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World, meet Shaun
August 16th, 2016

World, meet Shaun

August 16th, 2016
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Our community is vast — today we bring you yet another member of our TCS NYC Marathon team training and adding meaning to their miles this coming fall. Read on for Shaun’s story and how she got inspired to run on behalf of PowerPlay.

My name is Shaun Provost, and I am a 26 year-old sponsored Runner & Obstacle Course Racing athlete.  I started my athletic career early on by participating in a dance program in my community, and soon transitioned into gymnastics.  I competed as a state and nationally ranked gymnast for about 13 years, before moving away to college.  I took a break from competitive sports for long enough to realize how much I missed them,  and immediately fell in love with running and Obstacle Course Races.  The combination of speed, strength, and flexibility reminded me so much of the gymnastics life that I had been missing.  I now hold 15 podium finishes and two records in Obstacle Course Races across the U.S., and am sponsored by several awesome companies (Topo Athletic, OCR Gear, Icebug USA, Legendborne) that help me achieve my fitness goals.

Without my mom and sister as a very active and fit role models, I am not sure where I would be now.  With their support and motivation, gymnastics and sports like running and OCR became my rock and my constants through a number of tumultuous, stressful stages of my life. They taught me teamwork, perseverance, dedication, leadership and so much more.

I wish this for all young girls and women – that they not only have the support, but the access they need to try new sports, to join teams, and to get out there and be active in their own way.  Sports are typically so male-dominated, and it’s not “cool” for girls to be strong or fast… but these very aspects help build girls into the young women they need to be to become successful in the fast-paced and action-packed world of today. Sports can build self-confidence and self-worth that other aspects of life just plain can’t.  That’s why I am so passionate about PowerPlay NYC; they bring these aspects of self-value, self-confidence, leadership – to those communities that might not otherwise have access.

Thank you for sharing your story, Shaun!! You can donate to Shaun’s profile here on Crowdrise. Thank you to our community for your support of all of our runners as they shed blood, sweat and tears on behalf of PowerPlay NYC and the girls of NYC.

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August 16, 2016