Last year, board member Jeff Burnett ran the Twin Cities Marathon and together with his generous supporters he raised over $7,000 for Great River Greening. This year, Jeff is back and ready to lace up his running shoes to run over 50 miles in six races—and we need YOUR help.

But first, let’s learn a bit more about Jeff, and how his passions for the environment and running intersect.

Q: What got you into running?

 “I grew up in an active family and can remember going to races where my parents were doing 5K/10K/15K distances. I ran track and field through high school and took a pause during college. I got back into running after college with my wife Danielle. I was drawn to the sense of community and camaraderie in the running community. The longest I have run is the marathon distance—26.2 miles—and I have completed [a marathon] eight times. Each one has been unique and great experience, testing both physical and mental toughness.”

Q: What is your goal this fall?

 “My goal this fall is to race a total of 52.4 miles, the equivalent of 2 marathons. I would love to raise $7,000 for Great River Greening and bring in new donors to our program.”

To reach his goal, Jeff will be running in the following races:

• 9/17/2022 – Elm Creek Half Marathon

• 10/02/2022 – Twin Cities 10 Mile

• 10/29/2022 – Minneapolis Halloween Half Marathon

• 10/29/2022 – Anoka Halloween Gray Ghost Run

• 11/2022 – Either the Moustache Run Half Marathon or the St. Paul Turkey Trot

• 12/10/2022 – Reindeer Run 15K

Q: What brought you to Great River Greening?

“Where do I start?! I grew up with a passion for the outdoors, achieving my Eagle Scout with Troop 834 out of New Holstein, WI. As I explored joining an environmental non-profit board, it was remarkable, Great River Greening checked all my ideal boxes. We are science-led. We see the opportunity through from concept to completion, getting our hands dirty with passionate volunteers. At the end, we partner with local organizations and/or stewards to maintain that which has just been restored. That is a huge point of differentiation with Great River Greening.

“For me, Great River Greening serves such a valuable cause—seeking to restore land and water to promote wonder for generations to come. Those who support our cause have the opportunity to leave behind a legacy of caring for future generations by being stewards today.

“Great River Greening is also so accessible. Support of all sizes and we can make a difference, from planting trees and pollinators to restoring acres of land, we can put it all to use with meaningful contributions.”

Q: What goes through your mind when you’re running a race?

“Running is my happy place. I find I do some of my best thinking, resetting, and appreciating that which has been lent to us by future generations. Running a race is a great mix of physical and mental toughness. At some point you will hit the wall, that is inevitable. It’s what you do after you hit the wall that matters. Pick yourself up and keep moving forward, one step at a time. Whether it’s a 5K or a marathon, it can be daunting. If you take it one step at a time it becomes that much more manageable. Running has a lot of parallels to life.”

One step at a time, you can help us make that difference. Donations from individuals like YOU are critically important to our success. Jeff isn’t simply just running this fall—for every donor who contributes to this campaign, Jeff will donate a Living Legacy Tree (a $25 value) in their honor. Will you join us in taking a step towards this goal?

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Contributors: Jeff Burnett, Julie Baumeister

Photo Credits: Photos provided by Jeff Burnett from the 2021 Twin Cities Marathon