Mr. Gregory and Mr. Flick are two math teachers at Judge Memorial who also enjoy long-distance running. They’ve both taken on tough races, including 50K runs, with more upcoming. They share how their stories show how hard work and staying active help them in and out of the classroom.

Mr. Flick started running more seriously after helping a friend with a 100-mile race. “I had never run anywhere near that,” he said. To prepare, he trained for the Skyline 55K, a 34-mile race with a large amount of uphill climbing. He explained that breaking big goals into smaller ones helped him stay focused: “Had I just considered that and focused on that big goal without breaking it down into smaller goals, it might really seem daunting.” This idea of taking things step by step is something he uses in teaching too.

Mr. Gregory got into running through a summer challenge with a fellow former teacher, Mr. Brennan. He ran a half marathon, a 25K, and then a 50K. He said, “I’m not one to train specifically for a race… it’s just run.” For him, running is a way to clear his mind. “You just look around and you don’t have to focus on the day-to-day responsibilities,” he said. He also mentioned how running helps him understand his students better. “Me being busy helps me realize that these kids are also very busy,” he said, so he tries to give students time in class to do homework, so that their workload isn’t too big, and so you can still do activities.

Both teachers trained together in the mountains around Utah, including Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon. Their running routines show how staying active helps them stay positive and better connect with their students. Whether it’s running or teaching, they both believe in setting goals, working hard, and keeping life balanced. Both teachers plan to do more races, with Mr. Flick planning to do a 50 mile race in Moab in January, and Mr. Gregory hopes he will be able to do a full ironman in April.