Haiti relief efforts

I have been interested in reading the comments about how the United States had donated 58 million dollars towards relief efforts in Haiti and the possible impact that had on other charitable causes.

There were telethons, former presidents and celebrities, that encouraged the relief efforts.

Social networks, Facebook, Twitter and the blogging community were very active.

There were many bloggers that offered to donate money for each comment that was left on their blog. I was one of them.

My thought is that when a natural disaster occurs, it transcends our borders and as people we feel compelled to take action.

In the aftermath of Columbine and the terrorist attacks on 9/11 people rushed to the hospital to give blood, people donated to fallen fire fighter funds, the Columbine Never Forgotten fund.

Does giving money to a relief efforts, divert money from cancer, heart, diabetes research?

Do I wish that as a country we could harness those same forces and publicity for cancer research? YES!

It would be awesome if we could raise 58 million overnight. Would that make an impact in furthering the efforts to find a cure and save lives?  It certainly would.

The need for basic necissities such as clean drinking water in Haiti is immediate. 

My opinion is that donating to a  major relief effort does not signficantly impact giving to other charitable causes.


Did you donate to any of the Haiti relief efforts?  Do you think that donating to this effort takes money away from other causes?

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Commitment

I like the thought in this article from a TNT runner from the Georgia Chapter.   Julie talks about  making commitment,  and the consequences of breaking that commitment.  Please click here to read her thoughts.

Last weekend, I went to a foundation training workshop for Colorado Youth at Risk.  At the end of the workshop the facilitators of the workshop asked us to stand up if we were going to make a commitment to the program and to the possibility of making a difference in the life of a person we haven't met.  Ten out of ten people made that commitment.

Saturday, I went to a Team in Training information meeting at Whole Foods.  There was a very good turnout, 30+ people took an hour out of their day to come and learn more about the program.  I am not sure how many people made the commitment and signed up on Saturday.   I talked with one person as she agonized over her decision.  She told me she couldn't believe she was even considering taking this on. 

Taking on cancer, raising money for research,  providing support and hope to the people who are fighting this disease.  It is a step to take.   She signed up!

I talked to another person and found out she was going to run for her husband to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of his remission.  That was her presesnt to him!  Inspired!

My friend, Brittany shared some of her story of being diagnosed one month before her 16th birthday, being told she wouldn't live to see her 16th birthday.  Brittany turned 25 earlier this month

I went to the info meeting, because I knew Brittany was going to speak.  I made that commitment to support her.  I have heard her tell her story several times.  I am still moved to tears, not so much by her story, but by her commitment to make a difference in this battle. 

What are you committed to in your life?  What inspires you?

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7 Random Things and A New Runner for Kelly!

I continue to be amazed at the wonderful people that I meet through the Internet.  I have developed friendships with people that I haven't met and most likely may never have the honor of meeting in person.

I have no idea how my newest blogging friend and I came to meet.  Somehow she stumbled on my blog and the really amazing part of this encounter is the connection she has made with Kelly.  Kelly now has a new runner.  This really lifts my heart and it means so much to me to know that Kelly's life and her love continues to inspire others. 

Please read the article that Katye wrote here.

Katye tagged me on her blog so here I go with my 7 random things.

1. In December 1998, I  got a random flyer in the mail, from Team In Training.  I had zero experience as a runner.  In fact most of my memories of running were very painful.  In 7th grade we had to run a 440 at the end of gym class and I would finish dead last every day.  Years later I went running on an indoor track with the same friend who accompanied me on our forlorn journey around the track and we ran a mile.  I hated it, begged my friend to let me stop and somehow we finished this torturous mile.  I couldn't walk for a week afterwards.   For some reason I was drawn to this program, registered to attend an information meeting.  The first meeting was cancelled because of a blizzard and I felt somewhat relieved as it was a crazy idea.  The next week I found myself at the rescheduled meeting and I signed up on the spot to do a marathon.  My life was changed forever by that decision.   I got to be Kelly's runner and be inspired by her :)

2. I have bowled 200's left handed and right handed.

3. My favorite city to visit is San Francisco. Sue and I went there on our honeymoon in 1983.  The cable cars were being renovated and it wasn't until 1997 when we were able to go back that we finally got to ride in a cable car.  In 2000, Laura and Adam loved riding the cable cars during another visit. In 2005, I ran the full, Sue and Adam did the 1/2 marathon, Laura ran the flatest 5K ever which is quite a feat to do in San Francisco.

4. My favorite place to run is in Federal Way, Washington.  I have great memories of running from our hotel to the King County Aquatic Center where my daughter Laura swam  many times at the Western sectional swim meet.

5. My Marathon Maniac # is 667 which I earned by running in back to back marathons in 2007, Twin Cities in 85 degree heat and in Denver the following week in 30 degrees and a cold rain.

6. I used to be terrified of flying. 

7. My favorite musical is Les Miserables.  If you ever get a chance to see it, go.  It is so powerful.

Okay so now I’m supposed to tag 7 Blog Friends so I am passing the virtual baton to my cyber space friends.

Joyrun

Relentless for a Cure

Secrets of a Running Mom

Train Don't Tri

Sue's News

The Shoe Box Daily

Run Faster Mommy

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Haiti-How can you help?

I got this idea from a blog that I follow to aid the relief efforts in Haiti so I am borrowing Krystyn's idea and the picture from her blog post because it is cute :)   I never knew there was such a thing as a delurker day.

For every comment anyone leaves on my blog between now and midnight January 24, 2010, I will donate $2.00 per comment  to aid the relief efforts in Haiti.  My company will match the donation I make dollar for dollar so I hope you will take the time to leave a comment.

If you want to help another way, go to RedCross.org to see what you can do or text "Haiti" to 90999 and you will be charged $10 to your cell phone bill from the RedCross and yes, it is legitimate.


Thanks for reading and please take the time to leave a comment.

Together, we can make a difference.

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Stop it parking lot! Don't you hurt Uncle again!!!

Last week was a busy week with an unplanned adventure in the parking lot as I was leaving work on Wednesday.

Tuesday night I attended a information meeting for Colorado Youth at Risk that Sue was leading. It was interesting to attend an informational meeting for a different non profit. I have atteneded so many TNT infro meetings over the last 11+ years.

Sue did a great job with the presentation. There were 19 people in attendance and 16 of the people wanted to get more information about becoming a mentor.

Gulp. I am one of them. I am excited and scared at the same time.

I decided I didn't have enough athletic goals for 2010 so I joined a group on facebook to workout for 60 minutes for 60 consecutive days.  I began day one yesterday, but have already been derailed as I didn't get home until 10:00 tonight.  At least I wasn't on day 55 and having to start all over again...

One of my favorite bloggers that I follow posted something called 140.4? which intrigued me. An ironman distance is 140.6 miles. Turns out this is an Ironman challenge that occurs over 30 days.

2.4 mile swim
112 miles cycling
26.0 miles running. NO .2 miles at the end of the run.

Here is my chance to almost do an Ironman and I can do it over 30 days. I can almost say with total certainty that this is the only way I will ever do an Ironman. After all, I am not crazy...

However I did decide to sign up soley based on Joy's promise of sharing her hi tech Xcel spreadsheet which appeals to my inner dork, plus the promise of an Ocean city trinket.  Mabye I need to rethink my statement that I am not crazy :) 

Wednesday as I was leaving work, I stepped on a patch of black ice and suddelnly found myself flat on my back. I broke my fall with the back of my head. 

After a couple of days of muscle relaxants and lots of sleeping, I seem to be on the mend although I am still quite sore.

I also signed up to participate in Pound for Pound challenge.  I pledged to lose 21 pounds and donate the amount I lose to the Food Bank of the Rockies. 

Tonight I went to a TNT training meeting for the Summer season.  I am going to be a team training captain for the Denver Central team.

I will set up water stops for four of the weekend runs, arrange a group fundraiser in February and a team social in March and whatver else they can think of to ask me to do.

Have you ever signed up for something on a whim?  Would an Xcel spreadsheet complete with drop down menu's inspire you to sign up to take on the "Ironman"?

I have made some wonderful friendships soley because the title of a blog post prompted me to read on.

I have made a wonderful friend because she was intrigued when she saw Kelly's name in the title of a blog that we both happen to read.

Have you ever clicked on a blog because you were intrigued by the title, read all the way to the end and not understood the point of the title?

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To Kelly on her Birthday

Dear Kelly,

This last week has been kind of an up and down week for me.  I have been feeling kind of blue at times, missing you so much.

How I wished I could hug you today and see your amazing smile one more time...

Sue and I were talking a week or so about you and she asked me what it was in your life that inspired me.

I so admired how you were able to deal with the dissapointment when you suffered a relapse of your cancer.  You didn't let that stop you.   You chose your cancer, you chose your life

You lived a life full of love and joy and lived your life in a way that touched everyone you met and touched the lives of those you never met.

You lived your life with unflinching courage.  I wanted to stand for your life and found you standing for mine. 

I love you so much :)

Happy Birthday Kelly!

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A full New Years Weekend

Wow.  This was a full weekend.

Sue and I went to a New Years Eve party on Friday night.  It was the first New Years Eve party we have gone to since 1983, so I guess we were due.

We each made a vision board at the party of things we wanted in the year and decade ahead.

My vision board had a picture of a lean muscular cyclist.  I had serious quadricep envy!  I told Sue that is what I want to look like on the bike.  A person can dream!

I also cut out a picture of a Merlin road bike selling for a mere, 4,803 dollars.  Might as well dream big. 

I selected motivational text images, "Love your life", "Unlimited", "Fall in love with fitness",  "Act fast", "Never say Never", "Big Results".

I had one travel picture, of a place in Italy.  That is where I intend to look way cool on my 4,803 dollar road bike.

Saturday morning, we went to Le Peep to celebrate my mothers birthday on Palindrome day, 01022010.

The numbers are the same left to right and right to left.

We had a nice time chatting with my Mother, Dad and my sister.  Laura and Adam were able to come so it was a full house of Kinney's.

Sue and I headed up to Blackhawk to spend the evening, where we had a wonderful dinner at the Timberline resturant. 

The wonderful Light the Night gals had given me a 100.00 gift certificate as a thank you for my volunteer work.

We had an yummy Cheesecake for desert.

Then Sue hit the video poker machines.  At one point she was up $12.50, but alas we lost it all. 

Sunday morning, we drove up to do Henderson Mines west of Empire Colorado and went snowshoeing.  We had a great time.  The conditions were perfect.  A lightly falling snow accompanied us on our hike up the Henderson Gulch trail.  It was a scene right out of a Norman Rockwell picture.  It was so much fun.

On the way home, we stopped for Pizza at Beau Jo's.

It was a fun and full weekend!

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Ten Goals for 2010

My Goals for 2010:

1. Run 2010 kilometers, cycle 2010 miles, swim 20.10 miles
2. Run a marathon with Team in Training
3. Do a century ride for the American Diabetes Association
4. Ride in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic
5. Climb my first fourteener.
6. Read 10 books.
7. Attend 20 Yoga classes.
8. Attend 20 spinning classes.
9. Snowshoe 10 times
10. Play 10 rounds of golf with Adam

Some of the things  I am looking forward to in 2010:

Date nights with Sue :)
Seeing Laura graduate from college with her degree in Bio Physics! 
Seeing Brittany graduate with her Assoicates degree
Runs at the Irish Snug with Laura, Michelle, Nate, Keegan and Kristin.
Making memories with my family.
My volunteer work for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Following the adventures of my running and blogging friends who inspire me.
Going riding with Laura and my sister.
Playing golf with Adam.
Living life with intention, gratitude and joy.

My goals may change, they most likely will need some sort of adjustment.   I might add some new goals during the year. 

What goals do you have for 2010?

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