When I did the Philadelphia Half Marathon four years ago and the full Marathon two years ago I came across blue shirted students enthusiastically running in packs. After the physical and mental pain of the race wained I vowed to volunteer with this organization; the students were so inspirational! As we chugged through the city the students kept each other (and me!) motivated, they didn’t complain and they just did it. At the time I vowed that I wouldn’t run again but I still wanted to volunteer. Serendipity in the form of a Facebook friend changed my mind and yesterday I found myself dressed to run and at training to become a running leader for Student Run Philly Style.
The training was great. I, along with over fifty (50!) folks, handed in clearances, signed forms and ate a healthy breakfast as we learned what would be expected for us for the next nine months. The welcome and the program guidelines broke the ice and I won a cool running skully. My favorite part of the training was when we met the students. They stood in the hallway cheering us as we ran from our classroom to the atrium. The students casually talked about completing their first and third marathons and then we wet for a run.
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| Me in my skully. Yes, I’m hot |
No self deprecating remark here but let me say that if in a month I still bitching over a one mile run you all have permission to put me on blast. All over the city of Philadelphia there will be groups of teachers, educators and other positive runner types mentoring young people as they prepare them for completing 13.1 or 26.2 miles and I am going to be a part of this.
Stay tuned for more racing posts.
Lacing up,
-r
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