into my own place, I didn’t expect to go to college, I didn’t expect any of this.”

As a leader on the team, and a strong, confident runner, Greg also finds ways to be able to give back to the team.  He enjoys his most recent and revered nickname, “Coach” earned through his mentorship to his teammates, most notably, Kayla.  Greg has paced her through two half-marathon PR’s, most recently at the Baltimore Running Festival where he too broke his personal record in 1:38:24.  Greg is set to run and has high hopes of PR’ing in the Marine Corps Marathon this Sunday.

For all you have achieved, all you’ve overcome to get to where you are, and all you have ahead of you po’ boy, Alabama, Road Runner, Coach, Greg, we wish you the best of luck.

Beep beep!

After a few runs with Back On My Feet, I found myself on a four-mile run early one morning and asked myself, “What am I doing? Really, why am I doing this?”

I wouldn’t consider myself a runner, I don’t particularly enjoy it, I have never challenged myself to run regularly in the past, and I’m unsure if I want to work toward a marathon in the future. As I ran with the group I saw many non-residential members who love to run. In fact, many are extremely active – diving into mountain biking, ultra-marathon racing, long-distance running, and  other activities. I also saw residential members who have trained for and completed marathons with Back On My Feet. I told myself, “the guy next to me has [struggled throughout his life with drinking and drug use]…If this guy is out here doing this, then I can do this too.”

However, sometimes I am still unsure if this group is for me. I didn’t join for the running, even though the majority of members are runners. I joined because I liked the message the organization presented as well as the accomplishments its members sought to attain, and I thought I could lose a few pounds by participating. On the surface, Back On My Feet appeared to be a positive program for those who need it most. Once I became more involved, however, I developed an entirely different perspective.

Back On My Feet’s mission states that the organization “promotes the self-sufficiency of those experiencing homelessness by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem.”  My original perception was that Back on My Feet was suggesting that “help” travels in a one-way direction from non-residential members to residential members. With experience, though, I found this was far from accurate. Instead, Back on My Feet  builds a true communal support group among its members, residential and non-residential. Amid bodily pain, self-hesitancy toward running, and corresponding doubts about the program itself, my own experiences led me to re-evaluate why I ran with Back On My Feet.

When I first joined, I could not complete a full mile. Over the course of a few months I built up my stamina, endurance, and strength with the encouragement of other members; that kind encouragement was a new experience for me. Specifically, one morning I attempted to complete a four-mile run for the first time. On that day, Reed*, a fellow member (residential) and friend, became my cheerleader and assisted me in completing those four miles. Halfway through the four miles I wanted to give up, and he continually responded for the second two miles, “no, keep going, keep going…” I realized that day that I had been arrogant to believe I was helping him by participating in the program when indeed he was helping me as much, if not more. I’ve never had a cheerleader before: my parents were always supportive but never in the capacity that Reed imparted that day and that others have continually offered.

Reflecting on this experience and others, I reformed my understanding of Back On My Feet. I’d like to detail three of the most meaningful experiences I have had. First, and most personal, the cheerfully positive support I received while running, which may seem trivial, was previously absent from my life and atypical of the support I received from my immediate family. The people in Back On My Feet filled a gap in my life, a gap that has ties to familial bonds. Second, Back on My Feet taught me how to approach tasks and goals by taking one step at a time. That may seem cliched, but despite its unoriginality, it is a very useful metaphor in helping me achieve my own goals in my personal and professional endeavors.  Finally, the group established mutually constructed dependence, engagement, and camaraderie. Even though I do not enjoy running, I realize that not only am I doing something for myself, I am simultaneously doing something positive for others.

Bryan C. Clift is a current doctoral student at the University of Maryland School of Public Health in the Department of Kinesiology. The narratives and portraits about the experiences of Back On My Feet members were compiled using a descriptive ethnographic approach and resulted in a compelling and complex understanding of how Back On My Feet members’ cultural identities shape their experiences. Each representation herein is based on interviews with Back On My Feet members and over 100 hours of participant-observation. In addition to contributing toward academic publications these representations were constructed in part to advocate for Back On My Feet. Bryan can be contacted at bcclift@umd.edu.

*Name has been changed

Join us in congratulating our Baltimore Members of the Month!

Baltimore Station Member of the Month:  John

John B.

John B. joined Back on My Feet as a non-residential member in October 2009, and notes that “Winning Wipeout” is his favorite memory so far!

Says Baltimore Station team leader, “Fast” Dan Miranda: “John has been quite a consistent Wednesday runner with Baltimore Station for a while. I was completely overjoyed when he came to Wipeout 2011. I knew without a doubt our team would win the tug of war. This guy was the perfect person to be our anchor! Whenever our ‘lightweight’ members (myself included) don’t need to be on the tug of war line, it is a good thing. He certainly played a big role (yes, pun intended) in our victory!  But, besides pulling a rope with some suckers on the other end, he is also a great presence on the morning runs. He is willing to run with just about anyone, and is certainly not shy about pushing the pace a bit and getting people to run just a bit faster. He is talkative and his upbeat attitude goes a long way to getting our group going on those dark mornings!”

But while John definitely enjoys chatting it up with his teammates in the morning, he also uses his long run time to remember people he has lost. Says John: “It’s actually the main reason that I run with Back on My Feet. I volunteer in the memory of a good friend. Running gives me time to reflect.”

John recommends that brand new runners “find a time a day that you enjoy being outside. For me, it was always sunset, and the skyline. Experiencing that is when I first really started to enjoy running.”

John’s last race with Back on My Feet was the Marine Corps Marathon in 2009. He is planning to participate in the Ragnar Relay Run from Miami to Key West in January. He is focused on balancing his need for speed (“I’d like to get my mile pace for distance work under 7:30 minutes/mile) with the challenge of pacing himself (“I usually start off way too fast!”)

Christopher’s Place Members of the Month:  Steven and Diane

Steven F.

Steven F. joined Back on My Feet as a residential member on July 27^th and already has a lot of miles under his belt. But, the first one was special. Steven says that “finishing my first mile” has been his best moment since joining Back on my Feet. He enjoys chatting with his friends on runs and notes that the biggest challenge he faces is “trying to keep breathing steady enough to talk.” Steven is aiming to run a half marathon within the next few months, and will run in the Marathon Relay at the Baltimore Running Festival on October 15.  What advice would Steven give a brand new runner?  “Stick with it!”

Diane A.

Diane A. joined Back on My Feet as a non-residential member in October 2009 and has a hard time picking her best moment. “There are so many!  Being there when a team member finishes their first race, first year birthday run, the launch of the American Rescue Workers (ARF) chapter, the 2010 Baltimore Running Festival, the graduations, and of course, the hugs in the morning.”

Diane also notes one very special memory – when a member of her team gave her his 5-mile medal because he said she helped him get there. She cannot say enough about the impact the program has had on her life: “It is the most inspiring, emotional, rewarding experience I have ever had. I have met and become friends with the most amazing people! I consider them my family.”

For new runners, Diane suggests, “Don’t be too hard on yourself.  Progress takes time. Have patience.”

Diane’s last race was the Run to Remember on September 11^th, which she says was “a great race with some of my favorite people.”  Next up for Diane:  the Baltimore Running Festival half marathon on Oct. 15.

MCVET’s Members of the Month: Ja-Aura and Lauren

Ja-Aura H.

Ja-Aura H. joined MCVET as a residential member on July 3 and has loved every minute: “I love the nature of my open-hearted teammates. They hug often, and they hug like they mean it! I need those hugs, and I really learn from my team members’ giving nature. I follow that example.”

Ja-Aura is focused on college assessments and is looking forward to starting to take classes. “I am working on defeating my fear, to recognize that I am just as capable as others.”

Running has helped Ja-Aura with that confidence, though he jokes that his biggest challenge is pacing himself to slow down because, as he says, “I am not as young as I would like to think I am!”  But, of course, running helps keep us all young at heart, and Ja-Aura says, “When I’m running, I think about how I have always loved it. My teammates show up every week and everyone is so positive. That is an inspiration.”

Ja-Aura is gearing up for the Baltimore Running Festival half marathon on October 15^th.  Wish him luck!

Lauren L.

Lauren L. joined Back on My Feet as a non-residential member in May 2009. Her best moment to date? “Finishing the 2009 Baltimore Marathon. I think there’s something special about firsts, and sharing it with my mom, Arnold (my running Dad), and so many friends and fellow runners was great.”

Lauren is getting ready for the Baltimore Running Festival 5k, after which she will have run all the events of the BRF! She is also hoping to set a new PR at the Richmond Marathon in November.

What does Lauren think about while running? Breakfast, of course!  She likes to enjoy mixed strawberries, a chopped apple, a sliced banana, shredded coconut and nuts. Yum!

Team Helping Up Mission’s Members of the Month: Tim and Mary

Tim B.

Tim B. joined Team Helping Up Mission in July, and says, “there are too many great memories to choose just one.  It is a joy to be there every day with the team.”

Tim says that his biggest challenge in running is “finding the right pace and breathing.” And, keeping a steady pace is at the forefront in his life outside running, as well. His goals for the next three months include building upon success in his new job, managing his finances, making some big decisions, and of course, continuing to run.

Tim appreciates the camaraderie he has found at Back on my Feet, noting that while he runs, “I focus on the conversations I have with my running partners.” He is gearing up for the Baltimore Running Festival half marathon.

“Tim has worked very hard to improve his running since joining the team just a few months ago,” says Rob Carfango, team leader, Helping Up Mission. “He came in with a good foundation of running and has quickly increased his mileage as he trains for the Baltimore Running Festival Half Marathon.  He really enjoys his time with the team and you can find him running with many of our teammates no matter the pace.  Tim’s always smiling and looking for ways to make improvements in his running and life. He recently got a great new job and wants to do all that he can with the opportunities he has found. I know Tim will find a way to be successful in everything he wishes to achieve!”

Mary T.

Mary T. joined Team Helping Up Mission as a non-residential member in March 2011. Her favorite memory so far is “the Friday that all the teams ran through the inner harbor with Croix Sather who was on his ‘Dream Big Act Big’ run across the country. Seeing all of the teammates call out ‘Back on My Feet’ and words of encouragement as they passed on their different runs with the sun rising over the water was very inspiring. And then we ended with one of David Dutrow’s famous birthday cheesecakes – a great way to start the day.”

Getting to know the city has been a big benefit in her time with Back on My Feet. Mary says, “Usually, I’m getting to know whomever I’m running with and also taking in the different Baltimore neighborhoods; it’s amazing how much more you see when you are not in a car.”

Mary is getting ready for her first half marathon at the Baltimore Running Festival. “I definitely could not do it without the support of my awesome teammates.”

Says team leader, Rob Carfango: “Mary is a great teammate. She has made a big impact in a short time and continues to do more. She has been great in supporting the guys who are training for upcoming races at the Baltimore Running Festival while she is also training for the half. Several of these runs have started as early as 5 a.m. to accommodate her teammates’ pace and she is always out there with a smile. I have a feeling that as time goes on, Mary will continue to do more to help the team in any way she can.”

Baltimore’s September Team Updates

With September nearly behind us and fall in the air, Back on My Feet Baltimore is looking forward to the Baltimore Running Festival, a day where we runners get the city all to ourselves!

September started on a very interesting note with the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix Indy Car race in town for the first weekend. The downtown racing course split the city in half, but that did not stop our teams from getting in their Saturday long run. Though all five teams could not meet up as normal, we arranged two separate meeting points so no one would miss their miles. Now that is dedication!

On Sunday the 18^th, the chapter attended an Orioles game at Camden Yards.  Back on My Feet was recognized at the game.  Even though the Orioles were blown out by the Angels 11-2, the group had a great time.

On the weekend of the 23^rd, Back on My Feet (Baltimore and D.C.!) sent numerous teams of runners and volunteers to participate in the Ragnar Relay, a 200 mile relay race from Cumberland, MD to Washington, D.C. Two 12-person teams participated including “Team BoMF Bmore/DC,” and “We Are the BoMF.” Those not running helped out at relay exchange zones and even cooked up some pancakes at one of the rest stops.  Don’t let the term “volunteer” fool you; they worked just as hard as the runners did!

With that, here are some highlights from the teams:

Baltimore Station has been focusing on diligently getting its miles in for the Baltimore Running Festival. Len has been very consistent and looks nearly ready for his first half marathon. He even participated in the Ragnar Relay, running some of the hardest and longest legs of the race. Gary has had a tough time getting his long runs in on Saturday, but thanks to the dedication of Training Coach Susan and Social Coordinator Dana, the three of them have been doing their runs on Fridays. Gary should definitely be ready for his half marathon! Get those miles in any way you can!

Christopher’s Place welcomed four new residential members this month, most of whom are super speedy. In his third week of running, Jerome kicked out a 23 minute 3-miler. Like whoa. James and Solomon reached their 10 miles in record time and George is learning to love those hills.

Kani, Dom, Erick and Tony all joined others from Christopher’s Place and Back on My Feet Baltimore for the Oriole’s game on September 18th. We had a great time, despite the team’s loss.

Our non-residential members have been super busy this month! Both Claire and Brendan qualified for the Boston Marathon! Jordyn ran the Rock and Roll Philly half! Amy M. competed in a triathlon and beat her PR by more than 10 minutes. She says it’s all that training for the Baltimore Running Festival that helped her shave that huge chunk off! Amy U. walked 60 miles for Breast Cancer and Sadie walked 30 miles for the National MS Society. We’re all over the place!

MCVET is proud to announce that Greg “The Road Runner” S. passed his GED exam! This was a great display of teamwork and support, as fellow Back on My Feet teammates Karem B., Erin H., Claire C., Kim C. and Mike M. all worked together to help Greg with his studies. Congratulations Greg!

Team Helping Up Mission Baltimore (THUMB) welcomed two new residential teammates in September, David F. & Bryant J. David & Bryant have already logged a few miles with the team and are really enjoying themselves.

Moses J. and Nicko R. celebrated completing 250 miles with the team, while Barry B. just completed 2,000 miles since joining Back on My Feet in 2009!  Nicko R. is training for his first half marathon and Barry is training to complete another marathon.

On September 16th, our teammate and friend, Steven W., graduated from Helping up Mission and celebrated one year of sobriety. Steven is training for his first half marathon and has several great things going on in his life. We are all so proud of him. Congratulations Steven!

We are getting closer to the Baltimore Running Festival on October 15^th. THUMB will have many teammates running the races, with several running this event for the very first time. We are really excited for the day to arrive. We have logged many miles in preparation and it is sure to be a great celebration for many of our teammates!

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.

Nobody believed in them.  They scored 6 points in 2010.  They were tantalizingly ambushed by water-balloons and they weren’t sure they would even have more than 10 people come out for the event.  Stacked against all odds, Baltimore Station stood victorious at the end of the day on Saturday at the 3^rd Annual Wipeout , not only embodying the spirit of Baltimore, but exhibiting a perseverance in the face of adversity that epitomizes the mission of Back on My Feet.

All teams came rowdy and ready to rumble on Saturday though, not just BSTAT.  Helping Up lived up to their reputation with a victory in the cheer category, (HUM Team Cheer) though ARW stole the spirit award from right under their noses, showing up with green face paint and fetching green streamer wigs.  Back on My Feet DC brought their A-game, particularly in the wheelbarrow event and in the tug-o-war, crushing the referees in a dominating fashion.  Although Team CP gave BSTAT a run for their money for the tug of war title, they truly exemplified their talents in the water balloon toss and leapfrog competitions.  TL Sadie also took home the Mike DiJulia Award for rallying her team throughout the day with the CP battle cry.

MCVET proudly boasted the best individual scuttler Greg S., who scuttled like nobody had ever seen before, locking up their victory in the crabwalk relay race.

When the scores were tallied and the field calmed down, teams left to begin plotting their strategy for revenge on the Ivan Drago impostor and the BSTAT team in WIPEOUT 2012.

Back on My Feet Baltimore was graced with the presence of researchers David Epstein and Kenzie Preston who spoke at an Orientation 2.0 that slightly differed from precedent.  Orientation 2.0 is designed to further educate our members, partners & constituents on how to approach and cope with the pervasive issues of addiction, substance abuse & recovery.  Past themes have centered on the personal struggle through recovery as told by teammates from diverse backgrounds.  Read more…