This week I am launching two fundraising initiatives. First, I reached out to my track & field girls at Queen of Peace High School to see if they could sponsor a micro-fundraiser of their own. Pending administrative approval, the gals will sell mini green Gatorades on St. Patty's Day to raise some cash and awareness. This effort is being led by coach Mallory Grieger (QOP c/o 2007) and Mo Foley (c/o 2009). I have no doubt the Peace girls will pull through!
Secondly, I'm challenging my friends and family to raise a glass of Guinness to Hope Runs this holiday by sponsoring me in the Shamrock Shuffle for at least $17. I aim to get 10 folks to give. Totally possible. The Chi-Irish (my new fav word) are always generous!
6 Hours, 29 neighborhood and numerous gel packs later, Chicago Marathon 2008 is finished! The temp reached 84 degrees that day, and 33,000 runners participated.
A big thank you to all of my supporters for helping to make it happen. Adrienne and Dave made sure I was fueled at mile 9, Teri met up with me at mile 13 to run by my side through the hottest part of the race, I bumped into Rodrigo and Addy at mile 18 while grabbing more gel packs, and Rodrigo found me on the bridge and sprinted the last 200 meters with me (in his flip flops!). It was awesome!
And even more amazing is over $700 will be donated to Hope Runs, which will help its children's program in Tanzania and Kenya. Read more about it at www.hoperuns.org. And fittingly so, the male Kenyans dominated the race this year. Read the Tribune's coverage here.
Along with all the congrats and hugs and handshakes, a question I keep getting is will I do it again next year. If you asked me around mile 23, the answer would have been a exasperated, exhausted and angry " NO WAY!" But a month has passed, the pain wore off, so only more time will tell. Running is addictive so odds are, another marathon is on the horizon. :)
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Hi Nat!
This is claire from hope runs! Id love to guest post something of yours on our blog at runningonhope.blogspot.com
Let me know if that would be okay!
I'm at claire(at)hoperuns.org
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