KEEN’s Mission: Empower youth with disabilities and impact volunteer coaches through participation in free, non-competitive, one-on-one programs of physical activity and fun, supporting the overall health and well-being of all participants.
KEEN’s Vision: Create communities in which individuals with disabilities have equal opportunities for recreation, fitness, and friendship; provide families with respite and a supportive network; foster a lifelong commitment to positive change for volunteers through their engagement with KEEN athletes; develop partnerships to actively promote disability awareness.
KEEN will continue to be guided by our core principles of accepting every child, regardless of the nature or severity of their disability, providing all programs entirely free of charge, and meeting the needs of the individual athlete, allowing everyone to find success and joy.
I'm offering my training and all the sufferings that come along with it for all my supporters and donors. Thank you!
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If you're interested in my journey as a marathoner, this section is for you!
Tired of working from home during the pandemic, I decided to try something new. I got two buddies on board and we decided to run the Hamptons Marathon in October of 2021. I played very competitive soccer growing up but the longest I had run on record was probably 5 miles.
I hired a running coach and began my journey. Running was the ultimate pandemic medicine. It was the medium by which I could blow off steam, pray, listen to music, audiobooks and podcasts, and get fit. I frequently got runner's high and it was everything I hoped it would be and more.
Then, enter shin pain aka medial tibial stress syndrome (mtss). I could hardly walk after runs and no amount of ice and stretching could prevent or fix this. I learned that I severely over-pronate and began physical therapy to strengthen muscles I underused, and work on my foot posture and arch strength. I ended up not running for an entire week before the marathon but was able to persevere on race day and hit all my goals!
I was able to (1) finish (2) run the whole time, and (3) complete the Hamptons Marathon in under 4 hours!!
It will be just over two years from this monumental accomplishment in my life that I will run the NYC Marathon on Sunday, November 5.
I began training in March along with physical therapy (check them out: https://livenewwellness.com/) and I'm up to 40 miles/week. I feel fit and fast (I've recently set PRs in the 10 mile and half-marathon), and I am pain-free, thanks be to God!
Again, know that when you support me, I will be offering all my training, pain, stretching, suffering, and joys for you and your intentions!