This is the next profile Q and A in a series entitled
Communicators Outside the Lines: Better Yourself, Better Your Community produced by the CoSIDA Goodwill & Wellness Committee.
HAVE IDEAS OR MEMBERS TO NOMINATE FOR THIS SERIES?
If you have any ideas for this series, which will revolve around CoSIDA member volunteerism and health and wellness, please contact Goodwill and Wellness Committee chair
Chris Mitchell, Washington University in St. Louis Assistant AD for Communications, via cell (618-560-9280) or email (
mitchell@wustl.edu).
Q&A with Jeremy Rosenthal
Assistant Director of Media Relations, Indiana University
By Ryan Davis, Missouri Valley Conference Assistant Commissioner for Communications
CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness Committee member
An avid runner, Jeremy Rosenthal is an Assistant Director of Media Relations at Indiana University and is the primary contact for the Hoosiers' volleyball, men's tennis and women's tennis programs. He is an active member of CoSIDA's Goodwill and Wellness Committee, serving as a vice-chair. In his vice chair role, he coordinates the annual CoSIDA-NACDA 5k at the June convention, and this year the event attracted a record turnout and and record charity dollars raised. Jeremy qualified for the Boston marathon after running the Columbus Marathon
before a 1 p.m. volleyball match when Indiana played at Ohio State.
Q: When did your love of running start?
ROSENTHAL: I didn't think I would get into running and stay in it this long when I first started. I joined the track and field team in ninth grade to stay in shape for a basketball camp later that summer. I had a great experience and did cross country the next fall and the rest is history. I fell in love with being part of a team and the process of working hard to improve and reach goals. I thought after high school I would run less but I actually ended up running more.
Q: Did you run competitively in high school or college?
ROSENTHAL: I ran track and field and cross country in high school. That experience was amazing. I think that being part of a team and that sense of camaraderie is one of the reasons I work in athletics today. I ran for a running club at Indiana University, but was not good enough to make the varsity team. I've worked with track and field at IU, which has been a lot of fun. I also volunteered for the 2012 Olympic Trials in Track and Field, which was a great experience.
Rosenthal pictured at right with the CoSIDA Goodwill and
Wellness Committee in Dallas.
Q: How did you get involved with the Goodwill and Wellness committee and how did you get involved with planning the annual CoSIDA 5K/Fun Run?
ROSENTHAL: I always wanted to be involved with our national organization. I have been to our convention each summer and have had fun and learned a lot. I signed up for the inaugural CoSIDA 5K in Marco Island. That 5K was run on the beach, which was interesting. The chair of the committee Sam Atkinson sent out an email that included a meeting of the committee that week. I had always been involved in community service and figured this would be a perfect way to get more involved in CoSIDA.
At the 2015 convention in Orlando Sam Atkinson and Ryan Klinkner were stepping down from their leadership roles. I jumped at the chance to take on an increased role in the committee as a vice chair. With my experience in running it was decided I would help plan the 5K. I went at it full force and we were able to have a record turnout with over 200 people and raise over $4,000 for our charity. I would encourage everyone to sign up this year for the 5K in Orlando. I also want to thank Sam and Ryan for getting this great event started.
Q: There is a rumor you ran a marathon in Columbus, Ohio on the same day IU volleyball played at Ohio State...is that true?
ROSENTHAL: It is true. I had heard the Columbus Marathon was a great marathon and my goal was to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I looked at my volleyball schedule and it just so happened that the marathon was on the same day we played at Ohio State. I did a quick calculation of the race being at 8:00 a.m. and thinking I would run close to three hours would give me plenty of time to make it for the 1:00 p.m. match.
The last couple miles were tough, but I said to myself 'how much do you want it' and I was able to run 3:02, a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon, which I hope to run in April. I'll never forget what happened when I came into the gym at Ohio State. The team was finishing up warm-ups before heading into the locker room. When they saw me they all came over and congratulated me on my achievement. Our head coach talked about my race as motivation and inspiration for the team in her pre-match speech too. I was a little tired for the match, but the hardest part was probably climbing the stairs to get up to where I was helping on the broadcast.
Q: Do you have any future running goals to achieve?
ROSENTHAL: My big goal was to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I remember several years ago being in Boston to watch the race and thinking how cool it was to be a spectator and how awesome it must be to run it. I never thought I would run 26.2 miles so I'll never say never, who knows, maybe an ultra marathon down the road.
Q: Do you have any advice for those in the profession that are thinking about taking up running as a way to compete and/or live a healthy lifestyle?
ROSENTHAL: I would say go for it! I think having a race you want to do or a goal you want to achieve is important. I think it really helps you get up and out the door when you know you have something you are working towards. We are all busy, but find time to exercise, no matter if it's running or biking or walking or anything. I run in the morning. I find it's a great way to start the day and I know I may be too tired after work. My supervisors are very supportive and it's ok if I come into the office a little late if I'm going on a run. They encourage me in my running and the day I came back from Columbus there was a congratulatory cookie cake on my desk. They also tell me not to come back to the office each year if I don't win the CoSIDA 5K.
Q: Do you find it important to be involved in the community even though our profession demands long hours?
ROSENTHAL: I think it is very important to be involved in the community. I was raised with the idea of giving back to others. I was President of an organization in high school called the Boys Organization for Student Service. I organized several projects, including a charity basketball tournament to support the Red Cross. Through my work in Boy Scouts I was also very involved in the community and did my Eagle Scout project at a local homeless shelter. I think being involved in the community can be a fun way to meet people and have a great impact in helping people that are very supportive of our athletics programs.