Skinny Turkey Draws Record Breaking Crowd

The Skinny Turkey 5K and 10K races brought a record breaking crowd this year in more ways than one.  There were over 200 participants this year, over triple the amount of last year!!  Nana's Pies, Fleet Feet Huntsville and Road ID were all sponsors along with the race director himself, Parker Edmiston of the Edmiston Law Firm.

If I have received correct information, I believe all course records (for every age group) were broken this year!!  We are particularly thankful for this race for the generous donation to our team of $500!!

Yup...that's a 10K time!

Three of our very own team mates (Heather, Julia and Casey) ran the race on foot, while Regena ran the race from behind the scenes (sidelined by injury).  All three runners placed in their age group.  Casey and Julia broke their age groups' course records!!  Way to go ladies!!

Getting to the Start Line

We are officially entered in the race!!!  Because we were able to raise over $15K for American Cancer Society, we knew we'd be guaranteed entry, however, we still had to send in our registration form on the right day with the required fee.  See, Hood to Coast is not like other races...registration is open by mail-in form on one day only.  Entries post marked before or after that one single day are not even considered!

The top six teams from all 15 divisions in the 2011 race were allowed automatic entry first, then the fundraising teams...in order to fill the remaining spots, they have a lottery from all the submissions post-marked on the correct date.  This year over 2,500 teams from all 50 states and 30 countries applied for 1,050 slots.  Yes, more teams were turned away than were entered.

So...we want to give a heart-felt THANK YOU to everyone who helped us reach the $15K fundraising goal, allowing us to participate in this event as well as everyone who has helped (or will help) us continue to raise the necessary funds allowing us to actually make it to the start line.

Here's the thing about that...if this race weren't unbelievable fun (from what I've heard), no one would want to be involved.  If no one wanted to run the race, it wouldn't be hard to get a spot.  If it wasn't hard to get a spot in the race, teams wouldn't be motivated to raise the required amount in order to guarantee their entry.  The fact this is a fun race IS what allowed the organizers to raise over $517,000 this year to fight cancer on all fronts (research for a cure, research for treatment, funding for patients and their families to receive the care they need, etc).

Do we as a team NEED to run this race in order to raise the money for American Cancer Society?  No.  However, how many people do you know who raise money for a charity or cause without it being tied to some kind of event (MDA Lock-Up, wrapping paper and cookie dough sales for the schools, public radio fund drives....)?  Not how many people give to charities which are near and dear to their heart...how many people convince others to give to those charities without there being some campaign?  I'd say less than 1% of any organizations' budget is raised this way.

This is why it is CRUCIAL our team (along with all our competitors) make it to the start line for the race!!  I believe keeping the event alive and fruitful will only serve to increase the donations to American Cancer Society year after year (2011 saw an increase of $17K in dontations...I can't even imagine what it will be in 2012).

To that end (making it to the start line), we've been organizing several events.  The raffle for the Alabama/Arkansas football tickets was a huge success.  In the coming days I'll tell you about a few other past events as well as let you know what's coming up next.  For now...please take three minutes and watch this video...maybe you'll have a better understanding why we want to make it to the start line so bad! 

And the winner is...

I have been completely remiss in updating.  So much has been going on I just haven't sat down to write this post...but here it is.

As you know we were raffling off a pair of tickets to the Arkansas/Alabama football game that was held on September 24th.  Thanks to Fleet Feet, we were able to host a super fantastic tail-gating party where we drew the name of one very lucky winner.  Naturally the party was set to follow a fun-filled group run from the store.  Several things were going on that night...three different training groups were meeting (New Balance NOBO, Brooks Next Steps, and Mizuno 13.1), a Ragnar rep was as the store to provide information on their upcoming relays, and it was Thompson Tuesday (people meet to run from the store-usually 3-6 miles).  Not to mention, WE were there putting on a tailgating bash!!

The day started out pretty dreary to say the least.  As I was driving over to the store the rain was POURING to the point I almost pulled the plug on the party.  However, I know runners...we find a way to our thing, rain or no rain.  Barring lightning, there would certainly be hungry people to feed and hydrate with post-run beverage!  Just as we finished setting up...the clouds rolled back and the sun popped out, just in time for everyone to get their miles in.

The pair of tickets (donated by our team mate, Melissa) were for seats in a PREMO spot, to see Alabama's first SEC game of the season, and (according to Stub-Hub) were worth about $500-$600!!  To have an opportunity to win them for as little as $2, naturally, many people decided to buy some last minute chances.  Even people who didn't care to go to the game bought chances, because I told everyone I would buy them from the winner for $100 right then and there.  (Yes, I was secretly hoping the winner wouldn't want to go to the game, because I would have LOVED to go.)

As everyone was coming back from their runs, the Ragnar rep told us all about the relay from Chattanoog to Nashville (much the same as the race we will run next August).  A runner, Allison Click, came up just as the rep was about to make a drawing for a door prize so I told her to quickly put her name in the bowl for her chance.  After she did that she came over, dug through her pockets to find two dollars and bought the last raffle ticket we sold.

The Ragnar rep stirred the names in her bowl and then had someone from the crowd come and draw the name....ALLISON CLICK!!!!  How lucky!!  She won a cool headlamp (something all relayers must wear during evening hours).

As that drawing was going on, I took the bowl-full of about 650 raffle tickets and started mixing them up.  After several minutes of this...it was time to find out who would either be going to the game, or (hopefully) selling me those tickets!!  We had an associate from the store make the selection (since he hadn't purchased a ticket).  He's very tall so I held the bowl above my head and asked for a drum roll from the crowd.  He reached up, dug his hand in and pulled out the ticket bought by....ALLISON CLICK!!!!

Yes...the girl who has just run up, at the very last minute, the girl who bought ONE single chance, the girl who had just won the other drawing....won the tickets!!!

I wish we had gotten the whole thing on video.  She screamed and jumped up and down as if she'd just won the million dollar lottery!!!

She told us not only does she never win anything (she sure made up for it that night, huh?), she had also had a completely horrible day, topped off with a bad run and a hurting leg.  (That pain in her leg sure didn't keep her from leaping for joy at her good fortune!)  I told her she needed to go right then and buy lottery tickets because clearly it was her winning night!

To my dismay, she actually wanted to go to the game (bummer for me!).  From what I understand, she had a great time cheering as Alabama smoked the Hogs!

Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets.  With the money we raised, we will be able to rent the two vans and (hopefully) buy the gas we'll need in order to do the race!! 

Fall = FOOTBALL!!!

I have always loved fall.  When I was younger it meant new school supplies and going back to school (I loved it for all of one day, then I couldn't wait for summer vacation!).  As I got older it meant the start of football season!  Okay, to be honest, when I was in high school that was code for DANCES, but it was fun to walk around and talk to friend during the games, too.  When I moved to Northwest Arkansas Fall meant Razorback games and calling the Hogs.  Now that I'm a bonafide Bama fan (for every game but one--can you guess which one that might be?), fall means traveling to T Town and cheering "Roll Tide Roll" as Skynyrd blares over the speakers.

I'll go ahead and apologize to half the state right now...yes, I know there's another SEC school in this state, but living here means picking sides and my side was picked from the first time I set foot in Bryant Denny Stadium (for Saban's first SEC game as Alabama's head coach--against MY Hogs!!).  Yes...I came to the game with a Razorback on my cheek and I called the Hogs faithfully from our 50 yard line, 15th row seat...but I left loving all the Bama fanfare.  To be fair, I've never been to Jordan-Hare (to be honest, I doubt I ever will).  Like I said, living here means picking sides.  Roll Tide!!

I have great news for all you Alabama and Arkansas fans!!  Our very own Melissa Lee has donated a pair of tickets for us to raffle off to the AR/AL game to be held at Bryant Denny on September 24th at 1pm.  These aren't just any tickets either.  They are on the lower level (section KK), row 51, seats 17 and 18.  I just checked Stub Hub and these tickets would currently sell for $265-$278 PER TICKET (row 51 only)!  Once the season begins, the price will go up...trust me on this!  Both teams are going to be very strong this year so this should be a fantastic game.

We are selling raffle tickets for $2 each!!  You can't beat that!  Even if you don't want to go to the game, you can sell them if you are the lucky winner!!  We'll have the drawing on September 21st so we'll have time to overnight the tickets to an out of area winner.  We can accept cash, check, or even credit card (via Pay Pal).  If you would like tickets either chase down someone on the team, or send us an email at dixiedaredevils at gmail dot com (spelled out to avoid spammers!!).  Let us know how many tickets you want and we'll make arrangements to get them to you!

Roll Tide!!  I mean Go Hogs!!  Maybe Roll Hogs??!!

THANK YOU Huntsville West Kiwanis Club

Casey and Regena accept the check from the Huntsville West Kiwanis Club!

As I've mentioned before, we have met the task of raising $15,000 dollars for the American Cancer Society in order to guarantee our entry into the 2012 Hood to Coast Relay Race.  Now we have to get to the race!  The Huntsville West Kiwanis Club has given our "Journey to the Hood" a huge head start the other day by making a generous donation of $250 to our expense fund!!  Thank you doesn't do justice to the appreciation we feel for everyone who believes in our team enough to support us financially.

One of the exciting fundraisers the Huntsville West Kiwanis Club puts on every year is the Rocket City Classic Golf Tournament.  This year the tournament will take place at Hampton Cove/Highland Course on September 15th.  There will be great prizes not to mention great golf.   The cost is a steal at $130 a person.  The funds raised will support special needs children at Merrimack Hall for Performing Arts.  ((As a side note, my daughter has volunteered for the dance classes there and has told me it is an exceptional program.))  For more information please contact Sharon Layne at sharon.layne at charter dot net (((spelled out to hide from spam bots!!))), or leave a comment with your contact information and we'll pass it on.

We're There...and yet, We Still Have a Long Way To Go...

THANKS to all our sponsors, individual and corporate, we have reached our fundracing goal!!  We have raised a whopping grand total of $15,000 for American Cancer Society!!!  This amount guarantees our entry into the 2012 Hood To Coast Relay Race!!

If you take a look at our Sponsors Page, you'll see the businesses who helped us reach this goal...but what you won't see are the countless individual contributors.  Our two biggest fundraising endeavors were Diva Night at Fleet Feet and Casey's 30th Birthday Pub Run.  The Pub Run was graciously sponsored and lead by the Huntsville Hash House Harriers.  We had a great time chasing "the hare".  Thanks to the generosity of the group, we were able to reach not only the "finish line" of the run, but also the "finish line" of the fund race as well. 

Up to now we haven't done many actual "fund raisers" in the traditional sense of the word...bake sales, car washes, that kind of thing.  But, be warned, we're about to start.  See, now that we have a guaranteed spot in the race, we have to GET THERE.  We have plane tickets, van rental, hotel rooms, food, BAND AIDS...  Wait...we don't have to buy band aids thanks to a generous donation from Hobb's Pharmacy, but you get the picture.

Along that line, you will notice there is a NEW BUTTON on the left side bar...or if you didn't, you do now, right??  Well, that's a Pay Pal donation button.  We are in the process of getting all the paperwork filed for not-for-profit status so we can't currently offer any tax deduction receipts (maybe in the near future?), however, I can assure you all the money collected will go directly to fund our race expenses.  We don't quite have a handle on the total amount we'll need just yet, but when we get that figure more firmly established, I'll post a new goal thermometer so you can track our progress!  (You can still make donations to American Cancer Society through the other "Donate" button.) 

Stay tuned for exciting upcoming opportunities to get us to the HOOD!!!  But...once again...THANK YOU for all you've done to get us this far!

Where Have We Been???

Orlando, MTB, Colorado, Europe, first place on the podium, third overall, relay wins, coaching Tri 101, leading Secret Miles and Java Warriors, Zumba-thon, becoming an aunt, training training training, trail races, stage races, duathlons, triathlons, Canada, California, buying men at auction.... Watch this to see the places we've been lately.

Summer Sizzler Super Metric Century Charity Ride

Another Dixie Daredevil made the news!!  Carrie Wilson is the director of an upcoming event called the Summer Sizzler Super Metric Century.  This bike ride is a fundraiser for the Family Services Center.  The event will be held on Saturday August 6th at 7:00am.  Register HERE.

Laura McCrain

After a few years of sporadic running, Laura McCrain was quickly swept into Huntsville’s incredible running community upon her relocation to Alabama in 2008.  Through Fleet Feet, Laura completed both 10K and half marathon training programs in 2009. Inspired by her new friends and introduced to local trail running in Monte Sano State Park, she set a goal to finish a 50K trail race. To date, Laura has completed three 50K trail races, including the 2011 Mountain Mist 50K. In June 2011, Laura finished the RockCreek Stage Races in Chattanooga…“60 Miles – 3 Days – 3 Mountains.”

Laura is happiest exploring new trails with her wonderful running buddies, including her husband, Will Barnwell. Laura and Will are indulgent owners of two mixed breed, non-athletic dogs named Dixie and Scout. Laura enjoys spending time with her husband and dogs, reading, and traveling and is thankful for a very full and blessed life.

A native of North Carolina, she graduated from NC State University with degrees in Aerospace Engineering and works as a systems engineer in the military-industrial complex.

WHNT Interview

Today's interview went by at lightning speed!

 

In less than 2.5 minutes, all the basics were covered

• We're running the Hood to Coast Relay in 2012.
• We're raising money for American Cancer Society and only have about $900 to meet our goal (which as you know is $15,000).
• We're a group of local female athletes (triathletes and runners).
• We're not only running this relay and raising money, but we are active in the community.
• Our top two sponsors are BB&T and Fleet Feet.

If you've read much on this blog you know one of the main reasons we are running this race and participating in this fund raising effort is because we have all been touched by cancer in one way or another.  Did you read the statistic I posted earlier:

1,500 Americans die from cancer EVERY DAY!!

American Cancer Society is attempting to bring that number down.  We're asking you to help us help them.  There are several ways you can help.

• Click on the "Donate" button on the left hand side bar and make a donation to our team.
• Click on the "Join Our Team" button to the right and be a (non-running) Daredevil.  You can then send out the American Cancer Society link to all your friends and family to help us raise money without actually running the race.  ((Stay tuned for fundraising incentives to be determined and announced very soon.))
• You can "follow" our blog (click on the "follow" button to the right, "follow" us on Twitter, "like" us on FaceBook and subscribe to us on YouTube.  And...
• Spread the word.  Share all our links with all your friends and ask them to share with their friends.

Together we can make a difference.

We're Going to be on TV!!

Today at noon Casey and I (Dana) will be on WHNT News at Noon!!  I'll post the video as soon as I can.

In preparation for the show I did some research.  Did you  know that 1,500 Americans die of cancer EVERY DAY?  Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death in the US (the first is heart disease).  One in four deaths in the US is caused from cancer.

The statistics are staggering.

Outrunning Cancer

I just read an amazingly inspiring story about Serena Burla, a 28 year old who ran her first marathon 10 months after being diagnosed with a rare cancer in her leg.   She not only ran the marathon, she did it in 2:37:06, qualifying her for the 2012 Olympic trials!!!  Read the full story HERE.

Stories like this remind me why we committed to fund-race.  American Cancer is one organization that hopes to run itself out of business one day!!

Carrie is running for her grandfather, "Papa"

I am running for my "Papa", William Wilson, who was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in September 1998. He lost his fight to cancer on February 1, 2000. He left behind 2 sons, 3 daughters, 15 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren. If he were here today, he would have 16 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren! We have a huge family, so he always knew he had lots of love!

One of my happiest memories of him when I was growing up was that he loved driving us around on his John Deere tractor! As an adult, my happiest memory of him was the cruise we took after his cancer diagnosis and before he became so sick. Looking back, I appreciate that trip even more than I did at the time. I was in college when he passed away and I remember hating to see him in such pain, especially during chemotherapy and in the later stages of his sickness. Papa was a prominent businessman in North Alabama area and is still missed by his family, many friends and business associates. His memory lives on and I am so proud to run in his memory at the 2012 Hood to Coast Relay as a Dixie Daredevil!!!

Shake That Shake Off!!

Zumba to Keep Madison County on the Map as a Cancer Fighting Community 

Join the Dixie Daredevils in fundraising for the

American Cancer Society.

Currently, we are the #3 Fundraiser in the nation thanks to your help!  Let's continue to show the nation that the Madison County community is committing to the fight against cancer!

ZUMBA-THON

Saturday, June 11th 9:30am and 11am

$10 Donation

100% of Donations go to the American Cancer Society on behalf of the Dixie Daredevils

Free Bottle Water to first 72 participants, courtesy of BB&T Bank!

Hosted by and Located at:

 Mee Maw’s Place Child Development Center

12815 Memorial Pkwy Southwest
Huntsville, AL 35803

Like a Good Neighbor...

No, this is not another sponsor thank you to a popular insurance company whose jingle everyone can finish...  I wish that were the case.

About a year ago a new couple moved into our neighborhood.  Being good neighbors my husband, daughter and I tried to deliver brownies...several times.  This couple never seemed to be home.  So we did what anyone would do.  We "stalked" them.  (We kept an eye on the house so we could catch them at home.)  One evening we got lucky and saw a car pulling into the garage.  With a fresh batch of brownies in hand, we rushed over.  Within a few minutes we discovered why it was this newly-wed couple could never be caught at home.

A few months after becoming husband and wife, a few weeks after starting a new job and buying a new house and very shortly after finding out Mrs. Good Neighbor was expecting their first child, Mr. Good Neighbor was diagnosed with t-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma with acute leukemia.  Their "happily ever" would have to wait until after several rounds of chemotherapy and a declaration of remission.

Chemo was completed.  Remission was declared.  And, Baby Girl Good Neighbor was born!!

Unfortunately...Mr. Good Neighbor was told this past week his cancer has relapsed.  It's currently "only" in his lymph nodes (not in his blood or bone marrow), which means chances of survival are much higher.  He'll undergo two rounds of chemo then be rechecked to see how well the treatments worked.  If he is even in partial remission, he will be a candidate for a bone marrow transplant.

Here's where you have a chance to be a Good Neighbor.  There are countless cancer patients out there who are looking for bone marrow and/or blood stem cell donors.

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, and are healthy, you could save someone's life by donating marrow or blood stem cells.  It all starts with a painless swab of the inside of your mouth in order to determine if you have what it will take to save a life.  After that, donating blood stem cells is very similar to donating plasma.  Basically after taking a series of injections prior to the procedure, your blood is drawn, the necessary parts are separated out, and then your blood is put back into your body.  Marrow donation is a bit more involved and requires an outpatient procedure where a needle is inserted into your pelvic bone allowing life-giving marrow (the juice in the middle of your bones) to be removed.

If you'd like more information please visit the National Marrow Donor Website's FAQ page.  The life you save could be your own neighbor's...the life she saves could be yours.  Won't you be a good neighbor today??

BB&T-Your Home Town Bank!

I guess you could say we technically started "fund racing" back in February (although our true "kick off" wasn't until March).  Probably the very day we had a team together, Captain Casey went to her employer, BB&T (a bank for those who haven't heard of them), and asked them if they could start us out and be our first corporate sponsor.  Impressively, they jumped in hole hog and became our first (and as yet only) "marathon" level sponsor with a $2,500 donation to American Cancer Society.  They have continued to help us by donating bottles of water for various events and by allowing Captain Casey time during the day to attend Dixie Daredevil functions in the community.

Not only have they helped us in major ways, in the weeks following the tornadoes that devastated parts of our state, BB&T allowed (even encouraged) their employees to take paid time off work to help with the clean up efforts.  The Huntsville metropolitan area's population is just shy of 418,000 people.  If you look up "banks in Huntsville Alabama" in the virtual yellow pages, you'll find 173 entries.  We are not a small town, and there are a lot of choices for your banking needs.  I don't know about you, but I personally want to do business with a bank that is interested in the local community, one that gives back to the area, one that cares for its employees and town.  From what I've seen, BB&T is that bank.

If you're in the market for a loan (small or large), or you need a place to stash your cash other than your mattress, check them out.  While you're there...stop in and tell Captain Casey, "HEY!!"


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The Girl With the Broken Foot

I'm NOT the girl with the broken foot who wrote "Five Weeks Without Running!"

Let me explain.  I'm not the only author for this blog, Carrie Wilson is one as well.  "Five Weeks..." was the first (and as yet only) post Carrie has written.  Now...when a post is completed, I have it automatically sent to my Face Book page and the Dixie Daredevil page.  It is also emailed to anyone who has subscribed (including my mother).  Can you see where this is going??  My mother, along with several of my friends, believed I was the girl with the broken foot!!  (You should go back and read the comment my mom left-it's pretty funny!)  So sorry for the confusion!  You can see who wrote the post by looking at the bottom of the entry--but only if you are on the page.  I think the email feed comes directly from ME so it will always look like I wrote it.  (Not to mention we have a very similar writing style!)

....and no, she is not the girl with the broken foot THIS story is about, I just thought it was ironic.

So, if it's not me, and it's not Carrie, maybe you're wondering who this is.  Or, maybe you're wondering why I'm writing about her.  Allow me to explain.

Several girls from Huntsville went over to Atlanta this weekend to participate in the Athleta Iron Girl Sprint Tri.  ANOTHER of my Dixie Daredevil teammates, Sarah Coleman, and I were among them.  Alas, Sarah is the girl.  (Yes, two girls on the team with broken feet...we're a driven bunch, what can I say!  ...but Carrie's is healed up, so we currently only have one...)

I digress...

About a week ago Sarah got the unfortunate news what she believed to have been plantar faciitis was a stress fracture.  She received this news only after it progressed into a full on broken bone.  You might think she opted out of the sold out race she registered for pre-injury.  You might think she went to cheer on her friends and collect her tshirt and swag bag.  You might even go so far to think she went ahead and participated in the 587 yard open water swim for practice.

You'd be right...but one thing led to another and the night before the race she decided she would swim, and bike...and then walk the "run" in her fancy boot.  However, as I was leaving T2 I bumped into someone and realized immediately Sarah was not only NOT walking in her boot...she was BEATING ME by about 10 minutes (because she started about 10 minutes after me) and here we were running together!!

Fleeting hopes of her needing to slow down quickly vanished as I reminded myself just how competitive she really is.  As I started to fade, we neared the middle of the first hill; I decided I "needed" a quick breather and walked a bit.  I told her she could keep going and to not let me slow her down.  She was gracious enough to tell me I was speeding her up, but seriously, the only reason she was even still on the course was that BROKEN FOOT of hers.  (Otherwise she'd have already finished, showered and had a post race massage!)

As we turned to go up the last hill that led to the finish line, I was about to walk yet again (because I thought I just couldn't make it up that thing)...she grabbed my hand and told me to come on!!  When we got to the top of the hill, and the end was in sight, I showed my thanks by attempting to give her a race for the finish.  But...even with a BROKEN FOOT she held me stride for stride and we crossed over together.  I can't wait to see those finish line shots!

Sarah is a hardcore Rock Star.  I was mentally whimpering over some cramps...I can't imagine the pain she must have been in.  She kept saying she had never hurt that bad at the end of a race, and yet, she powered through it.  How embarrassing... beaten by the girl with the broken foot!!  It could have been worse, she could have been wearing her boot!! 

Congratulations Sarah on a great race.  Now, please take some time off!!  Photos to come.

You Tube Love

I have to admit...even though I'm currently an author of four blogs (this one, my running blog, my "personal" blog, and my attempt at writing fiction blog), I have a Twitter account (for myself and with the team), and am on FaceBook (for myself and with the team) at least three or four times a week...I'm really not up with social media (or is it "down with"?  I forget).  I'm getting older by the day, and consequently a little more "outdated" (because I can't bring myself to use the words "old fashioned" just yet).  However, I am trying to learn.  And...I'm really loving it!!  Each platform has its own appeal.  Twitter is fast and just the facts.  FaceBook feels a bit slower paced and is more interactive.  Blogging allows me to get some thoughts out of my head onto "paper".

...and then there's You Tube!! 

I am developing a deep affection for You Tube.  I've only posted one video so far...but I set up our channel and I have to say I love it!!  I hate to admit it, but until recently I didn't even know why anyone would set up a channel if they weren't publishing videos like Fred.  But, I've learned it's much more than that.  It's a place for me to "save" all my favorite videos, and to subscribe to all my favorite channels.  If you subscribe to the Dixie Daredevil channel you will be able to have immediate access to anything we post as soon as it's out there.  Just like having a subscription to a favorite magazine--it's sent directly to you instead of you having to go out to get it from the store!!

Now, I know this is not news to most of you...but I didn't know before and I think it's exciting!!  Go on over there and subscribe to our channel so you'll be in the loop when we post our thrilling Dixie Daredevil videos!!  Because, thanks to my new-found You Tube love, our channel will be full of DD productions before you know it!!  And you know you want to be included in the fun!!

Melissa Lee

I am elated to have been nominated and chosen to be part of the Dixie Daredevils. Dixie Daredevil’s charity of choice had my undivided attention before I was asked to join their team. I am running to honor both my aunts, Carolyn Morris (colon cancer) and Judy Pricket (breast cancer), who are both currently in remission from their struggle with cancer. Cancer’s ruthlessness has definitely affected my family over the years and the American Cancer Society efforts have had a direct impact on my aunts’ well being. I am excited about raising money to support the American Cancer Society!

A little about me: My motto in life has always been “work hard and play hard” and I believe I live up to that every day. To be completely honest, these days I may even play harder than I work! I am number four of five children and four of us followed my father’s footsteps and became United States Marines. Although I only stayed in the Marine Corps for a four year tour the phrase “once a Marine, always a Marine” is definitely true. There is no such thing as a former Marine and if you doubt that at all, just ask one. I have been running as far back as I can remember, from running from the torment of my older brothers, to trying to catch and tackle my younger brother, to training in preparation of OCS, to the years of Marine Corps Training and to now…just because. My favorite past times include swimming, biking, running, drinking beer, traveling to race events (triathlons, duathlons, run races, etc...), hiking, reading, traveling, laughing, eating and spending time with wonderful family and friends. In my professional life I am merely one of the thousands of engineers who are, literally and figuratively, running around Huntsville.

What is Hood to Coast?

I remember the first time I heard about the Hood to Coast race; I was either reading the book or the blog Run Like a Mother.  I didn't have a clue what it was.  I first thought it was some kind of cross country race-as in across the whole country, from the "hood"-NYC, to the (west) coast. 

Much later, while listening to The Marathon Show one day, the host, Joe Taricani, was interviewing the director of the Hood to Coast movie.  Because Joe is such a good interviewer...I found out not only all the details about the event, I was introduced to the spirit of the race. After seeing the movie, I was hooked.  (I've already confessed to you I might not be actually doing this thing if not for Captain Casey, but I knew I wanted to do it after listening to the interview.)  I'm just so thankful Casey went to the movie with me.

So...what exactly is H2C?  You probably know it's a 197 mile relay race that runs from Mt. Hood to Sea Side Oregon.  It's the largest relay race in the world in terms of participation.  ...I don't want to make this a Wiki entry, but the truth is since I haven't yet experienced the race, it's hard for me to adequately write about it.  My guess is it will be a lot like becoming a parent.  Everyone told me, before I had my son, there was no way to describe what it feels like.  I thought I knew how I would feel...but I didn't have a clue until I was feeling it because I had never experienced anything like it before. 

In my mind, this is "just" a really cool race.  But I've had enough experiences in my life to know I should believe all those people who say this is NOT just any other race.  I love what Bart Yasso (Chief Running Officer of Runner's World magazine) has to say in the Hood to Coast movie trailer:  "No matter what you read and what you hear, you have to EXPERIENCE it."

So...if you want the facts of the race, you can check out their official website or the Wiki entry...otherwise, you'll have to wait another 15 months if you want me to tell you about it....and trust me I WILL!!  Until then I'll just keep telling you about our Journey getting there!!

Five weeks without running!

Five weeks without running... That is NO FUN when you are a runner! I am so thankful to be a triathlete as well. At least if I had to give up running for 5 weeks to heal from a stress fracture in my 2nd metatarsal, I could still swim and bike. In a nutshell, the stress fracture was a result of going up a half size in my new trail runners then switching back to my smaller road shoes. I was just a couple of weeks away from ordering a new pair of Newton road shoes in the larger size. I was absolutely sick when it happened!

My Monday night run on March 28, 2011 was one run too many in the smaller shoes. There I was around mile 3 when I felt something in my foot crack. I shook it out and it just felt like something was out of place. I limped a few steps and the pain subsided. I continued the run and completed just under 6 miles with my friends. I iced the foot immediately when I got home. The next day I couldn't even bear weight on it. I iced my foot and popped Vitamin I (Ibuprophen) throughout the day.

Up to this point, I had never been sidelined from running. That is not to say that I never had aches and pains, just never anything I couldn't train through. I kept thinking the pain would go away and I would be fine for the back to back half marathons I had planned for the weekend and a marathon 5 weeks later. Wrong! On Wednesday I woke up and called The Orthopaedic Center immediately. I explained my situation and they worked me in that day. A bone scan later confirmed a stress fracture and by doctor's orders no running for 5 weeks. I did a lot of research on the best ways to not lose fitness when you can't run. The best solution I found? Aqua Jogging!

Aqua jogging is not just for cute little old ladies anymore kids! Aqua jogging is COOL! Well maybe not cool, but definitely a great way to maintain fitness when you can't pound the pavement. Lucky for me another Dixie Daredevil, Melissa Lee, was willing to log the minutes and hours in the pool with me. Talk about a good friend! My longest aqua jog in the five weeks I was sidelined was two hours. That's a lot of treading water!

On Tuesday I went back to The Orthopaedic Center for my 5 week check up and guess what??? I was cleared to run again!!! For the next two weeks I can run up to 2 miles 3 days per week, after which I can continue to increase my mileage slowly. I went to Fleet Feet ordered my new Newtons immediately! That night I ran the road in my trail runners and felt GREAT! On Thursday night I attended Fleet Feet's Cinco de Mayo fun run and ran another 2 miles. Today is my normal "long run" day, but I have opted to run tomorrow so I can run 2 miles of the bike after my "long ride."

When all was said and done I had to miss a couple half marathons, a full marathon and a Half Ironman in July. The important thing is that my stress fracture is healing well and I should be able to run the sprint triathlons I have scheduled for June, as well as an the Rocketman Olympic Triathlon in late August. I am picking out a fall Half Ironman and am also planning on a late October marathon. I really missed running over the past 5 weeks, but I have had a lot of fun on my new bike as well as cheering on my family and friends at their races! Injuries are never fun, but taking the necessary time off is super important in the long run... pun intended!

Diva Dixie Daredevils

Last Tuesday night was Diva Night at Fleet Feet.

For those of you who might not know what Diva Night is...basically it's a night for women to get together at the store and celebrate fitness.  Fleet Feet has two such nights a year-spring and fall.  I have to say, the spring Diva Night is "always" the best.  It's as if we're all coming out of hibernation or something; we flock to the event like bears to the first food of spring.

They always have good food, bra fittings, great door prizes, and DISCOUNTS on women's apparel!!  This year they invited Terrame´ Day Salon into the store to make it a Diva Spa Night complete with massages!!  All this was enjoyed while listening to the sweet sounds of singer/songwriter Cristina Lynn, live and in person!

The Dixie Daredevils contacted Suzanne Taylor (owner of Fleet Feet, along with her husband Dink) a while back asking if we could possibly set up a table to promote our fight against cancer and spread the word about our cause.  Not only were we allowed to set up a table, Fleet Feet allowed us to accept donations made to American Cancer Society for chances to win great prizes they provided!

We had a great time coming together as a team (minus Shari and Heather--we missed you ladies terribly).  We were also able to collect over $2,000 in donations!!  Although I didn't get a massage, I did buy two running skirts-25% off!!  Thank you to everyone who made the night a great success!

Here's a little video of the fun we had...

And Now A Word About (one of) Our Sponsor(s)-Fleet Feet Huntsville

This post will be hard for me to write.  I want to be objective, however, I'm fairly certain I will start to gush profusely as I talk about my love for my favorite local running store-Fleet Feet Sports Huntsville.  I'll do my best to contain it, but I'm not making any promises.

When I started running, just a little over a year ago, I was determined not to get sucked in to the running hype.  I had purchased a pair of shoes from a big-box sports store based on the recommendation from a weight-lifting friend of my husband's.  He told me the kind of shoes he ran in and said he loved them, so I figured they would work for me, too.  I threw on my cotton shirt, sweat pants, cotton socks, and my new kicks and hit the road for a 30 minute walk/run.  I was following a Hal Higdon plan I found on-line.  It was basically a couch to 5K kind of plan wherein I would walk/run for 30 minutes every other day for 60 days with the intention of working up to a solid 30 minute run by the end of that time.

It was January and it was FREEZING outside.  After a little bit of research on Google I decided I needed some running tights under my sweatpants because the long johns just weren't working for me.  Now, even though I had bought my shoes from a big-box store, I have somewhat of an aversion to chain stores of any kind (except gas stations...but that's almost unavoidable).  I would rather eat at a mom-and-pop restaurant, buy my produce from a farmer's market, and do all my shopping from locally owned and operated non-chain/franchise stores.  So, I found a little shop that sold running tights and prepared to fall in love with my LRS (local running store).

When I went in and asked for tights, I was sold tights.  You might think that was a successful venture.  However, the reason I love "mom-and-pop" shops so much is the personal attention one usually gets from such places.  As I attempted to engage the three different store workers in conversation about my new found love of running, none of them seemed interested.  I'm sure if I had asked them to point me to the fuel belts they would have obliged, but there was not an apparent desire to assist.  I left feeling incredibly let down...certainly not "in love with my LRS" as I had hoped.

As my running time increased, I began to experience pain in my calves.  Someone pointed me in the direction of Fleet Feet, although I can't remember who it was for the life of me or I would go hug his/her neck!!  I remember this person telling me about how they would put me on a treadmill and watch me run in order to determine the kind of running shoe that best suited me.  Now, let me tell you, this was news!!  I knew there were different styles of shoes, but I just thought it was about comfort and fashion.  I knew Fleet Feet was a chain store, but I was ready to try anything in the hopes of being able to run pain free.  I have to admit, I didn't have very high hopes when I went in.

Boy was I shocked.

As soon as I walked in, I was greeted warmly and was asked, "What can we do for you today?"  I told the man I needed to get a new pair of shoes.  After he asked me a few questions he found out very quickly I knew nothing about what kind of shoe I needed and he proceeded to "fit" me for my first pair of proper running shoes.  He was a wellspring of information, most of which I'll confess I didn't fully buy into (such as the cotton socks I had been wearing weren't going to cut it for long).  He not only went the extra mile, he ran the full gamut and introduced me to the idea of a training group called NOBO (No Boundaries).

As much as I didn't want to love this CHAIN STORE, I was smitten.  The thing is, it doesn't feel like a chain store.  If I'm being very honest...it feels like going to my sickeningly rich sister's house to re-appropriate things from her closet (all except the fact I have to pay for the items I want to keep!).

...Listen, I warned you I was going to gush...but I promise I'm holding back as best I can.

I know a large part of why I personally feel the way I do is the attitude I have when I go to the store, and the fact I have developed relationships with many (if not most) of the people who work there.  I have not only been a participant in a training group (Next Steps), and will take on that role again this summer with Tri 201, but I have also coached NOBO, NOBO2 and Next Steps.  I've also participated in many of the fun runs the store regularly puts on, and  have volunteered to work many of the races sponsored by the store.  However, I've seen too many people come in and receive the same treatment I have to believe their hospitality has anything to do with me.

The owners, Dink and Suzanne Taylor, work tirelessly to promote health and fitness in our area.  They genuinely care about the people they serve as opposed to caring about the dollar they might make.  They have been pouring into our community ever since they opened the store several years ago.  Not only have they sponsored our team with a generous monetary donation to American Cancer Society, they also provided our team shirts at cost and will provide the shoes we'll all race in when we finally make it to Hood to Coast 2012.  Additionally, they allowed us to lead a "FunD Run" before the showing of My Run the movie and invited us to be a part of their annual Diva Night (held last week) where we were able to raise about $2,500 in donations.

On behalf of the entire team, I want to express my gratitude to Fleet Feet Sports in Huntsville.  It's so much more than a running store.

(We're missing two team members...Heather and Shari.)

Hey...I warned you I would gush.



 
((For the record, I do not work for Fleet Feet; aside from the donations to American Cancer Society and the sponsorships mentioned above, I, nor anyone on the team, has received any compensation from Fleet Feet or their affiliates.))

What A Difference A Week Makes

Most of our readers are here in Alabama and know all too well why it is there have been no updates in the past week.  But, for those of you who don't live here and are like me (a non-news-watcher)...to say we had bad storms hit us would be a colossal understatement...

As far as I know, no one on the team suffered any damage other than extended power outage.  We have a lot for which to be thankful.

There's quite a bit of "news" I want to share with all of you, but for now I would ask you to pray for the families of the 340 people who lost their lives in the storms that raged across seven states (254 of whom where here in Alabama), the hundreds if not thousands of people who were injured, and the countless number who sustained damage to their homes...not to mention those who remain without power.

Thank You for the Thank Yous!!

Belle Announcements

I have a dear friend, Olivia Wilson, owner of Belle Announcements, who donated thank you cards for us to send to sponsors.   Now, for the record, I am the WORLD'S WORST thank you card sender.  I hate to admit it, but it's true.  It took me about six months to send her a thank you card for the birthday gift she gave me!  I thought about it every time I saw her, but writing out a card and sending it just seemed to allude me.

This act of letter writing is the very reason Liv (as she is called by friends) founded the company in the first place.  I won't go into the full story here, although it's a very interesting story it's semi-personal so you should ask her yourself.  She crafts not only thank you cards, but custom announcements, "save-the-dates", stationary, invitations, cards for any occasion, along with some unbelievably cute items offered through her Etsy site (cupcake toppers, water bottle lables and cutout photo figurines to name a few).  In the month of April, 5% of each sale goes to the Brock Rocks Fund.  (From the site:)

Brock was diagnosed with Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on October 7, 2009, just days before his first birthday. He started intensive chemotherapy immediately and during his first round he contracted a life threatening fungal infection - Invasive Aspergillosis. The fungal infection spread to his lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, stomach, eyes, brain, and bones, leaving permanent damage including vision loss. Brock spent 19 consecutive weeks in the hospital and has spent a combined 9 months there enduring countless surgeries, procedures, and blood transfusions. He has several developmental delays as a result of these 2 diseases. He fights every day to re-learn how to walk, talk, and eat.
Brock's family has health insurance but they are are still left with medical bills totaling over $1,000 a month, including one anti-fungal drug that costs over $500 each month. This drug has literally kept Brock alive for the past 1.5 years. Brock's mother is unable to work because of the demands of caring for a chronically ill child. Brock is in the battle of his life and the mounting medical bills are a worry we would like to take away from the family. We can't change this disease but we can change how they fight it! Thank you for all your support, donations, and most importantly, prayers. Brock is a living testimony of God's faithfulness and we believe that God will provide in this area as well.

Because I'm such a bad letter writer, I wanted to publicly thank Belle Announcements here while at the same time letting you know about Liv's exceptional talent!  You can follow Belle on Twitter, or on FaceBook.  You can also check out her blog.  But...just don't let all this time on the computer keep you from picking up a pen and paper and sending out a hand written note to that special someone!!  And, if that someone is truly special, why not just go ahead and order some custom cards to show how much you care!

Julia is Running for Verba

After yesterday's post, I got to thinking...I believe life is a series of continuums.  What we are experiencing with losing teammates is on the very MILD side of a continuum of loss.  Whereas, losing an actual family member to cancer is well on the other side.   I, thankfully, have not had to go through that experience...unlike several of my teammates.

Julia is running for her Grandmother, Verba Troxtel, who died of cancer when Julia was only three years old.  Verba lived with Julia and her family from before the time she was born.  From what she has been told, Verba enjoyed babysitting her grandchildren when she could. 

Until colon cancer took her life at the young age of 57.

Because Julia was only three at the time, she unfortunately doesn't have many clear memories of her Grandma.  Not having clear memories doesn't lessen the loss.  Julia's grandfather, Verba's husband,  passed away long before Julia was even born and she never had a close relationship with her other set of grandparents. 

All the things kids with grandparents take for granted -baking cookies, being spoiled, hearing stories of what life was like "back in the day", learning about the roots of who you are first hand, having someone there on Grandparent's Day at school, all the memories that could have been made- were stolen from Julia by cancer.  Your donation is more than just support for a nameless, faceless organization...American Cancer Society will use your dollars to allow families have more memories.

Houston We Have a Problem...

I knew it was bound to happen.  With a team of 14 women (12 relay runners and 2 alternates/drivers) getting together more than a year before the actual race, raising $15,000 for American Cancer Society plus additional funds for travel expenses while at the same time training for a physically grueling relay race...there were bound to be some...challenges.

I know what you're thinking, fourteen women coming together...hello DRAMA!!  But that's not the challenge we've had to face.  The fact is, we've lost some members of the team for various reasons, and have had to recruit some new faces.  And...the challenge has NOT been the recruitment part of the equation, thankfully that has been "easy".

You had not even been introduced to the first person we lost.  She joined us as an alternate, but made the decision to back out fairly quickly.  We only had a couple of meetings before then so I just gave email hugs and thought to myself, "that happened quicker than I expected it to" (losing a team mate).  Little did I know we were about to lose two more, and have one voluntarily switch to an alternate/driver position.  Not to mention we have one member who is temporarily living in CANADA.

When Lisa stepped away from the team a while ago,  I put off making any kind of formal announcement,  mainly because I wasn't exactly sure how to write it up.  The fact is, it's hard to lose a member of the team.  We are working closely together for a common goal--the least of which is the actual race.  I don't know about the rest of them, but I feel like the longer we're together the closer we're getting.

We are like the Super Friends!!  I mean come on...we're the DIXIE DAREDEVILS!!  We even have cool super heroish name.  Yes, we are going to run individual legs of this race alone, but even in that we will be working together for a common goal-to finish before the cut off (31 hours).   However, the truth is, the race itself is a very small piece of the entire experience.  Think about it...it's the culmination of a fraction of what we're doing together, a very small fraction.  We have had one short fun run which lasted about 40 minutes, but we've spent countless hours working together to raise donations for American Cancer Society.

You can't be a part of something like this and not grow close.  So when someone decides to leave, or take a step away, it's hard.  At least it is for me anyway.  I know I'm not alone in that feeling.  At our last meeting when Vicki announced she was quitting, another team mate said we were like her family and she didn't want to lose anyone else.

I thought we'd have an issue with in-fighting, squabbles over how to best get the job done, what color to make the shirts, who has the best idea for a fundraiser, or even who's doing more or running fastest.  With fourteen women, there's bound to be drama...but I didn't expect to be crying over people leaving the team.  As we spend more and more time together, we are naturally growing closer so it stands to reason losing someone would become increasingly difficult.  I've got to tell you I don't like it one little bit!!

So...if you've been paying attention and watching closely...now you know why there are 15 of us on the "Who We Are" page.  As I understand it, we do have a new second alternate/driver, and I'll introduce her in short order...but not before I dry my eyes over the loss of the others.

You Can Endure

(Transcription from the video...taken from YouTube)

Part of the lure of Hood to Coast is that it is a real adventure, and it's something completely out of the norm.

You see, when you have succeeded in something, you can endure the part that you don't like.

((Dramatic music plays....random sound bites from the race...driver loses keys in his hand...driver gets massage...man tries to give nasty socks away...traffic jam...out of gas...honey bucket suction...driver gets massage......and at time marker 1:53...a team runs to the FINISH LINE!!))

It's the friendships that I have, coming back and just loving doing it.

I've really learned a lot about caring for people. Seems strange; this is a race you run.

You can do anything you put your mind to...and you should.

The effort is almost worth more than the actual accomplishment of finishing the goal.



Why am I here? I could be home in bed...and I want my orange juice!

American Cancer Society Donation Dollars at Work

Want to know where your dollars will go??

$120 provides researchers with a case of 144 petri dishes-allowing them to turn theories into cancer cures.

$250 provides 83 hours of toll-free access for the American Cancer Society's National Cancer Information Center.  The center receives 1.2 million calls every year to its 24-hour toll-free line, 1-800-ACS-2345, where specialists answer questions about cancer treatment options and local cancer resources.

$500 helps provide visits to five women from the American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery program. This program introduces breast cancer patients to select survivors who can answer questions and provide emotional support.

$1,000 provides expense for a patient to stay for free during cancer treatment in one of the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge facilities located in major cities nationwide.  (Hope Lodge Lubbock, TX)

Priceless...How can you put a price on a child's smile?  Camps for children with cancer run by the American Cancer Society let kids be kids.  They swim, play, and enjoy other camp-style fun in a supportive environment that recognizes their special medical needs.  The kids attend free ofcharge thanks to generous donors.

Won't you consider making a donation today?

**Reprinted from Triumph magazine.

Beth Whitworth

(Written by Beth)  Hi! I am Beth Whitworth (but I still refer to myself at times by my maiden name Barry – old habits are hard to break!). I am a Family Nurse Practitioner and former dietitian who loves the outdoors, coffee, and listening to live music on the front row. I am a Madison native, but moved away for years of school and work, then found myself coming back to the place I thought I would never return. It was almost two years ago that I moved back to Alabama to be near my now husband, Matt.

I am someone who thrives off the freedom to move whenever my heart desires and to plan for the next big adventure.  So, the thought of living back in my hometown permanently was something that I am still getting used to. But, with the help of new and old friends, I was introduced to the world of running. I am pretty sure if it was not for the next training run with friends or the thrill of the next race to keep me entertained, I may have driven myself and my husband mad! Last year, I went from having never run more than 6 miles, to running a full marathon, and then this year a 50K trail run. Other than my wedding day, I felt the happiest I have ever felt after crossing the 50K finish line!

To have the opportunity to run with such a great group of women and to use my abilities as a runner to support such a life changing cause is an incredible blessing. This is going to be one adventure I will never forget!

Carrie Wilson

My name is Carrie Wilson and I began running in the fall of 2008 a few weeks before my first 5K. I set my sights on a half marathon, then a full marathon while simultaneously training for a century (100 mile) bike ride. I thought why not swim a little and do a sprint triathlon! I enrolled in Fleet Feet's Tri 101 training group, had a blast and learned a lot. Most importantly, I began a fun, new lifestyle and met some awesome friends who I continue to train and race with! I am a member of Huntsville Track Club and the Vice President of Team Rocket Tri-Club. When I heard the Dixie Daredevils were looking for a few more runners for Hood To Coast 2012, I jumped at the chance! I look forward to the entire experience- fundraising, training, traveling, and racing with this amazing group of ladies!

Along with running and triathlon, I enjoy hiking, backpacking, camping, kayaking, traveling, yoga, sushi, coffee, cross-country skiing, the color green, awesome family, good friends and good times! I am completely obsessed with Glacier National Park, and the entire state of Montana! I was lucky enough to live in Whitefish and West Glacier, MT for a year and a half in 2005-2006. I spent 5 of those months living in a campground in West Glacier! Yes, in a tent- a three man backpacking one! It was one of the BEST experiences of my life. My first solo backpacking trip ever was 5 nights in Glacier's Grizzly country. Those trips are common practice for me now during my annual summer vacations to Glacier.

I am the Program Coordinator for the Both Parents Program at Family Services Center, which by definition makes me the Event Director for the Summer Sizzler Super Metric Century Bike Ride. This year's Summer Sizzler will be held on Saturday, August 6, 2011. Mark your calendars, tell your friends. Be there! My goals for 2011 are to raise money for American Cancer Society, improve my marathon time, complete my 3rd Ironman 70.3 race, run my first 50k, and travel to Glacier... again! I am also looking forward to meeting my niece who is due in late June! 2012 brings more training and fundraising with the Dixie Daredevils, as well as a full Ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run) and the Hood to Coast Relay, of course!