Residential Member of the Month: Andrew W.

SoBo Team Leader Jared points out Andrew W.

Andrew W. joined Team SoBo in February 2013.  He recalls his best moments since joining the team as the first miles he ran with the whole team and his recent relay race at the Nikia Half Marathon and Relay.  He says he is challenged to continue running and would like to run a 10K in the next three months.  When he’s running, Andrew thinks about not stopping and giving his attention to whoever he is running with, which he finds helps him not think about the running.  His next race will be the MCVET 5K in a few weeks.

“Andrew has been excited about Back on My Feet since day one. His enthusiasm is certainly present at 5:30 am circles and there’s no doubt he’s the reason that some non-res members come out and run. You can tell from his competitive spirit that he wants to keep improving and that’s evident in his attitude week in and week out. If that’s not enough, you can always count on him to keep things light-hearted.” – Jared Rigler, Team Leader

Non-Residential Member of the Month: Ryan C.

Ryan C. with his fiancé Ali

Ryan C. started running with Back on My Feet in August 2010.  Last October, he celebrated running his first full marathon with the team, which he calls his best moment with Back on My Feet.  Ryan says, “Running is therapeutic. I try not to think too hard while running.”  His next race will be the Back on my Feet AT&T Sneaks Come Out at Night Presented by Thomas’ in August followed soon after by the inaugural Charles Street 12 Miler.  After his races, he likes to drink chocolate milk and enjoy the runner’s high from a great workout.

ʺRyan has been a rock in Team SoBo’s transition from two teams to one last July. For example, he circles up several times a week and is always willing to run out of his comfort zone. You can always count on Ryan for the ‘stuff off the pavement’ – donating items for pasta/party pot lucks, bringing goodies to the circle for birthdays, and the numerous core roles he’s held over the last few years and in his new position as Alumni Services Core.ʺ – Jared Rigler, Team Leader

Residential Member of the Month: Tim G.

Tim G. joined Team Helping Up last November and has run over 200 miles.  He says his biggest challenge is, “Forcing myself to take it easy once in a while and give myself a break.  I’m always pushing myself to do more.”  His effort and hard work have paid off too.  He set a personal record of 21:02 at the recent MammoJam Jug Jog.  When asked about his performance, he says, “I never thought I’d be able to run that fast and I think I can do even better.”  His next race is the Nikia Half Marathon this weekend—his first 13.1 race!  In the next 3 months, he hopes to be gainfully employed.

Quote from Helping Up Team Leader Nathan: “Tim’s dedication to BoMF, his teammates and achieving his personal goals is truly admirable.  He’s had nearly perfect attendance since joining last year and he’s always staying connected to his teammates by running with different groups, enjoying our social events and a slight fascination with Facebook.  He’s already achieved great mileage and personal accomplishments with BoMF and we’re thrilled to see his performance at the upcoming Nikia Half Marathon and future races.”

Non-Residential Member of the Month: Jocelyn S.

From left to right: Hannah (now HUM), Jocelyn, and Christine (now SoBo)

Jocelyn S. joined Back on My Feet in 2010 and started running with Team American Rescue Workers.  While taking some time off to heal an injury, she moved to Patterson Park and started running with Team Helping Up.  Her best BoMF moment to date is from last year’s Philadelphia Marathon.  “There was a Baltimore BoMF cheering section somewhere within the last mile of the race,” she recalls.  “Someone must have recognized me and started cheering… loudly.  As I ran by, I smiled.  It was the first time I had smiled in ten miles!  And it made the finish line so much sweeter to have shared that moment with them.  I have no idea who was in that cheering crowd, but I am so grateful for their support.”  Jocelyn’s next race is the Nikia Relay, which she is running with two of her closest friends who have never run with BoMF.  Jocelyn says, “I am so excited to introduce them to the warmest and most supportive running group out there… and by that I really mean the most awesome!!”

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.

Soon, Terrence plans to move into Single Room Occupancy (SRO), the final phase of the recovery program at MCVET. He happily says that this move “will allow me the good fortune of becoming an alumni of BoMF.” He’s also considering running the Nikia Half Marathon or joining a relay team in April. He says it depends on his schedule and ability to fit in training with his responsibilities for his recovery, school, and work. By August, Terrence plans to add 18 months clean and sober to his list of accomplishments and to complete the Commercial Industrial Maintenance Program at North American Trade. Looking more long-term, Terrence hopes to buy a home and send his son to college once he graduates in 2016. He believes that his ultimate goal of reintegrating into his family and community is well within his reach.

As he moves his life forward, Terrence hopes to give back and help others do the same through volunteering or sharing his story from addiction and homelessness to self-sufficiency in order to inspire others. Terrence says BoMF and MCVET have “plac[ed] me in position to take advantage of opportunities that I would have not been able to access otherwise…Skills to Succeed, financial assistance, credit counseling, and the renewing of my mind as well as my body.” The job preparation, job training, and financial literacy skills Terrence has learned, along with the support from his teammates, will help enable Terrence to accomplish his goals.

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.

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.”

November was a great month for Back on My Feet Baltimore!  We opened the month with the Tuerk House 5k, a favorite race of many of our teammates.  It was a nice, cold day like years past and BoMF Baltimore showed our great spirit once again.  On November 15^th, BoMF Baltimore inducted another class of proud alumni and also celebrated several new senior members.  There were about 100 teammates in attendance, including many alumni, who came out to share in the accomplishments of the new alumni and senior members.  During this holiday season we are once again thankful for all that Back on My Feet gives us, most of all the friendship of our teammates.

Team SoBo:  Several SoBo’ers participated in the Tuerk House 5k – Eddie, Ervin, Joe and George along with several non-res enjoyed a crisp morning.  BoMF Inducted George H. into Alumni and welcomed Eddie P. and Roderick T. as Senior Members.  BoMF Baltimore staple, Greg S., shared some good stories about George.  Several other races SoBo’ers participated in – Philly full and half marathon, Richmond Marathon, Rock and Roll Savannah GA Half, Gobble Cobble Turkey Trot to name a few.   Several non-res served dinner at Baltimore Station on November 28th.  It was great to hear and share stories about Baltimore, running, and life.  Many SoBo’ers were in attendance at BASH and would like to thank all the people involved in putting on such a fun evening.  SoBo wedding bells Kari P. and Craig L.

Team Christopher’s Place:  Arnell became a senior member and has moved into his own housing (with family).  Ricky ran his first race, Tuerk House, and is looking forward to the next.  Jonathan found employment and is working on balancing running and working.  George and Kani were officially inducted as alums. Tony, Jonathan R., Hatchett, and Ricky T all showed up to alumni inductions!  Members of Team CP non res are continuing with their Rehoboth half marathon training.  Had a great 10 mile run up on the NCR and brunch at Diane’s house.

Team Helping Up Mission:  THUMB welcomed 3 new runners this month: Dan D., Tim F. & Tim G. Our team has over a dozen active members and several alumni members who are still involved with the team!  On Saturday, November 3rd, several teammates participated in Tuerk House 5k at Druid Hill park. This is a great race and once again BoMF Baltimore showed great spirit. One of our newer teammates, Chris H., won his age group!  On Monday, November 5th, our team gathered in Towson for movie night!  A group of about 15 of us watched “Rocky” and enjoyed snacks and good times together.  It was a fun night and maybe the start of a new tradition.  On November 15th, another class was inducted as alumni of Back on My Feet, including HUM teammates Dave H. Joe M. & Anthony B. “Blue”. Bryant J. and Frank P. were named senior members. The event was held at the American Brewery and about 100 people attended this amazing event. It was a great night of celebration for BoMF Baltimore and one of the key successes that our organization is all about.  On November 18th, several our teammates ran the Philly marathon and half marathon. It was an amazing day filled with many great successes and support from so many.

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!”

Back on My Feet Baltimore has been a BUSY chapter the month of September. Marathon and half marathon training has been going great with both sets of people having done some of the longest runs they will have to do leading up to the races. This coming weekend is the Marion House 5K with lots of resident and non-resident member involvement. Hopefully some wins will be brought home by BoMFers. This month was also the wedding of Jackie and Patrick! They hosted an AMAZING post run reception the morning of their wedding. It was great seeing their friends and family come and circle up that Saturday morning and joining the rest of Back on My Feet in wishing Jackie and Patrick an amazing wedding day.

Team CP has had a chance to really gel this month. No new members were taken on, but the team has expanded with some great new non-res involvement. The team captain Arnell has been working at the Giant market at Old Court and Reisterstown Road now for two months. In his two months he’s received an acknowledgement by a difficult customer and he was named Employee of the Month! Way to go Arnell! Social Coordinator Ben is stepping down due to taking some graduate classes, but Caitlyn, our 6K/30Day coordinator has enthusiastically stepped into the role. She’s come up with an amazing idea for our team’s video for the BRF pasta party. It will be awesome J. The race this past month was the Sneaks Come out At Night and there were plenty of CP members in attendance. Jerome ran an amazing 15K and won his age group. Carolyn and Jeanne (MJ) also won their age groups! It was great having ice cream and popsicles at the end. This month we got to cheer on the O’s on their path to the play-offs. We had four resident members, an alumnus, and lots of non-residents all came to cheer on the O’s!

Team SoBo said good-bye to Sarah, the former team leader. But no worries, she’s now working for BoMF in Chicago! Jared R is now helping Doug with making sure Team SoBo is better than ever. In resident news, Rafael and Tim were both welcomed to the team. George, a resident and now soon to be alumni, has moved out into his own housing, but is still close and comes out to run. Joseph ran his first four miler and said he was “too blessed to be stressed”. Roderick completed the 15K at the Sneaks Come Out at Night race, which convinced him to give a shot at the Baltimore full marathon. He has also started school on a track in respiratory therapy. While many members spent their summers racing and completing triathlon events, Carrie and Kevin tied the knot! Congratulations to them!

Team Helping Up Mission is welcoming the cooler weather in September along with two new resident members, Matt P and Mike W! With the cooler weather, many of the teammates are working hard at getting ready for BRF with participation in the 5K, relay, half marathon, and the full marathon. September 12th brought the O’s game with several teammates that went to Camden Yards. There were about 20 THUMB members in attendance and everyone had a GREAT time. This month is closing out soon with the Marian House 5K and a team BBQ.

Team MCVET has been busy.  Tony White ran his first 5k at the Marian House 5K while alumni member Greg took first place in his age group. Several nonres members medaled as well including Mitch and Mara. Ace started a new job working security at Harris Teeter in Federal Hill. Nonres Meg Harnett completed her first 100 miler at the Bear 100 Miler in Utah.  The entire team is looking forward to the BRF next month as many members will participate in the 5k, relay, half-marathon, and marathon.

Christopher’s Place Members of the Month: Michael B. and Kieran S.

Michael B. has been running with Back on My Feet since July and has run over 50 miles.  He said his best moment since joining Back on My Feet was being awarded the Member of the Month.  His goal with the team is to “run more than I have ever run before and one day to run in a marathon.”  When he’s running, Michael says, “The early morning air and warm smiles help me to keep a positive outlook on my future.”  His next race will be the Baltimore Running Festival 5k.

Jordyn Manucci, Team Leader, says, “Michael has been all in since day one. He has committed to the team by volunteering to get the water every morning for us all. He has committed to the community by helping the 6th branch with the Oliver neighborhood clean up. CP is lucky to have Michael on the team!”

Kieran S. started running with Team Christopher’s Place in August 2011.  He says that his best moments with Back on My Feet included run throughout last winter: a first for him since he started running. When he’s running, he says he thinks about “complicated multiplication problems (like 543×923). It stimulates the brain and kills time.”  During the Baltimore Half Marathon, his next race, he’ll certainly have plenty of time to think through several of these problems.

Team Leader Jordyn Manucci says, “Kieran brings a bit of quirky to the team. His shoes are definitely a talking point, and once you can get him started, he’s more than willing to talk to you about anything especially the crazy races he does!”

Helping Up Members of the Month: Tim R. and Meredith E.

Tim R. has run over 250 miles since running with Back on My Feet.  He says he most enjoys circling up on Saturday mornings, especially on the morning of Wipeout. He says his biggest challenge is talking with his teammates because he’s such a quiet person. His goal for the next three months is to get a job.  His next race will be the Tuerk House 5k in November.

Team Leader Rob Carfagno says, ʺTim has been a great addition to our team. As he has admitted, he is a quiet guy, but when you get out running with him, you wouldn’t know it; he is a great person to run with and talk to! Tim is a strong runner and is always pushing himself. He likes to run long miles on Saturday mornings and his weekday runs are usually pretty quick. Tim is very thoughtful and friendly and always positive and encouraging of those around him.ʺ

Meredith E. has been running with Back on My Feet since January 2011. Her favorite moment since joining Back on My Feet: “There are too many awesome moments to capture but watching the guys confidence build over time and seeing them make strides to improve their lives is a big one and it’s what BoMF is all about. We’ve had many guys take that next step either moving out on their own, getting a job, going back to school, hitting their 1, 2, or 3+ years of sobriety and even all of the above. Running with Blue for his first race (Celtic Solstice 5 miler), 5 Mile Schmedium Challenge with Mikey B and Misha, 5:30am THUMB dance party, Wipeout (1st place baby!!), and 4am runs with Tuck, are memorable for me as well. The list is endless.” With several ultra-marathon races under her belt, her next race, the Baltimore Marathon, should be a piece of cake!

Rob Carfagno, Team Leader, says, ʺMeredith is an amazing teammate and friend! She is the true essence of Back on My Feet. She has gone way above and beyond in everything she does for the team and has done such much to help so many on our team. She is a great Team Organizer, always staying in touch with each of the guys on our team and encouraging them and pushing them to do more. She has great energy and spirit that everyone feeds off in the mornings. She is very dedicated and there are so many things that she does behind the scenes that most people don’t even realize. THUMB is very lucky to have her on our team and personally I don’t know what I would do without her!”

MCVET Members of the Month: Tony W. and Dave L.

Tony W. has run 65 miles since joining the team in May.  He says there have been so many good moments since joining Back on My Feet that it’s hard to pick just on as his favorite, but if he had to choose one, “I think the Team BBQ might be at the top of the list, the mango sorbet was perfect and it was good catching up with everyone outside of the regular run.” While he has experienced some problems with foot and back issues, he’s been patient and will next race at the Marion House 5k.

Teammate Abby Ferretti says, ʺTony has become such a strong leader within the team. Where he is a man of few words (at 5:30 in the morning) his presence speaks volumes. Despite the demands of his role as Platoon Leader at MCVET, Tony has still maintained consistency in his running, continuing to challenge himself with longer distances and faster running partners.ʺ

Dave L. started running with MCVET in March.  When he’s running, he’s thinking “I should probably slow down, Ross and Mitchie are back there somewhere.” One of his favorite Back on My Feet moments include “making fun of Ace (good-naturedly) for looking fresh and clean on his way to a job interview (and subsequently hearing that he got the job).” He’ll be out running the 3^rd leg of the relay at the Baltimore Running Festival with other Back on My Feet teammates.

Teammate Abby Ferretti says, ʺWe’re honored to have Dave Landymore as part of Team MCVET. As a former Marine, who now serves as the Executive Director of the 6th Branch, Dave implements his veteran skillset on a day to day to basis in executing community service initiatives. This dedication to others serves as a great model for our res and nonres members alike and through his relationship with BoMF, our organizations have been able to partner on a number of events helping out in the Oliver neighborhood. As Dave’s running progresses, we wish him all the best as he prepares to tackle his next challenge at the Marine Corps Marathon!ʺ