Favorite Distance? To compete in - The marathon. To work – The Mini.
There was so much that I learned about myself I completed a marathon because the distance, no matter how good of shape I was in, I still felt it was meant to break me. That is why I loved the race because no matter the pain, the fatigue, the hurdles, finding a way to keep moving one foot in front of the other and finishing the race was a great distance for self-discovery. In essence, I used what I learned about myself in the marathon to make me a better teacher (especially teaching in a year of Covid.)
However, since I get to work a numerous number of races the one that is my favorite distance to work is the mini. There are so many stories of human triumph crossing the finish line. Stories that range from someone who used running to help them beat addiction to losing weight to setting a PR to crossing the line in first and everything in between. Watching the thrill of the race winner crossing the line to the final finisher – each one has accomplished something and I am proud to be a very tiny part of their journey by working the races.
Do you have any running/walking advice you'd like to offer?
First and foremost, have fun. It is not an easy sport. Heck other sports use running as a punishment. So make what is considered misery by others to be an enjoyable time of fun. Laugh on a run, high five the person next to you, belt along with your favorite song when you hear it on your headphones. If it is a long enough run there will be plenty of time for silent reflection and contemplation. However, make sure you just have fun.
Why do you like running River City Races events?
It often means I get to work with my pal Camille! She is one of my favorites in the running community and I love being around here. If you have never volunteered for a race I would strongly encourage you to do so. Give something back to the sport. Every race director needs more volunteers from water stops, to passing out medals to registration, and so much more. If you love running then give back to running by volunteering to work a race.
Anything else you'd like to share?
As I shared I learned a lot about myself through running the marathon and was able to use that in teaching. This year, which was so difficult trying to teach kids that are online with a couple in the classroom was beyond a challenge. I know that the pandemic caused a number of good teachers to leave the profession. But I can thank running for me not giving up, not feeling burned out, nor feeling overwhelmed. When I saw my students early on start to get discouraged in the spring of 2020 with sports and milestones (prom / graduation) being cancelled and then those emotions continue on in the 20-21 school year I realized it was a call to action for me. So many of my students stayed in the dark simply waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel. But as days went to weeks and the weeks went to months I challenged my students to find their own light. Do not wait for the light at the end of the tunnel, instead create your own light and keep putting one foot in front of the other. So my classroom had to be a place of light. And that is why I started to reach out to filmmakers for my film study class – to give my students a connection with an amazing filmmaker. From Matthew McConaughey to Jerry Bruckheimer to Tom Cross. I ended up having 19 filmmakers join my classroom via zoom which I recorded and put on my YouTube channel. The point being is that running helps you find your internal light. When the voice in the head says it would be okay to quit our internal light tells us to keep moving forward, “You got this. It’s just a bit further down the road.” And when the world is at it’s darkest, letting our internal light shine for not only ourselves but others makes the planet a brighter, better place.
Remain Awesome – Be Nice – Stay Safe – See You Soon