What if your alarm clock never squawked that familiar beep-beep-beep at o-dark-thirty? What if your ‘works-with-Alexa’ coffee maker never brewed your pre-run nectar? What if your mudroom wasn’t a technicolor repository of zero drop, low drop, and high drop shoes? What if you never experienced any of these morning rituals (and dare I say isms), because you were never introduced to running?

No running?!! What?!! For many of us, running is more than just competition and exercise. Running is connection, camaraderie, social capital, community, a prophylaxis for good mental health. AND beer and pizza and chocolate and (enter post-run fattening food here). But how do we move the needle from the former narrative of ‘no running,’ which could also curtail friendships and connections, to an aspirational vision for more runners and younger runners ‘who thrive socially, emotionally and physically…”? One great solution to this question began a dozen years ago. 

In 2011, my husband Paul introduced me to Jenny Williams, a Dartmouth alum, local business leader, and at the time the Norwich Recreation cross-country coach. I was dazzled by Jenny’s tenacity and vision for youth running programs. Jenny began designing a model of no-barrier running for students at Mascoma’s Indian River Middle School. With a bit of networking, Jenny attracted strong support from decision makers, key stakeholders, and coaches, including a formidable coach named Ben True. 

Jenny’s vision is now a flourishing nonprofit, known to many as Finding Our Stride (FOS). Their aim is holistic and intentional: “Building Fitness, Self-Esteem, and Resilience through Running.” FOS offers free after school running programs for six to eight weeks at 28 sites in the Upper Valley region of VT and NH, two seasons per year. Eighty percent of coaches are teachers, guidance counselors or social workers at the schools at which they coach. The program provides modest coaching stipends, training and resources for coaches, nutritious snacks, entry to an end-of-season community running event, and shoe vouchers on an as-needed basis.  

A cornerstone of the program is community engagement, as connection within one’s community helps to foster self-esteem and resilience. Each spring season, teams choose non-profit organizations to support, and runners and coaches collect funds or goods for those local charities. In the spring of 2022, FOS teams supported the Upper Valley Humane Society,  the Upper Valley Haven, the Caring and Sharing Food pantry,  the Cancer Center at Dartmouth Health, the Friends of Wrights Mountain Trails in Bradford, VT, and playground maintenance at their own schools. A generous anonymous donor matched all contributions, resulting in an investment of over $8,000 in the local non-profit community.

In the fall, all teams (including runners, coaches and family members) run in the Dartmouth Health Children’s “Hero” run. In 2022, the FOS team of 329 participants was the largest, and  the #1 fundraising team, contributing $31,720 to Dartmouth Health Children’s. FOS is proud of their runners, who raise these funds through coin drives, bake sales and modest donations (even birthday money) from family and friends.  

I was privileged to work with Jenny during the early years of FOS by helping her make community connections and  recruit schools in Vermont and New Hampshire. In addition, I was honored to help advance FOS as a Board member from 2019 - 2022. FOS achieved huge milestones over the past decade, which is another article for another time. However, I want to bring FOS to our attention as adult runners who are fortunate to participate in a great running club and community. I invite you to help further the work of FOS by considering one or more of the following action steps. 

1. Become familiar with FOS and learn about their mission, vision and values.
2. Consider becoming a coach one day a week at a participating FOS school near-ish you.
3. Consider giving to FOS, one simple way is to give a gift of $100 to support their no-barrier’s shoe voucher program. This ensures every student athlete has great running shoes. 

In closing, I am compelled to ask you to consider these action steps, because you were once introduced to running. And if you are at all like me, it has made a HUGE difference in the way I live and thrive. So let’s be grateful for running and pay it forward with some local support and social good. 

Photos linked: FOS student athletes at the 2022 Dartmouth Health Children’s “Hero” run