Whew! What a week! I can't believe how quickly it has gone by. It seems as if the days have been non-stop and I haven't had time to take a breath.
This week I decided to start waking up extra early so I can get my runs in before I get ready for work. Wow! It was harder than I thought! But each morning got easier. I'm hoping my body will stop revolting and get used to what I'm making it do. "Yes, Body, I am making you get up early. Yes, you need to eat something so you have energy. Yes, I'm expecting you to move faster than a slow, unconscious shuffle. No, don't throw up!" It's been a struggle, but I feel so good about myself afterward. AND, I've even improved my average mile-time each day! So that's awesome. :)
Last week I worked on getting my email sent out asking for people to donate to my fundraiser. I got so many responses! I was SO excited each time I received a notification of a donation. I am so grateful for such generous people! I had to hold back tears each time an email came through telling me of yet another kind person who donated. They (you!) have helped me reach a place of #5 in our weekly High Roller Contest! Awesome! It just means so much to me that people would care enough to help this wonderful cause. Because it's really not about me. It's about helping those who are suffering with these incurable diseases. I'm so happy that I have a means of actually contributing. And of course my mind is constantly thinking of Tami and Matthew, who I am dedicating my training, energy, fundraising and half marathon to. My nearly 16 miles last week was all for them!
Saturday we got together as a team again for a group run. We heard from a fellow team member Patty, who has had Crohn's for 30 years. She said she has had lots of surgeries and doesn't have a lot of her insides left. She said she was doing this race to beat the clock - not that she thinks she is going to die soon, but that when she was in 8th grade, she participated in the Presidential Fitness Challenge at school and despite being sick at the time, she was determined to run that mile without stopping. She worked hard, huffed through it, and didn't stop!! She was so proud of her accomplishment and went over to her teacher to get her time. The teacher laughed and said, "Oh, I stopped the clock long ago". (What a horrible teacher!) So this time, Patty is determined to finish her race before they stop the clock on her. Just a truly inspiring story. I'm so proud to be able to run alongside her and many others in December.
While this has been an exhausting week, I have not lost my motivation. I am not discouraged. I am doing my best and not beating myself up for my inabilities. I just really give it my all and I know I can be proud of my efforts. I'm excited to see my progress and continue on my fundraising! We're now starting on week 3. 13 more to go!!
**Special Announcement**
An anonymous donor is willing to support our team and has provided us with a fundraising challenge. This donor has challenged our team to raise $30,000 in the month of September. If we accomplish this goal, they will donate $6,000 towards our overall team fundraising goal!!!
This is so exciting!! If you are willing to help us reach this awesome goal, please visit my donation website below:
http://www.active.com/donate/lv09dcvirginia/eblakemore
YOO HOO!!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Week 1
I had been waiting for weeks to attend an informational meeting about the CCFA Team Challenge Half Marathon Fundraising and Half Marathon Training Program. I was so excited to learn more about this event! Throughout the meeting, we heard what Team Challenge is all about, how they support and help raise money for Crohn's and Colitis research, and what it means to be part of Team Challenge. We heard from several different people: Our fundraising and Team Challenge Manager, one of our Running Coaches, a Team Challenge Mentor, and our Honored Teammate who has been living with Crohn's Disease for 20 years.
I was equally inspired and excited to take on this challenge! That night I signed up for the race to run in honor of my sister Tami and brother Matthew, and committed to raise $2300 on behalf of Crohn's & Colitis research before the Team Challenge Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon on December 6th. I left with a lot of information and got started on setting up my fundraising website the very next day. I posted the link on my Facebook page and as of today I already have 2 donations! Wow. I am truly grateful. I plan on ramping up my fundraising efforts this week by sending out letters and emails, creating a Facebook page, and visiting different businesses to ask for donations. I've never done ANY fundraising before (not even selling chocolate bars in elementary school), so I feel very nervous. In fact, the day after the informational meeting, I was sick to my stomach all day long thinking about what lay in front of me. But I am willing and committed to do all it takes!
The other half of my challenge involves training for the half-marathon. I have NEVER been a runner. In fact, I've always hated to run. I've never signed up for a 5K or any other organized running event. So to jump from only being able to run a mile or 2 without stopping to running an entire half-marathon is almost as intimidating as raising the money for the event! We had our first training session yesterday morning at 8AM. Those of you who know me know that I am NOT a morning person. So getting up early each Saturday morning over the next 15 weeks and trying to make my body actually do something, is going to be a great accomplishment in and of itself! I am an evening work-out person. I've tried several times to get up early and work out before I start my day, but it has never really been successful. I get sick to my stomach and am very lethargic when I try to do physical activity early in the morning. BUT! I guess I will train my body to deal with it! :) It helps to have a group of people that are relying on me showing up and running with them. This is exactly the program that works for me. I need a goal in mind and somebody to answer to.
This Saturday we started out a little easy -- we ran at our own pace for 30 minutes. Everybody there was encouraging and positive. I loved it! Afterward, we separated in to groups and was assigned a Mentor. This person will help us stay motivated and support us in our fundraising efforts. I'm really excited to get to know them better and become friends.
I will update my blog each week with my progress and efforts! Check back often!!
I was equally inspired and excited to take on this challenge! That night I signed up for the race to run in honor of my sister Tami and brother Matthew, and committed to raise $2300 on behalf of Crohn's & Colitis research before the Team Challenge Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon on December 6th. I left with a lot of information and got started on setting up my fundraising website the very next day. I posted the link on my Facebook page and as of today I already have 2 donations! Wow. I am truly grateful. I plan on ramping up my fundraising efforts this week by sending out letters and emails, creating a Facebook page, and visiting different businesses to ask for donations. I've never done ANY fundraising before (not even selling chocolate bars in elementary school), so I feel very nervous. In fact, the day after the informational meeting, I was sick to my stomach all day long thinking about what lay in front of me. But I am willing and committed to do all it takes!
The other half of my challenge involves training for the half-marathon. I have NEVER been a runner. In fact, I've always hated to run. I've never signed up for a 5K or any other organized running event. So to jump from only being able to run a mile or 2 without stopping to running an entire half-marathon is almost as intimidating as raising the money for the event! We had our first training session yesterday morning at 8AM. Those of you who know me know that I am NOT a morning person. So getting up early each Saturday morning over the next 15 weeks and trying to make my body actually do something, is going to be a great accomplishment in and of itself! I am an evening work-out person. I've tried several times to get up early and work out before I start my day, but it has never really been successful. I get sick to my stomach and am very lethargic when I try to do physical activity early in the morning. BUT! I guess I will train my body to deal with it! :) It helps to have a group of people that are relying on me showing up and running with them. This is exactly the program that works for me. I need a goal in mind and somebody to answer to.
This Saturday we started out a little easy -- we ran at our own pace for 30 minutes. Everybody there was encouraging and positive. I loved it! Afterward, we separated in to groups and was assigned a Mentor. This person will help us stay motivated and support us in our fundraising efforts. I'm really excited to get to know them better and become friends.
I will update my blog each week with my progress and efforts! Check back often!!
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