The Monster Runner Award

The Monster Runner Award is designed to celebrate the runners in our community who excel in race finishes, overcome personal challenges, run personal bests, contribute to a better life for those around them, and go far beyond their comfort zone to find something special within.

February in Eugene always means the Truffle Shuffle - a running and walking tradition that supports Committed Partners for Youth and the Bolder Options Program. This great program in our community gives kids an opportunity to be paired up with an adult mentor at a time when they need it the most. At this year’s Truffle Shuffle, which saw a record turnout 1660 participants, Davey ran the 2 mile event with his mentee, Cody, and then followed that up by running the 4 mile event on his own. Davey is on his third round as a mentor through the Bolder Options program. He got started when his roommate was a CPY volunteer and Davey admits having been excited about the opportunity to touch one person’s life at a time.

Davey grew up in Southeast Alaska and started running at 13 years of age while on a trip to the South Pacific with his uncle – he began running on a beach and hasn’t stopped since. A self-described “larger-kid” when his running started, Davey went on to participate in high school - while running to the bus stop in the cold - and eventually posting a PR of 5:04 for the mile. Davey’s favorite race distance over the years has been around the 10K range, but he currently has his sights set on a larger goal: the 2008 Eugene Marathon, which he’s currently training for.

When not running and mentoring, Davey works for Garage Games as the Director of Academic Relations, which teams with schools to teach kids how to create games of their own. Davey also enjoys playing African hand drums, was recently married to Marta, and “likes to get out to dance as much as possible.” When asked about the most memorable experiences he’s had as a mentor, Davey recalls learning to snowboard with a mentee and “falling down a lot.” At that moment, he realized the full impact of the learning that occurs on both sides of the mentor-mentee relationship, in a way that reminds us of the importance of sharing our journey with others. Thanks to Davey and countless others in our community who give of themselves through the Bolder Options Program, we can count on many more Monster Runners in the future.