There is a time and season for everything, even running. We all move and run for different reasons. For Teresa Harder those reasons have gone through many transitions to meet her life’s circumstances and enrich the many aspects of her life.

“First, it was to stay in shape and run with my college buddies.” While she attended Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, Arizona at the 7,500 foot elevation level, she loved being able to travel to the Phoenix valley or to the coast and feel like she could run forever.

“Later, I ran with a jogging stroller to get both myself and my daughter outside.”

Then, in 1998 her brother was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. “I ran to relieve stress and because the stress level was high, I was running A LOT.” In fact, she ran a 13-14 mile loop on a regular basis out the Coronado Strand in California.

She recalls one particularly memorable run from this time period: “One day I remember running from the Burbank Hospital while we were in ‘wait mode’ after one of several surgeries my brother endured. I went straight into the ‘running zone’ and realized I had run much too far and was in a neighborhood that was much too dangerous and it was getting late.” She may have set a personal record that day but will never know since they didn’t have any GPS watches at that time.

After moving to Idaho, Teresa jumped into some races in order acclimate to the new environment. “My first Idaho race was the Sawtooth Relay in 1999 when I was very new to the state. While I was running at a decent 9 to 9.5 min/mile pace, I was super-under prepared for the experience. I showed up in my running shorts (had never been to Stanley) with a banana for a snack – that’s all. Again, set a PR that night running in the dark by myself along the edge of the highway.”

As the years have passed, Teresa has come to appreciate her running community here in Boise. “It will come as no surprise to those who know me that I run today for the social aspect. I love the BAR group and have really pushed myself to do more and venture out on some destination runs with friends.”

Teresa’s most recent adventure out of her comfort zone was the 30K Payette Lake Run earlier in September. “It was the longest race I have ever completed. And, I have decided after that experience, I would rather work on quality shorter half-marathons and 10K’s” than pursue longer distances.

When asked about running in this current time and season, Teresa says, “I can’t even imagine my life without my BAR friends now. I’ve made lifelong friends and we get together for lots of events outside of running now. Runners are generally happy and fit people with a pretty optimistic outlook on life – my kind of people. If you surround yourself with happy runners, life is good. And, the race time is only a very small part of running for me. The race experience and the social time with friends is the key motivator.”

Teresa keeps inspiring all of us who know her and how she makes running a big part of her life regardless of the time or season.

See you out on a run!

One of the BAR’s longstanding supporters has been Mike Shuman, owner and operator of Shu’s Idaho Running Company. Year after year, he has contributed to the BAR from goody bags for our holiday party to a scholarship for a runner to participate at our Spring Training Camp to a discount on shoes for BAR Tenders. He is far more than just a generous business, he is a runner with heart and soul who has overcome the many challenges life has thrown at him. Enjoy this guest contribution to the BAR Stories Project. See you out on a run!

– Beau Seegmiller

Mike “Shu” Shuman has an enthusiasm for life that makes shopping at Shu’s Idaho Running Company an experience you’ll never forget. You’ll hear stories, get advice and you’ll even get dark chocolate delivered to you. Winning the 1993 Big Sur Trail Marathon, running many marathons as well as various other distance races, he has come to be considered to be the heart and soul of the running community here in Boise.

Mike ran one of his most memorable marathons after he was cleared from cancer to start training. His first two marathons were Twin Cities and Portland. He was running very well, but learning at the same time to do things differently since he no longer had saliva because of the radiation treatments. Using gels was also proving to be a bit difficult. On one of the marathons, he took the gel and there was no water at the aid station, luckily there was a little boy that offered him a cup of water close by, which Mike gladly accepted.

Right before Mike’s cancer diagnosis, he grew tired of the corporate life and wanted to be at home more. Hence, the start of the running store, which he has owned and operated with his wife for the last twenty-one years.  

After cancer he was very enthusiastic about giving back to the community because of the outreach of support he received while going through treatments.  He still loves to give back just as much now as he did twenty years ago when he was diagnosed!

He is a cancer survivor of twenty years and has developed many different hobbies over the years from motorcycles, to horseback riding, skiing, his fur babies (Annie and Tucker), to being a first time Grandparent and just loves life itself!  He is definitely an inspiration to all of us.

– Leone with Shu’s Idaho Running Company