2017 Terry Fox Run in Central Park

For runners of certain age, the name Terry Fox is an inspiration.  If you're not familiar with Terry's story, please take the time to read about him (at Wikipedia, for instance).  After his leg had been amputated, Terry Fox started on a cross-Canada run to raise awareness/funs for cancer research. He covered 5,373 km (3,339 miles) over 143 days before he succumbed to the deadly effects of his cancer.  It's hard to believe that he died 36 years ago.

This was the 24th edition of the Terry Fox Run.  I was finally able to take part in one.  They are basically fun runs (unscored) to raise funds for cancer research.  I wore the race shirt this morning (I rarely wear the given race shirt at the actual event) to express my solidarity with the cause - and Terry Fox's legacy.

As for the run itself it was a double loop of lower Central Park.  Billed as a 5k, it was more like 3.3 miles (according to Strava).  The entire event was underwritten by the Canadian Embassy, which let all the funds raised go directly to cancer research organizations!

 

"running goddess" 5k this weekend at lasdon park, katonah

this weekend, lasdon park and arboretum in katonah, will host the inaugural "running goddess" 5k race for women, girls and men (wearing purple).  to quote from the website:

"This inclusive event is a celebration of female camaraderie — all ages and most abilities are welcome. Some of us will run for the joy of competition. Some of us enjoy the fellowship of exercising together. Some of us will set a goal to run for charity or run our first race. Some of us are men who adore the gals in their life so much that they will wear purple to run with them."

this race reminds me of the days i participated in a similar event, the women's distance festival 5k, held at rockland lake in july.  when katie was much younger (8-9 years old), she ran this race a couple of times - and I paced her.  it was a unique experience to be the only guy running in a sea of women.  since I was pacing my daughter it didn't generate too much controversy.  interestingly, after only a couple of races, katie decided that running w/her dad wasn't cool under the circumstance and she insisted on running the 5k w/out me :D

while the event is all about women and girls, the vibe is definitely inclusive.  men wearing purple, to evidence support, are welcome.  the 5k runs across the varied terrain of lasdon park, giving it a trail run flavor.  the location is directly across from moscoot farms, where "run the farm" is held in the fall (a 5 mile trail run).  it's a great location to run!

the running goddess 5k raises money to bring "girls opportunities to excel in life through education and health."  it's a great cause - participate and contribute if you can!

support alicja barahona's 230+ mile "arctic challenge" fundraiser!

reader's of this blog may remember that last year i posted an appeal to support alicja's 120 mile run across long island. in a new twist, not only will alicja once again run across long island to raise funds for breast cancer research (her 5th consecutive fundraiser on long island) at the end of april - but she kicks off the month with a 230+ mile solo run, "ali's arctic challenge," across the frigid northwest territories of canada to raise funds for the inuvik homeless shelter.

here is the text of alicja's email discussing both events, which richie forwarded to the b.u.s. community. it is an appeal to all runners, and charitable souls, for support :D
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Hello to all BUS and not only runners,

I would love to tell you about my two upcoming and very interesting events.

1st is Arctic Challenge - 230+ miles on ice!

The 1st week of April I will be running on the frozen Mackenzie River starting 120 miles North from the Arctic Circle. Some of you may be familiar with the gruesome TV show "Ice Road Truckers". Well, it is the same river, the same ice, but instead of driving a tractor trailer on it as the truckers do, I will be running on it! The logistics of such run are not simple, but with today's technology like the Internet the world seems smaller and I have been very lucky. I contacted a newly created Inuvik Run Club. The members got very excited and eager to assist as I made the call to them in the middle of 30 days of winter darkness. Their enthusiasm sparked in me an additional fire and I told them that I will run both ways on the Ice Road. This mean from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk and back to Inuvik!!

This is about 230+ miles round trip, on the ice with no shelter between these two communities. There are no trees as the tree line ends a mile or two after Inuvik. Just snow and ice! Flat. No rolling hills or mountains; just a lot of wind and sub-zero temperatures.

This is a charity run for the Inuvik Homeless Shelter. The harsh weather and modern lifestyle have made it so that some of the natives are unable to cope and must turn to the shelter for protection. Some homeless persons also struggle with concurrent mental health, addiction issues, or have drifted into poverty and family problems. It is a challenge to live there without any these issues, but having any of these issues is very troubling. The Inuvik Homeless Shelter is there to protect these individuals and give them shelter from the environment and to provide meals for those in need.

To learn more about my run above the Arctic Circle, please visit my homepage.

Here's the link directly to the donate page using Pay Pal. The "Donate" button is at the bottom of the page or you can send a cheque to the Inuvik

Homeless Shelter at P.O. Box 2530, Inuvik, NT, Canada X0E 0T0

100% of all donations go to the shelter.

2nd is 120 miles, non-stop run across Long Island

This will be my 5th annual run to raise awareness and funds to help fight breast cancer in support of breast cancer patients. My 120-mile running route, which I have personally created, will start at North Woodmere Park (adjacent to JFK Airport) and end at Montauk Point. I will start running on April 30, 2011.

Since this run across LI is close to most of you in the Tri-State Area, please consider joining me on any part of this run and participate in the fundraising. We all know someone who has suffered, is suffering, or may suffer from this illness. Let's help. Let's fight the "C" word together so one day this illness will never exist!

Donations can be make online by simply clicking this link

Thank you so much.

Alicja

support alicja barahona's 120 mile non-stop run across long island

this weekend a good friend, alicja barahona, will once again set off on a 120 mile run across long island to raise funds for breast cancer research. she's done this run in years past, always to raise awareness of breast cancer issues. alicja has many extreme and ultra running accomplishments to her credit (some are mentioned in the above flyer). most recently, she took first place in the 2009 ny ultrarunning grand prix series.

here is alicja's fundraising email:
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Hello,

As some of you may know, I am once again running 120 miles, non-stop, across Long Island to raise awareness and funds to help fight breast cancer. This will be my 4th solo run across Long Island in support of breast cancer patients. My 120-mile running route, which I have personally created, will start at Woodmere Community Park (adjacent to JFK Airport) and end at Montauk Point. I will start running on May 1, 2010.

I am eager to get started with my fundraising and I need your support! 100% of your contribution goes directly to breast cancer support services and research. It is faster and easier than ever to support this great cause - you can make a donation online by simply clicking on the link at the bottom of this message. Whatever you can give will help! I truly appreciate your support.

Donations can be mailed to LI2DAYBCW, P.O. Box 506 Nesconset, NY, 11767 or made online at www.li2daywalk.org. Please be sure to write my name (Alicja Barahona).

Please distribute this email to your friends and family - TOGETHER WE REALLY DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Thank you so much for your support and donation.

Alicja

run the 2010 nyc half marathon on behalf of the world lung foundation :D

with the lottery results announced last week, anyone not selected has two options for running the 2010 nyc half marathon - guaranteed entry via time or guaranteed entry via charitable organization. if you're want to run the nyc for a charity, consider running it on behalf of the world lung foundation!

as we've done in the past (2008 and 2009), the wlf team will raise money to fight childhood asthma in africa. over the last two years we've raised just under $100,000, and following the 2009 edition made a $49,000 grant to the kenyan association for prevention of tuberculosis and lung disease.

for more information, check out the world lung foundation running team page. this weekend we kick off our first group training run in central park. join us!

"run for haiti" fundraiser

this morning katie and her fellow winter track team members held a fundraiser for haitan earthquake relief efforts. from 10 until noon they ran laps around the outdoor track, and also held a bake sale.

here, in her words, is a brief recap:
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Today my track team had a fundraiser called “Run For Haiti.” All of the members of the track team had gotten sponsors for it during the past week. It was suggested the sponsors donate $1.00 for every lap ran by his or her runner. Most of the runners were expected to run between 10-30 laps (each lap is 400m).

It was a lot of fun because everyone ran with friends and went at his or her own pace. My friends and I ran the majority of laps, but also walked a little too. By the end I had done a total of 21 laps (a little over 5 miles). It felt really good knowing that I had done something for a good cause.

After the run we all got some bagels and snacks from the bake sale. When it was over everyone was so proud of what we had accomplished as a team. Overall, we were able to raise more than $5,000 to send to the Red Cross to aid in Haitian Relief.

world lung foundation post-nyc half marathon get-together at local west

last night the world lung foundation had a post-nyc half marathon get-together at local west, a bar with a roof deck, to watch a race day video, check out race photos and trade stories (while we had a few adult beverages in the process)!

while we never watched the video, it was great listening to the race day stories and checking out the pictures with the city views from the roof deck as a backdrop! and, in a change of pace, i skipped beer and wine and drank pomegrante martinis instead! good stuff ;)

already making plans for the 2009 edition!

new york city half marathon: world lung foundation team photos

pre-race group photo


pre-race, checking stuff out...


mark and me, pre-race.


me, pam, and ilana, pre-race.


me and jose.


in action, west side highway.


emmy, pacing me, west-side highway.


pam and ilana, in action, west side highway.


post-race, battery park: waiting for team to check-in.
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here is my nyc half race report (w/links to additional race reports).

more photos from the 2008 nyc half marathon.

more photos of the wlf team at the nyc half marathon.

my earlier post on world lung foundation team fundraising objectives.

still time to run the nyc half marathon on behalf of world lung foundation

with only 3 weeks left before the 3rd annual new york city half marathon on sunday, 27 july, there is still time to sign up and run it on behalf of the world lung foundation.

in an earlier post i wrote up the details about how the world lung foundation will, for a second consecutive year, sponsor runners for the nyc half marathon. as of today (6 july) there are still 4 slots available to fill out the 20 person world lung foundation team.

check out the wlf team so far, and please consider supporting one of the runners if you don't run the race yourself!

world tb (tuberculosis) day

march 24, 2008 is world tb day.

this date, "commemorates the day in 1882 when dr robert koch astounded the scientific community by announcing that he had discovered the cause of tuberculosis, the TB bacillus. at the time of koch's announcement in berlin, TB was raging through europe and the americas, causing the death of one out of every seven people. koch's discovery opened the way toward diagnosing and curing tuberculosis"

get more information at the world tb day 2008 home page - "i am stopping tb"

in spite of the impression many people have, and i was one, that tb was a disease isolated to developing countries in the third world, it can be found very close to home. here are some recent news stories:

tuberculosis in westchester.
tuberculosis in nyc.
drug resistant tb concerns in harlem and the bronx.
a tb infected patient faces felony charges in arizona.

and, in south africia, patients with drug-resistant tb are locked-up.

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why is this information about tuberculosis on my blog, you might wonder?? because fighting lung disease and promoting lung health is something i care deeply about.