Week 1

12 miles down, 537 training miles to go!

I just returned from my first training run with the Bottom Line team, Team Go Far. Throughout my brief running career, I've learned that anyone can run; if you are pig-headed enough; if you have some rockin' tunes; if you have some good meaty stuff to think through; if you have a couple of girlfriends with enough agenda items; if you simply decide to just do it.

Something else I've also learned: just because you CAN run, doesn't mean you are good at it. Case in point, today I was definitively trounced by our running coach's nine year-old, Ryder. Granted, Ryder is the son of two marathon training coaches and probably came out of the womb with a packet of goo in his hand. But that kid can run. This isn't new for me. During a half-marathon in October, I crossed the finish line a few minutes after a 75 year-old man that looked on death's door. I've also been passed on an uphill race by a grandfather pushing his handicapped grandson in a wheelchair. I mean, come on! So, I have a lot to improve upon.


Another thing,just because you can run, it really doesn't mean you look good doing it. Since I am facing a winter of running outside in freezing temperatures, I finally broke down and bought some running tights. I decided against these new-fangled compression tights, that supposedly reduce lactic acid build-up, increase oxygen to your muscles, enhance blood circulation and focus muscle power (um, seriously). Do you know how awful it is pouring yourself into these tights in the changing room and taking a good, hard look at your body. As you are staring at your 30 year-old body,and contemplating the horrific width of your derrier, you imagine running....outside! where people can see you! There aint' enough compression for my thighs, trust me.

I did end up getting tights, that are still frightening in their display, but I had to do it. For the kids. Never before have I justified wearing spandex for the sake of kids. But, there you have it.

So, the training begins. Spandex and all.

I leave you with one of the many students that I am running for:

Jeanine Harushingingo, North High School '10
Jeanine grew up on a refugee camp in Tanzania. Originally from Burundi, she fled her country with her family at age 3 when war broke out. Jeanine spent twelve years living on the refugee camp in crowded quarters with insufficient food.

Women in her country are offered little opportunity to pursue an education, and her parents originally told her that she could not go to school. Jeanine began secretly attending school and eventually stood up for her education and convinced her parents to support her.

Jeanine came to the United States less than 3 years ago not knowing any English and has since become the main support for her family who live with her in Worcester. Settling in the states has been difficult for them: Jeanine's mom was sick and they often struggle to pay bills and rent. Jeanine was able to manage the household, work her way into North High School from a school for new immigrants, learn English, and earn a 3.8 GPA in honors classes. Now in her senior year, she is determined to go to college and study international relations so she can return home and help people in Africa. She plans to apply to Clark University, UMass Dartmouth, and Wheaton College, among others.