Thursday, November 20, 2008

i * h e a r t * r u n n i n g ... r e a l l y !

"The next time someone tells you they ran 100 miles this week, tell them 'so what?' The magic is in the man, not the 100 miles." -Bill Dellinger

Isn't that a great quote? You can replace 100 miles with any number, by the way. ;-)

It's TIaRT time again and the topic is Thank Goodness for Running! What a great topic. Running has brought me so many highs (and lows) in my life but it has brought out that MAGIC within me. I have run further than I ever imagined and found will power that I didn't even know existed! And it's also brought me to this wonderful community that I can't stop gushing about. Ok, I promise not to turn stalkerish! Well, unless you want me to!

I also am so thankful for the opportunity to volunteer and run for great causes. Today, I went to my first Running Buddy volunteer activity with Girls on the Run in the Greater Bay Area region. I got this email not too long ago and I just couldn't say no! I love working with kids and volunteering and to throw running into the mix... omg, it's like my dream job. (But no pay!)

I'd like to share an opportunity with you from Girls on the Run: our upcoming Lollipop Family Fun Run on Saturday, December 6. The race is open to the community, but is a special celebration for the girls in our programs, who will complete their first 5k or 1 mile run. We pair each girl with an adult Running Buddy, who meets her one time at practice (on either November 19 or 20, depending on the school) and then comes out to run with her and encourage her on the day of the race! The cost is $35, which covers the price of registration for you and sponsors your girl buddy. The application can be found at:
http://gotrbayarea.org/volunteer/buddy.asp

Please circulate this opportunity to your contacts - many of our girls are still without a buddy!

The mission of Girls on the Run of the Bay Area is to educate and build confidence in young girls through non-competitive, curriculum-based running programs in San Francisco, Marin, Alameda, San Mateo, and Contra Costa Counties.


I met about a dozen girls on the program for the firs time today and it was great. Most of the girls ran and walked 3 miles and even though it was tough for some of then, they stuck it out. And, they looked like they had so much fun. These 4th and 5th grade girls are precocious, wonderful, tough, innocent and yet, so grown up. They live and go to school in a pretty tough neighborhood in Oakland. An area that I usually avoid! Well, most people do... I am really thankful that I can give back to the community this way. And I am thankful that it involves running!!

And yes, I am signed up for the Lollipop Run on December 6th, which is the day before my California International Marathon! But, good thing my training calls for an easy 3 miler on that Saturday. There should be a Girls on The Run in your 'hood, too, if you're interested in volunteering!

This weekend is the BIG Philly marathon!!! BEST OF LUCK to my dear running buddies Denise, Flyers 26, Marci, Lil Runner ND (who is running for 2)!

And to Blyfinn and Coffee Betsy who are doing the Living History Farm Race, Holly who is doing an early Turkey Trot this weekend and to X-Country2 who is running her first marathon!

29 comments:

  1. I heart running and all the good things it does for me too! :) Enjoy your weekend!

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  2. I will have to check out that Girls on the Run - I hope they have one near me!!

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  3. I think it is awesome that you are doign Girls on the Run. It really is a great organization. You are going to be such a postive role model for these girls.

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  4. i love that quote! and im glad you can replace 100 miles cause im no where near that ;)

    Kelly Turner
    www.groundedfitness.com

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  5. I just recently met our local directors for Girls on the Run and I'm thinking about doing it. Sounds like a great time! Thanks for the good wishes...I can't wait till Sunday!

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  6. Girls on the Run sounds like a wonderful opportunity both for you & the girls. It's not often young girls are exposed to active role models :)

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  7. Julianne--That is an AWESOME program, and it's so cool that you're doing it!

    Also, I've missed your posts, miz' thang! Come back to the blog-o-sphere!

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  8. What a great cause, I'm going to see if we've got something like that here in NC. Like you I think I would really enjoy giving back in that way.

    I'll be posting something about the winter challenge next week, I'm glad you're interested at least I know there will be 3 people doing it.

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  9. Thanks for highlighting GOTR -- I'm checking into the Sac chapter to see if I can get involved!

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  10. That IS a great quote.

    How awesome that you are volunteering w/GOTR! Keep us updated with that.

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  11. Great post, great job, great volunteerism. You are my hero.

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  12. Awwwwhhhh you're such a sweetie! Just wait til you're a Mom (if you even want to go that route) you're going to be so cute! Man it takes a lot of patience to deal with kids that aren't your own LMAO! (That sounded mean :-X)

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  13. Yay thanks! My early Turkey Trot tomorrow is a Girls on the Run event, I'm going to be a buddy! What a great organization!!

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  14. i really want to go to a girls on the event sometime... definitely let me know when you go again!! you are awesome!

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  15. That Lollipop Run sounds awesome. I love the way you describe the girls. I always wish kids could just be kids as long as possible and it is kind of heartbreaking to see girls who have to grow up so fast-- then again, running makes me feel like I'm playing, so I think it's quite a gift to give! Hope your weekend is relaxing after the tough week.

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  16. What a wonderful cause! Thanks for the link - they even have a program in MY area, way up here in Toronto. :D

    I'm looking into it for sure.

    Have a great weekend!

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  17. Enjoy your weekend, and the girls on the run thing looks super cool. I'm defanitly going to look into it :) Thanks!

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  18. Thanks for the good luck wishes. I love that quote also. That Girls on the Run sounds interesting.

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  19. What a great cause. Girls need more great role models in their lives!

    PS- thanks for the blog roll add. :o)

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  20. Yay!! It's an inspiring post to be thankful!! The Girls on the Run sounds great. Thanks for the good luck!

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  21. It is great that you have the opportunity to help with your training to a charity!!!. I have always wanted to do that. The thing is that the running community in the city were I live is very low, so there are no opportunities like this.

    Great quote also!

    web.me.com/amaurydeleon

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  22. Just found a Girls on the Run event in San Diego next month. I'm all over it. Thanks for the tip!

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  23. What a great thing to participate in! I am going to look around if something like that exists near me...Good for you!

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  24. I would love to volunteer for this. What a great role model and inspiration you are! Thanks for the shout out too BTW!

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  25. wow i've been thinking about doing that..what a great opportunity to get girls running.

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  26. The Lollipop Run sounds like a blast!!

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  27. Ooo! I've been wanting to volunteer for girls on the run for awhile. I sent in an application, but they never contacted me :( I should double check that they got it.

    Good for you for being a running buddy! That sounds like so much fun and such a great way to do some good. :)

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  28. The running buddy program sounds so awesome, I am totally going to look into it to see if there is one near me. What a cool idea!

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  29. I should see if that exists near me. It sounds like a great organization.

    Just catching up on my blogs!

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