In this challenging, evolving, growing, learning, acting, talking, training, standing up, listening, reading, working, fearing, celebrating time – it’s been (insert word). An unnameable word, place, feeling. We’re trying to listen and learn and advocate for. We’re trying to stay healthy and keep our community healthy. We’re also trying to find joy and balance by striving to achieve things out of rearrangement. There were a great many wonderful things that happened to this team in Juneary. With time moving as strangely as it has and will, we wanted to share a couple really big accomplishments some of our teammates have achieved lately, as they inspire us, to pursue, and keep putting the work in.
Tanya Takes Part in the Be Supportive Relay
The Be Supportive Relay is a 24/7 Multi-Marathon relay from the Canadian border to the border of Mexico, created by 3 individuals from San Diego, Bob, Steve & Trish, who have driven their RV to each location to send off each runner and follow them along the course. Broken down, the event traverses 2,000 miles, split over 74 marathons, with each person running 26.2 miles +. Runners of the event go by healthcare facilities (the race plans to stop at 40 hospitals in total), as a show of love and support for healthcare staff. 100% of proceeds go to healthcare workers in need. Donations are still being accepted HERE.
Tanya, as well as several Bellingham locals took part in the relay, starting in Blaine at the Canadian border on Saturday, June 6. The event anticipates finishing this week, on June 24.
One of my best friends had COVID and recovered. She works in healthcare; her clinic was closed due to the pandemic, so she volunteered to help out at a high risk nursing home which had a COVID breakout early on, and contracted it while working there, along with many others. She is 2 months post COVID and doing better. Organized by and running alongside Alicia Jenkins, my friend and I joined up for leg 3 of the relay. With all of us in the medical field, it was nice to show support for all of the healthcare workers out there! It was honestly the most rewarding run I have ever participated in. We held our signs up along the way, had random strangers stop and ask about the cause and made friends with people. We stopped at Skagit Valley clinic first, then to Life Care Center in Mount Vernon followed by Skagit Valley Hospital. We then ended our marathon to pass on to the leg 4 runner after close to 27 miles!
– Tanya Gallo
Skagit did a nice little write-up on the event in an article titled, “Mount Vernon runner takes part in national relay to honor health care workers,” by Jacqueline Allison.
Maxx Earns Outstanding Graduates 2020 Award
“Each year, outstanding graduate students are selected by their program faculty and recognized by the Graduate School for their contributions to the community, strength of scholarship, leadership abilities, teaching excellence, academic achievement, and promise for the future.” Maxx was awarded as an Outstanding Graduate as a Master of Science, Kinesiology – Exercise Science with a thesis on the Effect of Cupping Therapy on Respiratory Gas Exchange in Trained Endurance Runners. Dayumn our boy is smart.
Maxx is one of those rare students who does exceptionally well in all his classes, is humble, respectful, and an excellent team player. In addition, he was also an excellent graduate teaching assistant. Students provided very positive feedback about Maxx’s teaching style and mentioned that he was direct, clear, and patient when teaching and was always willing and available to help outside lab time. Overall, Maxx is an exceptionally bright student with strong teaching, organization, and leadership skills.
Shawn Runs 100 Miles on the Treadmill to Raise Money for the Brave Like Gabe Foundation on Father’s Day
On Father’s Day, Shawn set out to run 100 miles on his treadmill to raise money for the Brave Like Gabe Foundation. In 2019, Shawn lost his dad to cancer. His dad always encouraged him to go further, believing he had more to give than he thought. “This is my way of honoring his life and the strength he gave me,” says Shawn. So, on Sunday, June 21, he pressed the buttons and began. His wonderful wife Kristina posted throughout the day, letting all of his friends, family and supporters know how he was fairing. He also updated us himself, responding to FB comments lol. 25 miles in and feelin’ good. 31.5 miles in. 50 miles in, with 3 movies watched, music blared and a documentary down. “100k in…definitely feeling like 100k on a treadmill. Currently listening to some Preal jam to pass the time.” Pretty sure he was listening to Pearl Jam, but can’t be too sure. 63 miles in and what looked like a burrito going down. “75 miles…is this the wall?” Homestretch – 83 miles. AND, 100 miles done, with a smile on his face!
We’re really proud of him. It takes a lot of grit to run 100 miles, to run 100 miles on a treadmill, and to run 100 miles on a treadmill in your own home, when the bed is that much closer. But, it was for a wonderful cause, and it was an incredible gesture to send out into the world in honor of his father. Proud of you Bussert.
Shelby Runs the Most Ever – 130 Miles in 1 Week!
If you know Shelby, you know that she loves to race, and is generally signed up for a multitude throughout the year. So it was probably her above all others on this team who received the most “Cancelled” emails. She writes, “Since all my summer races are cancelled, I set a new goal of running the most miles I’ve ever run in a week. I ended up with 130 miles at 8:09 average pace. Inspired by Dylan Kramer, Haylee Kramer and Derek Thornton’s recent 100+ mile weeks. Excited to take on the Chinese Wall in the Bob Marshall Wilderness next!” It was really cool to get Derek’s perspective in his first ever 100 miles run in a week, a few weeks back. Maybe we can get Shelby’s?
Josh & His Family Welcome a New Baby Boy – Lucas James Kaplan!
Over the weekend lil Lucas was born. The lovely Kaeley, baby and family are doing well. Josh writes, “Love taking advantage of the solstice’s long light. Having a baby qualifies! Welcome Lucas James Kaplan, who joined us at the tail end of daylight. Kaeley is a champ, and Cora’s embracing her big sis role with a smile (mostly).” Thrilled for the Kaplan’s, they bring a lot of light and love and laughter to this community, and we’re so grateful to call them friends.
