Runner WIth a Reason
Friday, May 28, 2010
Runner With a Reason Playlist
Click on the images to enlarge to see what Runner With a Reason is listening to while training.
Summer Events
I have never really had to ask for money, a few times I’ve had to borrow from family members, but I have not asked for money to donate to a charity. It feels weird, awkward, and a little unsettling all at the same time. The economic times are tough. People have lost and are still loosing jobs. Homes are being foreclosed on because of the loss of jobs, and the money just isn’t there like it was only a decade ago. It really is a struggle to ask someone to give. While my job may not be a high powered one and doesn’t pay all too well, I am fortunate enough to have a job. I have been in the same position for six years now with a couple small raises here and there, but nothing significant and no option to scale the ladder upwards. It is a deadlock position with little to no chance for advancement, but I am glad to have it.
Having stated that I don’t make a ton of money each year it is necessary for me to count on others to help me reach my goal of raising $500 towards autism research for OAR. But this post isn’t about you, the reader, going to the OAR giving page and donating online. No, this is about you, the reader, doing something simple that can help bring me closer to my goal. Right now there are a couple of planned events with a few others on the back burner, here’s what they are:
Fund raising event #1: Aluminum Can Drive. Sunday, June 27, 2010. Runner With a Reason will be collecting aluminum cans to take to the local recycling station in exchange for cash. This cash will go into the bank and then into the OAR account. While this may not net a ton of funds towards the goal, every bit counts. Currently, aluminum cans are bringing about $0.65 per pound, but the market changes from week to week. Other can drives will be held each month toward the end of each month for July, August and September.
Fund raising event #2: Tire Flippin’ Butt Kickin’ Autism Awareness Challenge. Still trying to hash out a date for this, but tentatively looking at July 10th or July 17th for possible dates. This event is something that has come about because of a cousin of mine and it involves a 118 pound tractor tire that will be flipped end over end for over 300 yards. Sponsors can make flat donations or can take the challenge route where cousin “T” posts a time and I have to beat that time, donations will be based on a $$$ per second difference (the amount set by the person making the donation), and can be for either cousin “T” or for Runner With a Reason.
All of this for one reason: Raising both funds for research and awareness of autism. Autism is a strange thing and affects people differently, and thus, the “spectrum” which has those ranging from low functioning to high functioning. Those on the lower end of the spectrum are generally classified as having “classic autism” while those on the high end of the spectrum can have either Asperger Syndrome or diagnosed with PDD-NOS (Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified). The reason I run, my son Noah, was diagnosed PDD-NOS and shows some characteristics of classic autism and some characteristics that fit more with Asperger’s. As Tina and I have learned, this diagnosis comes with all sorts of challenges and we know this condition is something Noah will live with his entire life - it will never really go away.
This is why funding research is so important to me. If there is something that can be done to help Noah and others like (or worse than) him I want to do as much as I can to provide something towards that end. Giving sacrificially is never easy, especially in tough times. I promise to train as best I can and give of my body, my time, and my abilities. I may not have much in the way of money to give, but I will do my very best at making up for that lack by sacrificing towards finishing my first marathon in October. Please consider giving, whether by donating aluminum cans, by showing up at the Tire Flip, or by going to my OAR giving page - not dollar is too small.
For more information about the aluminum can drive or the tire flip go to the RWR fan page on Facebook and look at the "Events" tab.
Having stated that I don’t make a ton of money each year it is necessary for me to count on others to help me reach my goal of raising $500 towards autism research for OAR. But this post isn’t about you, the reader, going to the OAR giving page and donating online. No, this is about you, the reader, doing something simple that can help bring me closer to my goal. Right now there are a couple of planned events with a few others on the back burner, here’s what they are:
Fund raising event #1: Aluminum Can Drive. Sunday, June 27, 2010. Runner With a Reason will be collecting aluminum cans to take to the local recycling station in exchange for cash. This cash will go into the bank and then into the OAR account. While this may not net a ton of funds towards the goal, every bit counts. Currently, aluminum cans are bringing about $0.65 per pound, but the market changes from week to week. Other can drives will be held each month toward the end of each month for July, August and September.
Fund raising event #2: Tire Flippin’ Butt Kickin’ Autism Awareness Challenge. Still trying to hash out a date for this, but tentatively looking at July 10th or July 17th for possible dates. This event is something that has come about because of a cousin of mine and it involves a 118 pound tractor tire that will be flipped end over end for over 300 yards. Sponsors can make flat donations or can take the challenge route where cousin “T” posts a time and I have to beat that time, donations will be based on a $$$ per second difference (the amount set by the person making the donation), and can be for either cousin “T” or for Runner With a Reason.
All of this for one reason: Raising both funds for research and awareness of autism. Autism is a strange thing and affects people differently, and thus, the “spectrum” which has those ranging from low functioning to high functioning. Those on the lower end of the spectrum are generally classified as having “classic autism” while those on the high end of the spectrum can have either Asperger Syndrome or diagnosed with PDD-NOS (Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified). The reason I run, my son Noah, was diagnosed PDD-NOS and shows some characteristics of classic autism and some characteristics that fit more with Asperger’s. As Tina and I have learned, this diagnosis comes with all sorts of challenges and we know this condition is something Noah will live with his entire life - it will never really go away.
This is why funding research is so important to me. If there is something that can be done to help Noah and others like (or worse than) him I want to do as much as I can to provide something towards that end. Giving sacrificially is never easy, especially in tough times. I promise to train as best I can and give of my body, my time, and my abilities. I may not have much in the way of money to give, but I will do my very best at making up for that lack by sacrificing towards finishing my first marathon in October. Please consider giving, whether by donating aluminum cans, by showing up at the Tire Flip, or by going to my OAR giving page - not dollar is too small.
For more information about the aluminum can drive or the tire flip go to the RWR fan page on Facebook and look at the "Events" tab.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Training Run (5/27/2010)
There are some days when you really have to question why it is you are a runner. Today was such a day. The sky is blue with patchy clouds, temperature is a nice 75 degrees, but the humidity is 92% and breathing, let alone breathing while running, is laborious and the sweat never stops. Today I question my sanity for running. Not only did I post a horrible time for a five mile run, but even now, nearly a half hour later in air conditioning I cannot stop sweating!
The sweat started at about the 1/2 mile mark, and by sweat I mean pouring out of my skin at rates I thought were impossible. This reminds me of when I was in Po’hang, South Korea in 1995. Our running there was about the same, only the temperatures at 6:30 am were at about 85 degrees with 95% humidity. Beautiful country, but awful to exercise in during August. Thankfully I shouldn’t have to endure temps and humidity like that just yet, but today was close.
In other RWR news: There are a couple of fund raising events coming up. The first will be an aluminum can drive at the end of June, the other (as yet to be determined time in July) involves me flipping a rather large tire over 300 yards. As we get close to these events I will post more information as to times, locations, and how the funds will be received. Thanks for stopping by and remember to share RWR with your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors!
The sweat started at about the 1/2 mile mark, and by sweat I mean pouring out of my skin at rates I thought were impossible. This reminds me of when I was in Po’hang, South Korea in 1995. Our running there was about the same, only the temperatures at 6:30 am were at about 85 degrees with 95% humidity. Beautiful country, but awful to exercise in during August. Thankfully I shouldn’t have to endure temps and humidity like that just yet, but today was close.
In other RWR news: There are a couple of fund raising events coming up. The first will be an aluminum can drive at the end of June, the other (as yet to be determined time in July) involves me flipping a rather large tire over 300 yards. As we get close to these events I will post more information as to times, locations, and how the funds will be received. Thanks for stopping by and remember to share RWR with your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Training (Gym, Swim, Run)
So yesterday was day one of getting back into the swing of things at the gym. I spent about 45 minutes doing weight training (upper & lower body), hit the eliptical for just over 10 minutes, and then got in the pool for a nice 400 meter swim. I hadn’t done laps in a pool for many years, so it was a little uneasy at first, but I got into a groove, changed strokes every other lap, and had fun with it. I am hoping to add more time in the pool throughout the summer, it’s a nice total body workout.
Today I decided to put my feet on the ground. I had planned in my head where I wanted to run, but one thing changed during the run. There is a road a little less than 1/2 a mile from the house I had never been on, so I figured I would add a little mileage by running down and back. Down and back equaled nearly 2 miles I hadn’t planned on, but it was nice because there was virtually no traffic to contend with, easy rolling hills, and lots of trees that provided great shade. The plan was to run most of the course from the Bethel 10k from last August, but after adding this little road I cut short (by about 1 mile) from the turning point. There’s always next time. The run today was great, 5.28 miles in 44:09 which is an 8:22/mile pace. Mile four was under 7 minutes and I didn’t feel like I was struggling. Really hoping I can get below the 50 minute mark for a 10k and under 2 hours for the next 1/2 marathon. I think if I keep up the current training those goals will be easily met.
Today I decided to put my feet on the ground. I had planned in my head where I wanted to run, but one thing changed during the run. There is a road a little less than 1/2 a mile from the house I had never been on, so I figured I would add a little mileage by running down and back. Down and back equaled nearly 2 miles I hadn’t planned on, but it was nice because there was virtually no traffic to contend with, easy rolling hills, and lots of trees that provided great shade. The plan was to run most of the course from the Bethel 10k from last August, but after adding this little road I cut short (by about 1 mile) from the turning point. There’s always next time. The run today was great, 5.28 miles in 44:09 which is an 8:22/mile pace. Mile four was under 7 minutes and I didn’t feel like I was struggling. Really hoping I can get below the 50 minute mark for a 10k and under 2 hours for the next 1/2 marathon. I think if I keep up the current training those goals will be easily met.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Walk Now for Autism Speaks
What a wonderful day to have a “walk in the park!” It was an amazing sight this morning as we pulled into the parking lot at Coney Island. Last year, we were able to park pretty close to where the tents, registration, and start/finish area were. This year we barely got through the gate off Kellog Ave before being told where to park - what a hike! The number of people who came out in support of the Walk Now for Autism Speaks event today was a little overwhelming, but a good thing to see that autism is getting such attention; very much needed attention.
The walk itself was quite enjoyable. Roughly it spanned the outer edge of Coney Island and, according to my GPS, about a two mile trek. So not only did we do a walk for autism, but I logged in a couple extra miles this week (unplanned). Noah did a pretty good job, he walked about the first 1/3 before asking to ride on my shoulders - and I of course said yes. However, after about another 1/3 of the walk I was done carrying him and he finished the walk on his own feet. A short break after walking to have a picnic style lunch with a family friend (Mr. Brian who has graciously walked with us the last two years), and then we hit the park.
Maybe because of the sheer number of people this year, we were unable to ride all of the rides that had been requested, either by Noah or the others. Last year we hardly waited in a line, but this year we waited in every line. One ride closed right as the three older and I waited right at the gate; something had broken right as the ride before us was ending - we spent 10 minutes waiting only to get bumped by a broken ride :-( No matter, we rode rides, walked a bit more, and got in paddle boats for a while. The boys and I in one boat, Tina, the girls and Mr. Brian in the other. All in all it was a fabulous day and one well spent with my wonderful family. We stopped on the way home to pick up supplies for root beer floats and everything was good.
I have learned from this day, much like I had learned last year. Humility, gratitude, and thankfulness are the lessons for me from this day. Humility in that I know I have a child who is different. Autism seems so random at times, and yet so specific at others. I have to humble myself before this “thing” and know that I don’t know everything and I don’t have all the answers. Autism is a “big thing” to have to deal with, and I have to have humility in order to continue to live a “normal” life. Gratitude in that I know I can’t do it all by myself. There are a good number of people I say “thank you” to, but I won’t do that here or by name. Our team raised nearly $500 for this event, something we didn’t even come close to last year. I am extremely grateful for those of you who gave, and gave generously. Deep pockets are a rare thing these days, but by the grace of God, you put your hands deep into your pockets to raise a good amount of money in a rather short time period. Thankful in that I am surrounded by such a great group of friends and family that provide more than monetary support. You know who you are and know what you do that is a support to Tina and I when it comes to dealing with Noah and his “Noah-isms.” I am a thankful person for all that is given me by all of you.
The pictures here are only a couple of the many taken. To see more of the Coney Island photos from the walk hit the Facebook fan page.
The walk itself was quite enjoyable. Roughly it spanned the outer edge of Coney Island and, according to my GPS, about a two mile trek. So not only did we do a walk for autism, but I logged in a couple extra miles this week (unplanned). Noah did a pretty good job, he walked about the first 1/3 before asking to ride on my shoulders - and I of course said yes. However, after about another 1/3 of the walk I was done carrying him and he finished the walk on his own feet. A short break after walking to have a picnic style lunch with a family friend (Mr. Brian who has graciously walked with us the last two years), and then we hit the park.
Maybe because of the sheer number of people this year, we were unable to ride all of the rides that had been requested, either by Noah or the others. Last year we hardly waited in a line, but this year we waited in every line. One ride closed right as the three older and I waited right at the gate; something had broken right as the ride before us was ending - we spent 10 minutes waiting only to get bumped by a broken ride :-( No matter, we rode rides, walked a bit more, and got in paddle boats for a while. The boys and I in one boat, Tina, the girls and Mr. Brian in the other. All in all it was a fabulous day and one well spent with my wonderful family. We stopped on the way home to pick up supplies for root beer floats and everything was good.
I have learned from this day, much like I had learned last year. Humility, gratitude, and thankfulness are the lessons for me from this day. Humility in that I know I have a child who is different. Autism seems so random at times, and yet so specific at others. I have to humble myself before this “thing” and know that I don’t know everything and I don’t have all the answers. Autism is a “big thing” to have to deal with, and I have to have humility in order to continue to live a “normal” life. Gratitude in that I know I can’t do it all by myself. There are a good number of people I say “thank you” to, but I won’t do that here or by name. Our team raised nearly $500 for this event, something we didn’t even come close to last year. I am extremely grateful for those of you who gave, and gave generously. Deep pockets are a rare thing these days, but by the grace of God, you put your hands deep into your pockets to raise a good amount of money in a rather short time period. Thankful in that I am surrounded by such a great group of friends and family that provide more than monetary support. You know who you are and know what you do that is a support to Tina and I when it comes to dealing with Noah and his “Noah-isms.” I am a thankful person for all that is given me by all of you.
The pictures here are only a couple of the many taken. To see more of the Coney Island photos from the walk hit the Facebook fan page.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Training Run (5/21/2010)
Another good day to run. Even though the humidity was high (due to passing and pending storms), the temperature kept it feeling not so bad. The humidity did keep me running a slower pace, but one that was comfortable for the duration. I ran a nice 5.05 miles in 45:50, which averages about 9:05/mile. I find it interesting that I can continue to find new routes to run in the little town of Bethel. I found a nice lane that provides about 3/4 mile that has virtually zero traffic, and it is right near the 1 & 1/3 mile track. Picking up mileage here and there has been a challenge, but one I look forward to. Longer workouts get a little tougher, but anything beyond 10 miles heeds a trip to the local state park.
Just as a quick update. I have reached my goal for tomorrow’s Walk Now for Autism Speaks walk! I actually went a little over, but will be able to transfer some of it towards Noah’s goal. I am really looking forward to seeing a large group of people in support of autism. Last weekend saw the walk in Chicago and this weekend will cover Cincinnati, Southern New Jersey, Wheeling, WV, Atlanta and one other in Pennsylvania. There are walks still coming in Canada in June and September. Tomorrow’s event here in Cincinnati should be fun, as long as the weather permits. Coney Island is a fun place to be, and the park opens on this date for this reason only. The park uses the walk as a sort of training run for its employees, so autism rules old Coney, at least for a few hours.
Just as a quick update. I have reached my goal for tomorrow’s Walk Now for Autism Speaks walk! I actually went a little over, but will be able to transfer some of it towards Noah’s goal. I am really looking forward to seeing a large group of people in support of autism. Last weekend saw the walk in Chicago and this weekend will cover Cincinnati, Southern New Jersey, Wheeling, WV, Atlanta and one other in Pennsylvania. There are walks still coming in Canada in June and September. Tomorrow’s event here in Cincinnati should be fun, as long as the weather permits. Coney Island is a fun place to be, and the park opens on this date for this reason only. The park uses the walk as a sort of training run for its employees, so autism rules old Coney, at least for a few hours.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Training Run (5/19/2010)
Today was an awesome day to run. The weather was decent (meaning there were no drops of rain falling on me as I ran), the temperature was very good (a tad below 60 degrees), and I was well hydrated and stretched before hitting the pavement. Had a weird thing going on with the back of my knee for the first 3/4 mile or so, but after a while it just went away. My first mile was a bit slower than the rest, but I think that was because of the knee thing. So here's the breakdown:
Mile 1: 9:13
Mile 2: 8:12
Mile 3: 7:12
Mile 4: 8:21
Not completely sure about mile 3, but I think it may have something to do with the music (I think it was Run to the Hills by Iron Maiden). It must have subconsciously pushed me a little. No matter, I still felt pretty darn good after the run. To save you a little time those times roughly equal about an 8:15/mile pace - which is pretty good for me. Hoping to keep it up and have more times in that 7 minute range before too long.
Thanks to a few I have started building a new running playlist (musically). If you aren't linked up through the Facebook Fan Page, in the comments section for this post, give me 2-3 songs (title & artist) that I can add to my training music. After I have amassed over 4 hours of music I will publish it through iTunes, Facebook, and here at the RWR blog.
Mile 1: 9:13
Mile 2: 8:12
Mile 3: 7:12
Mile 4: 8:21
Not completely sure about mile 3, but I think it may have something to do with the music (I think it was Run to the Hills by Iron Maiden). It must have subconsciously pushed me a little. No matter, I still felt pretty darn good after the run. To save you a little time those times roughly equal about an 8:15/mile pace - which is pretty good for me. Hoping to keep it up and have more times in that 7 minute range before too long.
Thanks to a few I have started building a new running playlist (musically). If you aren't linked up through the Facebook Fan Page, in the comments section for this post, give me 2-3 songs (title & artist) that I can add to my training music. After I have amassed over 4 hours of music I will publish it through iTunes, Facebook, and here at the RWR blog.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Unscheduled Run & Logo Update
Well, yesterday was a pretty nice day. Slow to start, but things got accomplished around the house. The afternoon soccer game for our oldest daughter went well, and the weather was nice throughout that. Spending time with friends afterwards was nice as well. Upon coming home I just felt like I needed to get out for a little while, laced up the shoes, and headed out for a short run in the rain. The weather wasn't bad, a light rain that kept me cool enough to get through the run without getting overheated, and I managed to get in an unscheduled 3 miler that I kept a 9:39 pace. By the looks of the extended forecast, it was probably a good thing I got this run in - another week of mostly rain/storms may keep me indoors or at the gym. So getting out in the weather yesterday evening was kind of nice. I don't usually get to run in the evenings this time of year.
At any rate, after looking at the logo design for a few days I made some slight adjustments. I first thought about making the RWaR with the lowercase "a" instead of the all caps initial design. But, after looking at that for a few minutes I decided to get rid of the "a" altogether. In addition I wanted to have something in the design that incorporated why I was running, namely, something about autism. Since my runner did not have a body I decided to give him one by using "ASD", which for those who don't know stands for autism spectrum disorder. Take a look at the first and second round and give me some feedback. I am hoping to get some stickers/magnets made of the design once I have a finalized version (for use during the fund raising events throughout the summer).
At any rate, I am going to get into the swing of things this week, back to the grind of training. With a modified weight/cardio program in addition to the running I hope to gain some ground in dropping time in future runs. I am pretty sure I will be running the Air Force half marathon in September as a training run, and to give me some idea of where my training has be to that point. Thanks for stopping by and I'll be sure to post more throughout the week.
At any rate, after looking at the logo design for a few days I made some slight adjustments. I first thought about making the RWaR with the lowercase "a" instead of the all caps initial design. But, after looking at that for a few minutes I decided to get rid of the "a" altogether. In addition I wanted to have something in the design that incorporated why I was running, namely, something about autism. Since my runner did not have a body I decided to give him one by using "ASD", which for those who don't know stands for autism spectrum disorder. Take a look at the first and second round and give me some feedback. I am hoping to get some stickers/magnets made of the design once I have a finalized version (for use during the fund raising events throughout the summer).
At any rate, I am going to get into the swing of things this week, back to the grind of training. With a modified weight/cardio program in addition to the running I hope to gain some ground in dropping time in future runs. I am pretty sure I will be running the Air Force half marathon in September as a training run, and to give me some idea of where my training has be to that point. Thanks for stopping by and I'll be sure to post more throughout the week.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Noah Know's About All of This
I’ve let this blog run long enough without letting the “reason” know that it exists. So, after coming home from work Friday Tina and I had a little talk with Noah. He is now aware of the blog, the Facebook fan page, and the OAR giving site. Upon learning about all of this Noah simply said, “OK.” Well, there were some other things he wanted to talk about, but it wasn’t really on topic, but that’s something we’re working on. He did use his words (mingled a little with monkey noises) and that’s something to be happy about.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Logo Design
Runner With a Reason has a logo! Looking for thoughts, comments, and suggestions about the look and overall design.
Training Run (5/14/2010)
Busted out of the gate fast this morning; maybe a bit too fast considering the high humidity and the minimal amount of water before the run. Took a slightly different 3 mile route this morning and checked out a small sub-division I’ve never been through (and I have lived near it for six yeas now). Nothing unusual about this run, but I can certainly say that the humidity is really thick and I can’t stop sweating. Pounding the water now and getting a little post run stretching in. Here’s the workout breakdown.
Mile 1: 8:40
Mile 2: 9:07
Mile 3: 10:27
I started a little faster than I wanted and eventually got into a groove, but that groove didn’t last long due to an overheating body. Next week I hope to get back into the mid-range runs (5-8 miles) and bring back the camel back hydration system.
Did you know that there are many wonderful athletes with autism? While many are not household names, people like Anthony Crudale, Andrew Bryant, Jonathon Brunot, and Alex Bain are accomplished runners with ASD. There are just a few and they cover a broad array of the spectrum (between high & low functioning). Take a little time today to look into other sports with athletes with ASD, you might be surprised.
Mile 1: 8:40
Mile 2: 9:07
Mile 3: 10:27
I started a little faster than I wanted and eventually got into a groove, but that groove didn’t last long due to an overheating body. Next week I hope to get back into the mid-range runs (5-8 miles) and bring back the camel back hydration system.
Did you know that there are many wonderful athletes with autism? While many are not household names, people like Anthony Crudale, Andrew Bryant, Jonathon Brunot, and Alex Bain are accomplished runners with ASD. There are just a few and they cover a broad array of the spectrum (between high & low functioning). Take a little time today to look into other sports with athletes with ASD, you might be surprised.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
End of the Semester . . . sigh
Well, things aren’t exactly going the way I had planned for this week. It is the final week of my spring semester of school and I have been swamped all week. Papers, tests, and other assignments have kept me indoors (along with poor weather) all week. However, I am nearly finished with the final paper for the semester and have only one more page to write and then I get a wonderful, much needed and anticipated break from school While this break will only last five weeks, that is five weeks I can really focus on getting a routine started for the new training cycle.
Looking ahead I plan on having a similar routine that I had the first four months of this year; weights and other cross training Monday, Wednesday, & Fridays, runs for Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturdays. One thing I hope to incorporate into this training cycle is more time in the pool. I really thing this will be a great help to me and will increase my cardio performance in the long run. Adding laps in the pool with various strokes should help me cut a few more seconds off of each mile and build more lactic acid tolerance.
I hope to maintain my current weight throughout this cycle as well, not going above 160 pounds. Seeing as how I dropped nearly seven pounds during the Flying Pig half recently, I do plan to bulk up a little bit towards the end of the cycle to compensate for weight loss during the Chicago full. 26.2 miles is a long way to run, and four hours of running can burn tons of calories including a little fat around the edges.
I will post to both Facebook and Twitter whenever I run (before and after) so be sure to drop by there and check out how I am progressing throughout the next few months. Only 149 days until Chicago!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Rain Out, Now What?
Today’s run has officially been canceled. It is raining now, and from the looks of the radar, thunderstorms are getting ready to roll in. I suppose an inside cross train session wouldn’t be too bad. We have the Wii Fit+ in the basement and I can always knock out some sit-ups, push-ups and get some light stretching in, right?
October is only 5 months away and that is the amount of time I have remaining to get my body in tip-top shape for my first full marathon. Training for this run will be a unique challenge for a few reasons.
1) The conditions I will train in here in southern Ohio will be quite different from race day conditions in northern Illinois 2) The course in Chicago is incredibly flat as opposed to the hills I run and train on here 3) I am quite familiar with the downtown Chicago area, but running through a few places I haven’t seen in about 10 years will be an experience. I am not worried about any of these things, but getting excited. I know the temps and humidity will play a factor in my running, but it should be in my favor in Chicago. Likewise, I am so used to running up and down hills it will be interesting to see how my body endures 26.2 miles of flat terrain - I should be able to maintain a constant speed throughout the race (hopefully around 8:45 - 9 minutes per mile). I am hoping the excitement of running through such a cool city will help push me along the route. I know I will be able to pick things out like, “hey, I used to work in that building” or “I think I attended a wine dinner in that restaurant” and the like.
At any rate, I am sure looking forward to experiencing my first full marathon in Chicago. The home of one of my favorite baseball teams (White Sox), my favorite hockey team (Blackhawks), and a favorite basketball team (Bulls). Sorry folks, I’m not a Cubs fan or a Bears fan. I am also looking forward to seeing some good friends along the course, hoping many will come out in support of me and my two running partners for this event (Tim & Lucky). Also, knowing that I will have raised money to support research for autism will be another motivating factor that should help push me through those difficult last few miles.
October is only 5 months away and that is the amount of time I have remaining to get my body in tip-top shape for my first full marathon. Training for this run will be a unique challenge for a few reasons.
1) The conditions I will train in here in southern Ohio will be quite different from race day conditions in northern Illinois 2) The course in Chicago is incredibly flat as opposed to the hills I run and train on here 3) I am quite familiar with the downtown Chicago area, but running through a few places I haven’t seen in about 10 years will be an experience. I am not worried about any of these things, but getting excited. I know the temps and humidity will play a factor in my running, but it should be in my favor in Chicago. Likewise, I am so used to running up and down hills it will be interesting to see how my body endures 26.2 miles of flat terrain - I should be able to maintain a constant speed throughout the race (hopefully around 8:45 - 9 minutes per mile). I am hoping the excitement of running through such a cool city will help push me along the route. I know I will be able to pick things out like, “hey, I used to work in that building” or “I think I attended a wine dinner in that restaurant” and the like. At any rate, I am sure looking forward to experiencing my first full marathon in Chicago. The home of one of my favorite baseball teams (White Sox), my favorite hockey team (Blackhawks), and a favorite basketball team (Bulls). Sorry folks, I’m not a Cubs fan or a Bears fan. I am also looking forward to seeing some good friends along the course, hoping many will come out in support of me and my two running partners for this event (Tim & Lucky). Also, knowing that I will have raised money to support research for autism will be another motivating factor that should help push me through those difficult last few miles.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
A Word To My (soon to be) Sponsors
You just never know who might be inspired by something. Before this training cycle I was running for my own personal benefit (health) and pretty much for no other reason. Now I am running with a purpose, and for a specific reason - helping to teach others about autism and to raise funds for autism research. I have been inspired by my son to run.
There are a myriad of charities with which people can give towards, and for the most part, they are usually great causes. If I thought I could raise enough money to support my family by running I would do so as quickly as I could run a 5k race! However, I am pretty sure that will not be the case. So I will raise money for someone else, and this is where sponsorship comes into play.
Having recently joined up with the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), I have been given a small amount of funds as a goal. The basic requirements are $250 raised, but I have raised that bar on myself to reach at least $500 before October 10th. In addition to this goal I would like to raise the bar even higher by seeking sponsors that will push me beyond the $1,000 mark so I can continue to raise funds for OAR and get myself into running the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon. By raising over $1,000 OAR will provide me with an entry into the Marine Corps Marathon the following year, but that isn’t the real reason I want to go beyond my $500 goal. The more money I receive through donations for the Chicago Marathon this year, the more money that goes into research activities for autism - funding that is so lacking in the public sector. While many other less diagnosed diseases or less life threatening diseases are granted more money, autism, being an incredibly prevalent disorder, receives far less of the funding necessary for adequate research.
If you, your family, your business, church, etc. would like to help push me beyond my expected goals please feel free to do so. If online giving spooks you, I totally understand, and you can direct message me here through the blog, through Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Runner-With-a-Reason), or through Twitter(twitter.com/mundya1). If you want to remain anonymous about your giving, I understand that as well. I hope to set up an account soon that will be for cash/anonymous donations that will be forwarded directly to my OAR giving site (which can be found in the sidebar on the blog, or here; http://www.firstgiving.com/aaronmundy).
Throughout the summer I plan on having a few special events to help raise funds. Keep your eyes opened here for things like aluminum can recycling, bracelet sales, bake sales, etc. When I have these special events I will be sure to post something at least 2 weeks prior to and a week prior to the event. I also have a Facebook Fan page set up so more people can follow me in this endeavor. Thanks (in advance) for your awesome support!
There are a myriad of charities with which people can give towards, and for the most part, they are usually great causes. If I thought I could raise enough money to support my family by running I would do so as quickly as I could run a 5k race! However, I am pretty sure that will not be the case. So I will raise money for someone else, and this is where sponsorship comes into play.
Having recently joined up with the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), I have been given a small amount of funds as a goal. The basic requirements are $250 raised, but I have raised that bar on myself to reach at least $500 before October 10th. In addition to this goal I would like to raise the bar even higher by seeking sponsors that will push me beyond the $1,000 mark so I can continue to raise funds for OAR and get myself into running the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon. By raising over $1,000 OAR will provide me with an entry into the Marine Corps Marathon the following year, but that isn’t the real reason I want to go beyond my $500 goal. The more money I receive through donations for the Chicago Marathon this year, the more money that goes into research activities for autism - funding that is so lacking in the public sector. While many other less diagnosed diseases or less life threatening diseases are granted more money, autism, being an incredibly prevalent disorder, receives far less of the funding necessary for adequate research.
If you, your family, your business, church, etc. would like to help push me beyond my expected goals please feel free to do so. If online giving spooks you, I totally understand, and you can direct message me here through the blog, through Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Runner-With-a-Reason), or through Twitter(twitter.com/mundya1). If you want to remain anonymous about your giving, I understand that as well. I hope to set up an account soon that will be for cash/anonymous donations that will be forwarded directly to my OAR giving site (which can be found in the sidebar on the blog, or here; http://www.firstgiving.com/aaronmundy).
Throughout the summer I plan on having a few special events to help raise funds. Keep your eyes opened here for things like aluminum can recycling, bracelet sales, bake sales, etc. When I have these special events I will be sure to post something at least 2 weeks prior to and a week prior to the event. I also have a Facebook Fan page set up so more people can follow me in this endeavor. Thanks (in advance) for your awesome support!
Photo From the Flying Pig 2010
Miles of training, months of training, and lots of raining at the Flying Pig Half Marathon this year. Not sure where on the course this was taken, but hey, it shows I was actually there.
Shoes & Inserts
When I started running again about two years ago I set out to find a decent pair of running shoes. I had tried Nike, Reebok, Asics, and a variety of other shoes while running in high school and the Marines. I never found a pair I really liked. The task at hand was large and seemingly insurmountable, but I set out in hopes of finding some shoes that would feel good - even after several miles of running.
I started hitting a few shoe stores and ended up at a local DSW. I had never been in one and had no idea what I would find, but after looking for a few minutes I picked up a pair of Saucony Grid Propel running shoes, found the right size and was instantly overwhelmed. Not only did they fit length and width wise, but they actually felt comfortable. After training in those for about a year I decided it was time for another pair of shoes, so back to DSW. They did not have the same kind, but instead they had the new and improved Grid Propel 2. Slight modifications in the bridge of the shoe and even better arch supports. That pair of shoes got me through training for and running my first half marathon, training for and running two 10k’s and another half marathon. I still have them and used them now for my yard work shoes. Still holding together quite well.
For my next pair I once again went back to DSW, but this time it was a different location. They still had Saucony, but not the same shoes I had been running in. I tried a few pairs and decided on a particular one, taking the risk of buying two pairs. The Saucony Grid Ignition shoes, a half size bigger on purpose, have been a saving grace to me. I bought them slightly big so I could add running insoles with what was already in the shoe. This combination of shoe/insole made a huge difference during the 2010 Flying Pig half marathon. It was an incredibly wet run, with serious down pours just before the start of the race. I credit the shoes and insoles (along with a tightly tied pair of laces) for allowing me a pain free, blister free run. Talking with several people after wards I found that the wet conditions really hampered their performance, but this was not a problem for me.
I know each runner has their preferred brand of shoe, and it took me many years to find the one for me. My hope is that Saucony continues to make high quality shoes that will keep me on my feet.
Did you know that “autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases”? (autismspeaks.org) Help provide a voice to those who have a problem voicing their opinion and promote more research for autism. Click on the OAR Giving link and help a runner out!
I started hitting a few shoe stores and ended up at a local DSW. I had never been in one and had no idea what I would find, but after looking for a few minutes I picked up a pair of Saucony Grid Propel running shoes, found the right size and was instantly overwhelmed. Not only did they fit length and width wise, but they actually felt comfortable. After training in those for about a year I decided it was time for another pair of shoes, so back to DSW. They did not have the same kind, but instead they had the new and improved Grid Propel 2. Slight modifications in the bridge of the shoe and even better arch supports. That pair of shoes got me through training for and running my first half marathon, training for and running two 10k’s and another half marathon. I still have them and used them now for my yard work shoes. Still holding together quite well.
For my next pair I once again went back to DSW, but this time it was a different location. They still had Saucony, but not the same shoes I had been running in. I tried a few pairs and decided on a particular one, taking the risk of buying two pairs. The Saucony Grid Ignition shoes, a half size bigger on purpose, have been a saving grace to me. I bought them slightly big so I could add running insoles with what was already in the shoe. This combination of shoe/insole made a huge difference during the 2010 Flying Pig half marathon. It was an incredibly wet run, with serious down pours just before the start of the race. I credit the shoes and insoles (along with a tightly tied pair of laces) for allowing me a pain free, blister free run. Talking with several people after wards I found that the wet conditions really hampered their performance, but this was not a problem for me.
I know each runner has their preferred brand of shoe, and it took me many years to find the one for me. My hope is that Saucony continues to make high quality shoes that will keep me on my feet.
Did you know that “autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases”? (autismspeaks.org) Help provide a voice to those who have a problem voicing their opinion and promote more research for autism. Click on the OAR Giving link and help a runner out!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Recovery Run
Well, it has been nearly 96 hours since I last ran and I am beyond ready to get back out there and hit the pavement. My legs are back to normal and I think I have probably put back on about three or four of the seven pounds I lost over the Flying Pig weekend. Kids are off to school, things around the house are in decent shape, and my head is telling me to put a few miles in. The question I have for myself now is, “how far should I run?” This is pre-run thinking and I am more than sure my body will tell me how far to go once I’m running. That said, I will shoot for an easy four to five miles. Off for water and stretching, more to follow after the run.
What a beautiful day for a run. 64 degrees and low humidity made this a great day for a recovery run. The first half to three quarters of a mile were the worst. I was stiff like crazy and felt as though I wouldn’t be able to make it past the two mile mark, but I persisted. The second and third miles felt much better and the fourth mile even more so. Mile 1 was the slowest at 10:49 and mile four was the fastest at 10:16.
Having recently put in a 16.2 mile weekend I feel pretty darn good. Looking forward to starting the new training cycle next week. I hope and plan to sit down soon and map my summer out by doing a modified version of my winter/spring training cycle. I will add one thing to my weekly training routine for the summer that was absent durning the winter/spring cycle - swimming! As soon as I get that finished I will post, in some form or fashion, the entire training cycle.
Until then, keep training and don’t try to force someone with autism to make direct eye contact with you - it really makes them uncomfortable.
What a beautiful day for a run. 64 degrees and low humidity made this a great day for a recovery run. The first half to three quarters of a mile were the worst. I was stiff like crazy and felt as though I wouldn’t be able to make it past the two mile mark, but I persisted. The second and third miles felt much better and the fourth mile even more so. Mile 1 was the slowest at 10:49 and mile four was the fastest at 10:16.
Having recently put in a 16.2 mile weekend I feel pretty darn good. Looking forward to starting the new training cycle next week. I hope and plan to sit down soon and map my summer out by doing a modified version of my winter/spring training cycle. I will add one thing to my weekly training routine for the summer that was absent durning the winter/spring cycle - swimming! As soon as I get that finished I will post, in some form or fashion, the entire training cycle.
Until then, keep training and don’t try to force someone with autism to make direct eye contact with you - it really makes them uncomfortable.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The Train/Pain Cycle
The previous training cycle was a long and difficult road and planning ahead was they initial key to my success. Little did I know that even with the best plan, things could still go wrong.
The first week of 2010 was the starting point for training for my first full marathon. I had looked through several marathon training programs online and made a hybrid of a few of them that would not only suit my lifestyle, but my running style as well. Many of the programs called for runs four to five times a week, but with four kids, a full-time job, and my wife and I both being full-time college students, that kind of program just would not work. I made my own plan using time and distance, laying it out on a spreadsheet and kept the runs to three times a week. Weekdays (Mon, Wed, Fri) were short to medium runs (3-7 miles) and Saturdays were set for my longer runs (anything over 8 miles). The off days during the week I had intentionally set for cross training at the gym to include weights, stationary bike and eliptical.
So, I had my plan and knew what days I would be doing what. I printed a calendar with all of my runs/cross-x days and posted it on the wall above my computer. I knew, and could reference at any time, when I would have long runs, weight training days, and speed or fartlek days. Mentally this truly helped me and it also helped to keep me on task throughout the training cycle. I had a plan and I was going to stick to that plan!
In addition to the plan I also had another tool at my disposal. While training for my first half marathon the previous year I decided to invest in a Camel Back water system. This was a great help as it allowed me to run with water, but without having to carry a water bottle. This was a huge help in distance runs (anything over 6.5 miles), but it also helped in other ways for this year. Little did I know at first that this hydration system would help increase my breathing once I stopped wearing it. When running with the Camel Back I would draw the shoulder straps and chest straps tightly so as to remove any sliding or jostling around during my runs. What I found was that after I stopped wearing it I could breath better, could take deeper breaths, and run much faster and harder (especially at distances under 6 miles). I continued to train with this knowing the added benefits. One last note on the Camel Back, with the shoulder and chest straps I never had any chaffing issues on my chest or back.
Shoes. I thought I ha
d tried nearly every brand of shoe under the sun while in the Marine Corps, but I missed a particular brand that would prove crucial to my running success. When I started running again a few years ago I found Saucony shoes and instantly fell in love with them. I am now on my third pair in two years and use them only for running. For this current training cycle I went ahead and bought two pairs of the same shoe knowing that I would burn through them as long as I stuck to my plan. I try not to put more than 350 - 400 miles on a single pair of shoes. In addition to Saucony Grid Ignition shoes for this training cycle, I also bought the Dr. Sholl’s sport inserts for added comfort. This combination of shoe/insert has proven quite effective and played a huge roll in the Flying Pig half marathon 2010 (more on that in another post). My feet never felt tired or achy and I always felt like I had a spring in my step, I felt like I could really run.
Training program, check. Hydration system, check. Proper shoes, check. Let’s get running.
January 2010 in southern Ohio was weird. We endured a pretty mild late fall and early winter, but after the turn of the new year all of that changed. We had snow, ice, and more snow and this made training rather difficult. I am fortunate enough to have had a pair of Yak Trax to pull over my shoes to keep me from slipping and sliding all over the place, and they were much needed and used early on. It seemed like everything was coming together nicely and January went by without any issues. I ran, trained at the gym and felt really good.
February came around and things started to go badly. The weather was not improving and the snow/ice combination was making it nearly impossible to do any real outside running. Add to that a new round of classes that were more in depth and difficult, these classes demanded a lot of time, reading, and mounds of required work. The few runs I got in early just were not enough. And then a hamstring issue. One of the few nice days in February (a Saturday by chance), I decided to get in an easy 7-8 mile run. I was using the local state park and its hills to train for the hills in the Flying Pig. At the bottom of one such hill I started feeling a tightening in my hamstring. My truck was parked at the top of the hill, and I was five miles into the run. I had just over a mile back and painfully made my way back, drove home in disappointment and began healing. Little to no running for two weeks.
March had a promising opening which brought me back into pain free running and I got back on track with my training plan. Things were beginning to look good again. Part way into the month I was back at the state park (different area this time) doing a nice 10 mile run. Somewhere around mile 7 I started feeling pain in my left knee. This time I was about 1.5 miles away from the truck (see a pattern evolving), but was fortunate enough that there weren’t any hills in my way. Disappointed again, I resolved that I would soon make the decision as to whether I would do the full marathon or half for the Flying Pig. Another week of rest and a decision would be made.
April began equally as good as March and January. Temps started stabilizing a bit and when not running with the Camel Back I started noticing a drastic increase in speed in the 3 - 6 mile runs. Things were looking good. I was prepared to make the decision by April 5th as to the full/half Pig. Sadly the decision was made for me four weeks before the Pig. Injury this time grabbed me, but not while running. I had merely stepped off of the back porch at a friends house and my left ankle just went sideways. Two days later the doctor told me there were no broken bones, but that I should stay off of it for 10 days - no work, no running, no weights, no nothing. The first few days were difficult to move around the house, but it got better. 11 days after the incident I returned to the pavement and put in a short 3.5 mile run. Each mile got better and faster and I breathed a sigh of relief. Two and a half weeks away from the Pig I was now convinced that I would be able to run the half, but was not sure I would beat the time I put in the previous year.
And so I finished a newly re-modified training plan and prepared for my third half marathon in less than 365 days.
The first week of 2010 was the starting point for training for my first full marathon. I had looked through several marathon training programs online and made a hybrid of a few of them that would not only suit my lifestyle, but my running style as well. Many of the programs called for runs four to five times a week, but with four kids, a full-time job, and my wife and I both being full-time college students, that kind of program just would not work. I made my own plan using time and distance, laying it out on a spreadsheet and kept the runs to three times a week. Weekdays (Mon, Wed, Fri) were short to medium runs (3-7 miles) and Saturdays were set for my longer runs (anything over 8 miles). The off days during the week I had intentionally set for cross training at the gym to include weights, stationary bike and eliptical.
So, I had my plan and knew what days I would be doing what. I printed a calendar with all of my runs/cross-x days and posted it on the wall above my computer. I knew, and could reference at any time, when I would have long runs, weight training days, and speed or fartlek days. Mentally this truly helped me and it also helped to keep me on task throughout the training cycle. I had a plan and I was going to stick to that plan!
In addition to the plan I also had another tool at my disposal. While training for my first half marathon the previous year I decided to invest in a Camel Back water system. This was a great help as it allowed me to run with water, but without having to carry a water bottle. This was a huge help in distance runs (anything over 6.5 miles), but it also helped in other ways for this year. Little did I know at first that this hydration system would help increase my breathing once I stopped wearing it. When running with the Camel Back I would draw the shoulder straps and chest straps tightly so as to remove any sliding or jostling around during my runs. What I found was that after I stopped wearing it I could breath better, could take deeper breaths, and run much faster and harder (especially at distances under 6 miles). I continued to train with this knowing the added benefits. One last note on the Camel Back, with the shoulder and chest straps I never had any chaffing issues on my chest or back.
Shoes. I thought I ha
d tried nearly every brand of shoe under the sun while in the Marine Corps, but I missed a particular brand that would prove crucial to my running success. When I started running again a few years ago I found Saucony shoes and instantly fell in love with them. I am now on my third pair in two years and use them only for running. For this current training cycle I went ahead and bought two pairs of the same shoe knowing that I would burn through them as long as I stuck to my plan. I try not to put more than 350 - 400 miles on a single pair of shoes. In addition to Saucony Grid Ignition shoes for this training cycle, I also bought the Dr. Sholl’s sport inserts for added comfort. This combination of shoe/insert has proven quite effective and played a huge roll in the Flying Pig half marathon 2010 (more on that in another post). My feet never felt tired or achy and I always felt like I had a spring in my step, I felt like I could really run.Training program, check. Hydration system, check. Proper shoes, check. Let’s get running.
January 2010 in southern Ohio was weird. We endured a pretty mild late fall and early winter, but after the turn of the new year all of that changed. We had snow, ice, and more snow and this made training rather difficult. I am fortunate enough to have had a pair of Yak Trax to pull over my shoes to keep me from slipping and sliding all over the place, and they were much needed and used early on. It seemed like everything was coming together nicely and January went by without any issues. I ran, trained at the gym and felt really good.
February came around and things started to go badly. The weather was not improving and the snow/ice combination was making it nearly impossible to do any real outside running. Add to that a new round of classes that were more in depth and difficult, these classes demanded a lot of time, reading, and mounds of required work. The few runs I got in early just were not enough. And then a hamstring issue. One of the few nice days in February (a Saturday by chance), I decided to get in an easy 7-8 mile run. I was using the local state park and its hills to train for the hills in the Flying Pig. At the bottom of one such hill I started feeling a tightening in my hamstring. My truck was parked at the top of the hill, and I was five miles into the run. I had just over a mile back and painfully made my way back, drove home in disappointment and began healing. Little to no running for two weeks.
March had a promising opening which brought me back into pain free running and I got back on track with my training plan. Things were beginning to look good again. Part way into the month I was back at the state park (different area this time) doing a nice 10 mile run. Somewhere around mile 7 I started feeling pain in my left knee. This time I was about 1.5 miles away from the truck (see a pattern evolving), but was fortunate enough that there weren’t any hills in my way. Disappointed again, I resolved that I would soon make the decision as to whether I would do the full marathon or half for the Flying Pig. Another week of rest and a decision would be made.
April began equally as good as March and January. Temps started stabilizing a bit and when not running with the Camel Back I started noticing a drastic increase in speed in the 3 - 6 mile runs. Things were looking good. I was prepared to make the decision by April 5th as to the full/half Pig. Sadly the decision was made for me four weeks before the Pig. Injury this time grabbed me, but not while running. I had merely stepped off of the back porch at a friends house and my left ankle just went sideways. Two days later the doctor told me there were no broken bones, but that I should stay off of it for 10 days - no work, no running, no weights, no nothing. The first few days were difficult to move around the house, but it got better. 11 days after the incident I returned to the pavement and put in a short 3.5 mile run. Each mile got better and faster and I breathed a sigh of relief. Two and a half weeks away from the Pig I was now convinced that I would be able to run the half, but was not sure I would beat the time I put in the previous year.
And so I finished a newly re-modified training plan and prepared for my third half marathon in less than 365 days.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Why I Run
According to many recent studies, autism affects 1 out of every 110 children born today, and affects roughly 1 out of every 70 males born.
My name is Aaron and I have a son who has been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism is a pervasive development disorder of which there seems to be no known cure for, though through some treatments the signs and symptoms can be greatly decreased, but this is not the norm. In addition to being a father of an autistic child I am a runner. Within the last 365 days I have trained for and run in three half marathons (13.1 miles each), two 10k’s (6.2 miles each), and one 5k race. The races alone come to over 50 miles traveled on my feet, but that does not include the training. Each of the half marathon training cycles consisted of at least 120 miles, and the 10k and 5k races were incorporated into those cycles as well. In all, roughly calculated over the past year, I have traveled somewhere in the area of 550 miles - all by my own feet.
All of this started because a friend suggested I run the Flying Pig half marathon last year. It seemed like a good idea. I had spent five years in the U.S. Marines and did plenty of training back then, but that had been over 10 years in the past. I slowly got myself back into running and last May I finished my first half marathon in 2 hours, 12 minutes, 12 seconds. I completed another half marathon and two 10 races before the end of 2009. Having made a decision with two friends to run a distance race each fall I decided to look into team running and fund raising. Many of the organizations require thousands of dollars in funds raised, some only ask for a few hundred. And while many have excellent causes, only a small number of them hit close to home. Having recently lost a grandmother to leukemia I thought about joining a team that supports cancer research, but in the end I chose something very close to home. My youngest son is autistic and I now have an even better reason to run than merely for my health or the medals I may win.
This work will be devoted to my running life and my support for raising funds for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR). In October 2010 (my birthday, Oct. 10th to be precise) I will be participating in the Chicago Marathon. While I only need to raise $250 for the organization I have chosen to bump that number up to $500 with an expectation of raising over $1,000 for OAR. Throughout the next several months I will be posting here, Facebook and Twitter about fundraising events for this cause. In addition to that I will randomly post facts, figures, statistics and recent studies on autism spectrum disorders. Likewise I will keep those who might read this up to date with my training and any other races I may run between now and October and beyond. Some posts may be short (as I am a father of 4, full time worker, and college student), while others may be more in depth. My goal for this is to keep tabs on myself, keep myself honest about my training, and to further understand the condition my son will live with throughout his entire life.
For those who do end up reading this I will be adding new things from time to time, such as links to my fund raising page for OAR and Walk Now for Autism Speaks. I thank you in advance for helping me in my support to find more information about this condition that nearly 2 million people in the U.S. live with. I will allow comments on most posts up to 2 months old and look forward to hearing about your training, you family members with autism, and about you yourself. I especially look forward to getting to know people with autism that are athletes - I want to know what motivates you, keeps you moving forward, and what makes you want to strive towards excellence in your particular sport. Thanks for stopping by and book mark this page for future reference!
My name is Aaron and I have a son who has been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism is a pervasive development disorder of which there seems to be no known cure for, though through some treatments the signs and symptoms can be greatly decreased, but this is not the norm. In addition to being a father of an autistic child I am a runner. Within the last 365 days I have trained for and run in three half marathons (13.1 miles each), two 10k’s (6.2 miles each), and one 5k race. The races alone come to over 50 miles traveled on my feet, but that does not include the training. Each of the half marathon training cycles consisted of at least 120 miles, and the 10k and 5k races were incorporated into those cycles as well. In all, roughly calculated over the past year, I have traveled somewhere in the area of 550 miles - all by my own feet.
All of this started because a friend suggested I run the Flying Pig half marathon last year. It seemed like a good idea. I had spent five years in the U.S. Marines and did plenty of training back then, but that had been over 10 years in the past. I slowly got myself back into running and last May I finished my first half marathon in 2 hours, 12 minutes, 12 seconds. I completed another half marathon and two 10 races before the end of 2009. Having made a decision with two friends to run a distance race each fall I decided to look into team running and fund raising. Many of the organizations require thousands of dollars in funds raised, some only ask for a few hundred. And while many have excellent causes, only a small number of them hit close to home. Having recently lost a grandmother to leukemia I thought about joining a team that supports cancer research, but in the end I chose something very close to home. My youngest son is autistic and I now have an even better reason to run than merely for my health or the medals I may win.
This work will be devoted to my running life and my support for raising funds for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR). In October 2010 (my birthday, Oct. 10th to be precise) I will be participating in the Chicago Marathon. While I only need to raise $250 for the organization I have chosen to bump that number up to $500 with an expectation of raising over $1,000 for OAR. Throughout the next several months I will be posting here, Facebook and Twitter about fundraising events for this cause. In addition to that I will randomly post facts, figures, statistics and recent studies on autism spectrum disorders. Likewise I will keep those who might read this up to date with my training and any other races I may run between now and October and beyond. Some posts may be short (as I am a father of 4, full time worker, and college student), while others may be more in depth. My goal for this is to keep tabs on myself, keep myself honest about my training, and to further understand the condition my son will live with throughout his entire life.
For those who do end up reading this I will be adding new things from time to time, such as links to my fund raising page for OAR and Walk Now for Autism Speaks. I thank you in advance for helping me in my support to find more information about this condition that nearly 2 million people in the U.S. live with. I will allow comments on most posts up to 2 months old and look forward to hearing about your training, you family members with autism, and about you yourself. I especially look forward to getting to know people with autism that are athletes - I want to know what motivates you, keeps you moving forward, and what makes you want to strive towards excellence in your particular sport. Thanks for stopping by and book mark this page for future reference!
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