Santa’s Little Helper
By Jeff Kagan
Christmas is just around the corner and most of us are still trying to work off the flubber and fat we picked up feasting with our families a few weeks ago over Thanksgiving. What’s a Chelsea boy to do? Diets don’t usually work this time of year with sweet temptations all around us. Instead of putting on your stretch-pants, perhaps it’s time to stretch out those legs?
Kelsey Louie can get you to drop that candy cane and drop a few pounds, as well! He is the head coach of Front Runners New York, the local LGBT running club and he will get you into shape quicker than you can say, “Sugar plum fairy!” The good news is that losing weight is only a by-product of running. The sport has many other wonderful benefits. “You can make running anything you want it to be. It can be a way to set goals and challenge yourself to achieve great things; it can be an excuse to eat a second serving of your favorite dessert; or it can be a way to start a conversation with a new hottie, or an old friend you just had an argument with; or it can be a way to meet up with friends and do something healthy for yourselves while catching up,” Kelsey says.
Kelsey’s been going strong with Front Runners for the past 13 years, and running almost twice as long. As the head coach, his job is to motivate his athletes to reach their full potential. “My coaching is supportive, but firm. I try to meet everyone where they’re at. Some people want to be pushed to their limit. Some people just want a few tips.”
Kelsey gets involved, running side by side with his teammates, mentoring them all the way.
In 2005, one runner set a goal of running the Chicago marathon in 3:30 (3 hours and 30 minutes) to qualify for the Boston marathon. Kelsey ran with him and they finished in 3:28. To an outsider, an accomplishment like this may not seem like a significant achievement, but it has a major effect on the athlete who has pushed himself further than ever before. Kelsey says, “It changed how he saw himself as a person, bringing his self-confidence to new levels.” While some people still believe in Santa Claus, Kelsey gets others to believe in themselves.
When Kelsey isn’t running in sneakers, the Brooklyn-native is running things over at Harlem United Community AIDS Center, a non-profit organization which provides healthcare, mental health services, supportive housing, and prevention services to people living with HIV/AIDS and the general homeless population. Kelsey oversees all of their programs which occasionally has him working 14-hours days, but he still finds time to hit the treadmill in the wee hours of the night before nestling all snug in his bed. He acknowledges that his arduous work ethic is inherited from his father, and he credits his mother for instilling in him a caring attitude and “fabulousness”.
Kelsey also serves on the fundraising committee of Out of Bounds NYC, an umbrella group for all LGBT sports and recreation organizations in the greater New York area. He and his team are hosting a fundraising drive for the True Colors Residence, a permanent housing facility for LGBT youth, an idea conceived by Colleen Jackson (Executive Director of West End Intergenerational Residence, musical artist Cyndi Lauper, and Cyndi’s manager Lisa Barbaris.) Their goal is to raise $5,000 by Christmas. Kelsey says, “I’ve worked with children in foster care, the homeless population, LGBT adults, people with HIV/AIDS, and substance users; but I’ve never had the chance to work with LGBT homeless youth—they are such a vulnerable group.”
For more about Front Runners New York or the True Colors Residence Fundraising Drive, see www.frny.org and www.oobnyc.org.
QUICKIES
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Rack & Shoot! After six weeks of play, the New York Gay Pool League has only one undefeated team, Boxers Briefs. They won 8-7 against the previously undefeated team Eagle. Eagle now shares 2nd place with Boxers (a 2nd Boxers team). Rounding out the standings are Stonewall Stars, PoolBoyz from Hangar, Industry Weak Links, Ginger’s G-Spots, and Stonewall Riots. More at nygpl.org.
Oh, My Nose! Big Apple Dodgeball finished up their season recently and it was a fight for first place. Posh narrowly beat out Elmo for the title, and it was the closest it's been in any season thus far. Big Apple Bowling also just recently wrapped up their fall season of bowling with much
success. The Blue Bowls trumped the Dirty Dozen to win the season and they celebrated by taking down a beer tower or two at Frames to celebrate their victory. Both plan to come back in the winter for another season. More at bigappledodgeball.com.
success. The Blue Bowls trumped the Dirty Dozen to win the season and they celebrated by taking down a beer tower or two at Frames to celebrate their victory. Both plan to come back in the winter for another season. More at bigappledodgeball.com.
My, What Soft Balls You Have! The Big Apple Softball League Fall 2011 Championship results are in! 1st Place: Fall Guys (Competitive Division), Empires (Intermediate Division) and Go! Girls (Women's Division); 2nd Place: Wings (Competitive Division), Rookies (Intermediate Division) and Bulldogs (Women's Division). Congrats to all! More at bigapplesoftball.com.
