Guest Bloggers

We have another guest blogger joining us. Sara Wingert. I didn't know Sara all that well until I realized she too was running her first marathon in Nashville and really got to know her as I trained for the SF Nike Women's Marathon. Much like most runners I met she's an inspiration and a good person to know. I've enjoyed the short time I've known Sara.

A couple of weeks ago Sara graciously approached me about writing a piece for you all. And I'm pleased to say this is her story.

Why do you run?
by Guest Blogger Sara Wingert

Is it the runners high? The feeling of freedom? The exhilaration and endless possibilities of the open road?

As a charity runner and volunteer with the American Cancer Society, I was asked to answer this question at the pasta party dinner for those participating in the NYC Half Marathon this August. I thought it would be an easy question to answer. And I was wrong.

In May 2007, I moved from Colorado to New York, knowing only one person in the state and three people on the entire east coast. All I had was a brand new job at an international PR agency, a roommate who I met on Craig’s List, and two duffle bags jammed pack with clothing and shoes. That was basically it. Sara, meet the city.

At first, the rush of the Big Apple and the new culture were enough for to keep me busy, but by fall I decided that I needed to become involved in some sort of activity that would help me make additional friends and contacts in the city. I debated joining a sports team, volunteering at an elementary school, taking pottery lessons, becoming a magician.....then I heard someone talking about Team in Training while I was on the subway one day. I thought, “If they can do it, then I can do it. Hell, I’m in.”

After attending an info session on TNT and its upcoming races, I signed up to train for the Nashville Country Music Marathon in April 2008, while subsequently raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Proud as could be, I came home and told my roommate: “I’m going to run a marathon!” She looked at me, chuckled, and said “Right. Good luck with that.” I frowned and wondered what exactly I was getting myself into.

Training was tough. I endured a bout of painful IT Band issues that left me unable to even run one mile some days. I woke up at 7am for Saturday morning trainings, I ran across the George Washington Bridge in 30 degree weather, I gasped for breath during the sprints up and down Central Park while dodging angry bikers and tourists. After months of aches, pains, worries and doubts, I found myself in Nashville at where else but the pasta party dinner on the eve of the big day. What I experienced at that event is the reason that I’m still running for charity organizations today:

A man approached the podium to speak about his reasons for running with TNT and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He explained how he had never been a runner. He was lucky if he completed marathons in less than six hours. He was actually not a huge fan of the sport at all, let alone for exercise in general. But then he clicked through to the next button on his slide show, and a picture of a little girl appeared on the big screen. She was obviously underweight, completely bald, hooked up to an IV, and smiling as big as she possibly could. The man turned to us, and he said, “This is Carrie. This is the reason I run.”



When I originally began training for marathons and fundraising money to fight cancer, I did it because I wanted a hobby. I wanted to meet friends. I wanted to get out of the house. I did it for what now feels like selfish reasons. Then at that pasta party dinner, it hit me. Truth was, I was actually doing something much greater than that, whether I realized it or not. I was raising money that supports people when they are facing the most difficult time they may ever endure. I was giving hope to those who thought their luck had run out. I was supporting my friends and family members who have been touched by cancer themselves or watched loved ones suffer. I was running for people. I was running for life.

Last year, I completed two marathons and raised more than $5,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This year, I’ve already run two half marathons and am training for the ING NY Marathon in November on behalf of the American Cancer Society. By the end of 2009, my goal is to raise $10,000 in support of cancer research, education and advocacy.

I still run because I enjoy the rush of endorphins and because I’ve grown to know and love all the people who train with me every day. But I’m proud to also say that I have a meaningful and personal reason for those 16-mile training runs.

For my upcoming race, I want to run for someone you know who has fought the battle against cancer. To do this, I’m auctioning off each of the 26.2 miles of the race. A donation of at least $25 will secure the fame and recognition of your name on my personal fundraising page, as well as a mile of your choice in honor of your friend, family member or contact. Please visit my fundraising page to find out which miles are available and to secure your own.

For questions, comments, feedback or to tell me why YOU run, please email me at lttlwing@gmail.com or you can follow me on Twitter.


Sara's fundraising site for the American Cancer Society can be found at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/runfastersara

We are always welcoming guest bloggers here and tonight is no exception. I am pleased to bring you talented singer/songwriter and runner (of course) Dion Roy.

When Scott asked me to contribute to his blog right after I tweeted about my amazing 6 mile run, I have to say I was a bit nervous--I'm not a writer. Then, I realized I was in fact a song writer and I sure as hell better be able to put a few words together coherently. The result is below. I hope you enjoy it, and if you don't, it's Scott (the host of this here blog)'s fault, so address any and all hate mail to his attention.

When I was in my teens, I found it really tough to focus on many things, or more poignantly, to focus on anything at all. I suppose it's more clinically referred to as Attention Deficit Disorder according to our present day eager-to-prescribe-ritalin Docs. But I have discovered another solution to this common problem; there is a far more useful and safe natural drug and it may surprise you…wait for it…it's called adrenalin. Crazy right? Not at all. Read on.

I can't prescribe my methodology carte blanche, but what I can say is that as a musician, I write and work on some of my best music a couple of hours after an intense run.

Once I've accomplished a detoxifying run, the immediate rush from the adrenalin later turns into a very peaceful and productive moment of clarity for me. The kind of peace and concentration I cannot normally find when the stresses of every day life weigh upon me. The beeps, ringers and NYC fire department that usually distract me no longer do, and I'm generally able to stay focused.

The calm that proceeds a killer run is something that you just can't explain unless you do it. I'd love to say that my main focus for running would be staying in shape, or being disciplined in some other tortuous way, but it's not. I'm simply able to get more done with running as an integral part of my life (errr, sanity). Granted as time goes on and I become more addicted, I do find that this little side effect has probably moved my career forward more than I care to admit.

My creative juices are always ready to come out, but living in a metropolitan area like NYC with distraction abound, for me, running is now a requirement in life and career.

It just takes a little push to get yourself going, but once you've experienced the endorphin rush, it is impossible to turn back.

It should be noted that this blog post was written under the influence of running.

About Dion Roy
" Dion Roy is a singer-songwriter from South Africa, now based in NYC - his music can be heard in several movies, commercials, and ghetto blasters. His music can be heard on iTunes and via his website http://dionroy.com"

As promised, we would have guest bloggers join us from time to time, many will be first time runners others will be more seasoned runners who can talk about other aspects of running, that will include tips and tricks. Today we are pleased to have first time guest blogger Renee Allwine.

CHRONICLES OF A RUNNING VIRGIN
By Renee Allwine

This past weekend, I completed my first half marathon. The event took place in Walt Disney World in Orlando, which is perceived to be the happiest place on earth. I disagree.

Not that the DW isn’t fab with all its magic and glory. In fact, I like it there quite well. I just don’t like it being tainted with muscle cramping and a thirst that not even the Nile can quench.

Okay, okay. So it wasn’t ALL bad, and I have Icy Hot to thank for that. Ahhh, Icy Hot. How I love thee. Let me count the ways.
You cooled and numbed my legs with your icy goodness.
Umm…well that was pretty much it.

I’ve never run more than one mile at a time in my life, and there’s a good reason for that. First, because I have a car. And second, because I have a rare type of urticaria, which is a fancy way to say I have itchy legs. Yes, itchy legs. No, I’m not making this up. It’s basically hives that are induced by vibration. When I run, the vibration of my feet hitting the pavement causes an irritation that makes my legs itch uncontrollably. So much so, that I will scratch until I break blood vessels. Weird and creepy, I know.

This brings me to my other true love: prescription anti-histamines. I was able to run this baby without any itching complications. Usually I can only go about 4 minutes before going into the throws of a mad itching spree. Not this time. I made itchy legs my bitch.

While it was a big accomplishment for me to be able to finish the run, there are two things I wish I had done before hastily agreeing to the run. Number one: train, and number two: don’t do it.

Nah, I’m glad I did it…or I should say NOW I’m glad I did it. Somewhere around mile nine when my blood sugar was dropping, I wasn’t so glad. Which reminds me of the single most important lesson that I took away from this whole experience: DO NOT under any circumstances eat the goo! I may have been seconds away from passing out, but I think I prefer losing brain cells than eating that rancid stuff ever again.



I have to admit that I was warned about the goo, but in my blurry state of little consciousness I forgot. For those not familiar with this stuff, they are shots of a honey-like substance that many runners eat for energy. Except they don’t taste like honey. They taste more like… Hmm, how to put this elegantly? Ass. They taste like ass. My advice is to grab a banana, or a shot block, or for Heaven’s sake something else.

Another thing I learned is why people get so emotional at the end of a race. You always see those people crossing the finish line and crying and now I understand why. Sleep deprivation. Did you know that you have to get up at like 3 am in order to do one of these things? I didn’t. I mean 3 am! I would be laughing, and then without a moment’s notice be crying because I had dementia from my exhausted state.

So with my very little experience and even less training, how did I do? Actually, not bad. Then again, my standards are low. Raising the bar? More like don’t trip over the bar. But I completed it and I’m happy. I finished the 13.1 miles in three hours and four minutes. Nothing spectacular, and I know that. What I am proud of is that I ran most of the way. Me. Run. The girl whose idea of a morning run is when I’m late (yet again) for work and I’m making a mad dash for the closing train doors.

I’m not sure if I will ever do another race. I’m not against it, but I’m also not searching for upcoming runs. I feel like this is as good as it gets and I don’t want to ruin that. I finished and that’s good enough for me. Maybe if I had an extra incentive then I would. For instance, I got my dog, Juliet, as a gift to do this run. Perhaps I can convince my husband to let me get a friend for her.


BIOGRAPHY
Renee Allwine is an advertising copywriter who is a first time runner, long time couch potato. She lives in Sumner, WA with her marathoner husband, Steve, and their only child: a golden retriever. In her spare time, Renee enjoys crafting, disc golf, swing dancing and being Scott Iwata’s best friend.