Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Fun Run at the NDSC Conference!

Last April my brother talked me into doing a half marathon with him.  I though that was an insane but needed a project so started running. I started by doing a mile.  One mile.  I ended up running three half-marathons last year, in June, September, and October.  I’m not fast, finish line videos prove I’m not graceful (my brother sent me a youtube video of a lumbering bear once, for comparison. Ah, family), and I’ve found that “runner’s high” to be annoyingly elusive.  Sometimes I have petulant little arguments with myself when debating if I should stop eating, get off the comfy couch, & put on my running shoes.  But at the end of the run, any run, I do feel terribly self-satisfied.  Smug even.  HA!  LOOK WHAT I JUST DID.  Take that couch-girl! 

At every race I saw other folks running as a team for various good causes, in matching T-shirts.  There was a girl with CP who ran a 5K with her dad and a guy in a wheelchair at the September race.  I thought it would exceedingly cool if *I* had a T-shirt extolling my favorite cause.  And if my knees hold out for a few more years, I look forward to running with my girl.  No limits.  With all the fervor of a new convert, I even emailed some of you, thinking we could find a race to run together, in fancy matching T-shirts, while in DC at the NDSC convention.  But then I got distracted by a sciatica-thingy, Thanksgiving, and back to back to back Winter Festivities.  Couch girl was winning.  And while I'm not quite back down to one mile, it's close.

But Carrie, who I met in September [which she still refers to as an "awful" race but she doesn’t seem to be holding it against me], sent me a fun bit of news:  Research Down Syndrome (RDS) now has a running program, including fun runs.  Perfect!  Motivation AND a good cause!  And what location would better to host a fun run then at the convention of thousands of families they're trying to help?

So I emailed both RDS and the NDSC convention, had a couple of lovely conversations with the powers that be, and we have a green light!  Details are still being hashed out but we're thinking Saturday morning, 7/21/12.  However, RDS needs to gauge the interest level and that's where YOU guys come in.  They're more than happy to sell a couple tech shirts so a few people can go for a short, color-coordinated jog, but if more than the 3 people I'm going to bully into signing up want to do this, then they need a permit, more T-shirts (we had a long conversation about cotton Ts versus tech shirts.  We're good.), cones, balloons, etc. 

I'm not going to extoll the benefits of running - if you run this one mile and sally forth from there, awesome.  If it's not your thing but you come walk with us, just to enjoy the people and morning, and to support the kids, more's the better.  This is just going to be FUN outing, probably from the hotel to the zoo through the park.  It shouldn't be too hot first thing in the morning and what better way to justify that extra muffin at breakfast then knowing you've already stretched your legs? 
Stock photo.  I don't know these people but don't they look HAPPY? 
Bet they had pancakes AND an extra muffin at breakfast.

So if you want to snag a shirt and hang with the cool kids, drop a line to rdsrunners@researchds.org and let them know this was the BEST idea you've ever heard of and can't wait to Race for the Extraordinary.  If you know people who know people, or if you're on FB or the message boards, that would be super fabulous too (since I'm too shy & uncool to join either).  The more runners, the more balloons, and the more muffins at breakfast.  No limits.

16 comments:

  1. I put it on FB for you. Uncool is not stopping anyone over there, though. Sign up already.

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    1. Funny you should mention. Never had access at work till last week so... maybe?

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  2. Oh, you know I'm a sucka. Totally in. Maybe with a really cool stroller. We shall see.

    5K, right? Or more? Less?

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  3. I'll blog it too. We can't go to DC and running to my mailbox would be an achievement... though for some reason I keep wanting to WANT to run.

    Anyway, I think it's a great idea, and with all the runners that seem to be out there in blog world today, I'm guessing you can stir up a good crowd!

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    1. Oh no! I was hoping you'd be able to come. 2013?

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  4. I'm like you, Crittle--I thought we were talking 5K. But krlr assures me it's just ONE mile.

    I actually think I could probably do a 5K, but one mile is nice because Biffle and Maybelle can walk the mile, and I can run it, then run back and find them and go the rest of the way with them (are you allowed to do that in a race?).

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  5. THANKS GUYS! There was some debate/discussion over the one mile vs 2.6. NDSC wants everyone back & ready to go at 8 (preferably showered too) so distance divided by time multipled by the number of people who think one mile is plenty... will work on it.

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  6. I am so glad to find your blog, I have a little girl Emily that is 2 with DS. I love running and would love to join everyone for a fun run in DC! What a great idea!

    Kelli @ http://livinglifewithes.blogspot.com

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  7. I'm still working out details of getting to DC, but you know that if I'm there, I'm in.

    You totally rock for getting this set up, btw.

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    1. I hope you can come! But if not I'll snag a shirt & we'll find another longer race. Will give me a reason to bump my mileage up past my current [too ashamed to reveal #]

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  8. can it be a color run? http://thecolorrun.com/

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    1. I have sneaky feeling you're more interested in being the color-er and not the color-ee. :)

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  9. This is awesome - and on my FB page too!

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  10. Thanks for reposting & thanks for stopping by!

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  11. Bahaha that stock photo and your caption cracked me up!

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