What started out as a jaunt to Las Vegas by myself....to prove to myself that I could make plans alone....I was capable of being the strong, independent woman my father raised me to be.....became a 277 mile journey...
13.1 down the Vegas strip...
13.1 around a speed skating rink in Wisconsin....
26.2 through the streets of LA and Santa Monica in a monsoon....
13.1 alongside a dear LIVESTRONG friend up and over the three rivers in Pittsburgh....
13.1 into 40 MPH winds with the Big 10 Illini fans cheering me on.....
16 biking as the middle leg of the LIVESTRONG Chics 3rd annual triathlon relay....
13.1 at a black flagged inaugural Summerfest Half in Milwaukee....
45 miles in the rain up and down the hilly Philly countryside.....
20 miles in the shadows of Mt Hood to dip my toes in the Pacific Ocean over 30 hours with 5 new LIVESTRONG BFF's - and leaving behind roadkill.....
13.1 making new friends as I traveled from Illinois to Iowa and back again.....with a stop for the best milkshake I have ever had as my reward....
65 miles through Texas Hill Country with my incredible LIVESTRONG friend - and fellow honorary sheriff...
...not before I rode alongside Lance Armstrong - a private ride donated to me by some very cool cancer-hating friends
and finally......26.2 rocking a Movember MO through the 5 boros of NYC.....alongside some amazing cancer-hating LIVESTRONG runners.
Since last December....277 miles ran and biked to benefit LIVESTRONG....to honor those who ran out of time and we lost to cancer.....to honor those still putting up a gallant fight to cancer.....and those still at our side as survivors having knocked cancer out.
279 miles if we count the 2 miles I floated through the air after jumping out of a plane above the cornfields in Central Illinois. And countless more miles training.....
No, I didn't exactly meet my goal of a half marathon each month - I missed February because of conflicts and had one scheduled for June but it was the same day I dropped my daughter off at Camp Kesem - a camp for kids that have or had a parent with cancer.....I think very valid reasons.....but I still surpassed my original goal of 200 miles......TAKE THAT CANCER!
I cannot thank each and everyone of you enough for your support this past year. The friendships I created throughout this experience - from the two new friends I met on the plane ride to Vegas to the two I met in the corral on State Island...and all in between. You all inspired me to keep going when times got rough this year.
Oh, and let's not forget the close to $11,500 raised for LIVESTRONG. WOW!
And to top it all off, I was selected as the Pan The Man SUPERLATIVE winner for the month of July and was honored to be used as a widow that defines thriving in the video created below by Embrace Life Winner, Michelle Neff Hernandez.
I've been asked quite a bit what's next. Well, I've taken a few weeks off to rest and back at it this weekend.
Maybe cycle more? Maybe tackle more local events? Maybe hula hoop a few 5Ks with the cancer hating red head?
What do you all think? What should I do in 2012 to support my LIVESTRONG fundraising efforts? What do you want to see me accomplish??
Last Saturday I found myself at the 50 yard line at Memorial Stadium on the University of Illinois campus.
I wasn't there for a football game but I was actually winning a game against cancer.
I had just finished the Illinois Half Marathon - my April race for my RunningSTRONG for Hope Coast to Coast Tour benefiting LIVESTRONG. I started out in December with a goal to race 200 miles against cancer. To date, I have raced a total of 65.5 miles - from Las Vegas, Milwaukee, Los Angeles and now Champaign, IL. I have run in sunshine, monsoon rains, around an ice rink and in 40 mph winds.
And along the way have raised $5,500 for LIVESTRONG.
A very important fact about this race.....the rain on my parade - I mean race - jinx was officially broken. Although, I was running with my friend Kristin who tends to have a extreme heat curse of her own during her races, so perhaps our bad weather patterns just canceled each other out.....and brought along 40 mph wind gusts.
Yes, you read that correctly. No monsoon or hurricane rains this time....but none stop wind....and the occasional 40 mph gusts. But, let's keep in mind why I'm embarking on this journey.
It isn't for PRs - although I did get one in Vegas and would have been rather close this past weekend if I didn't have a untimely upset stomach.
It isn't for the competition - although I suppose I am a bit competitive at times.
It isn't for the race day swag.
It isn't for the exotic locale - nothing against Illinois but Champaign is far from exotic. If I was looking for exotic, I would find a race in Hawaii.
No.....it was for LIVESTRONG. Every step I take, every line I toe, every time I lace up my shoes, pull on my gear is for LIVESTRONG. It is to bring awareness and raise funds for an organization that has done more to bring cancer into worldwide discussions, identify and provide resources those fighting and surviving cancer.
The following story is not mine but was recently shared with me and provides a great example of the resources LIVESTRONG provides with the dollars I raise - and you donate!
"Four and a half years ago I heard the words: “you have cancer.” I had gone through a miscarriage at five months pregnant and had no time to grieve. Shortly thereafter came my diagnosis and I began treatment for ovarian cancer. I was only 31, and all of my decisions were connected to this six letter word.
It was during that time that a friend told me to call LIVESTRONG as they could help with many questions about my diagnosis such as: Am I entitled to a second opinion or third opinion? How do I talk to my insurance company about things not covered? My job is having me go on medical leave of absence, with 30% of my pay, how do I make things work for me financially? I can’t work out in a gym right now while in chemo, are there any options for me to stay connected with my fitness? I only needed to call one number, and I was directed to great resources that I believe saved my life four years ago. I was able to talk with social workers who helped guide me through each of my questions. And the best part about this resource—it’s absolutely free".
LIVESTRONG Navigation offers free service in English and Spanish for people who need help moving through their cancer journey. You can call 855.220.7777 or fill out an online intake form. This is what our efforts are going towards....what every dollar I raise, every step I take during my training and races.
Please consider supporting my efforts so we can continue to provide resources like these to those that we love or perhaps ourselves as these three words "You have cancer" are mouthed by doctors around the world. Please join me in helping others make the mountain of decisions they are faced as they take in these awful words.
My next race is in 10 days and I am just $250 shy of the $6,000 mark. Can we make it to $7,500 before I toe the line in Pittsburgh surrounded by 100 other Team LIVESTRONG runners?
Donate in honor of your mother for Mother's Day. Pass up one margarita on Cinco de Mayo and donate the cost. Celebrate a cancer survivor's birthday with a donation.
That got your attention, now didn't it. "Make a fool of Barb? How do I sign up for that?" Sounds pretty enticing, huh? Read on....
As you are all aware if you have been following this blog, I am running a half marathon or full marathon each month this year to raise funds and awareness for LIVESTRONG. My goal is a minimum of $10,000 and my stretch goal is $15,000.
To date, together we have raised just over $5,000 (although my fundraising site only shows $4,700 at this time, there are funds en-route that I am aware of). At my halfway point already....woo whoo!!
So, on to more important matters....how do we go about making a fool of Barb?
My next race is on April 30th....the Illinois Half. Which will be attended by A LOT of local runners.....a lot of people that know me.....so what a better time and place to make a fool of myself?
Here's the deal:
If I raise $6,000 by race day, I will wear a race outfit chosen by one of my donors
Which donor?
Those that donate $50 between now and April 20th will be entered into a drawing. The donor selected from that drawing will have the honors of selecting my outfit.
If you make a $100 donation, you receive two entries, $150 = 3 entries, etc.
How do you participate?
Make an online donation using the link below. I'll receive an e-mail notifying me of your donation. Please be sure to include your e-mail when you make the donation so I can notify you when you win! Oh, and let me know if you want me to dedicate my run to anyone you've lost to cancer, a survivor or someone currently battling this awful disease.
Why of course. Remember I am representing LIVESTRONG and my RunningStrong for Hope so please chose an outfit that is not inappropriate. But, those that know me well, know I'm pretty game for almost anything.
OH, and the first $50 donation that is made today (April 1st) will be matched by me....and that donor will get two entries to the drawing.....so if you REALLY want to make a fool of me, be quick!
If we surpass $6,000, I'll be sweetening the pot.....but more to come on that!
Please share this with anyone you know that hates cancer and wants to kick it's ass!
Any suggestions on what I should wear? Please post a comment if you have one!
26.2 miles in sunny California....a trip to Los Angeles.....sightseeing while running.....all for Team LIVESTRONG. Sign me up!
Those were the thoughts that went through my head back in November when I was planning my RunningStrong for Hope race schedule. Flash forward 5 months....and a major reality check.....monsoon-like rain and wind, chilled to the bone, and an extra 10 pounds in my suitcase when I returned home from the water soaked race clothes and shoes I wore during the race.
After months of training and raising over $4,000 for LIVESTRONG, I headed off to Los Angeles. I was joined by the LIVESTRONG Chics - my two dear friends that take turns doing the swim portion of a local triathlon relay we compete in to raise funds for LIVESTRONG.
The weather forecast was none to pleasant.....50's and rain predicted all weekend. Hmmm....not the vision I had in my mind back in November. (check out the videos at the end of my post to see what the weather was really like)
Sunday morning started off with a very early wake-up call....3:45 am....in order to catch a shuttle to Dodger Stadium from Santa Monica, a very short 26 miles away (it seems quite a bit shorter driving the distance). A very seamless transition which is often a stressful start to marathon morning.
The LIVESTRONG Chics at Dodger Stadium before the start
Once at Dodger Stadium, it was off to find the Team LIVESTRONG Suite - a very cool perk the marathon provided for charities. Instead of sitting in the hallways or stands of the stadium as rain came down intermittently, I was in a nice warm suite with the company of some truly amazing people.
This was by far the highlight of my marathon experience.....meeting the other members of Team LIVESTRONG. We had never met one another prior to this morning; all had different journeys that brought us to that suite at Dodger Stadium but we were all there for a common cause - to show cancer who was boss.
Some of us were cancer survivors, some caregivers, others had loved ones stolen by cancer.....cancer had impacted each and every one of us....and we were inspired by one another. Each had our own personal reasons for taking on 26.2 miles but cancer was the villain in each story.
Friendships were formed in that suite during the early morning hours of March 20th.....more LIVESTRONG friendships - always a favorite outcome to every LIVESTRONG event I have attended.
Eventually it was time to say good-bye to all my fellow cancer fighters and head down to the starting corrals. A group of us headed to the start together and three of us actually ran together for sometime. The goal was obviously to get to mile 26.2 however my short-term goal was set on mile 17 where the LIVESTRONG crew was waiting for us to pass by.
Nice, dry and still smiling at the start
The rain started almost simultaneous with the start of the race. It was on and off for the first 10 miles - at times drizzling and other times a down and out downpour. But, at least I wasn't hot! My main concern after training in the Illinois winters was how I would run in the heat and blazing California sun. This obviously wasn't a concern.....and actually I had run my 20 mile training run in very similar conditions...thanks Mother Nature! (see On the Road to LA...Team LIVESTRONG Training for the LA Marathon)
I knew there would be a few hills.....but I certainly wasn't prepared for the number of hills I encountered in LA. In hindsight, I should have pulled back a little in the first half to save my legs for the second half (which wasn't nearly as hilly) but I charged up those hills.....and unfortunately my quads were feeling those hills in the last 8 miles. Note to self - when training on a treadmill, occasionally hit the incline button.
One very cool memory of this race was all the people standing out in the pouring down rain volunteering at water stops and others lining the course cheering. As I was running along through Beverly Hills - drinking in the sights - I happened to notice someone wearing a Ride for the Roses jacket. Wait a second.....I know someone from RFTR that lives in the area. So I turned and shouted his name.....and amazingly enough it was him! How bizarre! A great surprise and an opportunity to catch up for a few moments as my Movember friend ran alongside me for a few moments. At mile 22, I heard my name and turned to see a friend I have known since I was in grade school She stood out in the pouring rain waiting for me to pass by......and then stayed out there to wait for the other LIVESTRONG Chics to pass by as well. Her mother was one of the individuals I was honoring on my back during this little "jog."
Speaking of those I honored, check out the RunningStrong for Hope tribute wall to see the names of those that journeyed through the rain along with me in spirit.
Eventually I finished.....I really wasn't in any hurry. Between the weather and the hills, I really adjusted any expectations I had to get a great time.....so I took extra time to enjoy the sights, chat with others along the course, stop to visit with the LIVESTRONG crew and my friends cheering.
As I crossed the finish line, I began to choke up a bit as I remembered why I was tackling this race to begin with. I whispered to myself as tears began to form ....."This is for you Brian."
I may have been a bit soggy and sore, but in the long run, the steps I took through the rain, puddles and wind were nothing compared to the challenges Brian, Mom, Dad and my sister Janet - along with the 28 million worldwide living with cancer - endured as they fought a great battle against cancer. This was a small sacrifice I made on one rainy day to honor the lives of those stolen from my life.
I am forever grateful to all the support my friends have provided me with not only your monetary donations to LIVESTRONG but the emotional support during my preparation for this race, during the race.....and most importantly over the past 7 years.
