Archive for the ‘DreamTeam’ Category

The Susan G Komen Race for the Cure was more awesome than expected. To start the day, I woke up at 5:30am (too early on a Saturday morning). We headed downtown and just got there for the group pic at 8:30. Then, I went and got my timing chip for the race. After that it was time to start. Andrew, another Make-A-Wish Dream Team member, stayed with me until the race started.

Before the race started there was a parade of survivors. These were groups of women that were categorized according to how long they have been survivors of breast cancer. It was awesome seeing everybody applaud these ladies, and it was especially touching seeing the lead lady sob through the parade. I’m sure she has been through a lot.

The starting line was insane because there were so many people. The experience of this race was awesome. It was people watching heaven. I loved seeing all of the kids in the race, and I loved seeing all of the dogs that people were walking/running. Also, I was shocked to find a lot of skinny people walking the race. I thought there was some unwritten rule that if you were skinny and in good health, you have to run at these events. I was wrong.

The course was very easy with no steep hills. The only problems that I ran into during the race were my legs chaffing and my toes hurting. I overcame those minor issues and finished the race in 1 hr 20min, which was a good pace for me. However, I’ve got some training that I absolutely must do before next months 10k. I didn’t train like I was supposed to for this 5k but was able to walk it because it’s a short race. I won’t have that luxury at the 10k. It’s either train and walk the 10k or don’t train and don’t walk the 10k. For me, 6.4 miles is no easy task.

I am proud of myself. If you had told me this time last year that I would be walking a 5k today, I would have laughed. It felt good to get out there and participate. I’ve heard a lot of people talk about wanting to do a 5k. What’s stopping you? Just find a 5k that you can walk in and start walking every day. Please don’t think that the only way to participate in a 5k is to run them. If that were the case, then I wouldn’t have been able to participate in today’s race because there’s no way that I can run anything.

I wanted to take a lot of pics today but there was a very light drizzle throughout the entire race. These events happen rain or shine. Also, I had trouble with the Wordpress Flickr plugin pulling in the images from my flickr account. I’ll figure out a way to fix it. I did manage to take a few pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/http/sets/72157622548166498/

Some of the Make-A-Wish Dream Team people ran the course twice. Two of the ladies said hello as they ran by at the finish of my 5k and I asked if they had run the course twice. Of course they said yes. Then I told them “Get out of here” I was doing everything I could to walk the 3.2 miles.

Tomorrow I will take a break from walking and working out. Right now I am sore! If I had trained like I was supposed to, I wouldn’t be having the soreness.

Well, now I’m gonna be checking off the “walk a 5k” item on my Goals and Milestone page.

I hope you have a blessed Sunday.

I have taken on a very personal and challenging goal for myself.  I have committed to walk the Mercedes Half-Marathon on February 14th, 2010 in Birmingham.  I will be walking the half-marathon as a member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® Dream Team. I am aiming to raise $100.00 for every mile that I walk, for a goal of $1,300 and hopefully more!

If you would like to make a donation, please go here: Make a donation

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children between the ages of 2½ -18 with life threatening medical conditions and brings hope, strength, and joy into their lives.  Each wish granted brings happiness to the children and their families at a time when they need it most!  The average cost of a wish is $6,700, with many wishes costing much more.  Presently there are over 100 children in Alabama waiting to have their wishes granted.  So, as you can see, the money that you are able to donate will greatly help fulfill the dreams of these precious children and make their wishes come true. 

The children’s wishes vary from a trip to Disney World or Hawaii, to meeting Hannah Montana or their favorite Sports Figure.  They wish for shopping sprees, for a new playhouse or even to be an astronaut or scientist!  These wishes can not be granted without the help of people like you!

Here is some information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation and a few examples of the many wishes that are granted every day:

• About Make-A-Wish
• Brandon Visits Sesame Street
• Brent Shreds Some Snow
• Cheyenne Meets Minnie and Friends at Disney
• James Becomes a Real Cowboy
• John Races to Meet Jeff Gordon
• Matthew Becomes a Pilot
• Megan’s Trip to Hawaii
• Molly Meets Kelly Clarkson
• Taylor Gets a Pink Playhouse

For more information about The Make-A-Wish Foundation and for more wish stories, please visit www.ga-al.wish.org

Thank you in advance for your generous support and encouragement!

If you would like to make a donation, please go here: Make a donation