Sole Train COVID-19 Updates – Trinity Boston Connects

COVID-19 PROGRAM UPDATES

SOLE TRAIN

School Year 2020-2021

• The R2R is happening virtually again, but many of our schools are hosting an in person run, so we’ll be cheering each other on virtually and in person!

• As the school year winds down we’re getting lots of great feedback so we can continue to improve our programming

• We’re preparing for a safe return to in person practices this fall

Sole Train is anticipating 125-150 Young Soles in consistent connection with on-going virtual programming. This includes in-person, socially distant, runs periodically. Five noteworthy changes sustained Sole Train’s viability and impact throughout the pandemic:

• Community Sole Train Practices became Saturday morning virtual events, open to all.

• A variety of Zoom workouts were designed and led by Old Soles, with check-ins, sharing, and group games so youth can engage in wellness activities right in their own home.

• Site-Specific Virtual Practices took place once or twice weekly, hosted by Site Coordinators via Zoom, also with check-ins, physical exercise, and bonding. All practices were recorded for ongoing, convenient use by the Sole Train community.

• Boston’s Run to Remember, Sole Train’s annual highlight event, was simulated virtually and well attended. Guest speakers and community-building activities were interspersed with a variety of energetic workouts. A sprint to the finish was augmented with sound effects and music.

• Sole Train’s monthly staff newsletter was reformatted as a community resource with health tips and calls to action. Support was also provided to families in need.

4/27/20

Saturday Practices, Run to Remember, and More

We have been hosting virtual practices every Saturday morning. All Young and Old Soles and family members are invited to join; we’ve had Young Soles’ parents, siblings and even pets ! Because the Run To Remember is now virtual, we are going to host our own event the day before the race was supposed to be, where everyone who participates will receive the Run To Remember shirt and medal from the race folks in the fall when they are sending them out. We are working to make this event feel special with BPD Commissioner Gross and the Steve Balfour, the Director of R2R joining us to share some words of pride and excitement for our mighty Young Soles. Additionally, we have a number of Sole Train sites that are holding weekday practices!

4/3/20

Virtual Practices

Young and Old Soles from the McKinley SEA HS team held a virtual practice on Zoom this week! If you would like to do the same with your team and could use ST HQ’s help, please let us know (we’d also love to guest star, if you’ll have us)—and send photos! Additionally, if you’d be interested in joining an all sites Sole Train Zoom practice, please let us know by clicking the button below.

Introducing Nahima

Sole Train is so excited to welcome our newest ST HQ staff member: Nahima Soto-Gonzalez, our Program Coordinator! Nahima has been passionate about youth development and developing social connections her whole life. This passion has led her to work with organizations such as AmeriCorps VISTA in Puerto Rico, the Peace Corps in Guatemala and Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. For the past 10 years she has worked with youth from low income communities and volunteers from all walks of life. Nahima is thrilled to join the Sole Train family because she believes in the positive impact that building strong and healthy relationships can have in the development of the youth, and is inspired by how creatively the program has done so. Nahima has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras in Modern Languages.

Saturday Practices

A small but mighty crew showed up last week; tomorrow’s practice starts at 9am at the Connolly Library in JP—5-6 miles!

Soles on the Streets

Send us photos of yourselves running/walking/jogging in safe, socially distanced ways! Below is Mandy Driscoll from the Hernandez and Haven Jones from the McCormack.

Physical Activity Alliance

If you and/or your Young Soles are looking for ways to be active, check out this list of resources.

Helping Others

If you’re looking for some way to be of assistance to others during this time, here’s one opportunity:

Neighborhoods are starting their own mutual aid systems where people can offer resources and request support. There are opportunities to volunteer, donate, and offer/request support at the following links:

• Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville

• Mutual Aid Jamaica Plain & Roxbury

• Mutual Aid Cambridge

• Mutual Aid Dorchester

• Mutual Aid Brookline

• Mutual Aid East Boston

• How to start a network in your neighborhood!

Appreciating Health Care Workers

Everyone from Beacon Hill to the Berkshires can participate in #ClapBecauseWeCare. Here’s how: At 7 p.m. on Friday, open up a window, or stand in front of your house, and clap and whoop for five minutes as if J.D. Martinez just hit a home run in Fenway Park.

If there’s anything else you’d like us to cover in the weekly newsletter or anything you need at all, just let us know! Until next week, stay safe and healthy!

3/27/20

We hope you’re all staying healthy out there! As we end week two of school closures, we have decided to send out a weekly newsletter to stay in communication and community as a Sole Train family.

Keep Running

We know that many of you are still out there pounding the pavement while responsibly socially distancing. Send us photos of you and/or your Young Soles running or doing any kind of work out in your Sole Train gear or post them to our Facebook group #solesonthestreets! Below is our own Anita Torres from the Hernandez, and click here for a fun workout, brought to you by our own Catherine Clark from the McKinley and Ozzie, Jess’ son!

Saturday Practice

Speaking of #keeprunning, Saturday practices are still happening for those who feel comfortable joining. Any and all welcome! Here’s the crew from last Saturday’s run; tomorrow’s practice starts at 9am at the Connolly Library in JP!

Running to Earn $ for MGH’s Emergency Response Fund to Fight COVID-19
RaceWire Virtual Run Club runs each week from midnight on Monday morning to Sunday night at 11:59 PM. Throughout the week runners will have a chance to compete against people all across New England from their home turf. We will upload results daily for 4 different distances – 1 Mile, 5K, 10K and Half Marathon. Follow the instructions you get weekly to upload your results and attach proof of your run, such as a Strava post, Garmin Connect post or any other type of GPS tracker to be eligible for weekly prizes. This event will span however long it takes to get us back on the roads and competing alongside one another.

The RaceWire Virtual Run Club will benefit the Mass General Hospital Emergency Response Fund, which is providing assistance locally to fight COVID-19.

Go to https://racewire.com/register.php?id=11678 for more info. Click here if you’re interested in creating a remote Sole Train team for this competition.