OFFICERS Lauren Colvin I EDITOR streak@annapolisstriders.org Laura Amin I ASSOCIATE EDITOR Denise Hyde I PHOTO EDITOR Karsten Brown I PHOTO EDITOR Jon Valentine I PHOTOGRAPHER photos@annapolisstriders.org CLUB TRAINING PROGRAMS S T A F F STREAK
I Thought It Said Love Wine; Running For a Cause BY STEPHEN HORD, AKA THUMPER, AKA LOVE WINS GUY
T he running community consists of the most selfless group of people I have ever come across in my life, as evidenced by the broad range of charity causes for which different runners run. If there’s a charity out there, there’s someone taking “dollars per mile” pledges. I began thinking about why that is. And to be honest, no matter how much we love lacing up and hitting the streets or the trails day in and day out, what we put our bodies through is hard and sometimes painful. It’s so easy to just want to quit.
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But then our minds remind us why we are out there. The love and devotion we have for our cause carry us through the most harsh conditions: leg pain, body pain, exhaustion, hunger, loneliness, etc. That organization or that person or that community in need, or that social issue that burns in your heart, keeps us going to the finish line. The truth is, running for something bigger than yourself is a humbling experience, and it changes the way in which we approach everything else in our lives. This has certainly been my experience since I began running for the Love Wins Movement in January 2019. The ladies living in the recovery house we opened in August 2019 and the families that are dealing with food insecurity that come through our food pantry line every Thursday that began in April 2020; these are the human faces that pop into my mind’s eye at every race. This is also why if you see me out on the course and I’m a bit emotional, it is probably not because of pain (who am I kidding, yes, I’m hurting) but it’s these people that inspire me to keep going on to the end. And when I’m struggling so hard out on the race course, thinking of how I alone am feeling, it never fails that someone calls out LOVE WINS at the top of their lungs. I sure love my Annapolis Striders family. 2023 was my fifth year running fully
devoted to the Love Wins Movement and it has most definitely changed how I look at this great sport. To play a small part in making a difference in our world is more rewarding than any two-pound medal that can be placed around my neck. If you run for a cause or multiple causes, can I just encourage you to keep it up? You are doing a wonderful, self- less, loving thing. You may never see the result with your own eyes, but that doesn’t mean the result doesn’t happen! The good you are doing, even if it is just for one person, is changing the world for the better. One of the questions we ask ourselves at Love Wins is, if we ceased to exist, would the community even notice? That, and, if you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong. So let’s keep being difference makers! Let’s keep being loud with our love for the people around us. Let’s keep doing what we would want done for us if we were in need. If you don’t have that “something” for which you are running, I suggest you find it. It will change your life for the better because it will change the lives of others for the better. You are welcome to join me as one of the Love Wins Runners. You can learn more about my particular favorite charity at www.lovewins- movement.org. And by the way, yes, I do love wine!
THE STREAK I SUMMER 2025
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