Witnessing Running at Work

Within the past week, I had the opportunity to both volunteer and share some experience and strength with another nonprofit that is near and dear to my heart: RunningWorks based in Charlotte, North Carolina, but with five programs in surrounding areas--including on the campus of The Palmetto School in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where I used to teach children in DSS custody. RunningWorks uses sport to empower individuals and families to break cycles of abuse, neglect, poverty and homelessness one stride at a time. Each of the five programs, no matter the population served, follows the same curriculum with a run / walk and then a life skill session or inspirational guest speaker.

Following Indoor Nationals in Boston, I took a two-week complete break from running for the first time ever. As part of my In the Arena responsibilities, which I love and have mentioned often in previous blogs, I coach a youth track program, Knoxville Youth Athletics, in Tennessee, with third to ninth grade kids. My first week off was the last week of our "indoor" season, so I was left to my own devices for Week Two and decided to head to Charlotte to assist and support my friend Meredith Dolhare, who founded RunningWorks. This program embodies all of the things In the Arena stands for because it is a mentor-driven, sport for social change initiative. Personally, I think the photos below speak for themselves.

RunningWorks at The Relatives On Ramp Resource Center in Charlotte, NC, which works with young adults cycling out of foster care at 17-years-old with nowhere to go except the streets, runaways and other tough cases up to 24 years of age.

Helping one of the RunningWorks team members get ready for the run
and fit properly into new shoes, apparel and Balega socks.

RunningWorks hits the city streets for a 5k loop from The Relatives On Ramp
to BB&T Baseball Stadium--their favorite route.

Almost to the ballpark, several of the team members
started pushing the pace!

The fast crew at BB&T Ballpark with the beautiful city of Charlotte in the background.  RunningWorks always has a walking group as well to make sure that all levels are accommodated.

Headed back to home base for pizza and a life skill session, which each RunningWorks
program has following the run/walk. 

This time, I was honored to lead the life skill discussion on surrounding yourself with positive people in order to create the right team for success! RunningWorks provides such mentors 
for these young adults.

Visiting the original RunningWorks program for homeless and disadvantaged men and women, which takes place every Tuesday and Friday at the Urban Ministry Center in downtown Charlotte--following the same curriculum of a run/walk followed by life skill discussions.

Supporting my good friend Meredith Dolhare in Salisbury, NC, as she launched another RunningWorks affiliate led by Stuart Perkins (right) with Rowan Helping Ministries two days a week. Here, she spoke to more than 300 volunteers about the importance of not only doing well in life, but "doing good" while you are at it--a concept I wholeheartedly subscribe to!

As always, thank you to my incredible sponsors: In the Arena, Brooks Running, Generation UCAN Nutrition, EC3D Sports, Hypoxico, Timex Sports, my chiropractor Dr. Murray McKinnon and ART/ physical therapist Justin Brillante at Drayer PT--for I owe much of my success to their support.

What Does Success Mean to You?

My Coach--Dr. Ruud Van Thienen
P.C. Meredith Dolhare

P.C. Pamela Green

          This past weekend I competed in the USA National Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston, MA.  I ran my marquee event, the mile, against one of the strongest fields assembled at the 2015 version of the meet.   All three 1500m Olympians from 2012 were slated to compete--Matt Centrowitz, Leo Manzano and Lopez Lomong--as well as two of the strongest milers in the country so far in 2015—Ben Blankenship and Pat Casey.  I had a great deal of confidence going into this race because I knew I had had my best indoor season of my career--running personal best times in both the 1 mile and 3000m runs, and my coach (who came to support me from Belgium) was constantly telling me that I could get a medal (top 4) and prove myself as I did back in 2013.

            I wanted to do my absolute best in this race, but success had a different meaning for me.  My main goal was to have fun and enjoy the experience that only a National Championship can bring.  There are only two opportunities like this each year, indoors and outdoors, and I wanted to relish in the fact that I was in the best shape of my life and wanted to compete at the highest possible level against our nation’s best milers.  I knew that most people look at time and place as a gauge for success, but I feel that for this race (and moving forward) I have a different scale to measure success.  Not that I am becoming soft or less competitive, this way of thinking for me has enabled me to focus and become even more of a warrior on the starting line.

          The outcome of the race was a success, as I did have fun finishing 4^th in a very elite field and enjoying the success of the race with my coach, his sister and one of my biggest supporters and mentors—Meredith Dolhare.  Having them by my side made this experience so much more fulfilling and having their support at this championship will be a memory I will never forget.  I experienced equal joy, however, meeting some of the people who have been extraordinary contributors to my “comeback” and success so far in 2015—the In the Arena team!  I was able to finally connect face to face with the beauty and brains behind my team—Amory Rowe and Margaret Adams, and was fortunate enough to meet Amory’s family including her husband and two children—Torin and Thea.  I was on such a high from my performance and as soon as I returned to the warm-up area to gather my things after the race, I was greeted by my In the Arena family.  I was immediately reminded why I love the sport of track and field and SPORTS so much—relationships!  Even though my immediate family was not able to come and support me directly at this meet (they and many other friends and family were able to watch on television), I had my family with me in Boston.  I cannot tell you in words how blessed I was to be able to give someone a hug after a performance like I had who understands the hard work you put into your trade and who appreciates you for you—no matter if you finished 4^th, first or last. 

Meredith Dolhare--my superwoman + personal angel

This is the message I want to carry, share and charge each of you with today.  No matter what your passion is in life, it is always sweeter when you can share it with the ones you love.  So if you ever have the opportunity to be that person for someone—do it.  I promise you they will never forget the hug, high five or smile you share with them in light of your success—no matter what the level of achievement may have been.

For the rest of the story and even more insight into my feelings about the race—please tune into the interviews below:

FloTrack Post Race Interview

LetsRun.com Post Race Interview

P.C. Mom and NBC Sports Network