Coach Merrill at the Finish Line of the Run to the Keys.
The Run to the Keys
The community of Bowling Green is thrilled to learn of the amazing accomplishment of Coach Doug Merrill for his conquest of the ‘Run to the Keys’ to promote the Power UP Foundation. We caught up with Coach Merrill to find out what are the next steps in the advancement of the foundation.
Iron Man
Finishing my run of nearly 2,000 miles from Boston, MA to Key West, FL was exhilarating. Words could never compare to the feeling of crossing that finish line. However, after returning home I was having some difficulty motivating myself to “get back at it.” I kept telling myself that “I have earned some time off,” and each day off led to the next and to the next. The excuses just kept piling up.
While searching for the motivation to begin running again, I received a message from one of my new friends in Florida who competes regularly in triathlons. He had encouraged me through friendly needling to attempt a “real” challenge and enter the Iron Man competition.
His challenge provided the motivation I was looking for and I found my new challenge. It did not take long before I heard the “you can’t do that” line that I had heard when I announced I was running from Boston to Key West. I simply shook my head and uttered the word in my head that I had learned during the “Run to the Keys” which was “Really!”
I intend to use the Iron Man challenge to again illustrate how what sometimes seems impossible and insurmountable is possible and surmountable. It is important that we continue to set goals and to challenge ourselves.
Power UP Club
In addition to my traveling and speaking schedule, I have been working with the Ohio State University on the Power UP Societies. The mission of the Societies is to create an atmosphere that promotes a higher academic achievement, improved physical fitness level, and responsible social maturity. The Society is formed through members of every extracurricular activity within the school both athletic and academic.
The Society will begin its work by electing student officers that include a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. In addition, the Society will elect a senior, junior, sophomore, and freshman representative. Once elected, the President will appoint chairpersons for five committees. Those committees include: Physical Fitness, Academic Achievement, Volunteering, Events, and Fundraising. Each member of the Society will be assigned a committee to work with.
What separates the Power UP Society from other clubs or groups? The fact that students actively recruit other students within their school to attend Power UP workouts, Power UP study tables, guest speakers, and volunteering for projects.
The students that the Society recruits are the students that would otherwise be left out of the circle or that would fall through the cracks so to speak. The Society encourages students to behave as stewards of their high school rather than just students. In short, the Society is based on students helping students. We believe that the Power UP Society will bring an end to the reported stories of bullying and teen suicide.
Mission Statement
In response to despair, the Power UP Foundation exists as an advocate for this nation’s youth, to release them from their physical and mental difficulties and enable them to become secure, hopeful adults.
Follow Coach Merrill
The Foundation’s Website and on Facebook & Twitter.
