A couple of runs, and a boy returns!

Another beautiful week begins!!!   I can't speak for everyone out on the interwebs, but for me - it was a great weekend.

4 Miles on Saturday, 3 miles on sunday and my son got back from Bermuda!

Saturday:

I went with a simple out and back course, so I didn't have to worry about dodging cars on roads with no side walks.  (My four mile loop has a mile with no sidewalks and very little shoulder!)



I saw plenty of runners..

More Donation Swag!

A new development in my "Help the Homeless"  Marine Corps Marathon fundraiser!   For every $10 and above donation - You will get a water bottle as a think you gift!



$5.00 (and every $5.00 there after) gets you an entry into the raffle-of-prizes, and $10.00 gets you a water bottle!

What can I come up with Next?  Spread the word!

With these great thank you gifts (and remember, if you donate now - you will STILL be eligible for any additional thank you levels I add!) – please consider donating to my Help the Homeless fundraiser for Volunteers of America Chesapeake’s homeless services.

The fundraiser is through the Fannie Mae – “Help the Homeless” walk program, which means they match every dollar you donate, with a dollar. So even a $5.00 donation immediately doubles in size!

If you want to read more about the good works of Volunteers of America Chesapeake, you can check out their blog!



Please show that you too are "Called to Care", by donating!

T-Shirt Designs

The question was raised - what am I going to wear when I run the Marine Corps Marathon?   It seems that since I am running it as a fund-raiser for the agency I work for, that some of the employees want to come out and cheer.  This made me realize that I need to have a shirt that says what I am doing on it..

 

Here is design idea 1:

The Shirt will of course be Tech Fabric, and the VOA symbol will be all-white.

Thoughts?

Speaking of that fund-raiser - please consider donating to my Help the Homeless fundraiser for Volunteers of America Chesapeake’s homeless services. We have some small gifts we will be raffling of to those that have donated, and it looks like everyone over a certain (and currently un-set) dollar amount will receive a Volunteers of America Chesapeake water bottle! More information to come on that!

The fundraiser is through the Fannie Mae – “Help the Homeless” walk program, which means they match every dollar you donate, with a dollar. So even a $5.00 donation immediately doubles in size!

If you want to read more about the good works of Volunteers of America Chesapeake, you can check out their blog!

Holy Jeepers Cats! Its the day AFTER the day after that hurts!

[caption id="attachment_2844" align="alignright" width="216"] Me (you believe that right?) Doing a shoulder press![/caption]

LOL! Ok, so yesterday I had posted about how my soreness was less than expected, and in different places than I expected.

I forgot one key thing about strength training.. It's not the next day that hurts.. it's the day AFTER the next day... I woke up in the middle of the night, and the majority of my body hurt.  THAT was apparently a good workout!  I know it wasn't from yesterday's, as yesterday was a 4 mile run (with my bicycling shadow!), followed by a long period of stretching.  Hardly the things that sore shoulders/chest/arms/back are made of!   I feel much better about that workout, and I am looking forward to using my bowflex tonight!   

Never sore where you think

[caption id="attachment_2831" align="alignright" width="300"] Me resting after using the bowflex.... (ok...ok.. the image MIGHT be from http://www.bowflex-help-online.com/is-a-bowflex-home-gym-worth-the-money.html )[/caption]

Last night I hit my bowflex for a nice workout. My thought is that by swapping days of running and lifting, I give my Plantar Fasciitis a chance to heal (in theory), while working on the upper body/core that I have spent years ignoring. It seems like a good way to develop a balance that I have been sorely lacking.

Now, the thing that surprises me with the bowflex, is that I am usually sore in different places than I expect. With out giving you all the details of last night's workout (imagine how exciting THAT would be... I pushed.. relaxed.. pushed.. relaxed..,) I was sure that today - I was going to be facing some seriously sore triceps. SURPRISE!!!! The Arms are fine, and your back is letting you know it was a great workout!

I'm certainly not complaining, as I know it was a good workout either way.

Running and Rolling

So, my last couple of posts have glossed over any training - while focusing on my fundraiser/giveaway.  Rest assured, I have still been working on my training!

Last night, I went out for an easy 3ish miles (I accidentally gypped myself .14 of a mile.. so it is 3ISH not 3...).  I demonstrated the previous taping technique I was using, with great results.  I have tried a new one, as that taping method is not water-resistant.  KT Tape (You may recall that I used this back when I made a habit of pulling calf muscles) had helped me in the past, I thought it was worth trying now! (Plus, in the interest of full disclosure, my wife went and bought a roll for her knee pain..)

[caption id="attachment_2824" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Screenshot from KTTape.com. Click to go to their page to see the video![/caption]

Giveaways/Raffles for Donators

So, I have been out running in the heat some more, but that isn't what I want to talk about today.  I'm excited for my next steps with my Marine Corps Marathon Fundraiser for Volunteers of America Chesapeake!

While donating and helping the homeless does good things for your karma, as well as making you feel better - I wanted to be able to give a more physical joy to you as well!  So I have begun picking things up that I can give away to those that donate and share my blog!  While this portion of it isn't ready to be "officially" announced - it's getting there..

I will give you a glimpse of some of the things I have ordered:

1) Cell Phone External Battery charger - Lets face it.  There are many runners that use their phones for tracking their run.  There are many people who use their cellphones non-stop. 

Running the Marine Corps Marathon to raise money to help the homeless

As you are no doubt aware, I have registered to run this years Marine Corps. Marathon on the 27th of October.

Everyday, I am aware of how fortunate I am.  I have a wonderful job, a great family and a fantastic town house that I rent.  I am also aware that there are many people who do NOT have all of these things.  In order to change someone’s life – the first step to long-term change must be housing.

Homelessness affects people who started in all walks of life. With out a
place to lay your head, it can be hard to find a job, support a family
and even find healthy food to eat.



Volunteers of America Chesapeake helps fight homelessness in Virginia, Maryland and Washington  D.C..  From the Lighthouse Center in Virginia Beach, to the Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center in Northern Virginia, and the Transitional Housing programs in Baltimore – VOA Chesapeake is helping those that need it the most every single day.

Please consider donating to this wonderful cause, and help make a difference. Show that you were Called to Care!

If you would like to make a donation, please go to: http://www.hthwalks.org/goto/runningthemcm

If you are running the Marine Corps Marathon and would like to help me raise money for Volunteer’s of America Chesapeake’s homeless services programs, please contact me at onceandfuturerunner@gmail.com.