In-Kind

“So, you are a sponsor of the race?” 

Definition of sponsor
1: one who presents a candidate for baptism or confirmation and undertakes responsibility for the person's religious education or spiritual welfare
2: one who assumes responsibility for some other person or thing
3: a person or an organization that pays for or plans and carries out a project or activity especially one that pays the cost of a radio or television program usually in return for advertising time during its course

Definition of donation
the act or an instance of donating: such as
a: the making of a gift especially to a charity or public institution
b: a free contribution : GIFT

“YES!”
To recognize the value of my in-kind design work as well as my contributions to digital marketing and social media, I asked to be included as a sponsor on the back of the 2022 Charlottesville Ten Miler shirt.

Thank you Nicole Brimer for being an amazing race director and true friend.

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For 14 years, I helped the Charlottesville Track Club (CTC) with graphic and web design, marketing, and event management. For 13 years, I supported five race directors (Alice Wiggins, Mike Inge, Maria Bell, Deb Gilbert, and Nicole Brimer) with the Charlottesville Ten Miler (CTM). I’m grateful and honored to have worked closely with people who valued my ideas, creativity, dedication, passion, and time.

There aren’t enough words to describe how much it meant to me to see my “Twins Run in Our Family” logo on the backs of fellow runners as I ran this iconic race. I loved seeing the new CTC logo I designed (last year) at the top of the shirt, too!

I’ve been struggling emotionally and financially since I lost my job of 22+ years in September 2020. During the 50+ interviews I’ve had since turning 50, I've always spoken about my volunteer work in the Charlottesville running community as my proudest accomplishment. 

During COVID-19 I devoted my time and talents to help Mark Lorenzoni promote the Charlottesville Track Club’s modified events during the pandemic and I especially enjoyed marketing and managing the C-VILLE-athon, Race Fest, Marathon and Half Marathon Training Program, Winter Training Program, the All-Comers Summer Track Meets, and Bruce Barnes Mile. 

During this time a conflict arose between me and various CTC board members. Unfortunately, in spite of my best efforts, this conflict could not be resolved. Therefore, I made the extremely difficult decision to step away from the CTC in September 2021. 

Although I had to separate myself from the CTC, I knew I wanted to help CTM race director, Nicole Brimer, with the 2022 Charlottesville Ten Miler. It was very important for me to end my tenure with the CTC on a high note. So, I made a variety of new designs for a special bib, stickers, and volunteer shirt as well other logos that I never got to use. 

I wore my rainbow sparkle skirt and formerly white running shoes that I colored with a rainbow of sharpies. So many spectators and fellow runners complimented me on my tutu and I appreciated the encouragement as I was rather untrained for this endeavor! 

The best part of the race was seeing my identical twin sister cheering in her inflatable T-Rex costume at mile 4 and the finish line. Being able to finally share this historic event with her made a difficult day of saying goodbye to this race a bit easier. 

Thank you to Nicole for allowing me do what I love and including me as a valuable contributor to this spring tradition in Charlottesville.

Thank you also to Mindy (a.k.a. Ann Hill), my better half, for encouraging me to celebrate my final Ten Miler and to be brave enough to ask for public recognition of what I've accomplished, and, more importantly, to value and thank myself (especially when others wouldn't).

I have had very dark moments during this past week when I was frozen in fear, panicked about how others in the running community view me especially in light of the fact that I haven't spoken with Mark Lorenzoni in six months. Sadly that lack of communication was not my choice, but I hope he knows that whenever he's ready, I'm always available to listen.

Thanks to Albemarle Baking Company for creating the perfect cake to celebrate my final Ten Miler.

Mark and I were a good team and I'll never forget that. Over the 13 years we worked together, he had a plethora of ideas and he let me run with whatever I liked to make things happen. A former CTM race director once said, "Leah just does things." That might have been a criticism or a compliment, or maybe both! Some people can be uncomfortable and threatened by my drive and impatience to get things done, but Mark let me be me. That was a true gift. Thank you Mark!

Thank you Mark Lorenzoni for helping me get to the Boston Marathon and supporting my race, the Rivanna Greenbelt Marathon.

Finally, thank you Natalie for capturing me during the race yesterday. I always love to look at the beautiful moments you catch along the course. 

Thank you Natalie Krovetz for your stunning photography.

I'm not sure who will be the next director for the Charlottesville Ten Miler and what changes will be made under new leadership. I know that my twin and I will always smile when we see someone wearing a shirt from one of the years I helped support the race, especially the shirts with my designs (2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020/21, and 2022).

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music is my therapy

All the right songs came up at the right moment .....
​https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/final-ten-miler/pl.u-b3b8oGGHyMLRGd