Joyce Nunez Gary

“Running is about finding your inner peace, and so is a life well lived.” Dean Karnazes. As I journey tru life, running has taught me that I’m capable of so much more than I ever imagined. My life purpose is to positively motivate, and uplift everyone I share space with and to empower them to set and reach their goals. I have been running most of my life. Growing up as a child in a small seaside town we ran everywhere, but mostly to the beach. As an adult, I grew my running efforts to deal with everyday life stressors and to enhance my Meditation and Mindfulness practice. I am also an avid skier, and enjoy biking, spinning, yoga, endurance sports and love to read. I am currently chasing the abbot medal and scheduled to run London in October. I have completed numerous marathons and half marathons, and ran my share of 5, 8, 10ks and relays. My most fun runs are with my grandkids who always add a colorful tone to our races. Although I have enjoyed every race I have ran, my favorite marathon was the “Rome marathon” because I enjoyed running thru the city and its magnificent historic and sacred sites. My most memorable marathon was the New York marathon which I ran in honor of my husband after he lost his battle to cancer. I was originally scheduled to go run NY with him the year he passed. An experience like no other was training and completing the Lake Tahoe Century Ride - “America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride”. As a rider and fundraiser I partnered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Team In Training “ Ride For A Future Without Cancer” to reach this goal. I have been an avid fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Team In Training and have raised over 50k over the years. I am a strong believer in pairing my running to support and impact causes. This motivates me to go the extra mile and have also helped me to raise funds for the Diabetes Foundation and “Smile Train”. My fundraising effort were doubled when my husband was diagnosed with cancer in 2001. As a professional in my career, I have several decades of experience in the administration of public programs, nonprofits management and expertise in organizational leadership, Cultural competence/ Diversity, DEI, curriculum development, and grants management. I have also served as an educator professor/teacher. I enjoy synthesizing my love for Meditation and Mindfulness with my love for running. I have a passion for volunteering and facilitating meditation classes and projects to spiritually empower people, communities and my world family. In addition to my volunteer work, I am also a Mindfulness Meditation teacher, certified by the university of California (UC ) Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and I also teach running meditation with the “Train Heroic” Family. I am passionate and a strong advocate of this belief:: “Thorough running, meditation and the practice of mindfulness we bring health, light and peace into our lives and send it into the universe to make it a better world for all”. Dr. Joyce Nunez Gary Ed.D, MPA