Sunday, January 31, 2010

Just keep running . . .

This week was pretty good as far as training goes.  I got in two 3-hour runs and a few shorter ones.  I even hit the weight room and did some reps of various activities.  I did a couple takes of a 10-minute video for the Fuel Up for 60 program at our school.  The plan is that these videos will be shown in the afternoon and teachers who desire to can turn on their tvs and the kids can get some exercise.  It is a product of a grant the school got from the NFL and the National Dairy Council.  It works nicely as well with a grant that I received from Highmark called the Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge.  It has kids looking at the food choices they make and activities they do and trying to establish/maintain a healthy lifestyle.  I can say I don't remember having to think so hard about these things thirty years ago, but we got our first chain restaurant when I was in 11th grade in high school.  That may have something to do with it.
I sent about 70 emails last week looking for support. I'm hoping folks are just waiting for the income tax return before submitting their responses, because I got very few returns.  I am in a constant battle as to whether email is better or worse than traditional, hard copy mail.  At 44 cents a letter, though I feel like I need to try email first.  Thanks to the Shaner Group for their donation and to Appalachian Ski and Outdoors for their contribution.  I've been thinking of the canning idea, standing in traffic with a sandwich sign on hoping folks will be generous.  I hear that it is successful and, I am certainly not bashful, but I need to get the right place and the right permissions.  Maybe my crew can help with this.
I will be on WRXV FM on February 27 at 7:30 PM on a show called Centre Topics.  My wife is speaking at a Penn State Marketing Association event on March 4, and the Centre Daily Times has contacted me about a story and we should do some work on that this week.  Hopefully, with increased attention, more folks will become aware and knowledgeable of the long term effects of diabetes and feel a desire to help out.
Well, time to get ready for church.  Hope this week is as successful as last week.
Thanks for all the kind words of support.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Sign Up Time

Well, it is 4 months until run day and I am getting pretty excited.  Sign up for a time to run (or scooter as the case may  be, Jim) here on this Google Form.  I had a great 3-hour run this morning.  Thanks, Pete for doing a couple hours with me.  It was pretty cold, 18º at the start, but a really beautiful day for a run.  Each week, I am planning to increase by 30 minutes on my long run.  I hope a 10-hour long run will do it for training.  I don't want to overdo it and get injured, but I certainly need to be on my feet and moving forward for a major length of time.  I will be slow, I'm certain, but as long as I average 18 minutes per mile I will make 100 miles.  I really hope that I can surpass that by a fair amount.
Thanks so much to Dr. Scipione for his donation from State College Family Chiropractic.  He's kept me moving for a few years now, and I'm sure I will be seeing lots of him over the coming months.  Kristin and Byron, thanks for your great words of support and your donation to JDRF.  It was super to chat with you last night.  I really enjoyed dinner at the Tavern restaurant with the State College Music Department.  You know when 30 music folks sing Happy Birthday that it is going to sound GOOD!  I don't remember thanking Marla for her gift to JDRF.  If I didn't - thanks!  If I did, thanks, again!  It is great to be so well supported by my friends.
I have a pledge form and information sheet available for those interested in joining me.  Just drop me a line and I will send you a pdf. so you can get started collecting donations.
Four months seems both long and short.  I know the time will go fast so I had better keep working hard.  Logistics are now a real thing to be considered, not just a dream on the edge of the vision.
Let's help find a cure for this nasty disease called diabetes.  I really hate to see the effects it has on people we love.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Thanks, Brooks! and Bass!

Now I can run faster, jump higher, and stomp harder.  I had contacted Brooks running company a month or so ago with a donation request.  They do not do monetary donations, but have a Run B'cause giving program they use to make contributions to worthwhile organizations.  Because I am training a lot and using up shoes in preparation for the JDRF event, I requested a few pairs of shoes through the program.  Yesterday, I got three pairs of Brooks shoes in the mail.  Thanks so much to Brooks!
I have been wearing Brooks shoes since the early '80's.  I still remember my Hugger GT's with fondness.  They went away for a while, but when I returned to running in 2002, there were there for me again.  The Adrenaline ASR is the trail version of the Adrenaline and that is what I requested.  Not having to buy shoes frees up those funds for donations or other costs associated with the run.  Cool!
This morning we had some great basketball games and I got in my speed work.  Lots of thanks to Bass for his donation to JDRF.  If you read the blog early on, you would recognize him as the one who wants to go in front of me and taunt me so that I stay motivated throughout the night.  He will now be known as "Taunt-O."  What a great guy.  If I can be half the man he is, he will be twice the man I am.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Run with Me!

Don't blame me, it's his idea.  I can't say that about the time or money goals that I have set for the JDRF 30 for 30 event, but I can say it for the following idea.  Why don't YOU run WITH me ??  No, not for the whole time, but for a while.  An hour?  A half hour?  A few hours?  Whatever distance or time you'd like would be fine.  I will ask for one thing in return.  Collect $100 in contributions for JDRF and join me.  Is this a win-win, or what?  You get a t-shirt commemorating the run - these are in development right now, you have some fun, have a reason to get in better shape AND help JDRF find a cure !  What a bargain!  Besides, you know you made that new year's resolution to lose a few pounds or move more.  Trust me, I won't be moving that fast.  It is going to be a long day+.
Consider it, and climb on board.  You can pick the time of day or night.  It could be worth it just to laugh at me !

Monday, January 4, 2010

No CGM

We got news today that Molly's request for a new insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor has been denied by the insurance.  Strangely enough, her diligence in controlling blood sugars is the reason she is not eligible.  If she had been hospitalized or treated by emergency personnel, she would be eligible for the new technology.
I talked with several folks today about fundraising.  I am going to need to get things in gear soon with regard to publicity.  If you read this and can share the effort with anyone, I know I would appreciate it.  That six degrees of Kevin Bacon thing is bound to work, somehow.  I've just got to make the connection with the right folks to set things in motion.
I have had a great start to the year for consistency.  I have run each day this year :D   It has been pretty cold and especially windy, but the 16º temps didn't cool my enthusiasm.  In fact, I really enjoy the nasty conditions.  I'm not Bob F., Jon D., or Jeremy F. who can carry a cement block for the 5K, but I am at least inspired by them to get my butt out the door.  I can only strive to accomplish "Feats of Strength" such as theirs.  100 miles seems pretty doable when I think about how hard others work.  It seems totally possible when I think about the daily ordeal that Molly and Mary Ellen deal with everyday controlling blood sugars.  I really admire them.
More soon. . . .

Friday, January 1, 2010

Happy New Year!

Well it is 2010;  is that two-thousand ten or twenty ten?  I don't know which way I will go, whichever I fall into the habit of saying, I'm sure.
We are watching Chariots of Fire and talking to the kids about dedication and the tough decisions people make.  "I believe that God made me for a purpose . . . When I run I feel his presence." Eric Lydell just said.    I know just how he feels.  I would love to have the sort of commitment he had.  I need to try to overcome my knack for avoiding the hard work and losing focus on the goal I am attempting to achieve.  Just like many other resolutions, I must work to complete the task I've chosen.  No one has forced it upon me.
My friend, Bob, has quite a drive in this way.  He and his friend, Jeremy, set out Feats of Strength for themselves.  I was honored when he emailed me to say he was excited about my "Feat."  I will use this as inspiration when things get tough.  Last night, Bob and Jeremy ran the First Night 5K carrying cinder blocks.  I'm certain they still ran faster than I would have running empty-handed.
141 days to go until the 30 hour run.  I got in a short run today.  I can remember when 40 minutes was unfathomable.  Now it is barely a start to what I need to do.  Strange to think that the Megatransect will not be toughest thing I do this year.  I registered for it today, just after noon.  In the first 8 hours, over 200 signed up.  The field is limited to 850.  I anticipate that it will fill in the next few weeks.  It is amazingly well run and I hope to keep this tradition gong for a long time.
Let me know fundraising ideas you've got.  I'm only 5% of the way to my goal, but a lot of good things are going to happen this spring.
All the best in the new year!  Let's go running!