Troy running at the Wissahickon Wanderers track meet

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

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

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

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

Thanks Troy!

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.

Early July brought a slight break in training as the Baltimore 10 miler was last month and the Baltimore Running Festival is still a few months off.

On July 9th, a scavenger hunt designed to test how well everyone knew Baltimore was held.  A small but smart and dedicated group of BSTAT teammates braved the heat running around downtown Baltimore to get pictures of various landmarks based on a series of clues.  We even managed to score style points for being the only team that had a mini tripod for our camera.

On July 10th, team BSTAT left the friendly confines of paved roads to take up some trail racing.  The Sweet Air Trail Race, put on by the Baltimore Road Runners’ Club certainly lived up to its reputation as a tough trail race.  Complete with steep hills, mud, and multiple stream crossings, it was certainly a change of pace for many of our runners!  Kenny M. ran a 60:18, Len L. a 1:09:01, and George H posted a 1:27:04.  They were joined by non rez members Victoria G, Greg S, and Amelia C.  The race was advertised as “approximately” 7 miles.  It can always be hard to tell for sure with trail races!

The following week brought 20 in 24, one of Back on My Feet’s largest fundraising events.  Various racing events all centered around an 8.4 mile loop around the Schuykill River in Philadelphia.  BSTAT sent a nonrez team to take part in the Gold Category Relay Challenge.  A team of 5 people were required to run a total of 126 miles over 15 laps; 25.2 miles per person.  It was certainly milder than years past, but still a tough event!  Station Nation Domination managed an 18 hour 52 minute time, and an 8th place finish overall.  Victoria G., Chris C., Kevin F. (a “free agent” from team CP), and Dan M. made up the team.

In non running news, Sam M. has been quite busy with an early morning job lately.  In a couple of weeks, he will be rejoining BSTAT for regular morning runs.  His job involves supervising children in completing various tasks in the local community.  As he best put it, “I think they are the ones keeping me in line!”  Roy T. has been very busy working, using his construction and handyman skills in many different ways.  Despite working long hours, he still finds time to make it out in the mornings when he can.

As July comes to a close, training for the Baltimore Running Festival is starting to gain momentum.  Despite brutally hot temperatures, even early in the morning, it is not stopping us from getting our miles in!  Len L, Gary A, and George H. are all targeting the half marathon.

BSTAT’s next race will certainly be an adventure as we are taking our running skills to the multisport world.  A brand new duathlon is being held in Howard County the first weekend in August, “Du the 2.”  The USAT (USA Triathlon) sanctioned event will feature a 2 mile run, a 26 mile bike ride, and a 4 mile run, complete with transitions and everything else that makes up the multisport world!  Kenny, Roy, and Len are all planning on doing the whole race and taking their bikes out for a spin.  It should prove to be a unique experience!

BSTAT, July 2011

RESIDENTIAL MEMBER OF THE MONTH: LEONARD “LENNY” L.

July Member of the Month, Lenny L.

Shoe size: 8

Member since: May 2011

Miles accumulated: 115+

Best BOMF moment: The Baltimore 10-Miler Pasta Party

Biggest challenge with running: Pacing; not going out too fast at the start

Goal in the next three months: Finish a half marathon and the Du the 2 Duathlon

What do you think about when you’re running?: Not getting hurt

What’s the next race you’re doing with the BoMF crew?: Du the 2

What was your last race and how did you do?: Sweet Air trail race, was happy with the results and overall pace

Favorite post-race meal?: pasta

What advice would you give a brand-new runner?: Pace yourself

“Len joined team BSTAT in May and has proven to everyone how strong of a runner he is.  Since joining, he has run the most miles of all rez members for both June and July.  It shows in his pace on the early morning runs as there are not many people that can keep up with him.  Despite battling some hamstring issues early, he has continued to move forward and gets stronger every day.  Though he was a bit on the quiet side when first joining, he has really come into his own and is a strong presence on the team.  He is certainly willing to take on athletic challenges with ease, having done a 10 mile run already.  Du the 2 and a half marathon are up in his future, and I’m sure he will do well.  His dedication and confidence really help energize our team.”- “Fast” Dan Miranda, BSTAT Team Leader

NON-RESIDENTIAL MEMBER OF THE MONTH: AMELIA CONLON

July Member of the Month, Amelia C.

Shoe size:  7 or 7.5, depending on the shoe

Member since: February 2011

Best BoMF moment: Pacing res member Sam through the Baltimore 10-Miler

What do you think about when you’re running?: My mind is a vortex, filled with doubt, darkness and fear when I am racing. When I am training, I’m generally thinking, ‘shut up legs.’

What was your last race and how did you do?: I’ve been racing injured…so I am pumped that my legs are still attached to my body.

Favorite post-race meal?: 4 pancakes with strawberries and blueberries, 3 egg omelet with tomato, onion and smoked salmon topped with avocado and siracha, hash browns, turkey sausage, chocolate soy milk, coffee and maybe a fruit cup. (for races marathon distance or greater ☺ )

What advice would you give a brand-new runner?: In the words of Serge [Arbona]: ‘train hard.’ Oh yeah and ice ice baby.

Fact most people would not know about you?: I can bend over backwards and touch my heels. I also make my own bagels.

Running mantra?: Currently shopping around for a positive and constructive one

Favorite workout?: Hill repeats, close second is the Fartlek.

Biggest challenge with running?: resting and nutrition

Running calendar?: Annapolis 10, Baltimore Half, MCM, Philly Marathon and Houston Marathon.

Goal in the next three months?: B-O-S-T-O-N

“Amelia recently took over the role of Non Rez Member Coordinator from longtime incumbent Allison B.  With her willingness to help out on the team, it was a natural fit.  She helped pace Sam M. through the Baltimore 10 Miler and put up with his complaining at the very end all to get him through the line in mostly one piece.  She has also used her background as a yoga instructor to lead BSTAT in a yoga session.  We have now officially commissioned “Fun First Fridays” to make yoga a more regular BSTAT event!  Dedicated nonrez really drive our team, and I am always extremely appreciative of those who step up and really pitch in!  Amelia has been a great addition to our team.” -”Fast” Dan Miranda, BSTAT Team Leader

We welcomed 3 new rez members this month:  Stefan B., Tim B. and Bill Y.!  These are the first new rez teammates to join the team since the beginning of May.

On Saturday July 9^th, THUMB too part in BoMF Baltimore scavenger hunt.  It was a closely contested battle to the end and THUMB took 3^rd place!  The following day some of our teammates took part in the Sweet Air Trail Race up in Baltimore County.  This is a tough 7 – 8 mile trail run that is not for the faint of heart!

Some of our teammates also participated in the Back on My Feet Stroehman 20 in 24 in Philadelphia on July 16^th.  Mike H. ran two 8.4 mile loops and was really strong out there in the heat.  He ran the loops in 1:02:33 and 1:04:01, respectively!  Steady as can be!

There were several more great milestones achieved this month.  Stefan B. got his 5 mile wristband also hit 10 miles with the team.  Tim B. had a big first month receiving his 5 mile wristband, 10 mile hat and medal for running 5 consecutive miles!  Bill got his 5 mile wristband with the team. Mike B. hit 250 miles with the team!  Eric B. and Dave H. received their 50 mile medals this month!

Training for the Baltimore Running Festival has begun!  We have teammates running the various distances.  Some will be competing in the first marathon, while others will be running the half marathon.  We will also have teammates running the 4 person relay and the 5k.  October 15^th is sure to be a special day for our team and the next few months will hold the hard work that will get us there!

Team THUMB, July 2011

RESIDENTIAL MEMBER OF THE MONTH: DAVE H.

July 2011 Member of the Month, Dave H.

Shoe size: 12

Member since: May 2011

Miles accumulated: 60.5

Best BOMF moment: Every day running with the team.  They make me feel like I am running a marathon each time I am out there!

Biggest challenge with running: My age and the fact that my brain says one thing and my body can only do so much.  Pacing myself is a challenge.

Goal in the next three months: I am going to run my first half marathon!  I also want to get my license.

What do you think about when you’re running?:  Music.  I have upbeat songs running through my head.  I used to run with music, but I don’t now with the team.

What’s the next race you’re doing with the BoMF crew?: Du the 2 Duathlon

“I can see that Dave is working very hard, not only on his running, but on many aspects of his life.  He is very happy being a part of the team and I am excited to see how positive the team has been for him.  He has his sights set on running his first half marathon and with his hard work and dedication he is sure to do great!  I am thrilled Dave is part of our team and always look forward to seeing him at our morning runs.”   Rob Carfagno, team leader

NON-RESIDENTIAL MEMBER OF THE MONTH: GREG EPPLEY

July Member of the Month Dave E. (with Meredith)

Shoe size: 13

Member since: March 2011

Best BoMF moment: Looking back one of my most memorable moments was the Baltimore 10 Miler and the Friday pasta party.  The Friday pasta party was my first opportunity to see the team dressed up and I enjoyed the chance to sit, talk, and EAT!!!  Then on Saturday morning being in the biggest circle ever was so motivating, i was so proud to be part of BoMF.

What do you think about when you’re running?: I usually try to focus on my surroundings and chat with the people i’m with.  I enjoy running in the city because there is so much to stare at.

What’s your next race with the BoMF crew?:  My next race with the BoMF crew is the Baltimore Running Festival where I’ll be doing the 1/2 marathon.  I look forward to training with the team!

“Greg didn’t waste any time jumping in to make a difference on our team.  In the few months since his first run, he had made a big splash with many of the guys.  Greg continually sacrifices his own running to support others on a regular basis and this is the essence of what Back on My Feet is all about.  Greg could choose to run fast and far each morning, but he seeks out his teammates and helps them reach towards their goals, whatever the pace or the distance.  He makes a big difference to many people on our team and I appreciate all that he does!”  Rob Carfagno, team leader

July.  The month where we broke heat records weekly, had team members run for 24 hours, and got everyone on board for the Baltimore Running Festival.  Quite an exciting, if not hot and sweaty, month.

Early in the month we had several teammates run the Sweet Air 7-miler up in Harford County. This trail race took Dominique and his running partners over tree stumps and through streams.  A great time was had by all.

A little later in the month, Team CP members participated in our first BoMF Baltimore Scavenger Hunt around downtown Baltimore.  Team CP showed nicely in second place and we proudly display our trophy, a pink flamingo lawn ornament, to show our Baltimore pride.

Then 20in24!  Our CP Team, “Hills for Breakfast,”  ran the bronze relay and had a great showing.  Jeanne, Preston, Johannah, Claire, and Kim all had a great time up in Philly and made the rest of us back home very proud.  This race was Johannah’s last hurrah with Team CP as she is moving west.  Johannah has been a long-standing member of Team CP and served as our race coordinator so she will be greatly missed!  We’re hoping she comes to visit in the fall!

Half marathon training began toward the end of this month and we’re very excited that Abdullah B has decided he wants to run it.  He’ll be joining Dominique who is running his first full marathon.  We estimate a good showing of CP members at the running festival this year, as we have about  5 teammates running the full marathon and anther 8 or so running the half!

Our nonres member of the month was Kani who just joined us in June but has become an integral part of the team.  These hot mornings it’s been especially hard to keep moving after a few miles, but as soon as we see the finish line at Christophers Place, we also hear Kani cheering us in.  It makes all the difference.

Our team continues to grow with the addition of both res and non-res members.  We should be in good shape to dominate Wipeout in just a couple of weeks.

RESIDENTIAL MEMBER OF THE MONTH: KANI H.

June Member of the Month, Kani

Shoe size: 12

Member since: June 2011

Miles accumulated: 15.5

Best BoMF moment: Scavenger Hunt with Team CP

Biggest challenge with running: positive mindset

Goal in the next three months: Run 3 miles without stopping

What’s the next race you’re doing with the BoMF crew?: not sure

What was your last race and how did you do?: no races yet

What advice would you give to a brand new runner?: don’t feel bad if you have to walk

“These hot mornings it’s been especially hard to keep moving after a few miles, but as soon as we see the finish line at Christophers Place, we also hear Kani cheering us in.  It makes all the difference. He is quick with a hug as soon as he gets outside and is always pushing himself to run harder and fast…a true inspiration and great teammate.” – Sadie Smith, team leader

NON-RESIDENTIAL MEMBER OF THE MONTH: ABBIE DAY

June Member of the Month, Abbie

Shoe size: 8.5

Member since: September 2010

Best BoMF moment: Running the Nikia Half with everyone

What do you think about when you’re running?: I really use my time running to destress, so I try to not think about anything. At least, not anything important!

What’s your next race with the BoMF crew?: The Baltimore Marathon!

What would you tell someone considering joining BOMF Baltimore?: As someone who was new to Baltimore, BoMF has become my new family. It’s a great way to build community and do something you love at the same time!

“Abbie is soooo fantastic.  An experienced runner, sometimes you’ll see her eating hills with some of our faster runners.  Other times, she’s helping some of our newer members get comfortable with running and helping them get through their first mile.  She’s made everyone welcome on the team and always knows what’s going on.  Team CP is lucky to have her!” – Sadie Smith, team leader

Despite the summer heatwave, St John’s has had a great July!  We kicked off the month with the BoMF birthday run at City Hall, had an impressive showing of support at the Fourth Annual 20in24 Relay Challenge, attended the Soul Game, and held our first St. John’s Bootcamp on the steps of the Art Museum.

The best moments for St. John’s this month undoubtedly occurred during our participation in the 20in24 Relay Challenge.  Leonard, Ron, Mike P., Malcolm and Joe completed the Bronze Relay with impressive individual times, and Chris rocked the Pajama Run coming straight from working overnight to complete his loop! Despite the heat and lack of sleep, all of our runners logged their longest distances yet and supported each other from start to finish.

Congratulations and thanks also go out to our non-res teams, lone rangers, midnight madness and pajama loop participants and volunteers!

To mix things up at the end of the month, our team coach, Heather led the team in a “St. John’s Bootcamp” on the Art Museum steps.  As a group, we ran the stairs, jump-roped, lunged, and did push-ups and sprints to get our heart rates up in a fun and unique way!

Like July, August will without a doubt be a busy month for our team.  We are planning to begin training for Fall half and full marathons, participate in a volunteer opportunity together, and keep things interesting with cross-training activities like spin class and boxing!

Res Member of the Month: Leonard

Leonard began running with St. John’s at the end of June and has been inspiring the team with his unwavering enthusiasm and dedication ever since.  As a former semi-pro football player, Leonard has applied his athletic instincts to test his endurance and push the pace during morning runs.

Always up for a challenge, Leonard ran the first loop of the 20in24 relay for the St. John’s Team, finishing his first race with an impressive time and a positive attitude.  In a short 5 weeks, Leonard has already logged over 50 miles and maintains 100% attendance, making him a reliable presence at our 5:30 runs.

The entire St. John’s Team is looking forward to witnessing what Leonard will accomplish next!

Non-Res Member of the Month: Alison Reis

Alison is a long time Saint John’s BoMF volunteer and just completed a six-month term as The Organizer on the core team. In addition to attending nearly every morning run, weekend race, and Saint John’s social outing, Alison offered her leadership skills to track resident attendance and progress towards incentives/financial aid. Alison has been one of the most positive,energetic, and consistent Saint John’s volunteers.

The Saint John’s family is privileged to have Alison as a member.

Team Ridge has had an amazing July, despite the record high temperatures!

Several res- and non-res members participated in this year’s BoMF 20in24 event.  Team Leader Amina and res member Randolph had the pleasure of meeting and running with Today Show anchor Natalie Morales on her bronze relay team.  Randolph and Amina had a great time representing Team Ridge in this event!  Jerome also competed on a bronze relay team later in the day, and ran an impressive time, considering how hot it was.  Congrats to Randolph and Jerome!

Another Ridge non-res member really made Team Ridge proud by competing as a Lone Ranger at 20in24.  He ran an impressive 9 laps of the Kelly Drive loop… that’s 75.6 miles!!! Congratulations Chris!

Some other non-res members competed in various events throughout the day.  Kate T. competed as part of a silver relay team, and Amina, Shannon, and Liz S. raced in the midnight madness loop.  Awesome job everyone, and thanks to everyone who came out to volunteer at the water station!  Your efforts were greatly appreciated.

Team Ridge took a break from running in the heat to cool off, by heading to the beach for a day.  The gang headed to Island Beach State Park on July 9th, and had a fantastic time swimming in the ocean and relaxing on the beach.

Members of the month:

Res- Kevin M.

Kevin is new to Team Ridge, but despite his short time with us, so far he has made a big impact.  Kevin has improved so much over the past couple of weeks, and he continues to push himself every week.  He always has a big smile on his face, and is such a great source of inspiration for the whole team.

Non-res-  Liz Schnitz

Liz is a great presence on Team Ridge, and is always the first to volunteer for events.  She is an amazing runner, and pushes the team during morning runs.  Liz is always bright, chipper and ready to run even on the hottest early mornings!  Thanks for everything you do, Liz!

July has been quite a month for team Ready, Willing, and Able! We started off the month celebrating Back on My Feet’s Fourth Birthday with all the teams and staff at City Hall. Thanks to some awesome teamwork, both RWA and New Jerusalem Now scored the win for the scavenger hunt around center city. We pieced together the clues and performed our cheer with some sweet posters in hand. Thanks to Kristel for making them!

The biggest race of the year for Back on My Feet, the 4th Annual Stroehmann Back on My Feet 20 in 24, happened this month! It was a lot of fun over at Lloyd Hall! Thank you to Krista, Bess, and Jess for being Quality Volunteers! Thanks to Michelle, Mark, Kenny, Liz, Greg, Warren, Maurice and James for volunteering over the weekend as well!

Maurice ran for Team Natalie Morales and closed in as the last leg of their Bronze Relay team. He did awesome!

Caitlin ran in the Midnight Madness run with her glow in the dark t-shirt! Jess, Wardell, Bess, and Therion ran early on Sunday morning in the Pajama Loop and ran a solid race!

A HUGE Congratulations to Kai’s Team for winning the Platinum Relay! The top two teams were head to head the entire race and it all came down to the last runner pulling ahead. Gotta love those kind of wins.

Great job to everyone who came out and ran/volunteered!

Members of the Month for July

Non-Res Member: Liz is our non-res member of the month for July! She has been incredibly dedicated since she first started in May. Liz will run or walk any distance with a res member and is always supportive of our team members. For 20in24, Liz came out and volunteered at a refreshment stand for 4 straight hours. Thank you for all of your enthusiasm and support, Liz!

Res-Member: Therion! He has been a member of BoMF’s RWA team since March, but this past month, Therion did something very special. Therion trained for weeks and ran the 8.4 mile loop for 20in24! He has been a positive member of the team since he started and is always willing to help out his teammates by suggesting stretches to solve running ailments. Keep up the great work, Therion!

July was a stellar month for Back on My Feet DC. Many members participated in the Capital Sprints Dash 10K & Kids Fun Run sponsored by Friendship Childrens Center on the C&O Canal. For the second year in a row, teams tried to attend Screen on the Green as our July social event – while we were rained out on July 25th, we successfully made it to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.  It was a perfect evening and a good time was had by all!

It was also a month of many moves forward for our members! Walter B. earned his GED from Academy of Hope, while Marvin O. enrolled in GED class.  Thornell M. enrolled in the STAY EDP class and George J. started with Project Empowerment. We saw many graduations including Dave F. from Byte Back and both Al S. & Omar H. from the Goodwill Green Pathways Program.  Dean B., James R. and Nick F. all gained employment, while Carol S., Bill P. and Marque E. all moved into more transitional housing!

We had many members of the month nominated for their great leadership and commitment to the BoMF program, including Scotty W. & Omni M. from Emery House, Sarah R. & Mike C. from Blair House, Dean B. & Brittany M. from La Casa and Shannyn S. & David C. from Clean and Sober Streets.

Team OBP endured the summer heat in Philadelphia this month. Pete D., Dave F, and Christine even got a few extra miles at the Thursday night runs. We had a very strong showing at the 4th Annual Stroehmann Back on My Feet 20in24 event. We were proudly represented by Rebecca, Pete D, Pete S, Marisa, and Olani. Our members LeMar and Dave F. as well as our former team leader Laura volunteered supporting the runners and the race. Also, Christine – our member for the month of July – stopped by with Peppers to cheers us all on. What great teammates – thank you!

We also had a great time celebrating BoMF at the birthday run earlier this month. Who doesn’t love Krispy Kreme doughnuts slathered in frosting? For some summer fun, our non-res members gathered in Northern Liberties at PYT where we enjoyed amazing burgers and a round of Quizzo. Our competitive spirit took over, or rather Rebecca’s knowledge of pop star mug shots took over, and we found a way to crush the competition and win; We’re smart! We’re looking forward to next month’s track meet and are planning a hike as our August social event.

Non-Res Member of the Month

Our July non-res member of the month is Christine. She’s a regular fixture in the mornings even as she studies her glutes off at Drexel. She also is in possession of the current OBP mascot, Peppers. Christine is a valuable member of team OBP, and we will miss her terribly when her studies take her away from us in September. But, at least she leaves us with these words:

“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be. ”

~George Sheehan

Thanks for all that you do Christine!