by Helen
In December a couple of classmates and I began Run, Foster, Run in our school. The idea was simple - to train for the half marathon in Vancouver that takes place in May. Really, all I wanted was someone to train with because I did not think I could run a half marathon and have the discipline to train for it on my own.
The amazing thing was the response that we got from the initial email and the turnout at our weekly runs. Since middle of December, we have run as a group almost every weekend in a different part of Seattle. We started around Greenlake running 3 miles and are now up to 11-20 miles depending on what people are training for. Every week we also take a picture and post it on our facebook page.
For me, the experience has been particularly amazing I think. I took this up as a pure goal setting exercise. I felt that business school swallowed me whole leaving no time for alone time let alone taking care of me time. I felt the earth was shaking under my feet and I was definitely going to fail my finance, statistics and accounting finals. So I wanted to set a goal and try to achieve something that I knew if I worked hard for, I could do (at that point I did not think the same was true for my quant classes).
The first time in December when we ran in 20 degree weather, I had to take a break and walk twice while doing one loop around Greenlake. Then just as I got my runs to comfortable 4 miles, I developed tendinitis. I had to stop running, go to the doctor, who then sent me to physical therapy. I worked through the pain with my physical therapist. She made me wear a funny sock at night to stretch my tendon, put steroid cream on my legs and use some metal thing to stretch out the back of my leg to make me less susceptible to twisted ankles, etc. Then I left for Kenya for two weeks which was another break from running. When I got back, I returned to running alone twice a week and with our group once a week.
Anyway, this last weekend, I ran 11.3 miles with a friend, while talking about life the whole time. Hard to believe that 4 months ago, I couldn't run 2 miles.
A classmate of mine recently sent me an email that I have inspired the whole class and how great Run, Foster, Run is. That was probably one of the nicest emails I have ever received. We also got running shirts that we'll be able to wear to Vancouver to represent our school. We even got some funding from our student body, a club and admissions office.
I guess my point is, this has been an amazing experience for me. Probably the highlight of my MBA career. The fact that I have classmates who are all helping each other, talking about how to stretch, eat and run well, while balancing everything else, has really made the experience at Foster an unforgettable one. I don't know if I have ever been a part of an organization that would have helped me achieve something like this.
So when you are looking for your MBA program, look for people who will be able to truly help you when you are down and truly support your initiatives that you take up, for whatever reason you choose. That is what makes Foster different from other schools and that is what I will remember.
Hmm I like that movie.. Forest Gump!! I really love it...
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