The COVID-19 pandemic has put a hold on a lot of different opportunities to connect with others throughout our country, but that hasn't stopped Sports Information Director Lindsey Beck from meeting new colleagues and friends virtually.
Beck, a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), has taken advantage of different chances to network and stay active within the organization. She, along with hundreds of other CoSIDA members from across the country, signed up to be grouped into teams to compete against each other in a fitness challenge. The challenge allows the teams to battle in a friendly competition to see which one can earn the most average minutes of exercise per week.
The groups also got together to meet their teammates through Zoom and also stay connected with all participants on a Facebook and Strava group. Beck's Fitness Challenge group won the nearly three-month event and they will look to defend their title as CoSIDA starts up their next round in the coming weeks.
"I have been so thankful to be a part of this fitness challenge," said Beck. "Not only is fitness something I enjoy and am passionate about, but I have thoroughly enjoyed making new friends that I can also connect with as colleagues to grow in my role as Sports Information Director. It's so nice to have some friendly competition to stay motivated during the virus when the gym and group runs I normally do have been closed or cancelled."
Beck also joined fellow CoSIDA members and community members in a 5k to raise money for Three Square, an organization in Las Vegas, Nev. which "provides wholesome food to hungry people, while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community," according to their website. Due to the cancellation of the CoSIDA Convention, which was set to take place in the charity's city, the race was run virtually with those who competed submitting their times through email and sharing their accomplishments on social media.
Beck completed her 5k at Camp Jordan Park in Chattanooga, Tenn. on June 6 with a time of 23:22 and had the third-fastest time among women competing and finished 24th overall against 141 total competitors in the event. She and her colleagues also raised over $4,000 to provide 12,000 meals to donate to those in need for the organization.
"I was so glad to have the opportunity to raise money to feed those in need," said Beck. "I feel blessed to not struggle with hunger or financial issues during the pandemic and I am so glad we came together to help those who have faced some tough challenges. It also is a joy to encourage each other in the tough task of completing a 5k, especially in the heat and humidity. I want to thank Jeremy Rosenthal for all of his hard work in making sure everything with the fitness challenge and race came to fruition despite the pandemic and ran so smoothly. It truly has been an amazing experience."
Beck says she will continue to stay involved in more of CoSIDA's events and cannot wait to help her team hopefully claim the next challenge title.
You can also donate to Three Square through CoSIDA until June 25 at this link.
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