Chasing Unicorns

Running the Boston Marathon to Support Camp Shriver

Team Member Introductions

| 2 Comments

Hello everyone!

Welcome to Team Camp Shriver. I have so enjoyed talking with each and every one of you about your goals for the marathon and your desire to help children with disabilities.

When I tell you this is the best part of my job – I mean every word!

At least three of our team members are from outside of Boston, and not everyone will be able to make the weekly runs with the fabulous Rick Muhr, so the Chasing Unicorns blog will become a place where all Team Camp Shriver members can come together, share our thoughts and gather motivation.

Chasing Unicorns will post at least once a week, likely on Tuesday, and more as we get closer to Marathon.

To start with, I hope that everyone will comment on this post to introduce his/herself and say hello.

Please note, this is a public forum, so be mindful of what you share!

I will start! Feel free to copy my format or create your own.

 

Name: Barbara Gildea

Hometown: Quincy, MA

Running Since: High School… but more seriously since 2007.

Why I am Running for Team Camp Shriver: Well, I’m not running, but you are! I am part of Camp Shriver because it is a perfect way for me to pursue my passion for education.

After three years of teaching, I started to work for educational non-profits.  The Center for Social Development and Education at UMass Boston makes sure that children with intellectual or development disabilities have the opportunity to be included, both in the classroom and outside of school. It’s a cause I can really get behind, having seen the effects of social rejection in my classroom.

Camp Shriver is the Center’s inclusive sports camp for children with and without disabilities, a great way to put the Center’s research into practice, bringing together 120 children, half with and half without a disability, so that they can learn and play as equals.

I love it! And I am so pleased to have the opportunity to coordinate Team Camp Shriver and work with you lovely folks this year.

Previous Boston Marathons / other Marathons:  I have run four Marathons, with a PR in Vermont last year: 4:39.  I haven’t run Boston…yet.

Why I Run : One of these days, I’ll share a link that the Vermont Marathon posted on their blog that sums up why I run. For now, I’ll summarize by saying I run for my health, my sanity, and the wonderful experiences that you have on a run.

Best Road Race Sign: The best road race sign I have ever seen was in Vermont: “Worst Parade Ever.” Ha!

Things I Do When I Am Not Running: I like to read, I like to write, and I like to harass my husband into making me delicious things to eat. He’s an excellent cook!

Anything We Should Know About You: This year, I’m the Team Coordinator, but next year, I plan to be a runner, too! I will be watching you train like a hawk.

 

Thanks for sharing!

Go Team Camp Shriver!

2 Comments

  1. Name: Gary Almeter

    Hometown: Baltimore, MD (by way of Buffalo, NY, Boston, MA, and New York, NY)

    Running Since: 2010

    Why I am Running for Team Camp Shriver: The mission of Camp Shriver is simultaneously so simple and so profound. It’s great. I am generally familiar with the Shriver family and have volunteered for Special Olympics and Best Buddies. This seems like a good and logical and fun next step.

    Previous Boston Marathons / other Marathons: I have run the Baltimore Marathon twice. When I lived in Boston, right out of college, a friend was dating someone who lived on Commonwealth Avenue. We got a keg of beer at 9 a.m. Marathon Monday 1994 and I watched those runners in awe.

    Why I Run : Like Ms. Gildea, I run for my sanity and my health; I do enjoy the camaraderie that just sort of happens with runners. And I like making running playlists. It’s so funny what happens when the perfect song comes on my iPod at just the right time. I like running in the early a.m. and starting the day listening to my favorite music.

    Best Road Race Sign: I have seen several. (I always thought that a good coffee table book would be a compilation of photographs of marathon road race signs.) The best one if have ever seen is also the most succinct: “Run Bitches.” I also liked the one that told me I was running slower than Oprah.

    Things I Do When I Am Not Running: I like to read, I like to watch Orioles games with my son, play teacher with my daughter, play tennis with my wife and watch movies.

    Anything We Should Know About You: I will do my best to make it to an event prior to race day. But rest assured I am training here.

    • Thanks, Gary – that is a great introduction! I love the sign and running to music is always wonderful.

      Love the image of you and your keg in 1994. I can’t wait to see you run by the same spot this year!

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