I just caught this great article written for the Bismarck Tribune.  Anne Mahlum has taken a great idea and run with it, literally. 

By SAMANTHA STOCKMAN
Century High School senior

There aren’t a lot of people out at 5 a.m. Anne Mahlum, an avid runner in Philadelphia, passed by the same men on the street every morning. She’d wave and say “good morning” before continuing on her route. But one morning last April, she stopped.“I thought, ‘Wow, I am really cheating these guys. Why do I get to be the runner?’” Mahlum said.

Running has helped motivate Mahlum, knowing she’ll keep moving forward if she puts one foot in front of the other.

She wanted everybody to have that secure feeling, so she e-mailed the executive director of the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, proposing the idea of starting a running organization for the homeless. He pitched the idea to the members of his mission; nine were interested, and Back on My Feet was formed.

Mahlum, a native of Bismarck,

e-mailed acquaintences asking for running shoes and clothes that would fit the runners.

“I remember looking at old shoes and thinking ‘These are worn out; I wouldn’t want to run in these.’” Mahlum said.

Philadelphia Runner, a shoe store, donated nine pairs of shoes last July. Mahlum and her team put together a training schedule and a dedication contract. Back on My Feet’s first run was on July 3, 2007, at 6 a.m.

Over its six-month existence, Back on my Feet has acquired sponsors and grown into four teams, with close to 50 members and 250 volunteers, with delegated leaders who run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Three teams also run on Saturdays, Mahlum said. Members must be in a shelter for at least 30 days, must have been sober for at least 30 days before they are allowed to participate, and they must sign a waiver with Back on my Feet. Members must be committed to turning their lives around.

“It takes discipline and commitment to get up at 5:30 a.m. to run,” Mahlum said. “It’s an uplifting way to start the rat race of the day, literally moving life forward.”

Mahlum has been an athlete all of her life. She played basketball and soccer for Bismarck High School before graduating in 1999. Her parents are Sonja Mahlum and Mark Mahlum of Bismarck.

Michael Solomon, 42, a member of the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, has been running with Back on my Feet from the beginning.

He is  in his 11th month of his 12-month recovery program, dedicating himself to staying clean after his wife’s death in 2006.

“Anne and her team came in looking professional, and I thought ‘no way, I haven’t run for 20 years,’” Solomon said. “It was a struggle, but they encouraged us and came in cheery every morning.”

Solomon recently ran the 13.5-mile Dash for Democracy, finishing in an hour and 47 minutes, third in his age group.

“I thought I’d be isolated in the mission for the rest of my life,” Solomon said.

“I never knew running could change my life; it’s just me and the universe when I’m running.”

In addition to running, Back on My Feet has collaborated with banks and the Metropolitan Career Center so members, some of whom are former felons, can learn about opening checking accounts, typing and computer skills and Social Security, honing their skills so they can enter the work force.

“I go to school and hear people complain, and I want to say ‘just enjoy the day and it won’t be so bad,’” Solomon said.

Solomon started working two weeks after he began school. He is getting back on his feet.

Mahlum, as the founder of Back on My Feet, runs with all the teams on various days.

“I never stereotype people,” Mahlum said. “If something is less than perfect, you can turn away and let it be dangerous or you can run through it with a smile.”