Marque Easton, 28 years-old, decided he needed to get his life back on track and entered a treatment program for drug and alcohol addiction in DC last October. After spotting a flyer for a running program with other members of the treatment center, he inquired about it and figured that he would fit right in. And fit in he did.
To date, Marque has run eight races with Back On My Feet and will run his first marathon in October. But he has some lofty goals thanks to the running program.
“One day I want to say I ran a marathon in all 50 states,” said Marque.
Marque competes with one of the teams at each of the treatment centers in DC that partners with Back On My Feet. The organization tends to partner with centers that offer long-term (six months or more) treatment options as opposed to emergency centers.
Each team is comprised of residents and volunteers who run together every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:45 a.m., as well as on Saturday mornings. The facilities have a team leader, coach, volunteer coordinator and a social coordinator working together to help residents use running to overcome their addictions and get their lives back on track in addition to training for upcoming races.
“We use running as a metaphor for life especially given the issues members are dealing with on a day to day basis,” said Autumn Campbell, the Baltimore-Washington, DC Regional Executive Director for Back On My Feet. “Many of our members come from a background of incarceration and they are trying to take things one day at a time. And running is like that – it’s one step at a time, one day at a time.”
The philosophy that running parallels life is key to the success of the residents and volunteers. By running together, they are creating a tight-knit community of support which is important when battling the challenges of the road or of life.
“Running with others is a lot better than running by myself,” said Marque.
While running usually involves just a pair of shorts, a t-shirt and shoes, Back On My Feet helps to provide those necessities through a partnership with Pacers, a local running shop. Running shoes can be expensive so through the Run-Give-Run program, customers are able to purchase entries into races and help sponsor a runner’s shoes through Back On My Feet.
The program started in Philadelphia only four years ago and has successfully started chapters in five cities. The idea of using running to help addicts overcome their problems resonates with the close community.
“Each month our teams participate in a race so it gives them an opportunity to set goals,” said Autumn. “A lot of our members look at themselves as addicts, deadbeats, losers, so through running they are able to re-identify themselves as achievers, winners, athletes, teammates, friends and competitors.”
Back On My Feet strives to promote “the self-sufficiency of those experiencing homelessness by engaging them in a running program as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem.”
Marque is currently in transitional housing, working at a healthy fast-food restaurant in DC and saving money so he can start looking for his own place come December. He said that he is off drugs and alcohol and plans on going back to school next spring.
“Running has given me a sense of peace like whenever I’m going through a rough situation,” said Marque. “When before I had a drink or smoked some weed to get through whatever I’m going through, now I use running.”
If you’d like to volunteer with Back On My Feet, visit their website at www.backonmyfeet.org and click on the “Get Involved” link. All teams are currently in DC but they are hoping to have teams in Northern Virginia by next year.
On September 23-24, Back On My Feet will be the official charity of the Ragnar Relay race in Cumberland, MD, where teams of 12 will race 200 miles. More information is available here www.ragnarrelay.com/race/dc.
In October, Back On My Feet will be racing the Army 10-Miler and Marine Corp Marathon. See the organization’s website for more information on how to get involved in any of these races.
