Pack the yogurt covered pretzels, sketch out the perfect indie playlist and grab the “run buddies” for a weekend in Austin. The Back on My Feet in24 Austin Race Challenge Presented by Ace Cash Express will have four unique races over the course of 48 hours that you’ll regret you missed. In24 takes place May 11th and 12th in Austin.

Besides racing for an incredible local cause, this weekend has something for everyone!

Five-Person Relay Challenge – Instead of competing against your friends, compete with them! This race offers options ranging from 5 to 30 miles per person. So pick your dose of crazy and loop the Camp with your friends after some classic Austin breakfast tacos (but before your dip in Barton Springs).

Sunset Run – Nothing is more satisfying than racing and beating the crap out of your friends during a legendary Hill Country sunset. This 5-mile race starts at 7:00 p.m. and ends with a pretty cool party. Stop by the beer garden post-race, stay for food from Austin’s legendary food trailers and check out groovy tunes that only the live music capitol of the world can provide…. all at in24!

Pajama Loop Run – Let’s hope you don’t sleep naked! Runners are encouraged to roll out of bed and stay in their pajamas for this 7:00 a.m. race around the 5-mile loop at Camp Mabry. This race for early risers has some serious prize money to be won!

LoneRanger Ultra-Marathon – The Lone Ranger is a true test for any long-distance runner who has tackled a marathon and is looking for something more. Challenge your will by running as many 5-mile loops inside Camp Mabry in the allotted 24-hour time period.

Whether friendly competition or changing perception is your motivation for running, we want you at in24 Austin. And here’s the best part – a hot discount!

We’re proud to be partnering with the Fairfield Inn & Suites Austin North/Parmer Lane. The hotel is just 15 minutes away from Camp Mabry. Runners who reserve their room before April 23, 2013 and use the promotional code bombomb when making their reservation get a discount. Camping at Camp Mabry is also welcome.

April showers haven’t stopped these Members from running and improving their lives one step at a time! Their endurance and perseverance is down right inspiring.

Jason Smith, Non-Residential Members, Dallas LIFE “I love being a part of Back on my Feet for a lot of reasons. The diverse stories across all members is refreshing. The confidence building, hope and determination is motivating. It’s a truly heart touching organization. I’m so proud and grateful to be a Member.”

Albert, Residential Member, Dallas LIFE Albert joined the Dallas LIFE Back on My Feet family about a month ago and has been committed ever since!  He has maintained high attendance while participating in the nine month program at Dallas LIFE.  Albert has brought honesty and positivity to the team!

Melissa Waters, Non-Residential Member, Salvation Army “I started running only about four years ago. Once I developed this running habit and ran a race or two, I realized that there are very few things in life that can make you feel more encouraged, positive, and confident than reaching running goals. I feel that being able to run is a gift from God that I never knew was there. Now that I know, I want to share it! I love Back on My Feet because I get to do that very thing. Everyone needs some encouragement at some point in life. BoMF is a great way to encourage others and help them develop the confidence to get back on their feet. And It’s fun!”

Katherine, Residential Member, Salvation Army Katherine is going three months strong as a dedicated member of the Salvation Army team! Since day one, Katherine has never missed a single run! She has challenged herself to start running and is making great strides towards accomplishing that goal!

Ginger Becker, Non-Residential Member, The Bridge “Many people falling on hard times in their lives lose confidence in their abilities to succeed. And it’s completely understandable. We help people get through these trying times by giving them tools to succeed and providing important social integration through running. It’s through running that a person can learn a lot about themselves. These lessons in building physical and mental endurance, learning to push yourself beyond what you thought is possible, and even proper breathing technique easily translates to every day survival skills in life.”

Claudis, Residential Member, The Bridge Claudis has been a part of the Back on My Feet family for about a month and has had a smile on his face the entire time!  He brings such a positive spirit to Team bridge!  Claudis has challenged himself and has gone from not being able to run much at all to almost running 2 miles in the past month!  He has shown his commitment through 100% attendance and is the first to volunteer when given the opportunity.  He is an inspiration to many and on his way to his first 5K in the coming months!

Jeff Kuhn, Non-Residential Member, Veterans Affairs I love Back on My Feet because I truly believe that taking those first couple of steps to improve oneself is the hardest part to changing. I have truly enjoyed becoming part of the BoMF Family and enjoy my Wednesday’s Runs.”

Barry, Residential Member, Veterans Affairs While Barry has served our country and survived a difficult past, he is looking towards his future! Barry has maintained 95% attendance with the Veterans team and is looking forward to moving out of the facility. Barry is the first to crack a joke, just ask his teammates!

Back on My Feet staff wanted to share this inspirational story of Tina (name changed) a Residential Member with Team Bridge in Dallas to show the collaborative effort required to assist individuals to self-sufficiency. While running is a huge piece of what we do, much more goes on behind the scenes…

This is her story as told by Dennis Strickland, The Bridge’s Homeless Recovery Manager -

Tina has experienced much in her 24 years before becoming homeless and showing up at The Bridge. She came to us in August of 2011, did intake and was referred to Austin Street Center for shelter. She enrolled in our care management and we started to learn more about her: With an 11th grade education and limited skills, she had resorted to prostitution on the streets.

There was also a history of hospitalizations at Terrell State Hospital. She had a schizoaffective diagnosis, but at the time of her intake she was not receiving treatment; we linked her to LifeNet Clinic at the Bridge.

Tina has come a long way. Following months of care management, and with her behavioral health care intact, Tina was moved to our Transitional Shelter and encouraged to join Back on My Feet (BoMF) for both physical exercise and peer mentoring. She has done well with that program.

Her BoMF case manager reports,

She has gone from being very timid, shy and closed off to one who has been committed, engaged and the first to give her morning hug to our members! I know Tina has been through a lot, and I am so encouraged by her commitment to our team. Her smile gives me hope and I believe she is making strides towards a bright future.

Tina has most recently become job ready, working with the on-site Texas Workforce team. She has just obtained part-time employment, but has aspiration for more. Tina is not home, yet, but we believe she is very close to finding her way home. Our partnership is making it possible for our Guests like Tina to recover from homelessness.

Back on My Feet is honored to be a part of Tina’s recovery!

Residential Member of the Month: Terrence Robinson
He’s Moving Up!

Terrence R. is on a roll! Terrence has been a strong presence with team MCVET since he joined in April 2012 and has been serving as team captain since August. After excelling in his HVAC certifications this past Fall while managing responsibilities as Vet Guard (all while maintaining over 98% attendance with BoMF), Terrence was appointed to staff at MCVET and will transition to BoMF alumni status. Terrence is incredibly driven and brings so much to his team. We are so lucky to have Terrence among the circle and look forward to supporting him in these exciting milestones ahead.

Terrence was also featured this month!  Read more about Terrence here.

Non-Residential Member of the Month: John Ware
Man, Those are Some Cool Shorts!

John W. has been running with Team MCVET since 2009 and now sits on the BoMF Advisory Board. Weekday runs, races and socials alike, John is there in support and often sporting one of his many pairs of snappy monogram shorts! In addition to his own contributions to the team John must also be noted for his solid recruiting of two additional cherished BoMFers – his wonderful wife Shannon and their newest addition “mini-MCVETer” Georgeanne.

Omar, on the left, poses with Ravens Running Back Ray Rice.

Residental Member of the Month: Omar

Omar joined the team at Christopher’s Place on October 17 and has made great strides, already accumulating 52 miles.  He has quite a few greatest moments, but the one that stands out is when he attended the pasta party at Christopher’s Place and was able to sit and talk with some really great people.  He recalls that evening as having such a positive and relaxed environment.  Omar finds running longer distances to be his biggest challenge, but he hopes to run a race in the near future.  He basically thinks about putting one foot in front of the other when he runs.  Team Leader, Diane calls Omar “the team’s number 1 cheerleader at all the Back on My Feet races!!”

Non-Residental Members of the Month: Chris and Brockett

Chris and Brockett, also the “Dynamic Duo,” run with Christopher’s Place.  Brockett first joined BoMF in 2008, is one of the founding members of team CP, and continues to be a vital part of the team.  Chris joined in 2011 because he saw how happy Brockett was when she came home after her morning run.  Chris’ favorite moment since joining, was seeing Arnell’s pride at finishing the Baltimore half.  Brockett loves the feeling of being inspired to be part of a group of unlike people who are so alike.  When these two are running, they tend to think about each other.  Brockett hopes that Chris’ knee isn’t hurting, and Chris is hoping that Brockett’s IT band isn’t hurting.  Other than that, they count Ravens jerseys.  You may not know this, but Brockett and Chris dated for eleven years before getting married.  And they are the cutest darn couple,” says Team Leader Diane.

Let’s get a new year off to a great start! These Members have gone above and beyond the regular M/W/F runs and shown us the spirit of Back on My Feet!

Adam Rubin, Non-Residential Members, Dallas LIFE “I love Back on My Feet because it’s really the perfect way to start off the day. Every morning run with Dallas LIFE is a truly energizing experience – everyone’s so positive and encouraging, it’s infectious. And if someone is having a rough morning, everyone else is there for support. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have met my teammates – they’re such an inspiring group of people. Often times after runs, I wonder if I’ll ever be able to give back as much as I’ve gotten out of this experience. Back on My Feet is a very special organization, and I’m honored to be a small part of it.”

Christopher, Residential Member, Dallas LIFE Christopher is a great team member! Christopher joined Back on My Feet in November 2012 and has attended every class available. He is currently looking for employment and enjoying leading his team with a positive attitude. Way to go Christopher!

Raul Serrano, Non-Residential Member, Salvation Army “I like coming out to see the smiling faces and welcoming arms from both Residential and Non-Residential Members alike. Everyone always seems honestly happy to be there and glad I’m there with them. Running is something I would do on my own but it’s better when I’m there.”

Vanessa, Residential Member, Salvation Army Vanessa has volunteered on multiple occasions at races where we depended on volunteers. She has attended all of the Financial Literacy classes and loves coming to the monthly computer courses. However, Virginia’s greatest accomplishment to date is gaining new employment in January 2013!

Natalie Avis, Non-Residential Member, The Bridge “I love that through Back on My Feet I have the opportunity to meet wonderful people from all kinds of backgrounds and life situations. My teammates are always supportive and full of positive energy, even at 5:45 am! After every run I am encouraged to be a better and healthier person, and I love seeing the accomplishments of Team Bridge, both Residential and Non-Residential Members.”

Theresa, Residential Member, The Bridge Theresa pushes herself despite a foot injury. Always ready for a hug and consistently smiling, Theresa loves the fact that Back on My Feet has helped her meet new friends!

Bryan Cathey, Non-Residential Member, Veterans Affairs “I love to run and I love to help people. A friend told me about Back on My Feet and it seemed like a perfect marriage of the two. I had no idea I would actually look forward to waking up at 4 AM three times a week but I do – and running with the VA team has quickly become a very meaningful part of my life. Back on My Feet is an amazing organization that allows me to give back in some small measure what was so freely given to me during my own personal struggles.”

Mike, Residential Member, Veterans Affairs While not the loudest Member of the team, Mike reservedly supports his teammates, Back on My Feet and staff. He has offered to go above and beyond the usual Member expectations on numerous occasions. We are very proud of his success and look forward to seeing Mike run towards his goals!

The holidays have us cheering for joy! Joyous cheers for EIGHT members of the month! Congrats guys!

Steve Ward, Non-Residential Members, Dallas LIFE “I love to run with Back on My Feet because of the opportunity to serve and run with others. I believe in the relationships we develop with the Residential Members and look forward to seeing them every week. The Residential Members help me more than what I can do for them. They are my family and I love them all.”

Adam, Residential Member, Dallas LIFE Adam, a University of Nebraska alumni, is one of the most kind-hearted Residential Members at Dallas LIFE. He not only leads the pack in running, but will circle back to the walkers to ensure everyone’s safety on morning runs. Thanks for showing us how to be a team member Adam!

Lisa Tran, Non-Residential Member, Salvation Army “I love Back on My Feet because the organization is a perfect blend of what I feel most passionate about: building a better community by serving others and running! In the past few months of joining the Salvation Army team, I have met amazing people who inspire me to truly live out the Serenity Prayer.”

Mike, Residential Member, Salvation Army Mike is amazing! He has such a positive attitude. Mike goes out of his way to help Back on My Feet staff and he loves donuts! How couldn’t you love Mike??

Abraham Lagmay, Non-Residential Member, The Bridge “At first, I was uncertain that I could commit the time to volunteering at Back on My Feet with my own selfish reasons. As time went on, I began to realize how Back on My Feet continues to change the lives of Residential Members, including mine. Seeing someone who was in the depths of despair suddenly has hope for the future is a gift beyond words.  It has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me so far. I am proud to be a part of such an amazing organization.We are one big ‘human’ family!”

Sharon, Residential Member, The Bridge Sharon has come back from great odds to rejoin her Back on My Feet family at The Bridge. She maintained 100% attendance in November and transitioned to the upstairs living facility. We are very proud of where Sharon is today and the depression she is fighting through walking every Monday, Wednesday and Friday!

Raymond, Residential Member, Veterans Affairs Raymond always pushes himself further and refuses to walk with the team. His determination is contagious and he is an inspiration to his teammates. He has a quirky and fun attitude with his Back on My Feet family. Way to go Raymond!

Helping Up Res Member of the Month: Chris

Chris H. started running with Back on My Feet in October 2012, and since then, he has accumulated more than 125 miles.  He recalls his favorite event since joining the team as, “Bash! I had a great time and it was the first formal event I’d ever been to. It was inspirational and reassuring because I felt like I really belonged there. The alumni induction event was a great time too.”  While running, Chris thinks about science, and he says that his biggest challenge is, “Beating my first 5K time and running it in under 20 minutes. I finished the No Pain/No Spain run in 20:08, so I’m close.”  Over the next three months, Chris would like to get into the HUM’s four-year apprenticeship program to become a journeyman electrician.  He’s looking forward to running his next race, the Celtic Solstice 5 Miler.

“Chris has been an awesome addition to our team! He is extremely dedicated to Back on My Feet and is a constant presence at Saturday runs, social events and other voluntary opportunities. Like the rest of our HUM teammates, I’ve enjoyed each run with Chris and I’m excited to see him reach his running and other individual goals. In addition to being a personable teammate, Chris is a very gifted runner and has already posted a number of impressive race finishes. We’re very excited to see what the future holds for him with BoMF and beyond.”

Helping Up Non-Res Member of the Month: Andrea

Andrea R. started running with Helping Up last January, almost one year ago.  According to her, “Running allows me to clear my head of daily stressors. While I run, I am able to really think about the things that I am thankful for especially the amazing people in my life. I have truly been blessed with an amazing talent and I am grateful to be able to share it with so many incredible people.”  She feels strongly for her teammates and claims that the best moments of Back on My Feet involve the amazing and inspiring people she has been able to meet.  “The pure joy, energy, and excitement that is demonstrated by the members in the early mornings is truly incredible. I participated in the Baltimore Running Festival with many Res and Non-Res members of Back on My Feet and the enthusiasm that everyone displayed was truly inspiring.”  She’ll have more opportunities to embrace the Back on My Feet enthusiasm, especially at her next race, the Celtic Solstice in December.

“Andrea is a phenomenal teammate at THUMB. She’s great to talk to during a run, always comes out for our BoMF social events and is also quite a fierce competitor on race day! I’m always trying to cheer her on but am never able to catch up to her. Her personality is extremely warm and inviting, which is a major reason why she’s able to connect with so many of her teammates.”

Christopher’s Place Members of the Month: Arnell D. and Eric V.

Arnell D. has completed more than 275 miles since he started running with Back on My Feet in last March.  In fact, he says that his best moment since joining the team was simply, “Starting. Saying that I was going to run a marathon one day.  It came true!!  I was trained, encouraged, and supported fully by my BoMF FAMILY!!  I say family instead of team members.”  Arnell looks forward to continuing to encourage others to achieve their personal goals because they are not alone anymore-a fact he has learned himself as he can been motivated to keep going by his BoMF family.  Although he doesn’t know what his next race will be as of now, Arnell continues to run to help him “focus on what I want to do in life, where I was, and where I want to be in the future.”

Diane Dritt Amin, NRMC, teammate, and friend, says, “Arnell is team captain for CP and brings a unique energy and spirit to the team. He never fails to have a warm, welcoming smile on his face and greets every member with enthusiasm. He completed his first 1/2 marathon at the BRF and was so proud of his accomplishment, as he should be!! He is not only Member of the Month for CP, he was also recognized as Employee of the Month at Giant Foods, after only 2 months of employment there. CP loves Arnell!!”

Eric V. started running with Christopher’s Place in January 2011.  He describes his best moment since joining Back on My Feet: “When I was in Chicago for the marathon this year, I joined the circle of BOMF members from that city running the race.  It was amazing knowing I’m part of something that reaches across the nation.”  He has recently stopped listening to music during runs and is pleased to find that he’s not as bored as he thought he would be.

Paul Hulleberg, Christopher’s Place’s Team Coach, says, “Eric is an excellent musician and founder of The CP band. He plays accordion, mandolin and hand percussion. He is soft spoken, humble, gentle and kind. Always reliable and a great team player. That’s our guy!”

Helping Up Members of the Month: Justin W. and Tiffany C.

Since Justin W. joined Back on My Feet in July, he has run over 100 miles.  He says he really enjoys being around all of the positive people with Back on My Feet as well as race day.  Justin says that during runs he thinks about the past few days.  He’s found his biggest challenge to be the cold weather, but it won’t deter him from his goals of “get[ting] a job and focus[ing] on training for a half marathon in the spring.”

Team Leader at Helping Up Rob Carfagno says, “Justin has really taken to running with Back on My Feet! He’s a quiet leader on the team and you can just see how much he loves to be out there. A generally quiet guy by nature, he is very engaging and friendly with his teammates and I can see how proud he is to be a member of our team and improving his life through running. I was most impressed one day after a run when he told a new teammate who was getting ready to leave that ‘we stay through stretching and closing circle as part of this team.’ That’s the sign of a true leader and I found his words/actions to be very inspiring!”

Tiffany stands on the right.

Tiffany C. has been running with Back on My Feet since July.  She says that during runs, “I think about not falling…some of those sidewalks are jacked up.”  While she can’t decide upon a best moment since joining the team, she appreciates the support she has gotten from the team.  She attributes many of her finishes to the support of her teammates who won’t let her quit.

Team Leader Rob Carfagno says, ʺIn a relatively short time on the team, Tiff has jumped right in and embraced all that Back on My Feet has to offer! She regularly attends runs, races and social events and is supportive of her teammates. She has pushed her mileage up while lowering her times and is inspiring those around her to do more as well. I am excited to see where her running takes her and see her get even more involved with the team. Tiff is a good friend of mine and I’m so glad that she has joined the team!ʺ

MCVET Members of the Month: Jamond T. and Mara M.

Jamond T. joined the team in August and has accumulated 65 miles.  He says he has no complaints so far and enjoys the conversations that arise during runs.  He says, “We have a friendly group of people.”  His next race is the No Pain, No Spain 5K in December and he would also like to train for the Nikia Half Marathon this winter.

“Jamond is a wonderful addition to the team. He is never without a smile and always up for adjusting his pace to enjoy the company of someone new. We are all so lucky to start our day in the company of his constant enthusiastic attitude!”

Mara M. began running with MCVET in August 2011.  She says that she enjoys the circle, saying that the “feeling of fellowship and caring is amazing and powerful when [the entire BoMF] come[s] together.”  She says that she is usually thinking about “Everything!” when she’s running.  “Or I am singing along with my running mix,” she also admits.

“MCVET is very lucky to have Mara as a teammate and now our race coordinator. As much as we all appreciate her organization and patience in her race coordinator role we really appreciate her dedicated to each team member and her encouragement with running and beyond!”