Patrick La Riviere - 'Go Run™ Spotlight
Q: Tell us about your running/walking journey! How did you start participating in 'Go Run?
A: I used to be an occasional, fair-weather runner. My youngest daughter Rose is developmentally disabled, and I would run with her in a jogging stroller. When I first learned that ‘Go Run allowed jogging strollers, which is rare for an organized running event, I signed up and started running much more regularly, both with and without the stroller. Since then, I have participated in CARA’s Tuesday track workouts and run three half marathons, among many other races.
Q: How long have you been participating in 'Go Run?
A: My first Go Run was in August 2017 and I have run nearly 150 of them since then.
Q: What is your favorite part about the 'Go Run experience?
A: I love the camaraderie and seeing a mix of familiar and new faces every week—the regular runners, the veteran volunteers, and the people doing an organized run for the first time. I have introduced friends and my other children to ‘Go Run. We always make a point of finding an interesting cafe, shop, or restaurant to visit in each park’s neighborhood.
Q: What does being active mean to you?
A: It means several things: staying healthy, having a break from my desk job, and, most importantly, having an activity I can share with my daughter Rose.
Q: Describe your most memorable 'Go Run experience.
A: A few years ago I was working hard to run a 20-minute 5K (without the stroller!). I was getting close on my own but couldn’t do better than about 20:15. Then a faster, younger Go Run regular (who also happened to be my oldest daughter’s math teacher) offered to pace me at a 63rd St Beach ‘Go Run and we ran well under 20:00. The picture of my pacer standing over my collapsed corpse at the finish is one of my favorites of the last decade.
Q: What advice would you offer to a new runner/walker or participant who wants to get involved in 'Go Run?
A: Just do it! ‘Go Run is a very welcoming space for running and walking. Running is one of the few activities where people of widely different life stages and abilities can participate in the same event.
Q: Anyone you would like to thank or give kudos to that has helped you on your active journey?
A: I am grateful to my daughter Rose, who has been a great running buddy these last few years, including through some long, cold, or wet runs. I am also very grateful to Dominique and all the ‘Go Run volunteers who give up their Saturday mornings all spring, summer, and fall to support this wonderful event.
To learn more about 'Go Run, visit www.cararuns.org/gorun