So many people use running to get away from their problems. Others use it to solve their problems. The physical pain is inevitable, but so often promotes spiritual healing. Such is the case with Alex Schenk, a computer science teacher at Collegiate School of Medicine and Biosciences. Part of the St. Louis Public School District, the school shares a campus with Central Visual and Performing Arts, site of a mass shooting in the fall. Teacher and cross country coach Jean Kuzca died, as did sophomore Alexzandria Bell. Six others were hospitalized, but every one of the 700 students and staff needed healing.
Schenk led a group of students through Students on the GO!, a running training program that is part of GO! St. Louis’ marathon weekend. Each of the 38 students worked through grief and tragedy individually, but they leaned on each other – and Schenk – step by step. Their final run was a celebration of helping one another through a most difficult time.
I was honored that Terrain wanted to tell their story, and that I got to tell it. Schenk and his students are raw, honest and touching. You can read it online by following the link in the first paragraph, or pick up a free copy at any of Terrain’s outlets, listed here.
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