Jingle Bell Run!

12-23-07

Merry Christmas! I am writing this entry from my in-laws’ house in Big Bear Lake where I recently finished the kick-off to a project Ryan and I are getting involved with up here in Big Bear. It’s called “The Lighthouse Project” and its aim is to create healthy, child-honoring communities. To help kick-start this program, we are starting a campaign for the citizens of Big Bear to “Move a million miles for Ryan Hall” (in honor of his recent accomplishment at the Olympic Trials). The goal is for the town to collectively move (either running, cross-country skiing, biking, walking, or anything else cardiovascular) a million miles by August 24th- the date of Ryan’s marathon race at the Beijing Olympics. It’s an ambitious goal for the town of 16,000, but one that is definitely doable!
When we were contacted by the head person of the Lighthouse organization, I was thrilled about their vision. After working in the schools and seeing how often irresponsible parenting leads to troubled kids, I too wanted to encourage parents to be good role models. Furthermore, I have always marveled how a place as beautiful as Big Bear Lake could have so few cyclists and runners. With the rise in obesity that is occurring nationwide also a factor in this mountain community, I thought that using Ryan as a role model and piggybacking on his recent success could really make an impact.
For starters, as Ryan says, he remembers growing up in the schools in Big Bear in an environment where kids didn’t dream big. Life revolved around the small mountain town, and rarely did kids think about doing something world-impacting with their life, much less leaving southern California. Ryan has definitely broken the mold, and in doing so, is a natural role model to kids that live in this area to DREAM BIG! To set goals and chase them, no matter what anyone else says. This is what I hope to, along with the Lighthouse Project, encourage in Big Bear Lake.
But Ryan did not break this mold on his own- he had a very supportive family network behind him through the good and the bad. There was a time when he stopped out of Stanford for a quarter because running was going so poorly and contemplated on giving up on his dream. But his family was there to encourage him to persevere, and the rest is history! This is our hope for being involved with The Lighthouse Project in Big Bear Lake- that not only would the youth gain a broader perspective of what is possible for their lives and dedicate themselves to pursuing goals, but also that their parents would come behind them and support them.
Thus, the “Jingle Bell Run” this morning! I had this idea to raise awareness for the program and to get people starting to go out jogging! So, despite the fact that it was at 7 am on a Sunday morning, barely light and freezing cold, we had at least 50 people of all ages (and a few dogs) show up to run together through town, wearing Jingle Bells and carrying a sign proclaiming “Move a million miles for Ryan Hall’! It was a great morning, and hopefully we will get good coverage in the local paper to kick-start the program. I hope that this modest beginning will have a ripple affect in the community, and we will see people not only improving their own physical fitness, but seeing their families grow stronger and their vision for the future brighter. Merry Christmas!