Tag Archives: Team Gab

Chasing the Good.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve done a few virtual runs – dedicating my personal run towards a cause, a charity or a person. They have some pro’s and con’s, but I like the motivation to get out and put the blood, sweat and tears towards something. Typically my run is the blue screen of death for the oft-crazed voice in my head . I completely zone out to the tune of I.am.running.to.BryanAdams.and.I.don’t.even.know.it, but sometimes it’s a nice place to have a focus and use the space to reflect, think, plan, meditate, etc. and CHASE. THE. GOOD.

A few weeks back, I dedicated a long Saturday run to Gabby and helped to raise money for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. Originally Heather, had organized a group of local bloggers to meet up to picnic and run, but when SoCal served us an 85 degree weekend in January we bailed and quickly reverted to plan b. do it like you know it. Your time, Your turf, Your rules. But Do It.

So I got up early to beat the heat and did my thing hitting my second 20 miler training run – this time dedicated to Gabby and PCRF. I went without my iPod and as I logged the miles, I tried to stay present in my thoughts, thinking about Heather, her family and all of the other families out there struggling with a child that has been unjustly diagnosed with Cancer at such a young age. Making matters worse, children don’t have access to early and new treatment options. Cancer is a sick and twisted disease and it touches each of our lives directly and indirectly each and every day. As I began to fatigue about 3/4 of the way in, I reminded myself that Gabby and PCRF were bigger-than-my-body and for all the suffering that this girl has gone through, she’s been her smiley, charming, beautiful self to all of the Dr’s and Nurses along the way.

So I put a HUGE grin on and chased the miles down for Gabby.

Last weekend, I participated in the Virtual Run for Sherry Arnold. For those following the story, you may have read in the news today what happened to Sherry in greater detail. The information is devastating. Last Saturday tens of thousands of people across the country ran, walked, hopped, skipped and jumped for Sherry. Sherry’s cousin Beth of SUAR organized the virtual race and the World got behind Sherry. Runners in China, Germany, Canada, US and beyond.

I ran 20 for Sherry last weekend and I ran my heart out. As I pounded the pavement, I stomped on the men sick enough to do this to her. As I ran the hills of the neighborhood I was reminded of her courage and strength during the struggle and the fight she probably put up. And as I ran along the ocean, I hoped and prayed she was in peace and that her family would one day find peace again.

The Lightbulb in my head never dimmed during these runs. Even though they were virtual and I didn’t run with Heather or Beth in person, I didn’t forget my purpose or my plight. Both Gabby and Sherry remind me of the power that I have to give back and give more – putting my passions towards the greater good and using my running to fight the greater fight.

With that, I move on to Boston where I’ve raised over $4k. so far for Fred’s Team. Time to do more good.

{MF Dre}

Milestone Monday.

Can I Wear a Tux?

3 Replies

Time for my favorite mid-week rambling about the happenin’s

Super excited that my bestie is engaged!

2.5 years ago, “Coat Boy” hit on her by offering to hold her coat while she danced in a crowded bar. Kinda think that this falls in the same category as freaking her from behind, but it worked and I’m so super excited that she let that bad-pick-up-move slide. Because.He.Kind.Of.Rocks. xx Jay.

*****

In keeping with the wedding theme, another bestie {you know you have a few too} is getting married to his super fab partner. Best texts ever last week.

and if SJP and SATC mean nothing to you {you.must.live.under.a.rock} Carrie wore a tux to Stanford and Anthony’s wedding in SATC2. and.i.kind.of.loved.it. You?

*****

It’s been a bit hard to get back into Running this week after a few days on the mountain. Maybe I’m tired or maybe I lost a little momentum, but I am refocusing to put my head back into it because I’m running IRL with Team Gab this Saturday for PCRF. Plus, looking at my race calendar for the next few months, it’s packed, so its time to get my head in the game. If you want to join us on Saturday, sign up here. Please!

*****

It’s sad, but it’s true…and I’m embarrassed to say, I’m G-U-I-L-T-Y.

*****

Lastly a giveaway (not mine). Sarah and Mizuno are giving away a pair of Wave Rider 15′s here! Go check it out now! You (and I) want to win these – they just carried her through a kick a** fast 3:14:31 marathon. If only….

{MF Dre}

Would you rock a tux?
Favorite Running Shoe? have you tried the Mizuno Wave Rider 15′s yet?
How guilty are you in this video? {Me = 20% Guilty}

Milestone Monday.

8 Replies

Milestone Monday. It’s the new thing, I promise. Self-motivated or not, I decided to keep myself accountable with a new feature on the blog… Milestone Monday… with a goal to use this time to share what I’ve accomplished, where I’m headed and keep myself honest to my ongoing list of goals. Wonder what I’ll be able to show for this a year from now!?

2012 Miles in 2012: 99 miles down. 1913 to go.

{Yes, according to DailyMile, I’ve burned 57.16 donuts and powered 185.60 TV’s so far. Wonder how far until I make it .01 around the world!}

Do More Good: Last week I signed up to run a Virtual Half Mary to support Heather and Team Gab in raising money for Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. Double bonus on this one, my company also matched my donation for double the bang for the buck for Team Gab! And yesterday I ran the Virtual Nike+ Half Mary benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I’ve planned Heather’s for the end of Feb and will run while I’m in Orlando for NBA All Star Weekend on Feb 25th. Any Orlando runners want to join me?

Stay Limber and Healthy: My left hammy’s been bugging me a bit. I’m foam rolling like a mother, loading up on tart cherry juice and taking it back a notch in terms of speed and power to make sure it doesn’t become a major issue. If you’re used to popping anti-inflamms for muscle aches, try swapping to Tart Cherry.

Tart cherry juice may be a safer way to treat muscle pain and inflammation than over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, according to researchers at Oregon Health & Science University. A study of athletes who competed in Oregon’s Hood to Coast Relay showed runners who consumed Montmorency cherry juice for a week prior to the race and on race day reported significantly less pain than runners who received a placebo….”The bottom line is those runners who used tart cherry juice had less inflammation and faster muscle strength recovery,” said Kerry Kuehl, M.D., associate professor of medicine (health promotion and sports medicine) in the OHSU School of Medicine and the lead author on the study.

{Not convinced? Read up here}

Stay Inspired. Push the limits and boundaries of what is possible – Don’t settle for what is – particularly if I’m not happy with it. Be the change. Make my mark: I don’t particularly like to discuss work here, however briefly, it was a week of change at the office and in the midst of it, I kept pushing. I pushed for what I believe in, I pushed to make my mark and I pushed to do (and keep doing) big things. I’m proud of this.

Really excited to see my dear friend Sarah from College today. Two LA Girls trying to be film & TV nerds who found one another in the middle of some horrific 4 hour lecture/discussion on some foreign film that desperately questioned our choice of major at the University of Michigan. We spent days on end together trying to find the wins between our painfully odd classmates, animation class where we had to animate a bouncing ball to the second half of A Day in the Life by The Beatles, cutting film strips to say we knew how to edit old-school style, and producing our own awkward.at.best films. To get through this, we’d begrudgingly drag ourselves to the off-campus gym on repeat Monday-Friday at 6:30 am, immediately followed by a stop in at the now-shuttered Bagel Factory for the best coffee and veggie cream cheese. {Note: She’s made kick-butt training her life now…6:30a is probably mid-morning for here these days}.

{MF Dre}

A Sad Day in the Running World.

3 Replies

I have been deeply moved all week by the story of Sidney, Montana runner, Sherry Arnold, who went out for a pre-dawn run a week ago and never returned. They found her shoe along the side of the road and spent the remainder of the week trying to understand what might have happened and where she might be. Sherry was an avid runner, a mother, a teacher, a wife, a friend and so much more. Today we learned that Sherry will not be coming home. While I don’t know Sherry, this story has hit me to the core and brings out the worst fears as a woman, a runner and of the things in life that are just so cruel, harsh, unfair and just plan sickening. It also reminds me just how precious life’s moments are.

This has stirred an interesting debate around the internet and blogs about the safety of running. In my opinion, this is not a debate we should be having. We all take very calculated risks each day of our lives – the easiest example is getting into our car and dealing with the bazillion other crazy drivers, talking and texting on the road. That is a concern and puts us at a much higher risk than going for a run. Not to mention the health risks associated with not using your legs to move.

It shouldn’t be a debate, but instead it should be a very sad and very tragic reminder to runners, cyclists, walkers, skateboarders, hikers etc. to always be aware of your surroundings. What seems like it should be a no-brainer can be quickly and easily forgotten when your playlist hits your favorite track or you get lost in the runners/athletes high. Run Smart. Please.

I’m sad for Sherry. I’m sad for her family, her friends, her students and for the impact this has had on Sidney, Montana and the community at large.

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On a separate note, but running related, Heather is hosting a Virtual Race and I think you should all join in. Her daughter, Gabby, is 5 years old and was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in January, 2011. Heather is fundraising for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, The great news is that you can customize the race to suit YOU! Run/Walk a 5k, 10k, Half or Full Marathon when and where you like it and make a donation to Team Gab! Oh and there are prizes – great ones. Who doesn’t want a Sparkly Skirt?

So, here’s the scoop on Running with Team Gab:

When: Starts Monday, 1/16/12, through Friday, 2/17/12 – that’s a full month to fit in your race!
Where: Wherever you feel like racing
Who: Everyone is invited to the party – Heather’s the friendly type.

I’m running the Half (and adding it to my Running page). Who’s in? Virtually In?

Lucky for Heather and Team Gab, Disney will also make a donation to the PCRF as part of the Corporate Matching Program. Remember to check to see if your company will too!

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It’s been a week. And I’m glad it’s Friday. Really Glad.

I finally have a working loaner computer again after this disaster - ugh, my hard drive definitely flatlined - and feel like I can reconnect with the world again. Wait, that sounds really sad and pathetic that I need my computer to connect with the world. Who am I? Tron? No. I don’t live on the grid. Work must really be getting in the way of my head space.

happy friday.

Who else wants run the Virtual Race with me? Sign Up and let me know!

{MF Dre}

PS: BIG TIP: Buy an external hard drive and use it. Regularly. Thank Goodness I Listened.

the MF Dre

Movement Fuels, Life Inspires and Passion Defines

Tag Archives: Team Gab

Chasing the Good.

Milestone Monday.

Can I Wear a Tux?

Milestone Monday.

A Sad Day in the Running World.

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