By Michael Hennessey, as told to Ashley Festa
Hennessey is the founder of the nonprofit Ironman for Kids and helped train the UIW team.
Running is a very religious experience. God is present in not only every person, but also the creation around us. We’re the most alive when we’re exercising because we get to be out experiencing that creation. It’s an opportunity to commune with God. I like to portray this to people in a very subtle, gentle way. I lead by example.
Everybody has their own barometer for what they can handle. Sometimes when you push them, they’ll find out just how far they can go. The team knew that I cared about them.
Our group had faculty, students, staff and alumni. We were all just runners encouraging each other. Everybody had a blast. The marathon was a wonderful experience with a great cross-section of people. UIW is like a microcosm of the community around us. It was a wonderful community of people bonding together, like a family affair.
Watch a video of the Rockin’ Redbirds
For information on how to join this year’s team, e-mail alumni@uiwtx.edu.
Thanks for all of the support, my fellow Rockin’ Red Birds! I couldn’t have done it without you! I’m looking forward to this year’s training and race.
–rick