October/November Newsletter: Training Begins
Here is the text version of the October-November e-newsletter. Please subscribe to the email version, which includes photos, by joining SRO’s mailing list on the homepage.
Message from Executive Director Spencer Hooper
I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to Joanna Morales, SRO's Student Assistant Executive Director and a senior at Castlemont High. She frequently tells me with great enthusiasm that one day she will be the Executive Director of SRO. One of SRO's main goals this year was to increase the number of students who participate. A few weeks ago, I gave Joanna the challenge to help grow the number of participants at her school, and through her leadership, she recruited 10 students, which represents nearly 20% of the students in the program this year. As you read ahead, you will learn about Fred Jones, who was with SRO in 2004-05 and has returned as one of our captains, and Kim Duff, a new SRO supporter, who exceeded her individual fundraising goal by over 30%.
Certainly as individuals, common people can come together and achieve uncommon results. And as passionate individuals come together, the results grow exponentially.
In closing, I will leave you with a quote by Emerson, which embodies the sentiment so aptly expressed by Christine Chapon in her article featured in this newsletter: "It is one the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."
Student Voices
A few comments following the Oct. 27 4.4-mile run on the Lafayette-Moraga trail:
"It feels challenging and good - it builds up the heart - and I like that you just keep on going and look at the road ahead." - Zheng Yan, 15
"I keep learning more and more about what I can do." - Donovan Reid, 14
"It makes you feel better and proud of yourself. I never thought I could run because of my asthma. When you have people on the side motivating you, it's just better." - Terran McClain, 13
"I feel good because I was being pushed. I never got a chance to run around like this before." - Janeika McCullough, 14
Volunteers Gain As Well As Give
by Christine Chapon, Volunteer Coordinator
We always say at SRO that the students are transformed after they run the marathon. This is also true for the volunteers. Volunteering for SRO is not all about giving; it is also about receiving: Receiving the gift of trust from the students, which is not always easily gained and often requires work. Receiving the gift of camaraderie from the other volunteers, supporting one another during so many hours of running, getting to know each other - receiving those gifts leaves you transformed.
We also say at SRO that the program exposes the students to new places, experiences and opportunities. I can definitely tell you that it also exposes the adult volunteers to these things as well. Exposure to students or other volunteers who may be far apart from our own world can be challenging but will leave us with a broader sense of life and will definitely enlighten us.
We also say at SRO that we want to give students a chance to dream of a successful future, and I believe we adult volunteers should also have that dream. We should always have high expectations of our students, and always keep the bar high, so the students can fulfill their dreams and ours too. I can make you one promise: The students won't disappoint you!
Go Kim!
Last summer, SRO supporter Matt Forsman, aka Marathon Matt, offered his professional coaching to anyone who wanted to train for the US Half Marathon in San Francisco on November 4, as long as they committed to raise money for SRO. We'd like to thank the one person who accepted the challenge and wish her luck at this weekend's race: Kim Duff. Matt writes, "While Kim had some minimal running experience, she had never run a half marathon before and initially expressed some apprehension about tackling the distance. Kim remained firmly committed to her training and blew past the fundraising goal of $1300 ($100 per mile), raising nearly $1900 for Students Run Oakland. While Kim will be running solo in her first half marathon, Students Run Oakland will be with her in spirit every step of the way. I'm exploring the formation of a team that would raise money for SRO and train for a race in 2008, so contact me if you're interested. Let's hope Kim will be back with us again next year!"
Welcome Back, Fred
Fred Jones, formerly an Oakland Tech student, was in SRO during the 2004-05 season. Many people got to know Fred's story through the documentary Runners High, which spotlighted him and three other SRO students. Fred, who now works for AT&T activating phones and proudly has the job title "solution provider," is back as a volunteer to help motivate the students during their afterschool workouts. Before last Saturday's run, he said, "I'm back for the kids, to inspire them. A lot of these students remind me of myself. In fact," he added before running off, "there's one now I gotta go talk to, because he doesn't have on the right gear."
Upcoming
SRO students will run in their first 5K this Sunday, Nov. 4, held in conjunction with the US Half Marathon in SF. Thanks to Fleet Feet's Brett Lamb and race organizer Ryan Dawkins for sponsoring the students so they can participate free of charge.
Starting in December, SRO will hold a series of clinics for the students. The first is on sexually transmitted disease awareness and prevention. More will follow on topics including injury prevention and nutrition. Many thanks to volunteer Cynthia Rinker for coordinating the clinics.
More Thanks and Links
Perennial SRO sponsor Transports will fit the students with new, proper running shoes in November. Many thanks to Transports for once again opening its store to SRO and providing the shoes at a deep discount. SRO covers the remaining cost, so shoes and other gear are free to the students.
We have photos from the students' first run, Oct. 16, thanks to professional photographer Scott Hargis. See more photos of this season's students on the website and contact Scott if you'd like to learn more about his photography.
We welcome your comments, suggestions and submissions! Please email sro_newsletter@sbcglobal.net.
- Sarah Lavender Smith, SRO newsletter editor
Message from Executive Director Spencer Hooper
I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to Joanna Morales, SRO's Student Assistant Executive Director and a senior at Castlemont High. She frequently tells me with great enthusiasm that one day she will be the Executive Director of SRO. One of SRO's main goals this year was to increase the number of students who participate. A few weeks ago, I gave Joanna the challenge to help grow the number of participants at her school, and through her leadership, she recruited 10 students, which represents nearly 20% of the students in the program this year. As you read ahead, you will learn about Fred Jones, who was with SRO in 2004-05 and has returned as one of our captains, and Kim Duff, a new SRO supporter, who exceeded her individual fundraising goal by over 30%.
Certainly as individuals, common people can come together and achieve uncommon results. And as passionate individuals come together, the results grow exponentially.
In closing, I will leave you with a quote by Emerson, which embodies the sentiment so aptly expressed by Christine Chapon in her article featured in this newsletter: "It is one the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."
Student Voices
A few comments following the Oct. 27 4.4-mile run on the Lafayette-Moraga trail:
"It feels challenging and good - it builds up the heart - and I like that you just keep on going and look at the road ahead." - Zheng Yan, 15
"I keep learning more and more about what I can do." - Donovan Reid, 14
"It makes you feel better and proud of yourself. I never thought I could run because of my asthma. When you have people on the side motivating you, it's just better." - Terran McClain, 13
"I feel good because I was being pushed. I never got a chance to run around like this before." - Janeika McCullough, 14
Volunteers Gain As Well As Give
by Christine Chapon, Volunteer Coordinator
We always say at SRO that the students are transformed after they run the marathon. This is also true for the volunteers. Volunteering for SRO is not all about giving; it is also about receiving: Receiving the gift of trust from the students, which is not always easily gained and often requires work. Receiving the gift of camaraderie from the other volunteers, supporting one another during so many hours of running, getting to know each other - receiving those gifts leaves you transformed.
We also say at SRO that the program exposes the students to new places, experiences and opportunities. I can definitely tell you that it also exposes the adult volunteers to these things as well. Exposure to students or other volunteers who may be far apart from our own world can be challenging but will leave us with a broader sense of life and will definitely enlighten us.
We also say at SRO that we want to give students a chance to dream of a successful future, and I believe we adult volunteers should also have that dream. We should always have high expectations of our students, and always keep the bar high, so the students can fulfill their dreams and ours too. I can make you one promise: The students won't disappoint you!
Go Kim!
Last summer, SRO supporter Matt Forsman, aka Marathon Matt, offered his professional coaching to anyone who wanted to train for the US Half Marathon in San Francisco on November 4, as long as they committed to raise money for SRO. We'd like to thank the one person who accepted the challenge and wish her luck at this weekend's race: Kim Duff. Matt writes, "While Kim had some minimal running experience, she had never run a half marathon before and initially expressed some apprehension about tackling the distance. Kim remained firmly committed to her training and blew past the fundraising goal of $1300 ($100 per mile), raising nearly $1900 for Students Run Oakland. While Kim will be running solo in her first half marathon, Students Run Oakland will be with her in spirit every step of the way. I'm exploring the formation of a team that would raise money for SRO and train for a race in 2008, so contact me if you're interested. Let's hope Kim will be back with us again next year!"
Welcome Back, Fred
Fred Jones, formerly an Oakland Tech student, was in SRO during the 2004-05 season. Many people got to know Fred's story through the documentary Runners High, which spotlighted him and three other SRO students. Fred, who now works for AT&T activating phones and proudly has the job title "solution provider," is back as a volunteer to help motivate the students during their afterschool workouts. Before last Saturday's run, he said, "I'm back for the kids, to inspire them. A lot of these students remind me of myself. In fact," he added before running off, "there's one now I gotta go talk to, because he doesn't have on the right gear."
Upcoming
SRO students will run in their first 5K this Sunday, Nov. 4, held in conjunction with the US Half Marathon in SF. Thanks to Fleet Feet's Brett Lamb and race organizer Ryan Dawkins for sponsoring the students so they can participate free of charge.
Starting in December, SRO will hold a series of clinics for the students. The first is on sexually transmitted disease awareness and prevention. More will follow on topics including injury prevention and nutrition. Many thanks to volunteer Cynthia Rinker for coordinating the clinics.
More Thanks and Links
Perennial SRO sponsor Transports will fit the students with new, proper running shoes in November. Many thanks to Transports for once again opening its store to SRO and providing the shoes at a deep discount. SRO covers the remaining cost, so shoes and other gear are free to the students.
We have photos from the students' first run, Oct. 16, thanks to professional photographer Scott Hargis. See more photos of this season's students on the website and contact Scott if you'd like to learn more about his photography.
We welcome your comments, suggestions and submissions! Please email sro_newsletter@sbcglobal.net.
- Sarah Lavender Smith, SRO newsletter editor
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