We Do It For Lou

Back at It!
It is long overdue, but I am back in training for some more races to hit that Iron Phi goal! It was a looooooong summer full of work, family, and getting engaged! However, the time has come to get back to running and hitting my Iron Phi mark. I have three events in three consecutives weekends. Let's hope I don't hurt myself...
1) Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 9/30 in Toledo
2) ALS Walk of Toledo 10/7
3) Ashland University Homecoming 5K 10/13
If you are an AU alum, especially an AU Phi, please take the time to consider helping me reach this goal. Our chapter does not yet have a single Iron Phi. Let's put AU on the map! I am only $459.50 away. I think we can do this!

by Joe Russo on Thu, Sep 13, 2012 @ 8:30 AM

Permanent Link No Comments

One Down - One to Go!
We lucked out on 4/28 that is for sure! No more than two minutes after the race, freezing rain POURED down in Toledo. In any event, we had a great time and I am thrilled with my finish. I probably ran at about 21 minutes, but did not wait for my exact results because I was quite literally getting frozen while waiting. I feel great. I feel healthy. I feel proud that I actually did this first 5K for a great cause.
I spoke with my father a couple of days priot to race, mostly just small talk and catching up. But, he did mention that he was proud I was doing this. He knows I hate to run for the sake of running, but he knows that I have a sense of purpose when it comes to these things. I feel proud that I am able to contribute as of now over $500 to ALS. I have a little less than half way to go, but over time, I will get there.
I do owe a thank you to Dr. Herb Broda for his recent contribution. Dr. Broda was my official academic advisor at Ashland. He was the one that convinced me that middle childhood education was the way to go. Dr. Broda was my first college professor. Literally, my first class I ever took was his intro level class in Educational Foundations. He is currently considred, at least to many, the expert on experiential education in the use of the outdoors and in science education. He has published two books already and I am sure there will be more to come.
What really sticks with me about Dr. Broda is that through it all, he was a great advisor in more than just my in-class education. We talked more extensively on broad topics. We chatted abotu life in general, the modern college student, faith, all sorts of things. He and I spoke at length when my grandfather died and it is because of Dr. Broda that I earned any accolades outside of my degree. I am convinced that without his endorsement, the two student of the year medals I earned during my time at AU would not have come my way.
We still exchange emails, though not as frequently as I may like at the moment. I miss being able to stop by his office and share our thoughts on the world at large. I am one of the most fortunate students to have attended AU because I had Dr. Broda as an advisor, mentor, and friend. Thank you Dr. Broda.

by Joe Russo on Sat, Apr 28, 2012 @ 9:03 PM

Permanent Link No Comments

It's Race Week!
It's finally race week and I have to admit, I'm feeling good! I may not have been running as much as I would like or as fast as I could hope, but I am optimistic that I will finish in about 28 minutes, maybe even faster. As promised, I have a series of thank you stories to share about some recent donors that have reminded me that I can do this. I know full well that I am not doing this Iron Phi challenge for myself, but for a greater cause, one of which I was reminded of this past weekend as the Lou Gehrig Award was rededicated in Cooperstown this past weekend. I am truly lucky to be a part of such a wide ranging group that seeks to live up to the oaths its members have taken.
My first thank you story is about an amazing young lady that has worked with me in Toledo since I arrived in May. Her name is Nkechi Ukazim and despite some incredible things in her life, she is one helluva lady. Nkechi worked with my staff in Toledo and her energy is infectious. In fact, that may be an understatement. I have never met someone who could bring so much enthusiasm on a day to day basis. I have gotten to know Nkechi better than most of the people I have had the joy of supervising and I am the beneficiary of that. Thank you, Nkechi for helping me with Iron Phi and with my "continuing education" in life.
The second thank you is for my grandmother, Anna (Sue) Brady, but she is my Mamaw. If I am lucky enough to age the way she has, I would be the happiest man on earth. She is a great-grandmother that still golfs multiple times a week and lives COMPLETELY independently in the house that I always remember her in from my childhood. She is quite the legend in her own right, having been a pioneering women's athletics coaches in Ohio. She is one half of the only mother-daughter tandem in the Ohio High School Hall of Fame...along with my mother!
The best part of my time with Mamaw was always the simple interactions. We were blessed to live close to her and my Papaw and they were a part of our everyday life as children. They were at just about everything until the very end of our own athletic careers, even if the games were too much for my Papaw to follow. To this day, it is still difficult for me to eat just one cookie as she always had a "one for each hand" rule when it came to treats! Mamaw, I love and thank you very much.
I have one more rather lengthy story to share tomorrow about another donor and an incredible educator. Thank you to all who have contributed so far. Come Saturday the 28th, I know I'll kick it!

by Joe Russo on Tue, Apr 24, 2012 @ 9:24 PM

Permanent Link No Comments

Time Trials = success
Ok, so perhaps I went a bit overboard worrying about how hard this was going to be. Apparently, I'm in better shape than I thought. I've run two time trials for a 5K and both were under 30 minutes! I am THRILLED by this and feel better about my decision to do this. Now, we just gotta keep pushing to get to 100% of my goal!

by Joe Russo on Tue, Apr 10, 2012 @ 7:37 AM

Permanent Link No Comments

Week Two Starts...Horray!(?)
I'm feeling great about the start of the next week! Monday got off to a great start with two more supporters!
The first was Eric Schimmoeller, another Ohio Mu Phi and current AU staffer. I met Eric through our AU connection, but got to know him better when he was with the Phi Delta Theta HQ team. I admire the way that he has kept with his two passions, or so it seems: AU and Phi Delt. He still works with out guys at Ashland and it was nice to see that he landed back in the "Eagle's Nest" on campus there.
The second came from Michele Sheets, my former boss at AU who convinced me that professional college housing might be a good idea. She took pride in "turning me to the dark side" away from secondary education to work in higher education. I was incredibly lucky to have worked so closely with Michele. It was funny that when my mother first met Michele, she thought Michele was a classmate! My mother quickly learned that Michele's personality and drive to genuinely help college students made her a unique talent on the campus of Ashland University. When Michele announced that she would be leaving AU, the campus was stunned. She had meant so much to so many, including myself. I have a lot to thank Michele for already in my career. Thank you, Michele, for your continued support!

by Joe Russo on Mon, Apr 02, 2012 @ 6:02 PM

Permanent Link No Comments

First Full Week = Success!
After the first week of traing, I am amazed at two things. First, that my legs have not fallen off. Second, that I have already hit 36% of my goal!
Keeping with sharing stories about my supporters, the Jamieson family was the big supporter of the weekend. Dr. Duncan Jamieson was a mentor and professor of mine at AU. All told, I took six of his courses as an undergraduate and was challenged to not just be smart in each and every one (save for cultural geography. Yikes).
Outside of the coursework, Dr. Jamieson, who insists on calling me "Sir" in every email we exchange for some unknown reason, worked closely with me in compiling my writings from The Collegian into one comprehensive look at my writing. The end result was "Left Hook", a column by column look at my four years covering politics and social issue as a columnists. It took far longer than I would have liked, but most of the time spent was re-working the prose and clearly defining the purpos eof each chapter. I have Dr. Jamieson to thank for forcing that kind of focus and intensity on my work.
Dr. Jamieson and I continue to talk as often as we can. With the dawn of the baseball season, I'm sure there'll be some heated exchanges about the evil that is his beloved Yankees and the pure awfulness that is my Indians. More importantly, our relationship shows how education covers more than coursework. It is all inclusive on campus. I am very fortunate to have gotten this experience while at Ashland and continued to be "educated" every so often. Eventually, I'll get it right. Until then, Dr. Jamieson will find a way to get me to think my way around my own mistakes to find the answers.

by Joe Russo on Sun, Apr 01, 2012 @ 10:24 AM

Permanent Link No Comments

Day Two Recap: Uh Oh...
The wind may have kicked my butt a bit today, but nonetheless, I'm pleased so far. 1.5 miles in just under 15 minutes is something I can live with right now.
Day two also saw two new donors! Allan Williams, fellow Ohio Mu Phi and chapter President, offered his support today. Allan gave me the joy of serving as the Best Man in his wedding. Those pictures are everywhere in my day to day. When I look back at my time at AU, Allan enters the conversation frequently. Thank you, Allan.
Day two also saw another family donation. This time, from my brother Nick and his wife Dawn. Nick has been the best older brother one could ask for. The story I want to share about Nick is about why he is the best example I have in my life to keep running, to keep going despite how much the pain in my knee gets at me. As a kid, Nick was diagnosed with Non-Systemic Scaleroderma, a condition, like ALS, that affects the muscular system. In his case, the disease affects connective tissue. Despite this diagnosis, I never once remember Nick letting it get the best of him. I never remember Nick letting it get in the way. Varsity football and baseball? Of course! Scratch golfer? Without a doubt. Nick didn't just clear this hurdle, I think he may have just run through it to prove a point. I see how Nick has conquered his condition and know that the pain I feel running (as out of shape as I am!) is insignificant. I have been blessed to have Nick as such a shining example. I love you Nick. Thank you for your support!

by Joe Russo on Thu, Mar 29, 2012 @ 8:43 AM

Permanent Link No Comments

Day One...Not so bad afterall
I have tried to avoid running for the sake of running for a long time. I could go up and down a basketbal court for hours and be just fine. Running in circles? Just going for a jog? Weird, right? Day one saw me tackle about 1.5 miles (still way short of a 5K). I wasn't gassed. I wasn't so sore I couldn't move. I was stunned. I was worried my knees would be so shot from the rough Toledo concrete that I would forsake this entire thing and find a different event!
Day one also saw Donation #1 from my parents, Tom Carol Russo! My mother is quite the lady. She raised three great son (maybe two if I be honest with myself and that I only turned out ok). She taught high school physical education for 30 years, was a tremendous wife and mother, and has been the pillar of our family. All of this while compiling 575 career wins as a Ohio High School Hall of Fame volleyball coach. My mother was an Alpha Xi Delta at THE Ohio State University where she swam and played volleyball. I'm sure there is a photo of her in the "Sorority Pose" somewhere and I will find it!
Donation #1 also involved my father, Tom. He was a Sigma Chi at Bowling Green State. My dad's college and Greek experience was a bit untraditional. He did not grow up in the best of circumstances and earned every ounce of success he has ever achieved in his lifetime. I have written extensively about his life and his influence on my 25 years in The Collegian at Ashland and in Left Hook, my collection of articles from my AU years. He came from nothing and has established himself as a respected educator and role model in school saround the Cleveland area. What a guy! His time at BGSU in Sigma Chi gave him an opporunity to realize all that Greek Life has to offer. My father is my hero and I will be thinking of him every painful step during my back to back 5K!
One day down...so many more to go! Thank you all for your support and Mom and Dad...I love you!

by Joe Russo on Tue, Mar 27, 2012 @ 7:51 PM

Permanent Link No Comments