Square Runners: Building Stamina

By John Pilecki

Regent Square resident life work has revolved around helping others. While working full-time as an H.I.V. prevention researcher, Mala took classes to learn the practice of reiki, a system of touching with the hands based on the belief that an experienced practitioner can relieve stress and tension by strengthening and normalizing vital energy fields within the body. 

Mala’s efforts were so rewarding for both her clients and herself that she opened her own reiki business, which includes the practice of reiki and reiki-infused jewelery. But when the practitioner herself needed a stress reliever, she decided to take more seriously her casual pastime of running, and joined the last summer. She set a goal of completing a distance run, which she did on Oct. 15 when she ran the full 13.1 miles of the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon in Server, Pa. Mala cites the benefits of running with the club:

"I never thought I would sign up for anything longer than a 10K before I joined the running club. After I joined the running club, I kept increasing the distances I would run just to see if I could do it. I decided to try the Buffalo Creek Half when I heard it was on trails. I was already up to seven miles and change, and then talked to club founder, William Wingo, who said as long as I could do 10 miles, I'd be fine. He was really encouraging and supportive. I certainly wouldn't have run the half had it not been for joining the running club! I really enjoyed running the half and enjoyed finishing it even more!”

The club meets every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. in front of the on South Braddock Avenue. Members will run through the winter months and share techniques on keeping warm and visible. Check out the Square Running Club group on Facebook here for updates and encouragement—and come join us!