Sometimes I cry at the finish line, but it’s always happy tears
Michelle Kempton from Maritime Race Weekend says the biggest reward of her job is seeing runners transform their lives.
MUCH RESPECT to BLUE CREW @BNMarathon for your hard work all year @JohnnyMilesRun @MaritimeRaces @ValleyHrvstRun pic.twitter.com/DClfzOhKgh
— Maritime Races (@MaritimeRaces) May 22, 2016
I’m frequently asked to volunteer as a guest speaker at running clinics (covering topics on bras, motivation, training plans, running etiquette or race prep). This week, I had an unexpected request from the Borderline Personality Disorder department in a psychiatric hospital. I had never heard of this condition before and was unsure what I should talk about.
Their patients are part of an intensive six-month program that uses running as therapy to manage anger and negative impulses. I thought it was an innovative approach and agreed to speak with the group to support their doctor’s prescription of running as medicine.
I had more in common with the patients than I initially realized.
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In the presentation, I shared personal experiences of how I run to manage stress and my eating disorder. Even though the patients’ triggers and reactions are a lot different in nature than mine, they could still relate. We also discussed the benefits of joining a run club and the positive friendships you find in running partners. It was an amazing experience to have a discussion about the benefits of running and mental health.
Being a race director definitely has it’s perks – I’m given rare opportunities to connect with people and hear their stories. Even with thousands of people in Maritime Race Weekend, you’d be surprised how many I actually know from volunteering in our running community.
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The biggest reward of this job is seeing runners transform their lives and making healthy life choices. If you ever see me tearing up as someone crosses the finish line – this has happened more than once, it’s always happy tears because I know what that person has overcome.
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