Running with Kids

New URL for this blog

2011-05-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

In order for this blog to interact more smoothly with the RunningNuns website, we have moved it. The new blog can be found here. Or, please simply go to RunningNuns.com and our blog is easily found on the menu.

In about 6 weeks I will be back in New Hampshire for good, and then the original purpose for the blog--to give people an inside glimpse at St. Charles and our running program--will be able to happen much more easily. So please don't hesitate to join us!

Photos: 14th Annual St. Charles Children's Home 5k

2011-05-14T12:45:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like being prompt and getting things done in a timely manner. I planned to have the photos up from last year's race by the middle of September. Sigh. Here they are now nearly 1000 of them! I have to say, there is one good thing about being so late with this. Picasa changed during the ensuing months, and instead of uploading only 5 at a time I was able to upload the entire DVD in one sitting. My goal was to have my photographers capture as many runners as possible. Hopefully most people who ran the race can find themselves somewhere in here. Here is the link to the photo album: Enjoy!

Absentee Blogger--With an "Excuse"

2011-01-26T17:58:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have only written one post since September, and I just had to delete it because the link to the video I posted was broken. My excuse? Graduate school. Above is a picture of my day of triumph in receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Entrepreneurial Business from John Paul the Great Catholic University. I arrived back at school a couple of weeks after graduation ready to pursue my MBA. At least I thought I was ready. I never dreamed how all-consuming graduate level study would be! So, my posts will probably be fewer and farther between until I finish the MBA in June, but I don't plan on giving up the blog. At the end of June I will travel back to New Hampshire and will be able to write about what this blog really is supposed to be all about--Our Sisters running with the kids. Stay tuned...

Thank You to Everyone Who Came Out to the St. Charles 5k

2010-09-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

For me, yesterday's race was the best and most beautiful ever! The weather was perfect and we had a great turnout. I am now back in San Diego to take my finals in college so I can graduate on Saturday(!) I want to use this post to give some important messages to runners who may be looking for more information.

To see the official results on Cool Running, follow this link to the race results.

Seacoast online published two articles on our race here and here.

I had a few photographers at the race. Once they have submitted their photos and I have uploaded them, I will share those links. If any runners took photos or videos that you would like to share, please email the link to srmaryagnes11@aol.com and I will be happy to get them up.

Many runners left the race early and did not pick up their awards. If you see in the results on Cool Running that you won an award but did not receive it, please feel free to stop by St. Charles Children's Home to pick it up, or email me and I will be happy to mail it to you.

Also, there are always some runners who sign up but are not able to come on race day. Traditionally that means they forfeit their T shirt. If you registered and were not able to come, please feel free to stop by St. Charles to pick up you race bag and T shirt. Or, I can mail it to you, but I would ask $5 to cover the cost of shipping. Just email or send a check and I will get the shirt out to you. I am in San Diego until September 14, and I will do any requested mailing then.

Please give us your comments and feedback about the race! We are always trying to find ways to make our race better, and we want our runners to be involved in that process. Again, thank you for coming out yesterday!

You can still register for the St. Charles 5k on Race morning!

2010-09-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

Online registration at Active.com is now closed, but people can still register for the race on race morning. In fact, many runners prefer to do that. Just plan to come sometime between 7:30 and 8:45. We will be glad to have you join us! Registration fees on Labor Day are $20 per runner. The Fun Run for kids 7 and under is free. There are still plenty of T shirts and lots of food for everyone. Don't miss this race!

Perfect Weather for the St. Charles 5k

2010-09-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

The sisters at St. Charles pray about many things, and as Labor Day approaches each summer we ask the Lord for nice weather for the day of our big road race. He has not disappointed us yet! We have things cooling off by Monday, and the temperature should still be in the 60s when the gun goes off at 9 AM. I cannot ask for a nicer forecast.

Some runners have told me they like our new website, but they miss the thermometer showing the number of runners who have registered! I am still in the process of learning how to navigate the back end of our website, so maybe by next year I will have figured out a way to put our thermometer back. But in case anyone is wondering, we have 711 runners pre-registered as I write this blog. Online registration continues until 11 PM tonight, so that number may go up. I am excited to say we have already surpassed last year's record of pre-registered runners, which was 689. As anyone familiar with my former home made website knows, our goal is to reach 1000 runners. So call your friends and bring them along! Walkers are welcome too. We have great food and a really big raffle. In another post I intend to highlight some of our bigger raffle prizes this year.

Several months ago, someone suggested to me that I give up the road race and find more efficient ways to raise money for St. Charles. I was deeply distressed at even thinking about not having our race! But the question helped me to reflect about how much this race really does mean to me. It has been the highlight of every year for me since it began in 1997. There is just something so special for me when I see so many people gathered to support our work with the children at St. Charles. I love it when the gun goes off and I watch the runners all start: the energy and enthusiasm are amazing. Another special moment is when we call all of our children up at awards time so everyone can recognize the St. Charles Eagles. This year, most of our children have just begun living at St. Charles a few weeks ago. This will be their very first race. Each of them will be a winner, because when they cross the finish line they will have set their first "personal record" and will be able to receive our unique "PR Awards" during the awards ceremony. Some of them are eagerly anticipating the race, and ask me about it every time they see me. I can't wait to see their response on race day.

Thank you to all the runners who come each year and make this such a wonderful event.

The Saint Charles Children's Home 5K--a video from last year

2010-08-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

I happened to find this video that someone captured from our race last year and put together, and thought I would share it on the blog. Last's year's race was wonderful and we hope for another great race just 8 days from today on Labor Day!

Just a reminder that if anyone wishes to run our 5k but can't be with us on Labor Day for whatever reason, please consider running our Virtual 5k wherever you are, whenever you want.

Feedback from a runner: St. Charles 5k "One of the Best"

2010-08-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

With the 14th Annual St. Charles Children's Home a week from Monday, I thought I would share a nice letter I got last year from one of the runners:

"Your race was one of the best that I have attended this year. Very well organized and all of that wonderful food! Many times at a big race the food will run out before the last finishers cross the line. Not the case in your race, there was plenty for everyone. You did all of the right things to draw people back to your race next year. I intend to be there in 2010..."

The highlight of our post race food is a barbecue of hamburgers and hot dogs donated and cooked by all of the Applebee's restaurants in this region. Tommie Mattie of the Portsmouth Applebees is chief chef, and I can attest to the fact that there is nothing like those hamburgers hot off the grille. Other food includes donuts, bagels, fruit, cookies, pizza and more.

I was excited to get a letter from a runner last year. If you have run our race and would like to share your thoughts about it, please let us know!

Climbed a Mountain in Vibram Fivefingers!

2010-08-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

Today is a milestone day for me. In March I got a a pair of Vibram Fivefingers shoes, and have been building up my ability to function in them ever since. My goal on DailyMile has been to climb a mountain in the VFFs. Well, today I did it. Note my happy little feet in the corner of this picture of the monument on the top of Cowles Mountain.

I made the 950 foot climb in 36 minutes. Cowles is the highest mountain in San Diego county. This trail was perfect for the VFFs. It is mostly a dirt trail--not filled with sharp rocks which would have made the barefoot walk more challenging! As I have noted in other posts, the Vibram Fivefingers give you some protection, but they are a lot like really being barefoot since you feel everything under your feet.

The shoes performed well. I learned that it is easier to climb in Vibram Fivefingers than it is to navigate down a steep trail. First of all, because you're going down you naturally want to go fast. I stubbed my toe and that reminded me that I need to slow down and pick my way carefully. The other difficulty in going down is that steep, dry, dirt trails can be slippery, and today was no exception. VFFs can be slippery just like any other shoe. I slid just as much as in sneakers. I was not handicapped in any way by the VFFs. It was a great hike!

A Natural Drink to Balance Electrolytes

2010-08-18T17:33:00.000-07:00

Image borrowed from http://tipdeck.com/home-made-lemonade-recipe

I first learned about electrolytes after a race in the late 90s. It was a sweltering hot day--the first really hot day of that summer. After completing the race I was talking to a reporter, who was intrigued by the fact that our sisters were running in full habits with the children from St. Charles.

After that conversation, I remember turning around and heading to the refreshment stand. Next thing I knew, everything around me started to swim and my face was in the grass (I am so glad there was grass there!) Other runners were very kind. They told me to sit there and put my head between my knees until the dizziness went away. Some one got me a banana. I wanted to disappear into the grass.

Since then I have learned that if I sweat a lot and then rehydrate really quickly right away, I am susceptible to this kind of dizziness. I am not alone: that is why sports drinks have been invented, with their special ingredients to help replace the electrolytes in our body that we lose when we sweat a lot. I don't like all the sugar in those drinks, however, and I wanted to share a natural recipe given to me by my naturopath that works really well for me. Here it is:

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar powder

juice of 1/2 lemon

1/2 cup grapefruit juice (I use unsweetened)

3 1/2 cups water

It's quick and easy to make and less expensive than those sports drinks. Works for me! For more information about electrolytes and how to avoid electrolyte imbalance, here is a good article.

A Farewell Running Song

2010-06-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

During the past few months I have written a couple of posts about I girl I have called "Anna." She came to live at St. Charles a little before Christmas, and was incredibly anxious and fearful about everything. Anna flourished in our program and especially loved her daily runs with Sister Maximilian.

A few days ago, Anna moved in with her new adoptive family. In one of her last runs with Sister Maximilian, Anna decided to compose a goodbye song while running. It went something like this:

Sister Maximilian!

I am gonna miss you!

I am gonna miss running with you too!

Sister Max-i-mil-ill-ian!

I love you, Sister Maximilian!

I am gonna miss you!

I like running with you too!

Sister Max-i-mil-ill-ian!

There were many more verses to Anna's song, which continued for twenty minutes at the top of her voice during their 4 mile run together. Unfortunately, we do not have it in audio form. Since I am the blogger, I will also report that Sister Maximilan then composed a similar song for Anna as well!

One of the St. Charles Girls Invited to Speak as an Expert

2010-06-06T21:56:00.000-07:00

Last December I wrote a post about one of the girls at St. Charles whom we will call "Anna." Anna had just arrived at the Home when I met her in December. She was terrified of everyone she met. After living at St. Charles for six months and continuing to work hard to face her fears, Anna has made significant progress.

Last week, Anna's teacher invited her to be a guest speaker in her class. She was invited because she is considered an expert in running. Anna's teacher is a runner. Not only that, but several children in the classroom are preparing right now for their first 5k. So Anna was invited to speak to the class and give the young runners some pointers for running their first race:

Start slow
Run straight so you don't trip over other people and they don't trip over you
Save your fastest running for the end
Be a good sport: you are running to have fun
Do your best!

Everyone was impressed with Anna's presentation. So the little girl who was shaking with terror the first time she met me six months ago is now a seasoned 5k runner who gives good advice, and a public speaker! Go Anna!

Update on My Experience with Vibram Fivefingers

2010-05-30T12:32:00.000-07:00

It has been a little more than six weeks since my last blog post about the Vibram Fivefingers--I had better remedy that! The first thing is that I have not had any trouble with blisters since the blister I got on the back of each foot the first time I wore them. Once those healed up my skin was toughened up enough not to get any more. I do not wear the Injinji socks that can be purchased to help with blisters, although I have heard they can be very helpful. My personal preference has been to keep this experience as simple as possible. Special socks did not fit my criteria! However, if I ever progress to become a runner instead of a walker, the socks will be a real possibility for me.

I have also been careful to go slow in my transition to bare-footing. I wear the Vibrams twice a week, usually on weekends. First I mastered covering distance on flat, paved surfaces. Then I started on some simple mountain trails. The big challenge with mountain trails where I am living right now is the rocks: I definitely feel them! The trick is learning how to manage those small, sharp rocks that really hurt, even with the Vibrams. This is where building up the ability to wear these shoes is really important for me. I am taking it slowly because I don't want to get injured, yet I like the experience of the rocky trail in these shoes.

For some walks I skipped the shoes altogether and really walked barefoot on the smooth driveway that surrounds the complex where I live. That has been a valuable exercise, since what I am trying to do is toughen up the bottom of my feet.

I was not one of those people who grew up going barefoot all summer. The only time I did not have shoes on my feet was when I was on a beach. So this transition to a more barefoot life is something new for me! My favorite hike so far in the Vibrams was a steep mountain climb. The trail was short, maybe half a mile. But it was like climbing a flight of stairs going up and down! In fact, there are some places where both hands and feet are needed to make the climb. The climb was a real pleasure in the Vibrams. I felt like I had much more control over my feet than when I have hiked this trail in sneakers. I had less trouble with slipping on smooth rocks. However, there were still some slippery moments. As an aside, I got stung by a bee on the top of the trail, and made my way down pretty quickly after that. The Vibrams did not hinder my progress at all. The picture here is from that hike, taken at the top of the trail.

My only trouble was at the end I had a small bruise on the bottom of my left foot. It was a little tender, but did not cause a problem. However, on a more recent hike I must have stepped on a rock in that same spot again. This time I got a pretty serious bruise, which means taking some time off rocky trails in the Vibrams and letting it heal. One thing I find very helpful after every hike on a rocky trail is to soak in Epsom salts in the evening: to maximize the benefits and relax any muscles that are not used so much ordinarily. In summary, I really enjoy these shoes. They are providing a wonderful way to strengthen my feet, ankles and calves. I am glad I have continued to transition into them slowly. I think my careful work is going to pay off.

An Extra Run to Relieve the Stress

2010-05-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

One of the boys from St. Charles is really beginning to understand and internalize the way running can help him handle stress. This little guy, whom I will call Jimmy, has lived in more than 12 foster homes in his short life, and is getting ready to move into yet another one. Needless to say, he is agitated. Since he has not yet experienced a permanent home that was right for him, he has a lot of anxiety about moving to this next home. The way he sees it, why should he expect this home to be any different from the others?

Last week, Jimmy asked Sister Maximilian if he could go with her on her second run. Ordinarily Sister Maximilian runs 8 miles a day. The first 4 miles are with the more experienced group of kids who run a little faster. The second 4 miles are with beginners. Ordinarily, she would not allow a child to run 8 miles in one day. However, given Jimmy's level of stress and the fact that he was asking for the extra time running, she approved. Jimmy had a great run and one of the nicest evenings he has had in a while. Sister was excited because this showed that he really is starting to understand how running can affect the way he feels. We don't know if he will ask for an extra run again, but if he does, Sister will allow him to put in an extra 4 miles every once in a while. Hopefully, this will be a lesson he takes with him into adulthood to help him cope with the stresses of life.

Sister Maximilian & the St. Charles Kids Step into Barefoot Running

2010-05-16T08:14:00.000-07:00

It was an historical day last week when Sr. Maximilian and the kids from St. Charles officially started to experiment with barefoot running. Not to worry: they are proceeding slowly and carefully and they won't ever be seen running through the streets of Rochester without shoes, lest they get cut by broken glass somewhere along their route. Except Sister Maximilian, that is. She might find she likes this barefoot experience so much that she invests in Vibram Fivefingers the way I did. Time will tell. When I return to New Hampshire in a few weeks I fully intend to tantalize her with mine.

Here is how it all got started: Sister has been as intrigued as I am about the barefoot running phenomenon in the running world. Last week, she decided to try an experiment with the kids. Our kids run 50 minutes a day, 5-6 days a week. On this historic day she decided to shorten the run by 5 minutes, and then at the end give the kids an opportunity to run barefoot in the yard. Kids who didn't want to try barefoot running were welcome to run their final 5 minutes around our driveway: a track we often use in the winter when the sidewalks are not plowed.

No one chose that option, however. Everyone wanted to take their shoes off and run in the grass. The kids absolutely loved it, and Sister Maximilian admitted she enjoyed it too. Our yard is a large rectangle. One circle around the yard is roughly 1 tenth of a mile. We have great turf in that yard because of the irrigation system that keeps it well watered. As an aside, another group of athletes paid to renovate our yard about 10 years ago: a group of students from St. Anselm's College who walk 100 miles each year in a program called "Road for Hope" to raise money for various charities.

The kids are now running barefoot for 5 minutes twice a week. Sister Maximilian will assess whether and when they are ready to increase the barefoot time. In the meantime, those 10 minutes a week sound like a lot of fun.

My School in Southern California

2010-05-08T21:27:00.000-07:00

I have to take this opportunity to brag about my school: John Paul the Great Catholic University. While my other sisters in the Daughters of Mary are working hard with the kids in New Hampshire, I have been in sunny San Diego since 2007 attending this truly phenomenal university. My major is Entrepreneurial Business, but I eventually hope to pursue a Masters in Biblical Theology as well. I wanted to share the school's latest commercial, which highlights the fact that we are also a film school. I only have a year left to spend in San Diego. Then I will return to New Hampshire to finish my studies from a distance. I have to say, it will be easier writing in this blog about daily life with the kids when I am no longer 3000 miles away! Check out this ad:

Q: So, what is a Roman Catholic sister doing in an Entrepreneurial Business program that also happens to be at a film school?

A: I co-founded the Daughters of Mary to be an association that works with children and families. The association is already growing. Entrepreneurial Business is teaching me the skills I need to help our sisters launch new programs to help children and families in the future. To meet the other sisters who co-founded the Daughters of Mary, click here.

Q: The rest of the sisters and the children are at the St. Charles Children's Home in New Hampshire, aren't they? Why did you choose a school in Southern California? Wouldn't you rather be closer to home?

A: I wanted to find a school where I could not only learn business, but also participate in a Theology program. John Paul the Great Catholic University was the only Catholic University I found with a strong emphasis in both Theology and Entrepreneurial business. I will be honest: when I learned the University was in San Diego, I was not sad. I am thoroughly enjoying the weather while I am here!

A New Chapter for the Runningnuns Blog

2010-05-07T09:38:00.000-07:00

Today is an exciting day for me as a new blogger. Our Runningnuns blog is now integrated with the Runningnuns website. You can check out the menu at the top of this blog to learn more about our sisters, how we run with kids, and about our annual road race, the St. Charles Children's Home 5k, which takes place on Labor Day each year. I look forward to interacting with the running community about our race and about our running program. I hope everyone enjoys the new look and feel of our blog and website. Let me know!

The Difficulties some Children Face

2010-05-01T19:05:00.000-07:00

We all have difficulties to face. I often find it helps me to look at people who have much worse troubles than I do. Then my own challenges do not seem hard to face at all. One of the children from St. Charles taught me that lesson recently. For the sake of her privacy, I will call her Amy. Amy has lived at St. Charles for more than 4 years. She received a brain injury early in life, and as a result has some developmental delays. Her behaviors are very difficult to manage, to say the least. But like many difficult children, Amy has a loving side. What she has wanted, more than anything else in the world, is a family. Over the years she has watched friends come and go at St. Charles. No other child living at the Home right now has lived there as long as Amy has.

The good news finally came about a month ago: The perfect family had been found! They had adopted kids with disabilities in the past, and had the skill to work with Amy and her disabilities. Amy was on the top of the world. Whenever she would meet anyone, the first thing she would say was, "I have a family!" The sisters and staff shared her excitement, because this family really was a perfect match for Amy.

Then the family experienced an unexpected and shocking tragedy and the situation obliged them to have to move far away. They could not continue in the process of adopting Amy. This was not the family's fault: no one could have foreseen the events that forced them to change their plans. Since saying goodbye to that family, Amy now says, "Maybe some day some family will take me." She still has some hope.

Since coming to St. Charles 21 years ago, I have seen situations like this over and over. I can say with confidence that some day I will be writing another blog post about Amy, talking about the new family that the state found for her. I am sure in the end the sisters will be able to look back on this interrupted placement and recognize good that came out of the fact that Amy had to wait longer for a family. But try to explain that to a child. Amy's is a story in progress. Her story reminded me this week to be deeply grateful for my own family, and for the stability I had as a child. So many children have no idea what it is like to live in a loving family.

5 Mile Walk around Lake Miramar in Vibram Fivefingers

2010-04-11T19:07:00.000-07:00

I decided to take my Vibrams on a longer walk today. I chose Lake Miramar because it is a paved trail, but also has a dirt trail closer to the water that walkers may choose to use. The loop around the lake is 5 miles. I was going to bring a backpack with an alternative pair of shoes if things were to get rough with the Vibrams, but then I decided I would tough it out . . . I am glad I did. The walk went well, but I did learn a few things.

1. I was concerned about the blisters I got on the back of each foot from my first walk earlier in the week. I did some internet searching and found someone who used duct tape to protect his feet from blisters in the Vibrams. This idea is right up my alley: much cheaper than band aids. So I tried it today. I cut the tape about 3 inches long, and then put a rectangle of paper towel in the middle so the adhesive would not stick to the sensitive part of my foot where the blisters are. This worked like a charm! The tape stuck fine, and gave real protection from the chafing from the shoes. After the walk, it came off easily. The blisters did not get aggravated at all in the 5 mile walk. I am hoping I can build my feet up not to need this kind of intervention, but for now this is great. I am also resisting the idea of wearing Injinji socks for the time being. I really want to see if I can manage the blisters and become able to wear these without socks. We'll see.

2. So I conquered the blister problem, but by the end of 5 miles I found my heels were chaffed. They actually were burning at the end of my walk! I don't know what to make of that yet. As this week proceeds I will come back and add comments to this post to report on how long the chafing lasted. Hmmm. I hope I don't wake up tomorrow walking on two blisters on the bottom of each heel! The article I cited in my last post says "Let your skin be your guide" because when you protect your skin, you protect everything underneath. My chaffed heels give me a sense of that today.

3. Lake Miramar has a dirt trail closer to the water. I walked about a mile on the dirt trail today. It is pretty rocky in places, so this gave me a good idea of what trail hiking in my Vibrams will be like. I was amazed at how much more taxing this was for my legs. When I take these on my first real mountain trail, I will definitely be taking an alternative pair of shoes and will not attempt more than a mile on the trail to start. I have to build myself up to this!

In conclusion, I got the Vibrams as part of my long term program to become a runner once again. Since I cannot do any aerobic exercise at this point, I am working on building my strength. I love walking and hiking anyway, and the Vibrams seem like a great way to get more out of my walks and hikes. I am not disappointed, even with the blisters and chafing. After all, if I had attempted to walk this 5 miles in literal bare feet today, I probably would not have made it more than 100 yards.

First Impressions of Vibram Fivefingers

2010-04-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

When my Vibram Fivefingers arrived in the mail on Monday, I was eager to put them on. I have read, however, that wearing them too much too soon can cause muscle pain, etc., because our feet become weak from years of wearing shoes. So, I have used a lot of restraint this first week with the Vibrams. There is a good article about getting started in Vibrams here.

First of all, they are fun! My first walk was for 45 minutes on a flat, paved surface. My feet felt nice and snug and warm. When I ordered, I opted for the KSOs because they cover the top of the foot. I will be using these for hiking on trails and in the woods, so I wanted a way to keep pine needles, twigs and pebbles out. Also, even though I am living in San Diego for another year to study, my real home is in New Hampshire and I wanted them to be reasonably warm. I looked at the Flows for warmth, but decided that since I am in San Diego right now the KSOs were the best choice for me.

I have not experienced cramps or leg pains since wearing the Vibrams. I think that is because I am starting slowly and because I have been doing long barefoot walks indoors to prepare for these. My muscles went through the initial cramps a few weeks ago when I started walking barefoot. I have had the Vibrams since Monday, but have only walked in them twice. I am taking seriously the advice on different websites to start slowly! My only trouble so far has been a small blister on the back of each heel. That seems to be because I had the strap too tight the first day. The second day I kept the strap a lot looser and fared better with the blisters. I am looking forward to my first walk on a trail with these. Flat pavement is one thing, but rocky trails are another. I will be sure to report on how it goes!

A bit more on barefoot running

2010-04-01T05:31:00.000-07:00

We may become barefoot running nuns yet! My Vibram Fivefingers are on their way, and next week I hope to start short outdoor walks in them. Meanwhile I have been doing indoor walking barefoot, some days up to three miles in one workout. So, I am on my way to being a barefoot "walking nun." My plan is to be used to barefoot already as I ease back into running over the next several months. (I am still waiting for the doc's approval to start running again, but he was very enthusiastic about my barefoot hiking plan.)

Sister Maximilan is also interested. Since she runs eight miles a day right now (she runs two groups of kids, 4 miles each group) barefoot will be a slow, careful transition for her. She's waiting for my reports on the Vibram Fivefingers before she makes her decision.

To learn more about barefoot running I have embedded Bordon Pirie's book at the bottom of this blog. The book apparently never went to print, but I have found it to be highly recommended to understand how the body was made to run. Unfortunately I have not had time yet to read it myself, but I will definitely post on it when I have read it.

The link to the book is here.

Tweeting Nun

2010-03-31T12:55:00.000-07:00

I have been in New Hampshire the past 2 1/2 weeks and am ashamed that I have not written a blog post. There is so much I have to accomplish in my short weeks here, and so little time . . . Well, since someone else wrote up this nice article I thought I would share it here. It tells the story of how I got started in Social Media. Enjoy!
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=35978

A Roman Catholic Sister on Daily Mile

2010-03-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

I kept hearing Dailymile come up in the running blogosphere, and so I finally joined the network. Dailymile has some similarities to Facebook, but it is geared particularly for active people. When I first heard about it, I figured that excluded me, since at the time I was still trying to struggle out of the sedentary state. However, when I got on Dailymile I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is easy to post workouts, no matter how small. Similar to what our road race tried to be, Dailymile is equally attractive to fast, experienced runners and slow, inexperienced beginners.

For example, my profile from last week above logs the miles even though I am a walker and not a runner. The green bar on the end without a number is a workout. You still get the green bar, just no miles recorded. I like clean, clear visuals, to this does the trick to motivate me to post workouts or walks.

Here are some reasons I like Dailymile:

It is fun. Even if my morning fitness routine is a mere 10 minutes, I can post it, and it appears in the timeline alongside the posts from marathon runners who are sharing their training. I can also share pictures and videos.
It is easy. There is even a pedometer powered by Google Maps to trace where you have been. It calculates the miles you covered and your pace. The only drawback to the pedometer is that routes are public, either to friends only or to the general public. I think it would be safer, particularly for women who run alone, to have a private routes option. One workaround I found is to use the map to calculate, but then don't save it if it is a route I don't want public.
It is social. You can tie in and publish all of your workouts simultaneously to Facebook and Twitter if you want. I always liked the upbeat attitude of the running community when I was doing races in NH in the late 90s. That same positive energy is present on Dailymile on a much wider scale.
It is motivating. I was in a real slump about 3 weeks ago when I started. Yet there is something really gratifying about posting a workout and having the data show up in an appealing visual format. Between the encouragement of new friends I have met on Dailymile and the nice interface, I have managed to log 26 miles total in the past 3 weeks!

If you would like to check out my profile on Dailymile, this is the link: http://www.dailymile.com/people/SisterMaryAgnes#ref=tophd

To check out the site and sign up (yes, it's free) here is the link:

http://www.dailymile.com/

Will the Runningnuns Ever Run Barefoot?

2010-03-07T18:38:00.000-08:00

The short answer is, I don't know yet. Sister Maximilian brought up the topic about a year ago. At the time I had never heard of barefoot running and thought she was joking. Never wanting to miss an opportunity, I teased her about the running barefoot idea before I returned to Southern California to continue my studies.

Now Sister Maximilian can tell me, "I told you so." I have come across many good articles about running barefoot and now I know the idea is worth further investigation. What intrigues me is the fact that apparently the human foot was made for running long before all kinds of cushioned running shoes were invented. If I understand the theory correctly, running shoes with a heel cushion actually cause the foot to strike heel first, and that can cause injuries. Left to itself, the front of the foot hits the ground first and absorbs the shock of the foot strike. I have only just begun to learn about this but plan to research more. One blog post that particularly intrigued me was by Peter Larson when he took videos of a runner on a treadmill with different shoes & barefoot. It was very interesting: check it out here.

So, back to the original question: will the sisters ever run barefoot? We will continue to do the research. If we are on a beach, you might just catch us running barefoot. If we adopt the practice at other times, however, you will probably see us in minimalist shoes or Vibram Five Fingers. One thing I have heard is that the transition is hard for experienced runners: they need to break into barefoot mode slowly, because all kinds of different muscles are used. This is where I might just have an edge. Since I am not able to run yet and will have to start from scratch when I do begin running, I might just be able to escape the re-training woes. Who knows? I will probably never beat Sister Maximilian in a race, but I might just be able to beat her to barefoot.

A Father Son Story

2010-02-20T14:29:00.000-08:00

After writing on fatherhood last week, I was delighted to come across a blog post by Noah Moore with a wonderful father/ son running story. They wanted to be the first father & son to run over the newly renovated Ben Sawyer Bridge. I quote:

"The bridge is not that big, but it is special. It is an icon of the Low Country (anyone who has seen pictures of Charleston during Hugo will recognize it as the bridge that was turned on its side).

It felt awesome being there with my son, knowing that we were the first father and son to ever cross that span. As we turned to go back over the bridge, my son looked at me and said, "You are the best dad in the whole world!". It was one of those moments that can not be scripted, can not be artificially constructed, there was pure joy and excitement in his voice. This was an adventure."

Mind you, their first attempt to cross that bridge was after 10 PM the night before, when the bridge was supposed to open. When it got too late and the bridge did not open, they came back the next morning. I love this story not only because it involves running, but because a dad and his son are on a mission together. It reminds me of adventures I had with my Dad when I was a little girl, such as skiing down a new, untried trail or hiking in the woods to see a beaver dam.

Parents, don't worry if you can't afford to take your kids to Disney World (or Disney Land ... I am living on both coasts right now). It is the little adventures that are important.

The Blessing of a Father

2010-02-14T20:35:00.000-08:00

Last week at John Paul the Great Catholic University where I am studying full time, I witnessed a most beautiful thing. One of my professors, Michael Barber, was erasing the board when his wife and two children arrived. The oldest, Michael Jr., is about one and a half. As soon as he saw his dad from across the room, he ran and jumped into his arms, and there were squeals of laughter as his dad tossed him around a bit. It was a scene very familiar to families with young children. To me, it was poignant for another reason.

At St. Charles Children's Home, many of the children do not have dads in the picture. If there is a father in their lives, he may be a frightening figure. However, in many cases, he is just not there. I have parented so many children at the Home who have no idea what it is like to have a loving father! I have heard a phrase used to describe this phenomenon: the "fatherless generation." Actually we seem to be on our second fatherless generation now... At the Children's Home we have many male volunteers who serve as role models and father figures to our kids. This helps, because the Sisters can do many things for these children, but we can't be fathers!

For any Dad who may be reading, please know how important you are! Even when times are difficult and you may get discouraged, you are an anchor to your children. Without you, there would be a void in your children's lives that is difficult to repair.

A relevant conversation

2010-01-30T12:43:00.000-08:00

Bump+ | Share your story. Join the conversation.great free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

I have just included a widget on the sidebar of this blog that points to an important conversation. I remember almost 20 years ago, our sisters brought the children on a field trip to Boston to the World Trade Center. A smartly dressed woman in high heels came up to us and asked who we were. When we told her we were a children's home, she replied that our children's home should not exist, and that the "problem" of these children could have been solved if they had been aborted.

We have had a lot of children with a lot of problems in our home, but I can't think of one child that I wish had not been born. This woman felt differently. The widget on the side is about a conversation surrounding a new web series about three fictional women in crisis pregnancies. The web series hopes to provoke thoughtful conversation and real listening, regardless of which side of the debate people are on. Abortion may not have much to do with the running theme of this blog, but it has everything to do with the theme of our children's home and the children my community of sisters is trying to help. So check out the comments . . . check out the site . . . pass it around if you think the conversation is relevant and interesting.

http://bumptheshow.com/

Evolving Vision

2010-01-17T11:37:00.000-08:00

Evolving vision for this blog, that is. My last post was almost exactly a month ago . . . I am sorry it has been so long. My hope when I returned to New Hampshire from San Diego over Christmas was that I would be able to get some additional contributers for this blog. The original vision for this blog was to share our experiences and insights about running with the kids from our Children's Home. However, I was the one with the bright idea, and I am 3,000 miles away from the daily St. Charles runs! The sisters and volunteers who actually pound the pavement with the kids every day like the idea, but they are all busy people. It is going to be harder to get posts out of them than I thought.

Next I thought about sharing my own journey of returning to running on this blog. Lots of people start running and share their experiences with the community. My story has a unique twist because it is about a return to running after fighting a major illness. Right now, that journey is on temporary hold. I am close to being ready to start training again, but my doctor does not agree that I am completely ready yet. I need to make more progress in other parts of my recovery first (sigh).

Then it occurred to me that I should really write what is dear to my heart, which is our annual 5k race. I am the coordinator of our race. The first year I took over organizing the race was also the year I became sick. The race has kept me going through many years of illness. I could not participate in local road races any more with the other sisters & the kids, but I could put together an event for them & the whole local running community to enjoy. Now that I am in school in California, coordinating the race from 3,000 miles away presents new challenges that keep me going. It is exciting, though. Our race has grown to 1,000 runners and I hope it grows more. If any readers have thoughts about our 5k road race, please share them with me!

Running Helps One Child Overcome Her Fears

2009-12-16T12:45:00.000-08:00

I have just completed the fall quarter at school in San Diego, and returned to New Hampshire on Monday. My goal over the Christmas holiday is to get a couple of other people who run with our kids to join the blog. In the meantime, I can share running stories firsthand: something that is much harder to do when I am 3,000 miles away.

I would like to share an experience with one of our children who has only lived at St. Charles for a few weeks. I was sitting at the table finishing supper, and I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I turned around to find Anna (names must be changed for the privacy of the children) looking at me with absolute terror in her eyes and wanting to know who I was. I smiled and introduced myself. She moved behind Mother Paul Marie, who was also at the table, and hid herself. After a few moments, she gathered enough courage to come back over to me and ask me my name. She did not run away when I answered this time, but had both hands in her mouth and was still shaking with terror. After about a minute she gathered the courage to tell me her name: Anna. Clearly, this is a child with high anxiety levels and who wants to meet new people but has to struggle with her terror to do it.

The next morning, Sister Maximilian was telling me how Anna’s run went the day before. Since Anna is a beginner, Sister takes her for a walk/run by herself after the other children come home from their run. Sister is careful to give Anna a lot of positive encouragement. She was talking to Anna about how to respond to strangers when they say “hello” during a run (it is rude to ignore people yet we want the children to know not to stop and begin a conversation). Sister suggested to Anna that it is nice to say “Merry Christmas” to people this time of year. Soon they were passing the school, and the janitor was walking near the building. Sister Maximilian said, “Good afternoon,” as they passed. Anna said, “Merry Christmas!” The man smiled and Anna was beaming with happiness as Sister Maximilian pointed out to her how she had made that man’s day happier.

Children learn more than running during their runs. In this case Anna had the opportunity during her walk/run to confront a big fear she has, and to learn how to be polite to a stranger in an appropriate and beautiful way. She is on the road to learning so much, and her daily walk/ runs are helping her to do it.

The Sisters' First Running Shoes

2009-12-05T11:41:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading Pete Larson's post and video expo on different running shoes and footstrike: Relationship Between Running Footstrike and Footwear: From Stability Shoes to Barefoot. His incredibly interesting study of running shoes is going to be something I follow with interest. However, while reading his post I couldn't help being reminded of Sister Maximilian's first running shoes.

It all started when Sister came to visit the convent before entering and asked if she could bring her Birkies with her when she came. Her Birkies did come with her: she was allowed to wear them in her room! That all changed a few years later when Sister finished her Novitiate and came to work at St. Charles Children's Home. Her new Superior was happy to allow her to wear Birkies in public, as long as they were the London style with the closed toe. From that day forward, Sister always wore her London Birkenstocks.

Fast forward a few more years, to the summer when Sister Maximilian was walking every day with Rose on woodland trails. By the end of the summer, their daily walks had turned into daily runs. Rose was wearing sneakers. Sister was wearing her London Birkenstocks. I happened to be 300 miles away that summer at our Motherhouse preparing for final vows. Since preparation for vows was a summer-long intensive time of prayer and study, I had no contact with Sister during that summer. Finally at the end of the summer she came to the Motherhouse for the retreat. We were not allowed to talk because it was the retreat, but I noticed her shoes right away. I had never known Sister Maximlian to allow her Birkies to become so dilapidated! They were all scratched and smashed. No shoe polish would have helped those poor shoes. I wondered what on earth had been going on when I was away.

The day the retreat ended I learned that the shoes--with Sister Maximilian in them--had been running on trails in the woods all summer. So, the Birkies were Sister's first running shoes. Later that fall we learned about real running shoes, and those poor Birkies never had to endure the trail again.

Shin Splints for Thanksgiving? No Thanks!

2009-11-25T16:50:00.000-08:00

I am having a little shin splint trouble at the moment, and decided to learn about it. I am taking Brad Walker, the author of the following article, up on his offer to post and share his article. Be sure to follow the link and check out his site for The Stretching Institute. Happy Thanksgiving, and may you not be troubled by shin splints!

Shin Splints and
Shin Splints Treatment

Learn the causes behind Shin Splints,
their treatment and prevention.

Article Sections

What Are Shin Splints?

What Causes Shin Splints?

How to Treat Shin Splints?

How to Prevent Shin Splints?

Learn the exercises that can prevent Shin Splints and More!

Shin splints are a term commonly used to describe most lower leg pain. However, shin splints are only one of several conditions that affect the lower leg. The most common causes of lower leg pain are: general shin soreness; shin splints; and stress fractures. For the purpose of this article, I'll only be addressing the first two. I'll save the topic of stress fractures for another issue.

If you suffer from shin splints or are seeking to prevent its occurrence it is important to follow the information in this article. In addition, making stretching a part of your fitness regime will have a significant impact. To get you started on a safe and effective stretching routine learn more about The Stretching Handbook and how it can improve your fitness.

Before I move on to shin splints, I want to quickly cover the topic of general shin soreness. Shin soreness is simply a muscular overuse problem. By using the R.I.C.E.R. regimeoutlined in a previous issue of The Stretching & Sports Injury Report, you'll be able to overcome 95 percent of all general shin soreness within about 72 hours.

For lower leg pain that goes beyond general shin soreness, a more aggressive approach must be taken. Lets now have a look at shin splints in a little more detail.

What are Shin Splints?
Although the term shin splints is often used to describe a variety of lower leg problems, it actually refers specifically to a condition called Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS). To better understand shin splints, or MTSS, lets have a look at the muscles, tendons and bones involved.

As you can see from the diagram to the right, there are many muscles and tendons that make up the lower leg, or calf region. It's quite a complex formation of inter-weaving and over-crossing muscles and tendons.

The main components of the lower leg that are affected by the pain associated with shin splints are:

The Tibia and Fibula. These are the two bones in the lower leg. The tibia is situated on the medial, or inside of the lower leg. While the fibula is situated on the lateral, or outside of the lower leg.
There are also a large number of the muscles that attach to the tibia and fibula. It's these muscles, when overworked, that pull on the tibia and fibula and cause the pain associated with shin splints.

Specifically, the pain associated with shin splints is a result of fatigue and trauma to the muscle's tendons where they attach themselves to the tibia. In an effort to keep the foot, ankle and lower leg stable, the muscles exert a great force on the tibia. This excessive force can result in the tendons being partially torn away from the bone.

What Causes Shin Splints?
While there are many causes of shin splints, they can all be categorized into two main groups. Overload (or training errors), and Biomechanical Inefficiencies.

Overload (or training errors): Shin splints are commonly associated with sports that require a lot of running or weight bearing activity. However, it is not necessarily the added weight or force applied to the muscles and tendons of the lower leg, but rather the impact force associated with running and weight bearing activities.

In other words, it's not the running itself, but the sudden shock force of repeated landings and change of direction that causes the problem. When the muscles and tendons become fatigued and overloaded, they lose their ability to adequately absorb the damaging shock force.

Other overload causes include:

Exercising on hard surfaces, like concrete;
Exercising on uneven ground;
Beginning an exercise program after a long lay-off period;
Increasing exercise intensity or duration too quickly;
Exercising in worn out or ill fitting shoes; and
Excessive uphill or downhill running.

Biomechanical Inefficiencies: The major biomechanical inefficiency contributing to shin splints is that of flat feet. Flat feet lead to a second biomechanical inefficiency called over-pronation. Pronation occurs just after the heel strikes the ground. The foot flattens out, and then continues to roll inward.

Over-pronation occurs when the foot and ankle continue to roll excessively inward. This excessive inward rolling causes the tibia to twist, which in-turn, over stretches the muscles of the lower leg.

Other biomechanical causes include:

Poor running mechanics;
Tight, stiff muscles in the lower leg;
Running with excessive forward lean;
Running with excessive backwards lean;
Landing on the balls of your foot; and
Running with your toes pointed outwards.

How to Prevent Shin Splints!
Prevention, rather than cure, should always be your first aim. I was very surprised when researching this topic at the number of articles that totally neglected any mention of preventative measures. They all talked of treatment and cure, but only one out of twenty took the time to address the issue of prevention in any detail.

Even before any sign of shin soreness appears there are a number of simple preventative measures that can be easily implemented.

Since about half of all lower leg problems are caused by biomechanics inefficiencies, it makes sense to get the right advice on footwear. Your feet are the one area you should not "skimp" on. The best advice I can give you concerning footwear, is to go and see a qualified podiatrist for a complete foot-strike, or gait analysis. They will be able to tell you if there are any concerns regarding the way your foot-strike or gait is functioning.

After your foot-strike has been analysed, have your podiatrist, or competent sports footwear sales person recommend a number of shoes that suit your requirements. Good quality footwear will go a long way in helping to prevent many lower leg problems.

Apart from good footwear, what else can you do? I believe the following three preventative measures are not only very effective, but crucial.

Firstly, a thorough and correct warm up will help to prepare the muscles and tendons for any activity to come. Without a proper warm up the muscles and tendons will be tight and stiff. There will be limited blood flow to the lower legs, which will result in a lack of oxygen and nutrients for those muscles.

Before any activity be sure to thoroughly warm up all the muscles and tendons that will be used during your sport or activity. Click here for a detailed explanation of how, why and when to perform your warm up.

Secondly, flexible muscles are extremely important in the prevention of most lower leg injuries. When muscles and tendons are flexible and supple, they are able to move and perform without being over stretched. If however, your muscles and tendons are tight and stiff, it is quite easy for those muscles and tendons to be pushed beyond their natural range of movement. To keep your muscles and tendons flexible and supple, it is important to undertake a structured stretching routine.

Stretching is one of the most under-utilized techniques for improving athletic performance and getting rid of those annoying sports injuries. Don't make the mistake of thinking that something as simple as stretching won't be effective.

And to help you improve your flexibility quickly and safely, you can't go past The Stretching Handbook & DVD. Together they include over 130 clear photographs and 40 videos of every possible stretching exercise, for every major muscle group in your body.

The Stretching Handbook & DVD will show you, step-by-step, how to perform each stretch EXACTLY! Plus, you'll learn the benefits of flexibility; the 7 critical rules for safe stretching; and how to stretch properly. Discover more about The Stretching Handbook & DVD here.

And thirdly, strengthening and conditioning the muscles of the lower leg will also help to prevent shin splints. There are a number of specific strengthening exercises you can do for these muscles, but instead of me going into the details here, I have simply found another web site that has already done all the hard work. It explains a number of exercises you can do for preventing shin splints. You can find these strengthening exercises by going tohttp://www.watfxc.com/TF/TF%20Education/shin_splints.htm.

The above-mentioned article is the only other article I found that included a comprehensive section on shin splint prevention. If you're only interested in the strengthening exercises, you'll find them towards the end of the article. If however, you suffer from shin splints or you're looking for more information on shin splints, I recommend you read the entire article.

How to Treat Shin Splints!
Firstly, be sure to remove the cause of the problem. Whether is be a biomechanical problem, or an overload problem, make sure steps are taken to remove the cause.

The basic treatment for shin splints is no different to most other soft tissue injuries. Immediately following the onset of any shin pain, the R.I.C.E.R. regime should be applied. This involves Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, and Referral to an appropriate professional for an accurate diagnosis. It is critical that the R.I.C.E.R. regime be implemented for at least the first 48 to 72 hours. Doing this will give you the best possible chance of a complete and full recovery.

The next phase of treatment (after the first 48 to 72 hours) involves a number of physiotherapy techniques. The application of heat and massage is one of the most effective treatments for speeding up the healing process of the muscles and tendons.

I have found, both from personal experience and from working with many clients, that this form of treatment is the most effective. The application of heat and deep tissue massage on the effected area seems to bring the best results. If you suffer from shin splints, be sure to spend at least a few minutes massaging the effected area both before and after you exercise.

Once most of the pain has been reduced, it is time to move onto the rehabilitation phase of your treatment. The main aim of this phase it to regain the strength, power, endurance and flexibility of the muscle and tendons that have been injured.

If you enjoyed this issue of The Stretching & Sports Injury Report, please feel free to forward it to others, make it available for download from your site or post it on forums for others to read. Please make sure the following paragraph and URL are included.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Article by Brad Walker. Brad is a leading stretching and
sports injury consultant with nearly 20 years experience
in the health and fitness industry. For more articles on
stretching, flexibility and sports injury, please visit
The Stretching Institute.
-----------------------------------------------------------

Staying Motivated

2009-11-23T18:20:00.000-08:00

After my post yesterday about living with long-term obstacles to running, I was delighted to find a really great post on RunnerDude's blog about staying motivated when you have injuries. He lists 10 really good ideas to help get through down times. Some of them I have used successfully but never thought to put in my post, such as using the time to fine-tune my nutrition and engaging the running community online. My favorite one on the list, however, was to study up on running, and he lists a few books worth looking into. Inspired by RunnerDude's post, I looked into some books myself and I found a free book online called Running Fast and Injury Free by Gordon Pirie, who was a champion runner. The book can be downloaded here. The fact that it's free is a great motivator for me right now, so I plan to check it out and report what I find.

Check out RunnerDude's post for some really good tips: http://ncrunnerdude.blogspot.com/2009/11/get-up-and-brush-yourself-off.html

Life without Running

2009-11-22T18:46:00.000-08:00

I am happy to be the sister who is starting this blog about running with kids. Ironically, I am the sister who cannot run, at least for now. I have read several posts and articles about what runners can do when they have an injury to help them cope with the time they cannot run. Such articles help me. But it is a whole different story when the impediment to running is a health issue that stretches into years. Such a long break in running—for me—has been a sense of loss. Although my efforts to regain former strength have not been rewarded quickly, they are being rewarded slowly, and I hope to resume running in the coming year.

Four things have been incredibly helpful to me over the years of being unable to run.

The first is the St. Charles Children’s Home 5k, which takes place every year in Portsmouth, NH on Labor Day. Coordinating this event for the runners in my region has been a motivation each year that keeps me going. I feel so honored to pass out the awards to the winners of my race. Though I have not been able to run in the event for many years, I have been able to make it happen.
The second help has been walking. It reduces stress, keeps me moving and gives me hope that some day my daily walks will turn once again into daily runs. There can be measurable progress in walking, which is helpful also. I can climb mountain trails with 800+ foot elevations now . . . which is wonderful cross training to prepare me for running in the future.
The third help has been stretching. I use a book that is a classic in the fitness world: Bob & Jean Anderson’s Stretching. The common sense and careful approach to stretching in this book has helped me regain some mobility and most definitely has helped me to improve a skill that is critical to every runner: listening to my body.
By far the most important help to me in these years without running has been prayer (hopefully not a surprise since I am a sister). We all face difficult situations in our life, but God does not expect us to face them alone. By His suffering on the cross Jesus has manifested solidarity with humanity in our suffering. The ability to unite my frustrations as well as my progress to Jesus in prayer is the most important part of my life.

I hope these experiences of mine can give ideas to others who face long terms without running.

How Do Those Sisters Run in Those Habits?

2009-11-12T20:11:00.000-08:00

At the very beginning of this blog I thought I would answer a burning question that is on many people's minds when they see our sisters running. How on earth do we run in these habits? First of all, we are used to it. Since we train in the habit every day, our attire does not have any impact on our performance at a race.

During the summer after running races when the temperature was in the 80s or 90s, I would often get the question, “How can you possibly run in that long dress? Aren’t you hot?” I always found the question a little amusing because I was as cool as a cucumber and the runner asking me was usually pretty hot! You see, our bodies are very intelligent. When it is hot and when we work out, we sweat. The purpose of the sweat is to cool our bodies down. When the sisters run in a road race wearing their long, blue & white habits on a hot day, the habits become damp. After the race, we are as cool as if we were in a swimming pool.

In the winter we layer just like everyone else. Probably the most difficult part of running in a habit (especially a white one) is that if it there is mud or slush on the road our hemlines get very dirty. For that reason we tend to have a designated "running habit."

One last thing about the habit: we designed them for running. Although the skirts are long, they have 4 big pleats. Our stride is never hampered by our skirts. So, running in the habit is easy once you get used to it. Some of our sisters ride bikes in their habit. Unfortunately, that is a skill I never mastered. The skirt always gets caught in the bike chain. Maybe I should practice more.

Welcome to Running with Kids

2009-11-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Running with Kids! This is a blog about the running program which the sisters at St. Charles Children’s Home began a few years ago to help kids manage their behaviors. As it turns out, the running helps the sisters too! There will be more contributors joining this blog, but in the meantime I thought I would get started by telling you our story.

In the summer of 1996, Sister Maximilian began running every day with Rose (pictured here). Rose was the most volatile and aggressive child then living at St. Charles Children’s Home in Rochester, New Hampshire. One day we had a family meeting with all the kids to talk about violent behavior and what we could do to decrease it in our home. The kids listed many ideas of how they could release negative energy without hurting each other.

A daily walk seemed to be the best intervention for Rose at the time. By the end of the summer, those walks turned into daily runs. Through the daily run, Sister Maximilian found a way to channel Rose’s incredible anger in a positive way. Soon, the boys became jealous of Rose’s running achievements and the fact that she was getting into less trouble, and they wanted to run every day too. With the whole St. Charles family involved, aggressive behaviors by the children were reduced in the Home by over 97%. It was not long before the Sisters and the children began appearing in road races throughout New Hampshire.

Over 13 years later, the Sisters continue running daily with the kids. More about how we do it in another post.