As many of you know, it's fundracing for Mile in My Shoes and running the City of Lakes Half Marathon has been a tradition of mine for years. As most of you know, Mile in My Shoes is an organization close to my heart and a space where I spend a lot of my free time. MiMS continues to be the most transformative experience of my life and I continue to learn and grow so much with my team.
This year, my running injury is preventing me from sustaining that my half marathon race tradition. Coming to terms with that reality has been challenging for me. I've had to be honest with myself, change some of my routines and practices to heal and strengthen my body so that I can return to long distance running, sustainably. Throughout this journey, I've been running with our Mile in My Shoes Team at the Salvation Army Rehabilitation Center in Minneapolis. At the Salvation Army, members are navigating their own recovery journeys from substance use dependency. Some members are returning citizens and come to the Salvation Army from prison. Everyone I run with is in a state of rebuilding, and in a small way, my injury recovery has given me a deeper appreciation for the discipline, tenacity, hope, and persistence that my team members channel every day.
Often I'm reminded by my team members that recovery is a constant process and everyone has an experience with recovery, whether or not we've experienced challenges specifically with substance use dependency. What is your recovery story? Do you have a moment where you've worked to rebuild your life? What kind of support did you need or did you wish you had?
At Mile in My Shoes, we recognize that running aids in that healing journey. Running helps us renew our sense of home, build community, and rebuild our lives. Team members I run often refer to MiMS as a safe space where they can be themselves, share openly, grow stronger, and celebrate joy. Amidst the adversity that our team members experience, they continue to show up, share courageously, and inspire us all to grow healthier and stronger together.
This year, between now and September 10, I hope you will join me in supporting Mile in My Shoes so that we can continue to bring the transformative power of running to even more people experiencing homelessness, in recovery and exiting incarceration. Gifts of all sizes go directly toward providing running gear, race entries, and community-building events for our team members.
Will you join me in reaching my $1,000 goal for MiMS?
More about Mile in My Shoes
Based in homeless shelters, addiction recovery programs and re-entry centers for people exiting incarceration, Mile in My Shoes views running as a tool for both personal and collective transformation. By centering people and spaces historically excluded by the running community, our teams use movement as a catalyst for social justice. By bringing together people from diverse backgrounds, our Resident Members and Run Mentors not only find common ground, but learn from and reach out to one another for support. As we transform ourselves, we transform one another, and we transform our communities.
Our Mission: We run together to transform ourselves, one another, and our community.
Our Vision: Mile in My Shoes uses the power of running to bring together people from diverse backgrounds to build connections, boost wellness, spark social change, and center people traditionally excluded from running spaces.
Interested in learning more about MiMS' impact? Check out our Impact Report!
Thank you for your support!
Meredith Bruster