On the Run

I wish I could run and blog simultaneously. I'm sure many of you can, and while I can multi-task, I can't do tasks that require that much coordination.

And running, for me, requires coordination.

Way back before I became a Mommy I used to run. I never thought about running while I ran. I though about things at work, used running to get out my work stress and anxiety (if I only knew then what I know now. None of that mattered. None), think about what we might do over the weekend, what my next pair of shoes might be...

But now, it's a whole other world of thoughts.

I start out by thinking of the mechanics of running. Am I standing straight? How's my posture? Are me feel hitting okay? Am I keeping them straight? Can I finish this last mile in 8 minutes so my splits end up being ten minutes (and that answer to that one is no, they will end up being 11.5 minute miles)?

Then I start thinking about what hurts and I start complaining. How old I feel. How come my left knee hurts when my right is injured? Am I overcompensating? What's the muscle inside my calf that feels tight? Why is it so hot out? Why can't I find the time to get this run in early, before it gets humid?

And then I remember why I'm doing this. I think about how grateful I am that I can feel the pain in my legs. That I am able to walk. That I can run - how can I complain about running? how can I take it for granted? I think about how it must sound to someone in a wheelchair, with a walker, crutches. I think about Emily, in AFO's, and what it would sound like to her. I think about everything she has been through. I think about how hard she has to work, will always have to work. And my complaints wither away, pitiful and ashamed that they even reared their ugly head.

And then, head cleared, I take in the music. Today, "All These Things That I've Done" resonated in my ears. I moved along and just emptied my mind, and listened. I love hearing Time and truth and hearts in the background. I listened. And I heard something new. I used to think they were saying If you can't hold on, but I was wrong. Today I realized they are saying If you can hold on. How funny.

Over and in, last call for sin
While everyone's lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I've done
All these things that I've done

Time, truth, and hearts

If you can hold on
If you can hold on

COUNTDOWN TO THE MARATHON

The 18 week training program has begun, injury, heat, and all! We have officially decided on a team name:

JOSHUA AND EMILY'S TEAM FOR SBA: Conquering NYC to Help Conquer Spina Bifida

Emily is our 13-month old daughter who was born with the neural tube defect Spina Bifida, and Joshua is the 8-year old son of Carey and Scott, friends we have made right here in Buffalo. Scott is taking on the 26.2 mile monster in honor of Joshua, who has Spina Bifida. Our team also includes myself, Katie my sister, and two ladies from the tri-state area Shannon and Allison.

We are each raising $5000, with a united team goal of $25,000 donated to the Spina Bifida Association. We are running on November 7, 2010 in the ING NYC Marathon as "Charity Runners", meaning we are able to run in it because we are raising this money for SBA.

So how are we doing, hows our Keicher goal of $5000 looking? Well, the first week or two we saw several online donations and received several checks in the mail. But things tapered off, and WE HAVE $4440.60 TO GO!!!

This is a wonderful cause. It is because of the SBA that things like the National Conference (from which we just returned) are held. It is because of them that education on Spina Bifida occurs. It is because of them that local chapters exist, where individuals and families can turn to people on the same journey and receive advise, support, hugs, help. Spina Bifida is a complex, complicated, permanent reality for 166,000 people living with it in the United States right now.

Please help us Conquer Spina Bifida by making a donation to the Spina Bifida Association in Honor of Emily Keicher.

Please visit this page and select "Send a Tribute Gift", and follow the steps to donate!! Please note, you MUST select "In Honor" and put in "EMILY KEICHER" for the donation to be counted towards our team. And by sending an acknowledgment to "Elizabeth Keicher" at elizabeth_webb1976@yahoo.com, I will receive an email blast that you donated.

Or, send a check to Chris and I, made out directly to the "Spina Bifida Association". We will handle the rest for you.

Thank you for considering the Spina Bifida Association, and thank you for helping to support Emily and her future.