April has been an great month in Baltimore.  Nikia’s Nippy Nor’easter Half Marathon and Relay was a resounding success for all!  All of the teams ran with a great group from the National Transitional Jobs Network, a new partner with BoMF.  The Friday before Easter, the teams met at the harbor and had a city wide easter egg hunt!  The non-residents and alumni celebrated BoMF with an appreciation breakfast.  Congratulations and a big thank you to Rob C. from Team Helping Up for all his work in coordinating long runs on Saturdays.

April has been a BUSY month for Baltimore Station!  Teammates came out in full force for the Nikia Half, all with the hopes of beating Dan, Greg, and the rest of the race committee to the finish line. Eddie (with 100 miles under his belt) participated in his first Back on My Feet race by running a relay leg, and Roderick experienced BoMF spirit for the first time by joining teammates to cheer for the runners! Both Roderick and Jason started running at the end of March and really hit their strides in April, reaching 25 and 10 miles, respectively, and now two more resident members, Kurt and Al, have come on board, running their first few miles this month! And in other great news, after being sidelined by surgery, George is getting back to running again. The non-resident members have been busy running and racing too with the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, Baltimore’s Sole of the City 10k, and even the Boston Marathon all featuring a few BSTATers. BSTAT looks forward to finishing out April with Operation Oliver and a BSTAT Bowling Night, and May promises even more excitement!

April has been awesome for Team CP with a GREAT turn out at the Nikia Half and Relay. Jerome ran his first half marathon and crushed it in an hour and a half! Plus George, James, William, and Jordan all ran legs of the relay. Even Arnell came out to cheer and join with the CP band. The non-res came out in force as well, with many running the half marathon and relays. Team Triple Threat made up of Diane A, Nikia’s mom, and Bonnie won the oldest team award. They sure looked stylish out there! Christopher’s Place’s coaches have kept the team busy this month with track workouts, timed miles, and new routes. Four of the resident members reached their capstone, which means they are job ready. Congrats to William, James, Jordan, and Arnell! In fact, Jerome, George, Robert, and Dean Michael, are all working! And Jordan just got a job as well. The non-res have been busy this month as well between a happy hour at Sticky Rice and a few people ran the Sole of the City. Special shout out to MJ for winning second in her age group. Congrats to William (res) and Kevin (non-res) as CP’s members of the month. The team is looking forward to the Oliver 5K and the Maryland Half. The team is looking forward to introducing three new members on our team: William, Daryl, and Brandon.

April was a great month for Team Helping Up Mission! A new Rez member, Joe K., joined the team and the rest of the team is strong as always! There were several teammates who closed out March by running the Nikia Half Marathon and Relay and several who are training for the MD Half Marathon in May. Helping Up hosted a few All Team Saturday runs in April, which are great because the Helping Up runners get to see members from the other teams. The team is gearing up to run the Operation Oliver 5k on Saturday, April 28th. Also, on Sunday, April 22nd, several teammates celebrated their graduations from Helping Up Mission with a great ceremony at Martin’s West. Some teammates sponsored a table and enjoyed the very emotional ceremony. Everyone is always proud of the residential member teammates not only for what they are doing when they run, but for all they are accomplishing in their lives!

Team MCVET continues to grow! This month 3 new res members (Chris, Anthony and Terrance) were welcomed to the team as well as 6 new non-res members. Fresh off some stunning performances in the relay at the Nippy Nikia Half, team members are eagerly looking forward to the Operation Oliver 5k at the end of the month. Not only will it be a first race for several of MCVET’s newer members, it’s also a chance to get to see what many of the non-res members are involved in as it benefits the 6th Branch, a veteran-led nonprofit group that several of the team’s newest teammates are involved with. The team looks forward to getting some miles in while supporting a good cause!

Christopher’s Place’s Members of the Month: William and Kevin

William P. started running with Team Christopher’s Place last February and has accumulated over 125 miles.  His favorite memory since joining Back on My Feet is his first day.  He’s so excited to be a part of something so positive.  His biggest challenge with running is “not overworking himself; he has no ʺmediumʺ speed and he LOVES running.”  He looks forward to the Operation Oliver 5k, gaining employability, and getting his license renewed.

Team Leader Jordyn says, “William always says how blessed he is to have found BoMF and the people that are involved.  I think that goes for BoMF as well.  William was excited to be on the team from day one.  He is a great partner to run with, and he runs with everyone, regardless of their speed.  He is honest and open and is a great addition to our team.”

Kevin F. started running with Back on My Feet in April 2011.  His favorite thing about Back of My Feet is ”seeing the guys grow from sometimes struggling to run a mile on day one to cheering everyone else on as little as a month or two later.”  While Kevin thinks about numbers, distances, and to-do lists when running on his own, he says it’s very different when he runs with other people: “When I am running with others, I either engage in conversation or completely free my mind and enjoy the presence of the other runners’ breathing and footsteps and think about nothing.”  His favorite post-race meal is a burger.  “After my last marathon I ate a burger with a double patty at Red Robin in St. Mary’s County and I finished the whole thing plus fries!”  Kevin’s next race is the Operation Oliver 5k.

Jordyn says, “Kevin is one of our coaches, and he has done a great job in this role.  While we may not always wan to push ourselves in the morning, he’s there with a smile and encouraging words.  Sometimes he even has homemade treats for us!”

Helping Up Mission’s Members of the Month: Frank and Michelle

Since December 2011, Frank P. has run over 225 miles with Team Helping Up.  His most recent 13.1 at the Nikia Half Marathon were his favorite.  “When I finished I looked down and saw my little girl there; it was an amazing experience.”  When he’s running, he prefers to talk to whomever he’s running with than think about anything in particular.  Frank’s biggest challenge with running is staying injury-free.  He wants to push himself and run harder, but wants to be sure that he’s strong enough first.  He’s looking forward to the Operation Olive 5k.

Helping Up Mission’s Team Leader, Rob says, ʺFrank has really pushed himself since he joined the team and had an amazing first half marathon last month!  Frank was chosen by his teammates to be Team Captain and has stepped up to the challenge to become a great leader on our team.  Even though Frank is a very fast runner, he takes time to run with as many different teammates as he can…and that’s really what BoMF is all about.  Frank will have many more great successes in his life, not just with running, but with anything he wants to achieve!ʺ

Rob says, ʺMichelle H. has been a great teammate from the time she joined our team.  She’s consistent with her attendance and is a steady figure on the team.  At the Nikia Half marathon she joined a relay team that needed one more person so that she could support two of our teammates and her enthusiasm and support were fantastic.  I always enjoy seeing Michelle at our runs and the positive, supportive attitude she always brings!ʺ

MCVET’s Members of the Month: “Ace” and Ross

Charles ”Ace” S. has run 12 miles since joining Back on My Feet in March.  During his first week with the team, all of the Baltimore teams gathered at MCVET for a Back on My Feet 3rd birthday run.  “What a way to get started with my first week on the team,” “Ace” has said.  “Ace” has been getting over an injury.  He says, “It’s hard coming out and knowing I need to sit out on the run while I’m waiting on my knee appointment.”  Although he wants to push himself, he knows that the longer miles will have to wait until after his knee pain reduces.  In the meantime, he’s excited for supporting 6th Branch at the Operation Oliver 5k!

Abby, MCVET’s Non-Res Coordinator says, “Ace is such a wonderful addition to the circle. Despite his injury he is still out each morning with a great smile getting the rest of us amped up for our morning run. His enthusiasm is infectious and much appreciated. We are so lucky to have him and look forward to him overcoming his knee injury so he can join in for more miles…and smiles.”

Ross L. has been running with Team MCVET since the first week of March 2012.  Ross recounts his first few times running with the team: “My first day running with BoMF was on a Friday, and as such, my attitude was great coming to the end of the week. The next Monday, however, waking up for work and thinking about the laundry list of things waiting for me had me in a slump as I prepared to head off for my run. When I arrived at MCVET, in my slightly grumpy/half asleep manner, no less than 15 people approached me within 5 minutes of arrival – all brandishing a smile that, at 5:30 a.m., was completely foreign to me. The contagious uplifting morale of everyone standing around in the circle that morning gave me chills as I got on the train and headed in to work that day – and suddenly the laundry list didn’t seem very long after all.”  His next race will be the Operation Oliver 5k on April 28th where Ross hopes to run a 21:00 or better–dang that’s fast!

Mitch, MCVET’s Race Coordinator says, “Ross is a gung-ho, positive, happy eager-beaver who makes every run fast and fun.  You can quote me on that!”

Baltimore Station’s Member of the Month: Sarah

Sarah C. has been running with Baltimore Station since October and took vharge as Team Leader last month.  When running, Sarah likes to daydream, but not on the football field.  This big player at this year’s Superbowl flag football game says, “For all the guys that leave me in the dust out on the streets, on the field I had the chance to rough ‘em up a little.”  She enjoys long runs in the harbor and around the city, which has been great training for the Nikia Half-Marathon.

Sarah hasn’t always loved running.  “I begrudgingly joined the track team in high school to stay in shape during soccer off-season.  Because running intimidated me so much though, I opted to throw discus instead of run and became our team’s leading discus scorer. Thankfully, I eventually overcame my fear of running… but I can still throw a discus darn well.”  Her advice for a new running is to hang in until the day where running switches from feeling like work to fun.  She’s thankful she did!

Former BSTAT Team Leader “Fast” Dan Miranda says, “When I had decided to step down as BSTAT’s team leader, I was only going to pass the torch to someone I knew I could trust. The ideal candidate would have been someone who would come to mind immediately.  It was quite fortuitous that Sarah joined our team when she did! Having only been a nonrez for just a couple of months, I knew right away she was the perfect successor.  She quickly became a 3-morning a week runner, possessing a great infectious enthusiasm, and would run with any rez member who needed a running partner that day.  I was overjoyed when she so graciously accepted the role despite her still relatively new status.  I know BSTAT is in good hands for the future!”

Christopher’s Place Members of the Month: Charles and Caroline

Charles D. has accumulated over 50 miles in the last two months as part of the team.  His first race was the Valentine’s Day 5K last month, and he hasn’t yet make plans for any upcoming races.  His biggest challenge is “not letting the young folks out do him.”  His goal is to be able to run 5 miles and “keeping strong.”

Says his Team Leader Jordyn Manucci: “Charles is one of the most honest, talkative, and happiest people I’ve met. He may have a bad knee, but he’s out every morning with a smile and a story about his wonderful family.”

Caroline S. encourages other runners to “keep going, even if it seems too hard at first. You will be amazed by how much you can do that you initially thought would be impossible. And run with others!”  She’s happy with her time at the Shamrock 5K last month (many thanks to the downhill course!), and her next race is the Nikia Half-Marathon and Relay with the Race Committee team.  Maybe afterwards she’ll enjoy her favorite post-race food: Chipotle!

“The thing you notice first about Caroline is her smile. That’s how she greets everyone. Her enthusiasm has carried over to her awesome job as our team’s race coordinator,” says Caroline’s Team Leader Jordyn Manucci.

Helping Up Mission Members of the Month: David and Amy

David F. has run over 125 miles since joining the team last September.  His biggest challenge is getting up in the morning, but once he starts running, he says, “I try to clear my head when I run.  I enjoy feeling free when I am running.”  David looks forward to running on a Nikia Relay Team and starting college.

From Helping Up Mission Team Leader Rob Carfagno: ”David (Farmer) is fun to be around and brings a positive vibe to our team.  Farmer is quiet at first, but once he opens up he’ll definitely have you laughing.  He’s a steady presence on the team and always in a good mood and having a good time.  I had the pleasure of running the Tuerk House 5k with Farmer and was proud to see how well he did.  Farmer’s a great guy and a great teammate and friend!”

Amy S. started running with Helping Up in May 2011.  She came out for a Saturday long run and has become hooked.  “No matter what I have going on that weekend I find myself accomodating this run into my schedule.”  When she’s out running, she thinks about breakfast, like blueberry waffles.  Her next race is the Nikia Half.

Rob Carfagno, Amy’s Team Leader, says, “Amy (aka A4 & aka Spatula) is not only one of my favorite teammates, but one of my favorite people!  Spatula has an amazing energy about her and she is always smiling and having a great time.  She’s loved by all of our teammates and she does so much to help our team.  She does a great job of balancing having fun and doing great things for others.  The sky’s the limit for Amy and she can accomplish anything she wants in life.  We are certainly lucky to have her on the team and I am lucky to call her a friend!”

MCVET Members of the Month: Chris and John

Chris M. has been a member of the MCVET team since December and has accumulated 100 miles.  His favorite moment with the team was the “Valentine’s run in the harbor. It was my first time seeing the other teams in Baltimore – cool to see how many of us there are when we all come together like that.”  He’s trying to keep a balance and make sure that he doesn’t bite off more than he can chew.  “It’s been an adjustment to remember I can’t do some of the things I could do when I was younger.”  This more relaxed outlook has led him to enjoy the scenery and conversations on his runs.

MCVET Team Leader Peter says, “Chris has been an awesome addition to the team in 2012.  He might be a former marine, but he brings a gentle attitude, soft-spoken demeanor and sense of humor to the circle each morning, which his teammates all really appreciate. He hadn’t even been for than 2 months when his teammates nominated and voted him to be team captain.  He’s always quick to listen to what others have to say and his running’s steadily improved over the course of the past few months. An avid fan of the outdoors< Chris seems to love to reminisce about his time in Montana which is why I’m particularly excited to join him for his first race with BoMF later this month at the Nikia Relay just a mile or so down the road from where the buffalo roam (Gunpowder Bison Farm)!”

John W. ran his first run with MCVET in 2009.  He enjoys running and calls it his pure downtime when he doesn’t have to think about anything.  His favorite moment was, “That moment (a few months after joining) when you know enough res and non-res members so when you walk into the circle you feel truly comfortable. That’s the moment when Back on My Feet becomes much more than a running group.”  John will be out running the Nikia Half-Marathon, and will be circling up with plenty of familiar faces!

Peter says, “John’s been running with MCVET since almost day 1 and his dedication to the team and Back on My Feet Baltimore shines through in everything he does.  He always looking out for the well being of his teammates, both res and non-res alike, and is happy to lend an ear and offer advice to anyone who needs it. His efforts haven’t been limited to his current teammates though as he’s always doing what he can to keep growing our morning circle. He even recruited his wife Shannon, to come out and join us and she’s since become a fellow MCVET superstar, and we’re lucky to call them both our teammates.  John’s dedication to BoMF was even recently recognized when he was invited to join the Baltimore advisory board! We all know his guidance will be an asset not just to our team now, but BoMF as a whole!”

Baltimore Station’s Members of the Month:  Daniel and Ben

Daniel  B. joined BSTAT in November and has already accumulated 90 miles. He loves being part of the team and running in the rain. He notes that the biggest challenge he faces running is building up his endurance and stamina. Through the program, Daniel is working toward his overarching goal of being a responsible and positive person. His advice for a new runner is to “take your time, take it easy, and keep it moving forward.” His first race with Back on My Feet will be Nikia’s Nippy Nor’easter Half Marathon – his first half! His favorite post-race meal varies, but after Nikia, he’s looking forward to digging into steak and potatoes.

Says Daniel’s team leader, Sarah C.:  “When Daniel isn’t in the morning circle, I instantly notice. He brings not just his exuberant greetings and his camouflage print pants to BSTAT, but a spirit and determination from which every person on the team draws energy. A great way to describe Daniel’s outlook comes from a few words he said to me recently on a particularly tough run. ‘Arghh I just hate hills!’ I complained. He replied wisely, “But keep going…they make you stronger.” Daniel quietly embraces every hill, mile, and race as a new challenge, and as he works to succeed, he inspires everyone around him.”

Ben F. joined BSTAT as a non-residential member in August, and his favorite moment so far was dressing up to run on Halloween morning. While running, Ben says, “Sometimes I think about song lyrics, sometimes I solve the problems of the day I am facing, sometimes I engage in prayer.” Ben’s last race was the Catonsville High School YMCA 5k on Thanksgiving, and he has a busy race schedule ahead of him: the D.C. Marathon in March, the Pittsburgh Marathon in May, the Wheeling WV Half Marathon on Memorial Day weekend, a 4^th of July race, the Baltimore Marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon, and hopefully a couple triathlons. Whew! In the midst of that race schedule, Ben is excited to do a good job in his new role of Social Coordinator for BSTAT.

His favorite workout is running the BWI airport loop, and his advice for a new runner is: “You never know the places running will take you. You don’t have to be fast to enjoy it. Embrace your inner child and run!” And his running mantra is: “No matter how many miles you do, you are miles ahead of those that never get off the couch.”

Says Sarah C.: “Being a new member of a team is never easy, and when that team only meets in the dark, sleepy, pre-dawn hours, it makes it even harder to become familiar with new faces. Ben, who says he has trouble with names, does an incredible job of remembering and welcoming new people to the team. Whether it be by recalling someone’s college major, or pro football team preference, or first half marathon story, he makes up for the fact we only see each other in the dark, and pays attention to a thing far more important than someone’s face: he listens to each team member’s story.  Ben is an enthusiastic, energetic force, day in and day out, and our team is lucky to have him!”

Christopher’s Place’s Members of the Month:  Robert and Hillary

Robert and Hillary

Robert C. joined Team Christopher’s Place in November and has already accumulated more than 45 miles. His best moment so far was watching the 5 mile race. “Even though I couldn’t participate, getting to watch and be a cheerleader was great.” Robert is focused on his main goal for the next three months – finding employment. As he works toward that, he is enjoying what running brings to his life. He notes that his biggest running challenge is hills, but while running he tries to relax. “If I have a scripture, I think about that, otherwise I just focus on relaxing and breathing.” His advice for a new runner is, “Go for it!” Robert is working toward the Valentine’s Day 5k.

Robert’s team leader says, “Robert has been a wonderful addition to our team. His enthusiasm, spirit and kindness are infectious and he makes sure to support everyone. He has been recovering from an injury, but always shows up for his teammates even when he can’t run himself.”

Hillary G. joined CP as a non-residential member in November. She says her best moment was: “Before Snowlympics started with the D.C. teams, a group of us from Baltimore cheered on runners as they passed by us on the National Mall, complete with a tambourine and cow bell.  It was completely spontaneous, but so much fun!” When asked what she thinks about while running, Hillary says, “Running is a time when I clear my head.  If I am worried or anxious about anything, getting out with the team or on my own helps me put things into perspective.” Her advice for a brand new runner? “Just take it one mile at a time – that’s the only way.”

Hillary’s last race was the Frozen Finger 5-miler. She says, “I’m not quite sure what my time was, but it was my first non-road race, which kept things interesting for sure.” Her next race with Back on My Feet is the Valentine’s Day 5k. About Back on My Feet, Hillary says: “This experience has been incredibly life-giving.  It doesn’t matter how fast or slow you are, it’s just amazing to see what can happen when team members come together in such a unique way to support each other.”

Says her team leader: “Hillary has been an incredible addition to our team since she started. She is always smiling and takes the time to get to know everyone on our team. From the very beginning, she has shown up to all our events and helps out with driving.”

MCVET’s Members of the Month:  Link and Shannon

Link and Bert (aka Joe Flacco)

Walter “Link” L. joined Team MCVET in December; he is off to a great start and is getting a lot out of being part of the team. Link says he used to train as a boxer: “It was very independent and I never considered myself very good with people so this camaraderie is a new experience for me and I am really enjoying it.”

Link’s goal for the next three months is to get stronger and start setting his sights on completing a marathon. When he runs, Link says he just “takes in the scenery and the companionship of the people I’m running with. I used to train with music all the time so it’s neat plugging into all the other sounds instead.”

Link’s next race and first race with the team is the Valentine’s Day 5k. Says Peter, Team MCVET team leader:  “Link surprised all of us when after completing his first mile with the team, he jumped in with the pack that was going out to get in a few extra miles. We learned later that day, that as a former boxer, Link never backs down from a challenge. He also never ceases to make runs that much more enjoyable, sharing his good humored spirit and outlook with his teammates as they pound the pavement together. Since his first day, he’s been racking up plenty of miles and recently set his sights on a 26.2 round heavyweight bout with the best hills our city can throw at him at next fall’s Baltimore Running Festival. We’re looking forward to getting to run alongside him as he prepares for this race and any other challenges that come up along the way.”

Shannon

Shannon W. joined Team MCVET as a non-residential member in March 2011. She jokes about her size 11 feet, “Feel free to call me “Big Foot” from now on – or as my high school swim team members dubbed me, “Flipper.”

Shannon says her best moment with Back on My Feet to date was completing her first race ever at the MCVET 10k in May with other first time resident racers and then setting a goal to complete her first half marathon this October. “I never would have done either without the encouragement of our wonderful team. When running the half marathon, I heard Greg’s voice telling me to keep my head down and pass people on the hills. It worked!”

Next up for Shannon: volunteering at the Nikia Half Marathon. Her goal for the next three months is to stay well and hopefully get back to running.

Says Peter, team leader: “For months, John told us about how he hoped to lure his wife out to join us one morning for a run, and we are so grateful that he succeeded! Since coming out for her first morning with the team, Shannon has become one of our most dedicated and supportive non-residential members.  For almost a year now, it’s been a real pleasure for every one of our members to get to know her and spend the mornings with Shannon.  She always has the best interest of the team and its members in mind and is eager to lend a hand to whoever needs it. She’s been known to push the pace at the front of the pack some mornings, but also to walk and listen with anyone as well. She welcomes our newest residential and non-residential members alike and has even graced us with her delicious baked (healthy!) treats for members’ birthdays.  We can’t say enough about how much we appreciate having Shannon as part of Team MCVET!”

Team Helping Up Mission’s Members of the Month:  Bryant and Rachel

Bryant

Bryant J. joined Back on My Feet as a residential member in September, and though he says his biggest challenge is waking up early and getting out there to get started, he has already run more than 100 miles! His best moment so far was participating in the Baltimore Running Festival, and his goal for the next three months is to complete his first half marathon. His next race is the Valentine’s Day 5k.

When asked what he thinks about while running, Bryant says, “There are a of things that go through my mind, but mostly I think about getting things back on track in my life and doing well.”

Says Rob Carfagno, team leader: “Bryant has such a great attitude and has done a lot to jump in and make new friends on the team. He’s always smiling and goes out of his way to come up to me and say hello each morning when he reaches the circle. He’s increased his mileage recently and is working toward his first half marathon. He’s enthusiastic about his running and it seems like everything he has going on…he’s definitely great to be around. I’m excited to see all of the great things Bryant will accomplish in the coming months, both in running and in life!”

Rachel and Honey Dip

Rachel S. joined Team THUMB as a non-residential member in July 2011. Her best moment so far?  “Running AND finishing the 2011 Baltimore Half Marathon with Steve, Bonnie, Julie and Erica, also known as Steven’s Crew. We ran the whole race together and really stuck by each other. I remember I was struggling at the beginning, but then there was Steven, running backwards with encouraging words getting me up the hills. We ran into the finish line holding hands. I was so proud of my teammate, it’s quite an accomplishment to complete a half marathon and we did it.” Now, Rachel is gearing up for the Nikia Half Marathon at the end of March.

Rachel often brings her sweet dog, Honey Dip, to the morning runs, much to the delight of her teammates. Rachel says, “Some of the things I think about when running are:  Why won’t Honey Dip (HD) slow down? 2. Please please please don’t come across a chicken bone, HD will eat anything not nailed down (and some stuff that is nailed down), chicken bones are not good for dogs. 3. If I wasn’t running with Back on My Feet, I’d definitely have stopped to walk by now. 4. How many blocks until the end of the run? Some of the things I assume Honey Dip is thinking about when running are: 1. Hope we run by chicken bones. 2. Mom, can you run faster? 3. Can’t wait to finish so I can see my friends, they love me and pet me. 4. WOOF!

Says team leader, Rob Carfagno: “Our team is lucky to have Rachel (and Honey Dip!) as our teammate!  Rachel is always so enthusiastic and you will often hear her say how important Back on My Feet is to her. She really loves to be part of the team and she goes out of her way to make those around her feel comfortable. Rachel and Honey Dip bring smiles to lots of our teammates early in the morning. Rachel helps to make a real difference to those around her and it is clear just how much the team means to her!”

Circling up for the Frozen Finger 5 Miler

January was a fun month, starting with the Frozen Fingers 5 Miler, which had a mix of cross country, a road course and even some laps on a track.  A crew from Baltimore also traveled to Washington, D.C. to take part in Snowlympics, a field day filled with games and friendly competition among the teams. On January 18^th, Orientation 2.0 took place where members shared their personal stories of addiction and how it has affected them and their families.

Training is underway for the 3^rd Annual Nikia’s Nippy Nor’easter Half-Marathon and Relay which will take place on March 31^st.  Several of our teammates will participate in this race, some of them running their first half marathon.  There are also relay options so this race has something for everyone.

Team Baltimore Station has charged headfirst into the new year, with excitement and eagerness for what 2012 will bring. Residential members Len and Gary hope to run half marathons again this year, and Daniel has started training for his very first half! Many non-residential members are lacing up their shoes for the Nikia Half too, and hoping to fare well on the NCR trail. Also, Mid-January saw a changing of the guard at BSTAT. After a send-off breakfast for Fast Dan (who stepped down so he could step up his training and become even faster!), Sarah took over as team leader. Her mile times might not look like Dan’s, but her smiles—and jokes and weekly videos—will hopefully make up for it. All of BSTAT looks forward to a great year ahead!

Team Christopher’s Place has had a lot of change and good times during January.  Jordyn took over as team leader and Ben H. has stepped up as the Social Coordinator.  He is SUPER enthusiastic and excited to share his ideas with the team.  Sarah M. has also stepped in to assist Amy U. as the non-residential member coordinator since the CP non-res contingent has grown to be so big!  This month we had a happy hour at the Green Turtle that was well attended.  As for the residents, EIGHT guys went down to D.C. to participate in their Snowlympics.  A good day was had by all, and the CP band lives on strong!  Residential member Jerome is now working!  While he misses some of the regular runs, he still is there when he can and is still training for the Nikia half.  George ran his first 5 miler at the Frozen Fingers race and loved every minute of it!  He is now considering training for the Maryland Half. Coaches Paul and Kevin are thinking up new ways for CP to eat hills for breakfast and are adding new fun runs including “Freaky Fridays” and “Wacky Wednesdays” to the weekly schedules.

Team McVET has had plenty of exciting news as 2011 came to an end and 2012 kicked off. Right on the heels of the birth of Maya’s daughter and Darryl M’s daughter, Walker welcomed his fourth child, JP, into the world.  Paul D. announced that he’s now expecting a fifth child so soon enough, the two of them will be able to field an entire baseball team for the rest of us to cheer on! In addition to newborns, the team welcomed Odell and Joy as our newest residential members! Also this month, existing members took on new opportunities. Ja-Aura started dental school and Tim secured an interview and a new job in Port Covington! Longtime non-residential member Lauren L. also took on duties as part of her role as an intern with BoMF Baltimore and began rotating her running schedule among all 5 teams.

Team Helping Up Mission welcomed one new member this month, Paul P.  Paul is already a runner and is very excited to be part of the team.  We had three guys run the Frozen Fingers 5 miler, Mike B. 36:22, Frank P. 37:01 and Barry B. 44:43.  We celebrated a few big accomplishments this month as Mike H. celebrated two years of sobriety and Tim B. graduated from Helping Up Mission.  After a little over a year with the team, Mike B. moved back home to get started on the next part of his journey. We are sad that Mike will no longer be at the morning runs, but very excited that things are going well for him. We love to see him so happy and able to make this step in his life!

MCVET’s Members of the Month:  Terrell and Sean  

Terrell's BOMF Ink

Terrell has been a member since day one, and in all of the time he has spent with BoMF, he says that “it’s not about one moment for me that stands out, it’s about all the moments and the genuine friendships built from those moments. Special shout out to Jenn, Maggie and Geoff – all of them have been so good to me.” He says that his biggest challenge is overcoming his shortcomings.  Being injured and having to make the hard call to stop a run or pull out of a race is one of the hardest things he’s ever had to do.  Terrell became an alumni in 2011 when began taking classed and moved into his own place.  His goal for the next three months is to focus on settling into his apartment making it cozy, and of course, finish the Frozen Finger 5 Miler. 

Somewhere along that 5 Miler course, Terrell claims he’ll be thinking about “Where I am in life at the moment and all the steps I’ve taken along the way. Most of the time that gets me thinking about how much BoMF played a role in those steps.” 

“Terrell S. has been a member of been a member of Team MCVET since Back on My Feet first circled up in March of 2009 and despite  moving on from MCVET, becoming an alumni, and starting school and work, his commitment to this team and its members, both old and new has never wavered.  He literally wears his commitment on his sleeve! Terrell’s support for his teammates has been on full display on numerous notable occasions these past few months. At the Baltimore Running Festival, Terrell was forced to drop out of his own half-marathon race as a result of a calf injury, but rather than call it a day or let his disappointment get the best of him, he instead hobbled straight back to the finish line where he stood out as the most enthusiastic and loudest spectator, cheering each of his BoMF teammates in. Then again at last week’s Celtic Solstice, Terrell wasn’t registered for the race, but somehow managed to show up on course to accompany Sean for his return to racing after his accident last summer. Terrell truly is an incredible friend, supporter and teammate to all of us on Team MCVET.” – Peter, MCVET Team Leader 

Sean and Team

“Sean, a member of Team MCVET since the Baltimore chapter first launched, has always given himself to Back on My Feet’s mission and members, whether serving as a race coordinator, refereeing Wipe Out, capturing the crowd’s attention with his “Shoutin’” or being there for a teammate when they needed it. Over the course of the past two plus years, he’s become a true friend to everyone who has laced up their sneakers to run with BoMF Baltimore. Sean had planned to run his second marathon this past fall at the Marine Corps Marathon, but in July, these training plans and his life were tragically altered when he was struck by a car while out on training run one evening.

This accident left him hospitalized for months and facing a long and arduous road to recovery that entailed multiple surgeries and extensive physical rehabilitation. “There was major trauma and damage to my left leg, thoracic vertebrae (near my spinal column), and left shoulder,” Sean recalls. “I could not walk, use my left arm, was wearing a spinal brace and was not fully cognizant for a period of time.  Mentally and physically, I was damaged. The outpouring not only from  MCVET but the rest of the teams has moved me to tears many times. For me, at that point, being “Back On My Feet” was a literal goal as my left leg had suffered enough damage that I could not walk for a significant period of time and knowing that I had the whole BOMF Baltimore community behind me was a huge help and and an enormous comfort to me. Just the chance to look around my hospital room and see the cards (SO many cards), the food, the photographs, and the little gifts, all of which reassured me and gave me the strength to know I could make it and succeed, to one day go back to running, that there was large group rooting for me and encouraging me.” Several teammates even used their own races to fundraise on his behalf.

Continuing with his physical therapy and light-impact cross training, Sean plans to continue furthering his recovery and moving closer to resuming to run. Sean says his goals is to be able to participate in the MCVET 5k or 10k in May. Continuing to be optimistic, Sean says, “If I manage to exceed my physical therapist’s expectations I may be able to do the Bruckenthal 5k.  I hope to attend the Valentine’s run and I will be at the Nippy Nikia as part of the race committee.”

Despite the seriousness of his injuries, Sean remained committed to running again and although I never doubted his strength or resolve, I have to admit I had reservations when he told me that he planned to take the starting line at the Celtic Solstice 5 Miler in December. Sure enough though, on the morning of December 17^th, not even six months after his accident, Sean circled up before the race with the rest of his Back on My Feet teammates who were running the race. Joined on course by his girlfriend and a growing contingent of Back on My Feet teammates, Sean [speed!] walked his way through the hilly five miles and crossed the finish line. The strength and perseverance Sean demonstrated through his recovery has been truly inspiring to each and every one of us who knows him and we look forward to lining up at more and more races beside him in 2012.” – Peter, MCVET Team Leader 

Team Helping Up Mission’s Members of the Month:  Stefan and Misha 

Stefan and Misha

Stefan B., who joined BoMF in July 2011 and has logged more than 100 miles, says his best moment so far was “being a part of the Baltimore Running Festival. It was a great run.” While his biggest challenge is dealing with injury/pain in his foot, Stefan is ready to lace up his shoes for the Frozen Finger 5-Miler on January 7. His goal for the next three months is to complete his GED, and while running, Stefan says, “I think about the future.  I want to stay open, humble and focused.” 

Says Rob Carfagno, team leader: “Stefan likes to come out and have fun with his teammates.  You can usually find him joking around with the team and keeping the mood light.  Seeing him dance and have fun at the BASH was one of the highlights of the night!  He has battled through some foot pain in recent months, but still does what he needs to in order to improve his running and better himself in many ways.” 

Misha, who joined BoMF as a non-residential member in September 2011, says that her best moment “reoccurs every time my teammates subtly remind me with their actions that before I ran with them, I had no idea what I was missing by not being part of a team. From the hugs my very first morning, to being at the mile 22 water stop during BRF and screaming for BoMF, from dancing with my posse at the BASH, to every time a teammate runs at a slower pace for me, from my first morning run after nursing a sprained ankle, to being escorted in for my timed mile even though I was last to finish, from hearing about every time a teammate gets a PR, to the high fives after finishing, from being pushed to further distances, to being the one holding everyone’s stuff.  There are so many awesome moments, that unfortunately for them, any time someone asks me how my running is going, they are treated to a 15 minute rave about Team HUM.” 

Misha traveled to Australia to visit family for the holiday and while she was planning to attempt the Frozen Finger, she won’t be back in time.  She says, “Team HUM is going to have to settle for a regular Wednesday run as my next race! I hope they remember who I am!” 

Says Rob Carfagno, team leader: “Misha has made a big impact on our team in the short time since she joined!  She has supported at a few races and is one of the most enthusiastic people out there!  Misha enjoys joking around with teammates and she can usually be found in the middle of a circle of laughter each morning (and her voice can usually be heard above everyone else!).  In addition to making people laugh, she also shows great compassion and friendship to her teammates and is one of those people who you know you can count on for anything. Misha understands the true meaning of Back on My Feet and has been a great addition to our team.” 

Christopher’s Place’s Members of the Month:  Jerome and Sadie 

Jerome

Jerome E., who joined Team Christopher’s Place in September 2011, has already logged more than 180 miles and says that his best moment to date was winning the 5k race. He was very surprised and felt very proud to have accomplished the win. While he finds Baltimore hill running challenging, Jerome likes to take risks and meet challenges head-on. One of Jerome’s goals for the next few months is to complete a half, or possibly a full, marathon. While running, Jerome thinks about, “my mother and my child, they are my inspirations right now.” 

Jerome’s last race was the Celtic Solstice. “It was great. I felt better at the end than at my previous race.” He is currently gearing up for the Frozen Finger 5 Miler. 

Sadie

Sadie S. joined Back on My Feet in August 2010 and says, “It is really hard to pick just one favorite moment. I loved our birthday run last year because there was this huge snake of people running through the harbor and I thought how amazing it was to be part of something so grand.  Tons of people from different backgrounds and places doing different things from 9-5, but all focused on one goal at 5:30 a.m.” 

When asked to say something that most people don’t know about her, Sadie says, “I’m really afraid of the dark.” So, it’s good that she has lots of teammates to protect her on those dark, early morning runs. “Johnathan R. made me practice running and talking at the same time, so I’m a chatterbox.” 

Sadie’s last race was the Baltimore Running Festival half marathon. “I didn’t make the time I wanted, but I finished. I still haven’t gotten that ‘itch’ to do another, or to do a full.  Sorry to disappoint all you nutty runners!” Sadie’s next run with the BoMF crew will likely be the Nikia relay. 

When asked what she would tell someone considering joining Team Christopher’s Place, Sadie says, “You will undoubtedly change someone’s life, but joining will undoubtedly change yours too.” And, her advice for a brand new runner? “Starting is the hardest part. It gets better and easier and more fun.”

December has always been one of the busiest and most exciting months for all of Back on My Feet Baltimore and 2011 certainly was no exception. The month kicked off with Baltimore Bash, a truly wonderful evening hosted by the Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards where friends, members and supporters of Back on My Feet Baltimore came together to reflect and celebrate the past year’s feats and accomplishments. Highlighted by a great group of speakers and a silent auction that featured a personal training session with Ray Lewis and his trainer Monte Sanders, the night was a huge success for Back on My Feet and helped raise more than $50,000 for our chapter!

As the month continued, there were plenty more plenty more reasons to celebrate both with the holidays and with a bevy of personal milestones and accomplishments in our members’ lives.

Team MCVET welcomed several new members to the roster this month including three new residential members: Chris M., Jason L., and Walter L., as well as two newborn Team MCVET’ers! Congratulations to Maya and her husband Ian on the birth of their daughter and alumni Darryl M and his wife Keta on the birth of their first child! We wish them all the best and expect to see them out running with us soon!

Team Christopher’s Place has also been growing at a rapid pace with nine new residential members joining the roster this month alone! Meanwhile, George and Jerome both graduated from their second phase at Christopher’s Place and Kani is already employed! In addition, all-star CP team member Dom, fresh on the heels of completing his first marathon at the Baltimore Running Festival has committed to and signed up for the D.C. Rock n’ Roll Marathon in March and has already started training!

Team Helping Up Mission welcomed two new teammates, Frank P. and Dre D., to the team while also celebrating Eric B. and Dave H.’s graduations and stalwart Back on My Feet’er Barry B. celebrated his third year of sobriety!

Some longtime Back on My Feet Baltimore members are transitioning into new roles as Jordyn will take over for Sadie as Christopher Place’s new team leader, Sarah steps into Fast Dan’s (bright orange!) shoes as team leader for Team Baltimore Station, and Henry T. passes the MCVET team captainship to Tim R.

December, of course, marks the holiday season, and Back on My Feet soaked up the holiday spirit with teams planning evening runs through the Miracle on 34^th Street, cookie bakes, and of course the annual holiday party and Celtic Solstice 5 miler! The holiday party was highlighted by crock pots, ugly yet festive sweaters dug out from our grandmothers’ closets, and the joy of being able to come together as a chapter to celebrate and thank each other for our commitment to Back on My Feet.  During the evening’s events, the member of the year award winners were announced to the cheers of their teammates. Mike B., from Helping Up Mission, was recognized as the Residential Member of the Year while Diane was awarded the Non-residential Member of the Year award. Congratulations to Mike and Diane, and thank you both for the hard work and time you have given to BoMF and its members over the course of the past of the year to make this such a memorable program for all of us.

Celtic Solstice Circle

Well-fueled on oatmeal, holiday cookies, pasta and chili dishes, BoMF Baltimore came out in full force for the Celtic Solstice 5 Miler in Druid Hill Park the next morning. Alumni, res, non-res and family members were all well represented among the field of more than 3,000 runners. While the day saw several PRs, first time racers, and Santa Claus costumes, it was highlighted by the return of our dear friend and teammate Sean F., of Team MCVET to the starting line. Sean was struck by a car while running on his own one night in July and after months in the hospital and physical therapy, took the starting line alongside his teammates at the morning’s race. His strength and resolve in getting there the past few months has captivated and inspired all of us and truly demonstrated that through hard work, grit and teamwork, no obstacle is too great. Sean continued to pick up more teammates as he made his way through the course, finishing alongside a huge pack of caroling and cheering teammates.

As we move into a new year, we are thankful for all the great memories and accomplishments that 2011 brought us and look forward to another great year in 2012.

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!