Team With A Vision Coordinator Andrea Croak at the 2015 USABA Championships at CIM: A “Non-Running Race Report”
(Photo courtesy our friends at Delta Gamma Foundation.)
Andrea Croak, MABVI’s Development Associate and the Team Coordinator for our Team With a Vision, recently returned from attending the California International Marathon (CIM) for the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) National Marathon Championships, an event we are proud to sponsor. Andrea represented Team With A Vision, offering not only logistical support to Richard Hunter and all the race organizers but also cheering her heart out for the incredible athletes in the 2015 field!
Here is Andrea’s “Non-Running Race Report” from the event:
“I didn’t have the muscle fatigue, bruising, or chaffing that runners experience from pounding down 26.2 miles, no, I didn’t run CIM, but I feel like I did emotionally. I went through all the emotions of nervousness, elation, happiness, laughter, exhaustion, and tears that runners go through in 26.2 miles running a marathon they’ve never run before. I made new friends, reunited and joked with old ones, listened to recent AMAZING accomplishments and watched as the VI running community showered Richard Hunter with much deserved gratitude.
“My role during the weekend was to provide logistical support to Richard Hunter, Klinger his guide dog, and the USABA team whether it be shuttling athletes from events, relay shuttle transportation, or airport drop off, among other things.
“The weekend consisted of a breakfast and 2 dinners, so I ate like I was about to run 26.2 miles! We also had the opportunity to watch a screening of Running Vision, which featured ultra marathoner Jason Romero who is legally blind and his recent accomplishment of having ran 183 miles in Puerto Rico. After the screening, Jason talked about his journey, his mom who is his biggest fan and supporter, and the experience of running 183 MILES! Jason quoted “When faced with adversity, we must adapt to achieve”, and really hit the nail on the head!
“I was so fortunate to have met new athletes and reunite with friends who were running CIM and some will also be out here in April, running Boston 2016! I also was able to connect with other organizations that were there to help support these amazing athletes, from the USABA, Delta Gamma, the Blinded Veterans, and Guiding Eyes for the Blind! It was great to see so many organizations there to provide support and create awareness for runners who are visually impaired or blind.
“Fast forward to race day, the good stuff. We were forecasted to have heavy rain showers, but luckily the weather held off, and it was a cloudy 50ish degree day. I like to think I had a hand in bringing good running weather. I was charged with driving the large 8 passenger transition van from the finish line to the 13.1 mile marker. It was 6 AM and I know runners had been up well before that, but that didn’t stop the boisterous laughter in the van, from quoting movies and joking with other runners.
“The van and I were stationed at the halfway point, where I got to see runners hitting the pavement with ease, Amelia Dickerson, who won not only her category, but the overall Women’s Division, she rocked it with a smile on her face! Richard Hunter had the group screaming their lungs out while he flew by, getting another BQ for his age group! I loved the competition brewing between Aaron Scheidies, Don Balcom, and Jason Romero. Then in the last stretch the dark horse, Matt Oliver raced by blowing the competition out of water. Both Amelia and Matt had to find new guides during the final miles of the race because they just became too fast for their guides!
“At the awards ceremony athletes had a chance to talk about what their guides and what the race meant to them, it was a very moving experience and one I will never forget. Dan Berlin said it best when he talked about running with a guide and how it creates more of a team feel out there on the course. The camaraderie over the weekend, the experience of meeting new athletes and hearing stories about race day and their lives really had the most profound impact. If you ever have a chance to be in California during CIM, make it a point to run or volunteer with Richard and all the athletes he supports, I’m telling you it will be the experience of a lifetime.”
Support Andrea and the athletes of Team With A Vision as they prepare for the Boston Marathon!