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Date: 10/30/2023
SPRINGFIELD — Running can be seen as a form of exercise, but for people like Kara Beach, a high school math teacher at Springfield International Charter School, it is an outlet.
In 2010, the Warren resident met her now husband, following the return of his Army tour in Iraq. At the time, he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
To improve not only her mental health, but her family’s, Beach turned to running.
“Growing up, I hated running and refused to do sports that [I] had to run,” she said.
In 2011, she discovered the Run to Home Base, a 9K run or 5K run/walk that starts and finishes in Fenway Park. The event is put on by the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital.
According to the Run to Home Base website, the funds raised from the event are used for the clinical care and support for both veterans and their families impacted by the invisible wounds of war.
In 2011, Beach ran it for the first time, and has participated in the event every year since.
In 2019, she shared that her husband truly started feeling the effects of PTSD. “He really needed my support,” Beach said. To support him, she started running more often to get into the “right headspace.”
Beach said running allowed her to still be home and keep an eye on her husband, to make sure he did not do anything to harm himself.
Beach also began participating in local 5Ks and 10Ks, with the Holyoke St. Patrick’s 10K being her favorite.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit, Beach said her husband’s PTSD got the worst of him and his mental health suffered.
“I was his biggest support, and we were very isolated,” she said.
While taking care of him, running was her only outlet.
Today, Beach shared that her husband is in a much better place mentally, but running is still very much a part of her life.
Earlier this year, she completed her first half marathon in Walt Disney World.
When she returned, she decided to do another one in New Hampshire with some friends, before deciding she wanted to run a half marathon in all 50 states.
After completing the New Hampshire race, her friend, Michelle, asked Beach and their other friends to sign up for the TCS New York City Marathon. While hesitant at first, Beach and her friends decided to put their names in the lottery, however, Michelle was the only one who was picked to compete.
After finding out about TCS Teachers, Beach decided to try for it.
“The TCS Teachers Team is a way to honor teachers who are inspirational in running and teaching,” she said. “I had to write about my running journey and how I use my fitness to inspire students in the classroom.”
Beach recalled being “shocked” to be chosen, as only 50 teachers out of more than 500 are selected.
TCS provides teachers access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics based resources and a “VIP experience” at the marathon, she added.
The New York City marathon is set to take place on Nov. 5.
In preparation for the 26.2 miles, Beach has endured 20 weeks of training, running three to four times a week.
Although the running consists of a lot of early mornings before school, Beach said it has been “crazy” yet “really great” as she has Michelle training alongside her.