UPDATE: As of October 22, the goal of $6100 has been reached and pledges/donations are still coming in! A very appreciative "thank you" to all donors and sponsors!
THERE IS STILL TIME TO GET INVOLVED
If you haven't had a chance, there is still time to donate! Please consider the invitation to donate and change lives by clicking HERE (amounts donated online need to be at least $10).
You are also welcomed to mail any amount to my personal address [ Lee Hoedl, 6155 16th Street South, Fargo, ND 58104 ] and I will make sure it is forwarded to Children's Hospital in your name (and you receive a charitable contribution credit).
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WHERE AND WHEN IT ALL BEGAN
Legendary track and field coach and co-founder of Nike, Bill Bowerman stated, "The real purpose of running isn't to win a race, it's to test the limits of the human heart." And it is these words that I have taken into all of my daily runs and all my races over the years. At the age of 48 and 41 marathons/endurance runs behind me, I realize that every daily run and every road/endurance race brings its own unique challenges, soreness, successes and surprises... and like each day of one's life, it also brings its own unique lessons, perspectives and blessings.
In that spirit, I am teaming up with Children's Hospital for the fourth time to raise needed funds for their pediatric medical center and child health care services, while taking those successes, surprises and challenges to and along the route of the 2011 New York City Marathon in November... and in tow will be the trusted LEEcam, so you are able to finally view the NYC Marathon from the street level!
It is my solemn goal to raise at least $6100 for Children's Hospital by November and my humble request that you take a moment to read further down as to the mission of the Children's Hospital. And then simply donate a personal amount of $6.10. Why $6.10 as an amount? Read my challenge, 61 Half-Marathons, below.
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To view a larger version of this video, click on the YouTube icon in the lower right corner of the video.
BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND NOVEMBER 6, 2011
What commonality do I share with baseball legend Roger Maris? Click the link 61 Half-Marathons above to find out more. FOR EVERY $100 DONATED, I WILL RUN A HALF-MARATHON (13.1 miles) TRAINING RUN OR RACE.
And while I set out on my adventure of 61 IN '11, I will be donating all earned half-marathon medals to a Medals 4 Mettle; a non-profit organization that facilitates the gifting of marathon, half marathon, and triathlon finishers’ medals. Runners from around the world give their hard earned medals to Medals4Mettle. The organization's worldwide network of physicians and volunteers then awards these medals, attached to a Medals4Mettle ribbon, to children and adults fighting debilitating illnesses who might not be able to run a race, but are in a race of their own just to continue to live their life. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THIS JOURNEY WITH YOUR POSITIVE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. More Here
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH I'M RUNNING
Children's Hospital Boston is a 392-bed comprehensive center for pediatric health care. As one of the largest pediatric medical centers in the United States, Children's offers a complete range of health care services for children from birth through 21 years of age. Children's is also home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center. Since 1869, our discoveries have benefited both children and adults.
I became acquainted with Children's Hospital Boston in 2007 and have remained an active participant in their charity fundraising to the present date. I have run three marathons in the past for this charity and have raised over $10,000 in these three races for their worthy cause.
To find out more about this charity, please click on the logo above and peruse their wonderful and inspiring website.
THE MILES KEEP ADDING UP
One peculiar aspect of distance runners/racers is their ideosynchratic manner for collecting data; training split times, calorie counts, heart monitor recordings, illness/injury patterns, weekly and total mileage... and I inadvertently have fallen into this group over the years.
From time to time, I will go back and reflect on my running patterns to find possible causes for present injuries, aches, conditions that manifested themselves in patterns formed over a year ago. And in looking over the past 6 years, I was able to "crunch the numbers" and discover the following: Over the past 6 years (2006-2011), I will have accumulated over 10,000 total miles... READ MORE
Follow me as I attempt to complete 61 half-marathon training runs and races between June 1 and November 6, 2011. Click on the logo above to view my progress.
Follow me on Facebook - across all 61 half marathons!
