For EGHS Teacher Chris Boie: It’s 26.2 Miles Or Bust

When Chris Boie starts Amica Newport Marathon today, he - like everyone else - will be running with the goal of finishing. The race is also a chance to illustrate what he's been teaching students for years: by setting goals you can accomplish remarkable things.

“A couple of years ago, I started to notice little aches and pains when I ran up the stairs. I thought, ‘Why am I hurting myself just running up the stairs?’” said  Boie last week. The math teacher realized he needed to get in shape.

Joining a gym, however, wasn’t quite enough for Boie. It was easy to skip a day, or two. There was nothing compelling him to go.

“I decided to write a SMART goal,” he said. For the uninitiated, SMART stands for “specific, measurable, action-based, realistic and time-defined,” - an acronym that’s part of the Student Leadership Training Program, which Boie has been involved with for 14 years.

His two goals: to run a half-marathon in 2010 and a full marathon in 2011. Setting those goals provided Boie with the framework he needed.

"I proceeded to learn about proper training and nutrition - it was like ‘senior project’ for adults,” he said. “Literally, I was researching what you do, through trial and error.”

Sure enough, Boie ran a half marathon in Newport last year. Today he will take on the same course, only keep going to complete the full 26.2-mile marathon course. As part of his goal, he is seeking donations for SLTP, the program that’s meant so much to him over the years.

“Our mission is to empower students to change their world,” Boie explained. He got hooked early on. “I love it. It’s the core of my being. It’s what makes me a better teacher.”

SLTP, a nonprofit, was founded in 1990 to help teenagers develop leadership skills during day and multi-day-long conferences. Boie said he was hooked after his first conference.

“I knew these people were special. I knew for these high schoolers to be organizing an entire summer program soup to nuts and not looking at all disorganized ever, that these were people I needed to play with. And it’s been a sandbox that I’ve enjoyed for the last 14 years,” said Boie.

Click here to donate to Chris Boie’s marathon fundraising goal. EG Patch will have marathon results for Boie and other local participants on Monday.