Unsung Hero Award
"It's easy...give me 10 weeks, and I will have you running!...
"That sentence from July, 2011 started one of the most amazing experiences of my life! That sentence led to friendships that will always be treasured! That sentence led over 100 people to start their running journey! Many of them have continued on and successfully completed other 5ks, 10ks, 15ks, triathlons, half marathons, and even marathons!!!! Just like you, these amazing people were petrified to begin (myself included!). Just like you, they were overwhelmed by the big picture and thinking that they could never run even a block without stopping. However, just like THEM...YOU will be amazed by what you can do with the Power of the Pack! " (Power of the Pack Facebook Page - July 2012)
Click Here For A Daily Star Article about the Power of the Pack
"Let's Start at the Very Beginning"
In 2010, I used Active’s Couch to 5K program to teach myself and a friend how to run. We were shocked to find that not only did the progression of running and walking intervals work, but running together always made them easier and almost even fun?!? We registered for the Boilermaker 5K, and used that as our motivation to keep going. Though my friend did not continue running after the race, I was hooked, and set my sight on the running Boilermaker 15K the following year!
I didn't diet! (for the first time since 5th grade!)
I simply ate to impact my running, not the scale. This mental shift led to a physical shift and I lost 50 pounds! I used my running journey to guide and empower over 100 people to begin their own running journeys.
The Power of the Pack Was Born!
It started as an argument with a friend.
"I hate you! Look at how skinny you are!"
To which I replied,"Then come on!!! I'll teach YOU how to run!"
"Yeah, right! I can't run!"
"I didn't think I could either!"
"I HATE running!"
"I did too...and still do half the time!"
"Whatever! I can't do it!"
And so on...This went on for months, until I finally convinced her to give running, and me, a shot!
When the time came,
I sent out an email to every woman I knew and told them to bring their friends.
We started meeting at the Oneonta High School Track every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 6am.
I don't think I had a smartphone yet, and the app certainly did not exist, so I wrote the interval times on index cards and carried a stopwatch!
We Fell into a Routine
2. Running
I ran back and forth to provide insights, cheerleading, and butt kickings as needed.
3. Cool Down Stretches
While the sun rose and the birds sang their little hearts out!
4. Facebook - A Powerful Tool For Empowering My Pack!
Though Facebook Business pages were relatively new in 2011, I started one and taught myself how to share videos, tips, routes and resources while using back-end data to guide and evaluate the effectiveness of my posts.
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Embracing the challenge, I fumbled my way through and became proficient in using it to support and supplement the Pack sessions. I soon had followers across the U.S. England, Australia, Lebanon and Dubai!
Granted…some of the people in the last 3 countries were relations, but they were still up and running nonetheless!
In my mind, I was simply using my own running struggles and successes to help people through theirs - and Facebook helped me to help more people. Looking back, I was organically developing and marketing my brand. A "Don't Worry...I Gotta Tool" to be used in the future when taking over the Pit Run page, and creating my own real estate page
Instinctually, I was also very aware that people were following along and developing their own "maybe someday" thoughts - equally profound.
I loved seeing it evolve into a platform for runners to use!
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