It’s 5:30 a.m. It’s dark and it’s cold. But none of that has discouraged this group from meeting up for their morning run.
Team Hope meets up every three times a week outside of the Hope House rehab center in Roxbury. The group is made up of guys from various homeless shelters and recovery houses from around Boston. Before setting out for their 2-mile run, each runner shares something they did that week that they’re proud of, and then they huddle together, say a prayer, and shout, “Hope!” before hitting the pavement.
The idea is that these morning runs will change their lives, which is at the core of Back On My Feet, an organization that uses running as a catalyst to move people out of homelessness and into jobs. And as executive director, Theresa Lynn, puts it, showing up for these runs is just the beginning of charting a new course.
“The first step is running or walking with a team 3 days a week. You do that for a month, then you’re eligible for what we call the Next Steps, which is really where the program gets started,” Lynn said.
There’s no slacking allowed with Back On My Feet. If you prove you’re up to snuff by showing up at 5:30 a.m. for a month straight, you’ve passed the first round.
“Once you get to Next Steps after 30 days, it’s employment training, access to job resources, access to housing resources, more gear, more running clothes,” Lynn said. “We co-create a plan with you.”
That includes counseling, updating skills, paying for exam books and certifications, and finding an apartment. There are other running teams throughout the city, as well. One is a women’s group that meets up at Rosie’s Place, and there’s a veteran’s running group, too.
It seems to be working. Back On My Feet is in 12 major cities nationwide, and includes a robust volunteer side. 90% of their alumni maintain full employment status, and for alumnus Curt Ronan, a recovering addict who still runs with Hope House 3 days a week, the program has been transformative.
“Running is part of my recovery and I want to show that it does work,” Ronan said. “You see a lot of statistics with addicts and alcoholics, you know, they don’t make it, and I want to be a positive one and show the guys at this house that I was exactly where they were. And I am where I am now.”
He’s been clean for 3 years, and in that time, has run both the Boston Marathon and the New York City marathon. The stakes are even higher now that he has a baby on the way.
Victor Rivera, just out of prison, is hoping the program can work the same magic for him. His teammates also say he’s the fastest runner.
“I look forward to it every day that we run because we have stories that are similar or things that we can relate to,” Rivera said. “My daughter’s 16th birthday is coming soon. And I get to share that with them and vice versa and that helps me stay with the group.”
Rivera says the combination of community and routine are keeping him focused and on the right path.
“Nowadays there are so many easy routes that we can take that leads us back to prison, like drug addiction or distribution,” Rivera said. “Or just doing the wrong thing in general. I’m really trying to stay away from all that. It’s not worth it going back. They can have that.”
He’s now in a culinary arts program and is excited about the networking opportunities Back On My Feet provides.
When asked if he feel like he’s on the right track, he is cautiously optimistic.
“For the most part, some days are better than others but for the most part, yeah. I feel pretty confident in myself.” Rivera said.
