and to see myself achieve distances and speeds that I have not managed to do in years. McCormick said he expects the people of Toledo to come out and support this event, much like they have done for other large events like the Solheim Cup. Come September 21, I look forward to joining the rest of the Toledo running community and all of the people who come to see what our city has to offer as they run along the Maumee. As we cross the fi nish line, I hope we all feel proud of what we have accomplished. Third, “the running community in northwest Ohio is second to none,” McCormick said. “We are just a very welcoming community with regards to running,” he continued, noting the many running clubs and several specialty running stores in the area. Dave’s Running, the company that operates Run Toledo, is the oldest running shop in Ohio. They also host the largest training group, which McCormick says has about 300 people currently training for the Garmin event. “We have developed a really strong core of training programs and ways to help people who weren’t runners become runners, and people who are runners become better runners,” McCormick said. In addition to the Dave’s group, Fleet Feet, which opened a store in the Westgate Village Shopping Center in 2023, hosts a training group as well as a weekly social run club. A new group, BRB Running, hosts two runs per week around Glass City Metropark and downtown Toledo. Adventus Climbing in Toledo also has a run club, and their coach, Holly Ciprani, developed a training plan for the Garmin Half Marathon group which she kindly shared with me. Right now, my running club looks more like pushing a toddler (or two!) on a stroller and waving at any dogs, ducks or buses that we pass along the way. Some days it means stopping at the Ottawa Park playground or taking a detour to wave at the new Rocky and Rocksy statue at the University of Toledo. But the fact that it is happening at all is a huge personal success, and does even more for my mental health than my physical health. I have enjoyed remembering what it is like to fi nd a rhythm and get lost in my thoughts during a long run, to feel the soreness of my legs gradually turn into muscle Kelly Sankowski is a freelance writer based in Toledo. She earned her BA in English and Religious Studies from the University of Virginia and her MA in Theology and Ministry from Boston College. With a background in religion journalism, her writing often focuses on the intersection of faith and feminism. These days, she spends most of her time chasing around her two toddler sons. You can fi nd more of her work on her website, kellysankowski. com, or by reading her monthly(ish) Substack, The Moon’s Shadow. Solace Menstrual Justice: Menstrual Justice is a Human Right Interview by Ed Conn written by Karen Gerhardinger Imagine using a public restroom or workplace facility that has no soap or toilet paper. For those who menstruate, having access to tampons and pads is just as critical. That’s why Solace Health & Wellness launched its Menstrual Justice Program in Toledo, said Katie Garber, program director. “The Menstrual Justice Program was born out of fi rsthand experience – seeing the unmet needs of clients, coworkers, and community members struggling with access to menstrual products,” Garber said. In her work as a midwife, Solace executive director Erin Marten educated people about menstrual and reproductive health. Through those experiences, it became clear that the community is experiencing period poverty. “Launching this program was our way of taking action – both to provide support and to raise awareness about the dignity and rights of menstruators in Toledo,” Garber said. “One of the biggest goals of the program is to bring awareness to the need for free products, and to end the stigma around menstruation.” Menstrual justice is a movement that addresses inequities and stigmas surrounding menstruation. It recognizes that menstruation is a public health, human rights and social justice issue, Garber explained. “By collecting menstrual supplies and distributing them to various organizations in the community, we can help ensure that our most vulnerable citizens can have access to necessary menstrual supplies,” she said. Solace gathers donations of products and funding, then distributes those resources to individuals, schools and local organizations. “We partner with businesses and organizations to hold collection drives, and have a ‘period packing party’ at the end of the drive. The organization works with Solace to make period packs and they can distribute them to wherever they want, or they can choose to donate them to Solace to distribute,” Garber explained. Youth-driven donation drives help normalize conversations about menstruation and reduce stigma, which is a big goal of the program. “By engaging young people, we’re building a more informed and empowered generation committed to menstrual equity,” she said. A new program highlights and recognizes businesses that support their employees and customers, by certifying these businesses as “period friendly.” A business can qualify by committing to one or all of the following: providing free menstrual products to staff; offering free menstrual products to customers; and supporting staff with period-friendly absence policies. Businesses that are certifi ed as Period Friendly will receive a window decal, a digital badge and recognition on Solace’s platforms. This year alone, Solace has received donations of 2,873 tampons, 2,826 pads and other hygiene products. “These donations will make a huge difference in Toledo, as a menstruator uses around 20 pads or tampons per cycle,” she said. Photo from Solace Menstrual Facebook page Page 7 Solace provided research for Toledo City Council’s legislation to provide free and accessible period products in city-owned restrooms in 2024. While seeing the success of the program’s launch, Solace continually seeks to increase community connections, certify more businesses as period friendly, normalize conversations about menstruation, and to make an impact on period poverty in Toledo. For information on how to help, or for upcoming drives, visit Solace Menstrual Justice on Facebook and Instagram. The Menstrual Justice Program is just one aspect of Solace, which offi cially opened in 2021. As a midwife, executive director and founder Erin Marten sees how the health care system is failing women, mothers and birthing people. Women — especially Black women — are dying during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. LGBTQ+ individuals struggle to get affi rming sexual and reproductive care. Access to contraceptives, abortion care and other medical services are under attack. Marten decided to start Solace as an antidote. Solace Health and Wellness is a sexual and reproductive health, wellness and justice space. With a focus on education, advocacy and outreach, Solace utilizes the Reproductive Justice Framework to guide its work: the right to have children; the right to not have children; the right to raise the children we do have in safe and sustainable communities; and the right to autonomy over our bodies and our health. Although the format and programming at Solace have changed over time, the mission stays consistent: to shake up the status quo and to create different expectations in the care of medically vulnerable populations. To learn more, visit solacehealth.org.
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