RIA Half Marathon - Meet our mentors
Sridhar Sharma
I run and bike with passion and interest and for a cause too. What I believe is It's important to know that at the end of the day it's not the medals you remember. What you remember is the process -- what you learn about yourself by challenging yourself, the experiences you share with other people, the honesty the training demands -- those are things nobody can take away from you whether you finish 200th or you're an Olympic Champion. You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement.
I was not a runner or biker until started volunteering for Asha. I was inspired by the thought of contributing to something bigger and making a difference in the lives of under-privileged.
I started running 4 years back with Asha and have successfully competed in 5 half marathons and one full marathon since then. I have also participated in the Ragnar relay run (10 runners 200 miles in 36 hours). I have been mentoring Asha marathon runners for the past 2 years. This year so far I have mentored 15 new runners, who finished their first half marathon in the summer Rock and Roll event. .
I also enjoy biking too and have successfully completed Seattle To Portland (STP) four times.
When Vinod approached me for starting a half marathon team at Redmond Ridge, I immediately agreed since I have known him for a long time and appreciate his sense of community service. I remember that last year he dropped out of the Seattle half marathon training to focus on RIA Diwali. I hope with the training coming to Redmond Ridge, he alone with other volunteers and residents will join in large numbers. Let's have fun together!
I run and bike with passion and interest and for a cause too. What I believe is It's important to know that at the end of the day it's not the medals you remember. What you remember is the process -- what you learn about yourself by challenging yourself, the experiences you share with other people, the honesty the training demands -- those are things nobody can take away from you whether you finish 200th or you're an Olympic Champion. You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement.
I was not a runner or biker until started volunteering for Asha. I was inspired by the thought of contributing to something bigger and making a difference in the lives of under-privileged.
I started running 4 years back with Asha and have successfully competed in 5 half marathons and one full marathon since then. I have also participated in the Ragnar relay run (10 runners 200 miles in 36 hours). I have been mentoring Asha marathon runners for the past 2 years. This year so far I have mentored 15 new runners, who finished their first half marathon in the summer Rock and Roll event. .
I also enjoy biking too and have successfully completed Seattle To Portland (STP) four times.
When Vinod approached me for starting a half marathon team at Redmond Ridge, I immediately agreed since I have known him for a long time and appreciate his sense of community service. I remember that last year he dropped out of the Seattle half marathon training to focus on RIA Diwali. I hope with the training coming to Redmond Ridge, he alone with other volunteers and residents will join in large numbers. Let's have fun together!
Craig Ashley
Hello everyone, I am looking forward to getting into running shape with each of you over the next several months in preparation for our upcoming half-marathon. As a quick introduction to myself, my family and I (wife and three boys) have lived in Redmond Ridge for the past three years. Prior to accepting a job at Microsoft, we lived in Pennsylvania for 12 years, and in Illinois before. My family and I really enjoy it here in the Pacific Northwest, between soccer, basketball, hiking, work and general family fun it is a great place to live. When Vin(od) approached me to help get us all ready to go for the upcoming run, I through it was an exciting opportunity to both run and meet some of you from the community who I have never met before. In terms of running experience, over the past 8 years I’ve run marathons in Philadelphia, the Outer Banks, and Big Sur, as well as several shorter races (5k – ½ marathons). With a little bit of hard work, putting in the weekly training miles, we can all have a successful race. Looking forward to meeting each and every one of you.
Hello everyone, I am looking forward to getting into running shape with each of you over the next several months in preparation for our upcoming half-marathon. As a quick introduction to myself, my family and I (wife and three boys) have lived in Redmond Ridge for the past three years. Prior to accepting a job at Microsoft, we lived in Pennsylvania for 12 years, and in Illinois before. My family and I really enjoy it here in the Pacific Northwest, between soccer, basketball, hiking, work and general family fun it is a great place to live. When Vin(od) approached me to help get us all ready to go for the upcoming run, I through it was an exciting opportunity to both run and meet some of you from the community who I have never met before. In terms of running experience, over the past 8 years I’ve run marathons in Philadelphia, the Outer Banks, and Big Sur, as well as several shorter races (5k – ½ marathons). With a little bit of hard work, putting in the weekly training miles, we can all have a successful race. Looking forward to meeting each and every one of you.