Filed under: Solo runs and thoughts
You look in a mirror and you don't like what you see.
It's a warm day for December; the new year is coming.
You decide to change-
and run.
So, the "group" run today was our last solo style run. We did 3 miles; I'm both pleased and ashamed to say that I came in under 15 mins/mile. (did it in 44:10).
On one hand, that's wayyyy better than I did last week. Last week was shameful. I don't even want to think about it. So coming in under 15 mins per mile was great, esp. when you count being held up by traffic lights and tourists and such over by the mall.
On the other hand, I can just hear my crew coaches yelling at me from the past:" c'mon, Marisa, you can push better than that! You should be doing a 10-minute mile!!" Ah, yes, ghosts of fitness past.
I was tired but able to walk home. DIdn't sweat much, tho, and that's got to change if I'm gonna keep running.
Now, for fundraising…
Remember that song by Salt'N'Pepa from the 80's? (for those of you who can't remember back that far, it's now popular because of the Nextel/Sprint commercials where the 3 random guys are dancing to it in their office and are interrupted by their boss.)
Yeah, I've been pushin' it. Oooh, baby bay-beh.
I've gone on a couple of the solo runs that I committed to do in order to train. Three, actually. The first was at night, when the moon was almost full. The air was SO sweet! And the stars were kinda hidden, but once in a while one or two would peek through. And imagine, I was running with my Fabolous 'Street Dreams' CD in my walkman. I didn't think that particular music would keep me motivated, but I ran 2 miles (WHEW!! Ran most of it, only walked once, and then cooled off at the end) and it had me pumped. "Fly enough to do better but gifted enough to not give a –"
Ahem. I was saying?
"What, no iPod?", I hear you ask.
Nope. Lemme tell y'all a secret. I'm still running with the walkman my mother gave me for my 21st b-day. (more…)
That letter? The one on the AIDSMarathon site if you follow my links? The one that says my goal is $2,100? It's almost correct. But um…
Hi! Thanks for stopping in!
Wait, don't leave yet! You have the opportunity to build on something good before you go. Or at least learn a story to pass along.
I'm Marisa. I'm 24 years old; and currently I live in Alexandria, VA, right outside Washington, DC. I'm really excited to be training to run my first 1/2 marathon ever, with the National Aids Marathon Training Program. You're here for my first steps, something historic, at least for me. Thanks for coming.
I'm going to finish this marathon in memory of Imette St. Guillen, my friend and GWU c/o 2003 classmate, who was killed earlier this year. She was a smart, funny, and determined person, so I think my training and this cause will serve her memory well. And I'll be sure to tell you guys about Imette as the miles go by.
My run is a fundraiser to benefit the Whitman-Walker Clinic here in DC. They're a major provider of ahem, affordable health care in this area. And they're the principal provider of AIDS care here. Since 1 in 20 people here in the District- yes, I said One in Twenty- have HIV or AIDS, the clinic serves a significant part of this city. I've been hearing about them since I came to DC to start at GW in '99. The clinic is struggling for funding this year.
No, Imette didn't have AIDS. But she was spontaneous and compassionate. I believe she'd probably run with me.
I can't think of a better way to take action or a better cause to serve Imette's memory.
Here's the deal: the goal is to raise at least $2,500 for this marathon. (if you can't click on this, go to AidsMarathon.com, click on Support a Runner for WDC, and enter runner number 0698.) That's what I'm here to do. The super-awesome goal is $5,000. Why those numbers? Well, Imette died five days before her 25th birthday. And I, along with the majority of our c/o 1999/2003 classmates, will turn 25 this year. We can do that much. But if we don't have $2,100 banked by July 5th, the clinic keeps the cash, which is all good, but I won't have earned entry into the marathon, and so I won't cross that finish line for Imette and all those who live in the District with AIDS.
So this blog is going to be one of many ways to reach out. You can click here to donate toward our $2,500 goal. My runner number is 0698. I've also started a letter-writing campaign. So if you've ever known me, get ready for a letter or an email to come your way, even if you haven't seen me in about 10 years. It's worth it.
This blog, I must confess, is also a way to record my thoughts and feelings and where I'll come for the "you can do it!" cheerleading and ideas when charlie horse and sore hammies hit. I mean, I was on the crew team when I was undergrad, but that was a while ago. Now I sit at a desk all day. And I never before ran, walked, or otherwise used my feet to go 14 miles in one go.
The first group run was this past Saturday, May 6th. It was a rush to be there, but it was only a mile run. I've got two training sessions this week of half an hour. Those are where the journey really starts.
This is the challenge of a lifetime that I'm taking up to honor a wonderful woman. Thanks for sharing this- and your support- with me.
~Marisa
