Runner of the Month: Chris Copenhaven
All the pieces seem to be falling in place for Chris Copenhaver, as he is having the best running year of his life. He started out the year with a huge PR at the Mesa Marathon, running 2:37:16 for an 11th place finish and 3rd in his age group. In May, he finished his first 100 mile trail race in his second attempt at the distance, finishing 2nd overall. And now is preparing for the Elite division of the Pikes Peak marathon coming up on August 23rd.
While his running results are impressive, what he has done with his life is even more impressive. In 2012-2013 he attended and successfully completed the New Life Program at Harvest Farm in Wellington, Colorado. The power of faith and community is what made all the difference for his life transformation. Chris says it best and his words are timely for this current season of quarantine where many have found themselves more isolated and alone.
“For everyone who finds themselves isolating and thinking they can do life alone. JUST STOP! We are not meant to be alone. Reach out to someone or to many. You may be surprised by what happens! I DID NOT get sober by going to the rehab farm and laying in my bunk all day feeling sorry for myself although I did find myself doing that sometimes. I did not hide from all the newfound feelings that were no longer drowned in alcohol. I did not stay away from the other 70 guys who were in the same place, doing and feeling the exact same things as I was. I did feel extremely lonely, but I did not let it overwhelm me.
I DID get sober by getting up every day, putting on my game face and listening to everything everyone said, even when I didn’t like it. I did what I was told would work, even when I didn’t like it, as well as participated in often uncomfortable discussions. I engaged in as many activities as I could to keep my mind off of the misery and struggled and often failed to not let others piss me off. I struggled day after day to figure out who I was, why I was and what I was capable of. I repeatedly asked God for help. Over and over and over. Every day, not drinking became easier, but dealing with myself and life was, and is, still hard. I would reach out to those around me and ask if they ever feel the way I do. I realized that others are struggling with the exact same things as me and they need me just as much as I need them. This was a game-changer.”
Chris got involved with Green Events through the Harvest Farm Run Club. The club would volunteer and participate in all the Green Events races coordinated by the leadership from Chris. After graduating from the program Chris has continued to be involved with the run club, introducing running and community to many guys on their own journey to sobriety. Through volunteering and running Chris found a purpose and desire to become a better person and live a healthy life. We couldn’t be more impressed, proud, and thankful to have Chris in our community and part of the Green Events family!
Volunteer of the Month: Chris Howard
Chris Howard, owner of Sport About, has been working with Green Events for many years. Not only does his shop print all of our race t-shirts, he is usually out at every event volunteering for whatever job needs to be done.
He is often a course marshal at critical intersections, he has put together and taken down the finish arch many, many, times, setup race starts in the pre-dawn hours, printed shirts onsite, and this year even delivered race packets by bicycle to local participants. When he is not volunteering he is often participating paired with a disabled athlete.
We can always count on Chris to ask how he can help and then know he will show up ready to make it a great race!
Ambassador of the Month: Alex May
Alex May has been representing the Green Events Ambassador team while living abroad the past two years teaching at a school in Hangzhou China. During this time he has been running all of our races virtually, so that was nothing new for him when the COVID-19 shutdown and quarantine happened this year. Unfortunately, he and his wife Nora have not been able to return to the US this summer as they were scheduled due to travel restrictions.
In the mean time he and Nora have continued to run the virtual races and challenges. Back in March when COVID-19 was just starting to spread here and we had to cancel Spring Equinox, they were just starting to get back to running in China. Here is what Alex wrote to us:
“Our Virtual Spring Equinox Run was mentioned in the Hangzhou International School newsletter. This was our group of runners and families after the run. They were all very happy to have a running event to participate in. We had bagels after that I ordered from an expat bakery in Shenzhen. It feels strange to be able to have group event like this here now when I know they are not possible back in the US right. We were in that place a few weeks ago. I hope things get better and return to some normal in Fort Collins and the rest of the world soon. We are hoping for a speedy improvement to the situation for you all soon. Thanks so much for sending the Equinox goodies. They arrived today and I distributed them during lunch. Everyone was excited to receive their medals, race shirts, stickers and treats”
For the Father’s Day 5k Alex was able to run with his 2 kids in a creative virtual way. Here is what he
wrote: “This morning I ran a 5k with my kids even though they are thousands of miles away in Washington. The three of us talked on a group chat the whole time and compared our surroundings and enjoyed the run. It was so fun and completely inspired by your virtual running challenge.”
We hope Alex and Nora will be able to return to Fort Collins soon, until then we will stay in touch virtually and see their running and travel adventures on instagram.
