Copyright Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Fresh off last week’s successful Staten Island Running’s Association Legends/Youth Gala, one would think SIRA President Michael De Vito Jr. would be taking a break. Far from it! De Vito, the Executive Director of The New York Center for Interpersonal Development (NYCID), is currently training for his first ever ultra-marathon, hoping to raise funds for his organization. Here’s De Vito in his own words: “For those of you who know me or even for those who have only met me once, you know that I have a ton of energy. You might also know or sense that I spend a lot of that energy on helping others.” “On November 15th, I plan to run 50 miles to raise awareness and resources for the youth and families service by NYCID. “I have taken stabs at distances from the mile to the marathon but this represents uncharted territory. “(NYCID) is a not-for-profit organization promoting the improvement of human relationships and the strengthening of communities. We provide youth, community, and professional development programs, as well as dispute resolution services that educate and inform the public about constructive problem-solving, effective communication, and intercultural awareness. “We don’t tell young people they can overcome their barriers, we teach them mindfulness techniques, emotional regulation, and resilience practices that help them see their own capacity for transformation. When a teenager who’s been written off by everyone else finally graduates, they’ve run their own ultra-marathon! “I’ve never attempted anything like this. But that’s exactly the point. This represents the same leap into the unknown that we ask our students to take every day at NYCID. “I am asking for your support in the challenge ahead. “The NYC Trail Mix 50-mile race winds through remote sections of Staten Island’s Greenbelt starting at 6 a.m.! A great many others and I will traverse technical single track trails, climb steep hills, and navigate historical sites within the nation’s largest city. It’s a journey from darkness to light — literally and metaphorically. “This race represents everything we teach at NYCID. You start in the dark, you face obstacles you can’t see coming, your mind tells you to quit, but you keep putting one foot in front of the other. You use your breath. You find your resilience. You discover that sunshine beaming from your pocket — that inner light that’s always available when everything feels impossible. “You discover you are not the drop in the ocean, but rather the ocean in the drop. You are vast. You contain multitudes. You have resources within that you’ve never even accessed. “My $50,000 fundraising goal serves dual purposes: supporting NYCID’s programs while raising awareness about our organization’s innovative approach to youth development. In a time when youth mental health challenges are at crisis levels, NYCID’s integration of mindfulness and wellbeing practices offers a proven alternative to traditional intervention models. “We’re teaching young people that they have the inner resources to overcome whatever they’re facing. This race is my way of demonstrating those same principles in action. “The physical challenge of 50 miles mirrors the emotional and psychological journey that NYCID students undertake. Both require breaking the challenge into manageable segments, developing mental strategies for difficult moments, and maintaining forward progress even when the destination feels impossibly far away. “Whether I finish in 9 hours or 12 hours, the real victory is in the attempt. It’s in showing our students that their executive director is willing to step into his own discomfort zone, to practice what we preach about not giving up when things get difficult. “To support my 50-mile challenge for NYCID, visit bit.ly/NYCID-50Miles “Thank You!” Staten Island past and present represented at NYC Marathon finish! Once again Dave Cugini encouraged thousands at the finish line of the NYC Marathon. The Susan Wagner principal was announcing the event for his 20th time, a marathon unto itself! NYC Marathon race director Ted Metellus also always keeps the memory of late race start coordinator Vic Navarra alive as well, as he always carries with him Navarra’s FDNY patch with him at the race. “Vic Navarra was one of the kindest people who was one of a kind,”said Metellus. “Vic had a passion for the sport but loved what the community running created...I learned the importance of balancing being flexible and finding compromise and being firm but friendly and he would always say ”Semper Gumby” -- “Always Flexible”. “I learned a lot about the start operations of the marathon from Vic and his wife and partner Joanne as well as their two daughters April and Kristi, but I learned more about working with people and connecting them to the community of running.” SITRAC Triple Crown Awards SITRAC will hold this year’s Triple Crown awards on Friday evening, Jan. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. It will be held at Lifestyles for the Disabled Education Center located at 884 Target St. In an effort to keep costs down and make it accessible to all, a light dinner will be served at a cost of $30 for adults and $15 for youth through high school. Ticket information will follow. Monthly trivia contest sponsored by ASICS & JAMBAR! Please submit your answer to my email below. All correct answers will then be put into a lot where two winners will be drawn randomly. One winner receives a pair of ASICS running shoes and the second a free 12 Bar Variety box of JAMBAR energy bars. Congrats to last month’s winners Ryan Contino (ASICS) and Ronald Meisels (Jambar). This month’s question This upcoming Tuesday’s Muche Struck Veterans Day 3-Miler (Silver Lake Park -- 10 a.m. start) has been around for almost eight decades. Can you name a runner who won it more than once? Good luck and see you all next month. Keep running!
