-  Chase Kowalski, Age 7, in a vision to his mom, Rebecca

 

Rebecca Kowalski wasn't a runner four years ago.  She was busy being a mom to her three kids. The youngest, Chase, dreamt of being a triathlete. Chase started running soon after learning to walk.  Riding a bike came next.  Then one summer, he taught himself how to swim in the backyard pool. At the age of six, he not only completed his first triathlon, he won his division!  Chase couldn't wait to race again.

 

Nelba Marquez-Greene wasn't a runner either.  Neither was her daughter, Ana, who was way more interested in music, dancing and sparkling than in sweating.  Ana was wise beyond her six years, always believing that Love Wins and reminding her mom to not let the stress of work consume her: "Don't let them suck your fun circuits dry, Mom".

 

Sadly, Chase and Ana would be among the 26 first-graders and educators killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. As mothers who have lost a beloved child, Rebecca and Nelba had every right to retreat into their homes and savor every memory of their child privately. But neither did.

 

These everyday moms stepped out of their comfort zones to do extraordinary things. They unselfishly shared their son and daughter with the world to create a legacy of good. They became the adopted moms of hundreds of kids because they believe that the loss of core family values and nurturing is at the root of violence in our society.  In turn, the local running community adopted them, and they became runners (albeit reluctant ones) who believed in the power of running to transform lives.

 

Through the Ana Grace Project, Nelba works tirelessly to bring the arts (music, theater, dance and running!) to youth, especially those in-need and at-risk, as a way to bring about positive change in the community. Fleet Feet was honored to be part of her "Love Wins: Finish the Race" event for the 5th graders at Chamberlin Elementary in New Britain where the kids got to experience college life at CCSU - everything from class to the cafeteria to sports - to fuel their own college dreams.

 

The highlight of the day was when the FF Staffers who run for CCSU passed out new sneakers to the kids and then raced them around the track. I have no doubt that those sneakers will help create a new generation of empowered runners that will choose love.

 

Rebecca made the words Chase spoke in a vision to her shortly after his death a reality by founding the CMAK Foundation and Race4Chase which funds pre-school, speech therapy and triathlon training for disadvantaged children.

 

I had the privilege of spending a morning with a group of "Chase's kids" at the Waterbury YMCA last summer. They proudly showed off their newly learned swimming and biking skills (one rode without training wheels for the first time ever!) and practiced the Good Form Running techniques I taught them. A few weeks later, they completed their first triathlon with humongous smiles and beaming confidence. This year, Chase's foundation will support over 1,000 kids in two states! 

 

Fleet Feet and Mizuno recognized Rebecca with their inaugural Power of Running to Inspire award and told her story via this powerful video.  Prepare to be inspired, heartbroken and ultimately uplifted.

 

This mother's day, lace up your sneakers and run a mile of gratitude in honor of Rebecca, Nelba and all the other wonderful moms who make our world a better place and show that love truly does win.