Dawn is our Ridge Runner of the Month for June 2009.
Dawn was born in La Mesa, California. She was raised in Glendora. Her grandparents moved to Glendora back in 1959 from Illinois.
Dawn had run short distances for years just to maintain a basic fitness level. After helping some friends train for a Half Dome hike they asked her what was next. She told them, "I guess we could train for a marathon" and before she knew it she had 14 friends relying on her to get them to the 2007 Los Angeles Marathon finish line. Feeling a bit clueless she bought a Jeff Galloway book and tried to stay one step ahead. Somehow everyone finished.
During the next year one of Dawn’s good friends set up an organization in Greece for rescuing girls who had been kidnapped by the Russian mafia and forced into prostitution. Dawn’s church, Faith Community, made a commitment to support her efforts so she formed a church wide marathon team to run on behalf of the cause - raising awareness and funds to rescue these girls. In 2008 they had over 130 people finish the marathon, and in the 2009 Surf City Marathon over 230 completed a full or half marathon. To date they have raised over $75,000. Dawn’s personal goal is to qualify for Boston and run it on behalf of this cause.
Here is a link to the charity: http://www.thea21campaign.org/
Dawn saw a Ridge Runner flier in June 2008 at Classic Coffee while she was recovering from foot surgery. She had been looking for a group to do speed-work with when she was able to start running again. She is really glad to have joined the club as she has learned so much and, thanks to all the coaching and encouragement, she has increased her speed considerably.
So far Dawn’s favorite club run is the club’s signature Glendora Ridge Run.
Dawn said she hasn’t run very many organized events, but her favorite so far is the Rose Bowl Half Marathon in December. “The last two years the weather has been perfect, the course is along streets and trails and Pasadena is just a great place to run!”
Dawn likes to eat Irish oatmeal before every race! Dinner the night before an event is whole grain spaghetti and Trader Joes spaghetti sauce.
Dawn loves Cycling! She said “I love to go fast (especially down GMR). One summer I cycled 300+ miles of the California coastline on Highway 1 with a couple friends and it was spectacular!” She also admits to being a huge Lakers, Dodgers and USC football fan.
If she could go on a dream vacation anywhere in the World Dawn would choose the Greek Islands. She would also love to go back to Ireland as well.
I asked Dawn which person, living or dead, she would like to meet for lunch, and why? She answered, “There are quite a few people I would love to have lunch with so I will quickly list three. A biblical character by the name of Joseph who faced completely unfair circumstances yet stayed positive and faithful and in the end came out on top. Secondly, Corrie ten Boom[1] who was put into a concentration camp for hiding Jews during the Nazi regime: She survived and lived to be an old lady traveling around the world speaking about the power of forgiveness.” She would also like to have lunch with her grandfather who was incredibly fun to be around and the most encouraging person she had ever met.
[1] Corrie ten Boom, (April 15 1892 – April 1983) was a Dutch Christian Holocaust survivor who helped many Jews escape from the Nazis during World War II. In 1977, ten Boom, then 95 years old, moved to Orange, California. Successive strokes in 1978 left her an invalid for the last five years of her life. She died on her birthday, April 15, 1983, at the age of 91.