Help Somebody

I recently read the race report of fellow runner Brenton Day. He ran the New York City Marathon with Team Fox which raises money for Parkinson's research. I had previously donated to my homies G.D. who raised money for Team Groundwork and Erwin who raised money with Livestrong. I sat and just watched their progress this year, as I was completely broke and couldn't donate to anyone.

Reading Brenton's run down of visiting the city and meeting other members of Team Fox saddened me because I couldn't donate. It also made me think, "you should stop doing the small stuff." By that I mean, the $30 each I sent to my friends' organizations in previous years was really nothing. I could be raising money myself. I researched things that had affected my family and came upon Alzheimer's. I've always thought of it as one of the most disgusting and evil diseases I've ever encountered.

Not only does it relegate a person to a slow death, it leaves a family of loved ones feeling helpless in trying to make things better for said person. That has been the case with my grandmother, who was diagnosed with a mild form of it three months ago. She's still mostly lucid, but for how long? She's had such an amazing life and raised wonderful children, my dad being one of them.

On top of all of that, anytime, I hear my dad or aunts and uncles organizing things, who's taking her to the doctor, etc., you hear a profound sadness in their voices. This is their mother. And there is little they can do to comfort her and at this point and time, there is nothing they can do to stop the slow deterioration she is suffering through. She wasn't the first person in my family to suffer at the hands of this disease. And I've known quite a few people whose parents have died of the disease. When I made my decision and started planning how I'd spread the word, I learned more people had been impacted by this disease.

So I'm running the Chicago Marathon in Oct. 2012. If running 26.2 miles means someone else won't have to suffer that same pain as I and my family have because of this disease, than 26.2 miles is nothing.

Intro

Hello all! I'm V, and I'm a runner. For some reason I decided to start this on my birthday. No, I'm not telling you how old I am. Let's get down to business. I've been running for about Aug. 2010. I got into it reluctantly, but now I'm addicted.

I've done a couple dozen 5ks, about five 10ks and I'm currently training for my first half marathon in March 2012.

For almost six months, I watched as about a dozen friends posted their daily runs as part of a list serv of runners. They constantly cheered for and encouraged each other, but I wanted no parts of running.I was working a hectic job and was only a couple of years removed from a college career as a long and triple jumper. No thank you.

Curiosity eventually got the best of me and I decided to just lace up my shoes and head out one day. It was a horrible one mile run and I was done for three months. The second time out was a little better. I actually had a plan. That mile and half was just as rough, but I liked the feeling of my lungs burning and breaking a sweat after almost three years of no real workout. Sounds crazy? Don't worry, most runners are and you'll read way more crazy if you decide to come back to this blog.

A couple things about me. I'm a journalist who was recently laid off. It hasn't been fun, but I'm dealing with it. I've been blessed with a very supportive family. Despite our many differences and quarrels, they are always there for me. I know there are literally millions of people who's parents can't or won't help them since they've been unemployed.

Enough of the sappy stuff. I'll stick to running.