Why We Run: Evan Gleason

This year we have a record-breaking number of runners working with us to raise funds for Fishermen Wellness. This is the last of three profiles sharing the stories of why they run, and why Maine fishermen and their wellness matters to them.

EVAN GLEASON

Day job: Insurance Agent

Race: Relay

Years running with MCFA: 3

Why did you start running?

When COVID hit, I was terrified. Back then, I was about 100 pounds heavier than I am now. The people who weren’t doing well looked a lot like me, and I didn’t have healthy habits. So I quit drinking, I started eating better. I lived on Back Cove in Portland at the time and I had just started a new job and was working from home. That made it really easy to make the time and just get outside. I started running there, just a quarter mile at a time. Over time I started to like it… and even miss it on days I couldn’t go out. I didn’t expect that! Now I’ve done a half marathon and a few relays. During training I can run 15 miles, which blows my mind.

When did you first get to know MCFA?

I’m a lifelong Mainer – I lobstered as a kid in Friendship, as a sternman, just a few years. That was the only job I ever had where I never wanted to be anywhere else. I absolutely loved it.

But this race three years ago was my first introduction to MCFA. I was at a chamber event and someone was asking for runners… it was Susan (Olcott).  Getting involved with the relay seemed like such a great way to support an organization that matters to Maine and to me, doing something I already love.

Why do you keep doing this?

The culture of the runners in this group is a lot of fun. It’s such a casual group that takes the cause seriously and is reliable – that makes it so much slicker. Amy Floren, on my running team, her organization for the relay is amazing. She arranges everything, it’s incredible and I’m grateful to her for making it easy!

Really, spending time with everyone at MCFA has always been a pleasure. You all make it so easy to get involved and be passionate about the cause. As long as I’m able and as long as I’m needed, I’m happy to be a part of this.

What have you learned along the way?

The way everyone at MCFA makes an effort to find the root causes of issues and to bring in the whole community to try to solve them is so admirable. Most Mainers tend to view fishermen as one united community, but like any group there’s different ideas, different opinions, different economic realities – you have as many different viewpoints in Maine fisheries as you do in any other arena. MCFA has a seat at the table for everybody and that’s amazing.

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