It Takes a Village to make a Runner: We've passed the $600 Mark!

Happy Monday indeed! The sun is finally shining here in the coastal plain, and Checking the ACH facebook page I see that you all have been very busy this weekend! A very special thanks to Ms. Wendy Gantt, Miss Lisa Yeh, Kay Swikart, and Rodger Watkins; all my  wonderful co-workers here in Beverly Hills for their generous contributions!

The Race is less than 3 weeks away and I am mentally ready! 

Only those who know me will realize this is truly the most shocking revelation, because never in my life have I ever even wanted to think I could do this. Oh sure, while I have been a runner since the age of 10 (when I laced up my very first pair of Nike Waffle Trainers, neon yellow with the turquoise swoosh and asked my mom to teach me how to be a runner)-  while I am a life long runner, I have held one consistent opinion of marathons (and their spawn) since the beginning: 

That people who run marathons are cuckoo for koo koo puffs, Looney, goofy and batshixxx crazy. My theory has always been that people who run marathons, just don't realize that you don't need to run 26.2 to know its the hardest challenge most people will ever throw at themselves.

And other than during my high school CC team practices, when Coach Westover would drive his pick up truck behind the slackers on the girls CC team while we plodded along whining for the full 10 miles, I haven't run more than 5 miles at any one time since 1987. Nor have I wanted to. 3-4 miles is plenty far if you ask me. Nothin' to prove.  Until last March.

March 2010, San Vicente Blvd in Brentwood on a beautiful crisp sunny morning, Tom and I stood on the sidelines, waiting for my co-worker (and all star contributor to this AHC cause), Miss Lisa Yeh, to pass us with the thousands of others participating in the 2010 Los Angeles Marathon. 

What makes her run so special is that Lisa is a newbie. Her marathon was run in her rookie year. She had only begun to lace up her Asics and jog that first mile as a runner less than 9 months prior. Here she was completing a marathon. She trained and finished the 2010 Los Angeles Marathon like a CHAMP!

Tom and I stood on the race course sidelines cheering Lisa and 25,000 of her closest friends on, and we were completely inspired by their efforts. Lisa is an amazing story herself, but she was not alone. There were teams of high school kids, and groups of people running for causes. They all overwhelmed me with their commitment and determination. 

I toyed with the idea of the LA Marathon in 2011, but- you know- lifelong aversion, fundamental beliefs, etc... 

Still, my friend and the other runners were really inspiring. A little too inspiring.  Surprisingly, I found myself printing a marathon training schedule from the web, posting it on my fridge, and thinking "Well, maybe it would just be fun to complete the training..." 

See, I have neglected my running here in California, opting for more fun workouts like the 4th Street Stairs and Kettlebells:

Fact is, I could pull a 300 with a 12kg bell, but I didn't have the mental stamina to run 3 miles in less than 29 minutes. And those 3 miles HAD to be at the beach, on Ocean Avenue, some place picturesque, because I didn't want to be distracted by the actual workout. So I thought doing marathon training for fun would kickstart to get my focus back.

By July the training was going so-so. I had some successes, such as the first time completing a 5 mile run since 2003, surprising myself greatly. But I also had some health issues that got in the way, and well, the inspiration had faded. Then I heard about the lovely and fun Big Sur Half Marathon, and thought..well it was easier to run 5 miles than I thought, what's 8 more? 

I told Tom about it and we decided to run the BSH together. Since July, I have done pretty well with my training, the health issues only getting in the way occasionally, and last Sunday when I  ran 9.5, and thought I could mentally make it to 11, I knew I was ready!

Somewhere in Livonia, Michigan Coach Westover probably just got a cold chill down his spine for no apparent reason...

From my Mom, to Coach Westie, to Lisa and Tom- well you can see it clearly takes a village to make a runner. 

Just like it takes a village to help deserving children fight for a cure to a disease we know so little about. So thank you again my Village- thank you so much!