New Month, New Goal

It is December and this month my charity of choice is Ronald McDonald House of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana. 

The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana is to improve the health, well-being and education of children through our three core programs:

Ronald McDonald Houses

The four Ronald McDonald Houses provide a “home away from home” to keep families together while their child is receiving medical treatment far from home. Located near Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Loyola University Medical Center and University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, the Houses provide comfortable & private rooms, opportunities to bond with other families going through similar situations, and delicious meals prepared by giving volunteers for a suggested donation of $10 per night.

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Ronald McDonald Care Mobile^®

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program, in partnership with Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital, provides essential health services to children in underserved areas in a mobile environment.  Children receive check-ups, immunizations and referrals for specialty care, including asthma, cardiology, and allergies. Our goal is to find a “health care home” for all the children who visit the Care Mobile.

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Scholarship Program

Now in its fourth year, the RMHC-CNI Scholarship Program, supported by Fifth Third Bank, provides $4,000/year renewable scholarships to academically outstanding, community-minded and economically challenged young people.  Winners are selected each spring by RMHC-CNI’s Education Advisory Committee, and since 2006, we have awarded a total of 62 scholarships to high school seniors.  The scholarships are renewable for four years contingent upon the student fulfilling G.P.A. and community service requirements.

(**From http://www.rmhccni.org/)

176 Miles with 5 days left in the month!

Cycling has definitely given me a chance to rack up the miles faster.  That being said, I think I need to curtail my personal donation before I have to create a charity for myself!


It's not to late to donate!  See First Giving link to the right!

137 miles, $68 in the jar for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Yesterday I completed the Run and Roll for the Dole Duathlon in Crystal Lake.  The race included a 2 mile run, 12.4 mile bike ride and another 2 mile run.  While the race itself supported the arts programs at Dole Mansion, my personal goal for the month is Juvenile Diabetes. 

The first 2 mile run was invigorating since there was a nice autumn chill to the air, but my lungs aren't used to that yet!  As I completed the run I was looking forward to sitting on my bike and "relaxing" for awhile.  The biking was anything but relaxing.  I was fortunate to have borrowed my brother's road bike and it was fast...almost too fast based on my inexperience.  My biking over the last few years has been limited to a mountain bike or a stationary bike in spin class.  I did great on the straightaways, but was scared out of my mind on turns.  I was the only fool braking and many of the experienced cyclist probably were mocking "that girl" who had a fast bike she didn't know how to use! The best part of the ride was seeing Tom, Madelyn and Colin as I was coming to the end of the ride. Either way, I put up an impressive time on the bike portion and at the end was longing to be running again where I had more control...that was until I got off the bike and my legs felt like angel hair pasta.

I started the final leg and had to really take it easy because my heart rate was pretty elevated and I pretty much wanted to puke.  I got my land legs back and felt pretty good especially after I took a sip of water and belched.  Sounds crazy, but for any of you who have ever run and had that feeling...you know what I am talking about.

Luckily, 2 miles isn't a 10k or even a 5k, so it was over before I knew it and I spotted my family at the end and when all was said and done completed it in 1:10.  I was shocked when Tom said I was the 6th female and even more surprised when I one my age division! 

All in all, I completed another 16.4 miles towards my 150 mile goal for the month.  I have already completed 137 overall.

Introducing October's Goal!

This month I will be running to support Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).  This is a cause very close to my heart. For those of you who don't know, my husband Tom was diagnosed with Type 1 (Juvenile Diabetes) when he was 9 years old and has been insulin dependent ever since.  He now wears an insulin pump attached to his his body so he doesn't have to give himself 6 shots a day like he used to.


  The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the worldwide leader for research to cure type 1 diabetes.  It sets the global agenda for diabetes research, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes science worldwide.

The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.  Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults suddenly, and can be fatal.  Until a cure is found, people with type 1 diabetes have to test their blood sugar and give themselves insulin injections multiple times or use a pump - each day, every day of their lives.  And even with that intensive care, insulin is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications, which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation.

Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.4 billion to diabetes research, including $101 million in FY2009.  In FY2009, JDRF funded research projects in 22 countries throughout the world, including more than 40 human clinical trials.(from JDRF.org)


I probablly won't be able to get out and run as much as I was able to for my last goal, but I will use my elliptical machine and biking to make up the miles. I will be participating in the Run and Roal Duathalon on Sunday, October 18, 2010. Goal 150 miles, $75.00.  The rest is up to you!

208 miles, $104 in jar

I guess I crushed my goal of 150 miles, but I did have a longer "month" since I started this on August 13. As of September 13 I had logged 161 and then added an additional 35 miles which brings me to today.  Either way, I am putting over $100 towards Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation and raised $210 from friends and family.  Not too shabby for my first month of "Run For IT."

Tomorrow I actually do the "Run For The Bear" 10k.  Maddie will also be participating in the kids field events.  I am really looking forward to the race and Maddie has informed me she is going to run "all by herself" this time! (since I have run with her in her previous 50 yard dash races).

As for me, I am looking to set a personal record of 45 minutes.  My current PR is 45:15 that I set last year at this race.

Thank you to everyone who supported me in this race and wish me luck!

124 miles down, 26 to go, $62.00 in the jar

On Friday I ran in one of my favorite races, the Sunest 5k in Lake In The Hills.  This one wasn't for charity, although 3.1 miles will go toward my efforts this month and will allow me to put $1.50 in the jar.  This one is more of a milestone race for me.  I started running it several years ago when we moved out to Lake In The Hills and each year brought with new challenges.

In 2006 I ran it in 21 min. flat.  That was before kids and I think marks my personal record for 5k race.
In 2007, I had just had Madelyn 3 months prior to the race and ran it in 22:04.  Not my best, but since I had only started running again 5 weeks before the race, I was still happy with my time.  I had a great sense of pride when I walked up to the stroller with my 3 month old in it after taking my age division.

In 2008, I had just quit my job to stay home with my daughter and we had been trying to get pregnant.  I had taken a pregnancy test once already, but it was negative.  For some reason as I was getting ready for the race, I grabbed the second pregnancy test out of the 2-pack and took it.  Positive.  I literally left the house 5 minutes later and ran the race in 21:37.  I was very concerned to run in my "delicate condition."  Not that I hadn't run for the last 5 weeks, but the intensity of the race pace combined with the thought of my offspring being jostled about made me nervous.  Still, not a bad time for a knocked up lady!

In 2009, I had 2 kids waiting for me at the end of the race.  This time I had been running about 10 weeks  leading up to the race since I had Colin.   I wanted to beat my PR of 21:00, but my body just wasn't quite up to the challenge yet and ran it in 21:21.

This year, no excuses.  No post-partum recovery to overcome, no taking pregnancy tests before the race (not that I would have any reason to!) and I've been training hard all summer.

The results?  21:14.  I was the third woman, 37 overall and won my age group.  One thing I didn't take into account was then wind the last 3/4 mile was against the wind and it was tough.  I almost threw up at the end.  Because this race is in the evening, I often struggle with whether or not to eat dinner before.  I am like an old blue hair and enjoy an "Early Bird Special" kind of dinner.  I could eat at 4 pm if I could...and sometimes do!  So, waiting until 8 pm for dinner just doesn't work for me.  I ate dinner at 4:30, but I think maybe I ate too much?  Luckily my stomach didn't embarrass me and I was able to avoid tossing my turkey burger for all of Lake In The Hills to see.

I hate to say that I am disappointed in my time, but I am.  So, despite my new-found focus for running for charity, I still have my competitive edge.  I still know how to put a game face on and will enjoy the adrenaline rush of race day.  It is still part of the whole running experience that got me here in the first place so I will never let it go.

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