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.