My weekend...Part 1...Northern Central Trail Marathon....for Axo

This was the start of what would be an insanely busy weekend. Every weekend is crazy busy it seems. But with having Thanksgiving, Black Friday and pair of very logistically challenging marathons on the busiest travel weekend of the year; I knew this time around, I was taking an extra dose of crazy!

I didn't even have to wait for the weekend. I could feel my mind spinning and my heart racing on Friday as I was trying to get everything in order, figuring how to make everything work. Let's just say it was a stressful day (perhaps the lack of sleep, and shopping the Black Friday deals had a little something to do with it too).

Saturday morning I left my house at 5:30 and made the drive up to Sparks, Maryland. I got there with plenty of time to pick up my packet and was so thankful for the warmth of the elementary school that we were able to use pre and post race. It was a bitter cold 35 degrees outside, yes winter is on it's way. I got to see my friend Marlin, who has been making great strides in his running/weight loss goals and it was great to catch up. I had several friends doing this race, including Morgan Cummings, who just recently set the world record for being the youngest woman to run all 50 states + DC. She has run almost all of her marathons this year and as you can imagine we've run into each other quite often at these races.

As the time drew close for the start, people started making their way outside. I hesitated, and watched as everyone passed by. I just didn't feel like facing the cold or the wind, just yet.

On the plus side, the sun was bright overhead and maybe it would warm up a tad. I finally faced the inevitable and made my way to the starting mats. Breathing warm air into my gloves, clasping them around my face, I thought about Axo, who is 5 and orphaned in South Africa. He was the reason I was bearing the cold today. This race, this day, isn't just about running miles and fund-raising, it's about life changing! 

I want to share with you the work that 25:40 has been doing to help these orphans, and how it is impacting their lives.

Funding goes to help with ARV (anti-retroviral) clinics, treating HIV and are set up on a regular basis at the Canzibe Hospital in the Ngqeleni District. These anti-retroviral treatments help boost the immune system and are vital for those with HIV. At these clinics children are able to get a month's worth of ARV's and get checked by a nurse. They are also able to get food, participate in activities to help them bond with one another and provide education.

It is imperative that those being treated stay on their ARV's regularly. Sadly, poverty, hunger, malnutrition and stigma all affect whether people take their medications. With children, it is especially difficult to ensure that they are adhering to their treatment schedule. And without a steady source of good nutrition, the ARv's can wreak havoc on a person's body, which is why nutrition plays such a significant role.

But giving out food only makes a dent in a much larger problem. This is why one of the projects that 25:40 is helping fund is taking that need a step further. Through this project, 240 orphans and their caregivers are being trained to start and maintain a food garden on their property. They are growing root vegetables and grains, giving them a chance to become less reliant on handouts and helping them become more self-sufficient. There is an old Chinese proverb that says "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." It's so true, and the benefits of programs like this just continue to grow and blossom over and over. This is why I am running. Because I don't think I have ever really gone hungry before. And if I had, it was because of my own stubborn will, not for lack of food. These children on the other hand know nothing but hunger. This is about changing their lives, not just giving them food. Giving them the tools, and the knowledge to grow their own food. That right there - is real hope.

As I write this, it seems more than appropriate that I'm talking about the needs and issues of children dealing with AIDS, because today is World AIDS Day. There are lots of pages with campaigns, this is just one of them. The work being done in South Africa for these children is just part of a much bigger picture, of much greater needs. I urge you to take a moment to see what is happening in our collective fight against AIDS. Over 33 million people world wide are living with AIDS, that's more than the population of more than 20 U.S. States combined! Trust me, I added the populations up! This affects all of us, not just those who suffer from it. 

 I chatted with several runners during the race, but one woman in particular really stuck a chord with me. We were talking about running and training. She had recently seen a video about inner city kids involved in a running program, designed to help them train to run a marathon. Having grown up as an inner city kid herself, she really related with one girl on the film, who's attitude kept her from being able to participate in the marathon. And she wanted to do something to help that girl, to reach out to her - to help her with her attitude - and personally help her finally run a marathon.

When you see a need, and really take it to heart like that, it's priceless. What you can give, what you can do, is worth far more than any money you could donate. You really take the burden on your shoulders for someone else's sake. I think we all need to help carry the burden of another.  Not to weigh us down, but to bring others up, and in the process, really teach us the meaning of Thanksgiving when that burden is no longer there.

Another saying - "You can't truly appreciate something until it's no longer there." We all believe that, but do we really live it? "Give till it hurts." OK, so I'm full of sayings today, but the point is, if we are not sacrificing anything, we really are not giving much of ourselves. And what this woman wanted to do, to help a struggling teen, was about giving from her heart. Running with her, and talking with her about what she wanted to do to help, her ideas, was one of the highlights of my run. It's so uplifting and encouraging to hear the hearts of others. It puts life back in perspective. Because we all have bills to pay, schedules to keep, and round the world goes. But we miss so much of this life, when we forget to care for those around us.

What is it that you have a heart for? I know I've said it before, but with a New Year right around the corner, it's something to really think about. What can you do or give in 2011 that will make a difference? Are you on the treadmill of life, or actively following that call? We all have something to give, what is it for you?

House right off the trail had a huge gnome family!

For all the great people I met on the trail that day, those running their first marathon, those who had run this trail marathon time and time again, it brought calm. The conversations made the miles fly by. This wasn't a race with a lot of spectators or supporters, but those that were, made us feel like champions. It was a peaceful and reflecting run. But in the back of my mind, I kept thinking about the time.

I was running without a watch, so I was keeping whatever pace felt good. However, knowing that I had a very small window of time between running, finishing, getting a shower and getting to BWI for my flight to Florida (for my next marathon) meant a bit of stress. I didn't want to risk missing my flight and I knew the airports were likely to be crowded with all the travelers heading back from their holiday weekend.

I tried to keep my focus where it needed to be and just keep on keeping on. I'm sure that mental weight of making my schedule caused me run somewhat faster than planned and I hoped and prayed I wouldn't pay for it tomorrow.

The last couple miles, back on the road, and those rolling hills felt like so much more work than they looked. But it was all worth it to cross the finish line in 4:17 and head back indoors for some heat and very quick hot cup of soup. I really wanted to stay and chat with friends, but I grabbed my food and went straight to the car.

I drove to a local Anytime Fitness Gym, got a quick shower, and went straight to the airport. Car parked, through security and to the terminal gate, just to find out that my flight had been delayed. I was already getting in darn late, so that just added to the mix. And keeping with my positive approach for the day, at least I didn't miss my flight!

They gave out great sweatshirts and I have to fight Austin to wear it!

My medal

Final Race Stats:
4:17:21 - finishing time
241 out of 400 overall
58 out of 137 women
18 out of 45 for my age group (20-29)

(I will have my post of the Space Coast Marathon up by Friday)