Jason Belinkie
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, MD
"We are lucky to be able to do what we do and I work with people every day who don't have the opportunity to run, so it's a privilege," said Jason Belinkie concerning his running team.
Jason views coaching as an opportunity to create lifelong runners and create lifelong passion for running.
"I've had countless parents who say their children leave the team and running became a foundation for them to reinvent themselves and make them better people. I'm most proud of the kids who have continued to run after this program. It's all about a mentoring relationship for lifelong running. I went away from the sport after college and I was burned out - the coaching opportunity brought me back. It introduced me to a new side of running; for the pleasure of it. It was a major shift. It's about creating a community of runners.
He uses running as a metaphor for life. Running on a team is a chance to learn and grow.
"We also teach that adversity leads to opportunity. Every one of the defeats is an opportunity to learn something that you wouldn't have considered in the first place."
Whether it's working for non-profits such as Athletes for Hope as Chief Operating Officer, or coaching at the high school, Jason brings an enthusiasm and genuine respect for the human condition that help to inspire the community of runners around him.