my other running buddy

This past weekend was rain fest 2009 in San Francisco, so I opted out of doing the Saturday morning run with my training group (I know, I am a wimp). However, I really did not want to go and run in the cold hard rain (again) and risk getting sick before the holidays. Anyway, I put off doing my weekly long run until Sunday night after napping a couple hours, cleaning the bathroom, doing other chores, and being warm and cozy on the couch with my husband and dogs. Not really the best plan, but I was dedicated enough to get my butt off the couch and onto the cold wet pavement.

 As I was putting on my running gear and getting ready to head outside, my husband was closing his eyes for a brief nap and had a dog snuggled up on his lap. My other dog, Doc Ellis, despite being cozy and warm just minutes before I began the pre-run process jumped up and was eager to head outside into the cold dark night with me. My dedicated running partner!

I put Doc’s safety light on, got his running treats ready, secured his leash and off we went. About 4 miles into the run, when I was getting a bit bored, I looked down to see Doc running straight ahead with full on determination. His ears were pressed against his head, his nose was pointing forward, and he was a movin’. I then smiled and realized how lucky I was to have such a devoted and inspiring running partner, such as Doc. No complaints, just a joy for running in the rain, dark, or whatever situation he enters into. He keeps me moving, smiling, and causes people to smile at us as we pass them by on the sidewalk.


Doc and I completed 6-miles last night and both ended up doing it with a smile on our faces, because we had each other! I could not ask for a better running partner than my buddy, Doc Ellis.

just minutes before our run.

post run with his safety light on and a smile on his face

me and my buddy

Fun, team work, support, healthy snacks, playing games, running, exercising, promise to respect one another, freedom, friendship, self-confidence, sportsmanship, learning= Girls on the Run (the way the girls themselves describe the program and what the program means to them) 



Now, how can you argue supporting a program as positive and inspiring as Girls on the Run? 

To support Girls on the Run, please visit http://www.firstgiving.com/rawls. All of the proceeds I raise will directly benefit the Girls on the Run Bay Area program.

We did it!

On Saturday, Mariana and I ran together (yes, ran the whole way) to complete the Lollipop Run 5K, which benefitted Girls on the Run. There were about 1,000 participants out on Saturday and most of the runners were made up of 3rd to 5th grade girls who participated in the Girls on the Run fall program at their school.


For the Lollipop Race, each girl in the program was paired up with an adult volunteer Running Buddy who ran with the girls from start to finish. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Mariana, a 5th grader from Marshall Elementary School, and I were paired up together and completed the race together. I was so proud of Mariana for her hard work leading up to the race, running the entire race, and doing it with a smile. Her mom even came to cheer her on, as it was her last year in the Girls on the Run program.


Here are some pictures from the event...

Mariana and I pre-race

A few of the Marshall Elementary School team members enjoying each other and their victory lollipops!

Mariana and I post race with victory lollipop in hand.

Mariana, her proud mother and I in front of the finish line.

I must say, the Lollipop Race was a wonderful and inspiring way to spend a brisk Saturday morning. The overall feeling of the event and program can be summed up perfectly by a cheer I heard throughout the morning from various GOTR teams...

Girls on the Run

Girls on the Run

Girls on the Run is so much FUN! 

Me and My Buddy

On Saturday, December 5^th, Girls on the Run’s fall season will come to an end with their big Lollipop Run.  The Lollipop Run is a 5K or 1 mile race designed to celebrate the girls'accomplishments over the season and to allow the community to celebrate with them by joining the run or simply cheering them on.  As part of the Girls on the Run program, all of the 3^rd-5^th grade girls are assigned an adult Running Buddy, like me!  Running Buddies get paired up with a Girls on the Run girl to practice before the race and run, encourage, and cheer them on during the Lollipop Run.

Last Tuesday, I went along with the other Running Buddies to an elementary school near my house to meet the girls.  I had the pleasure of being paired up with a 10-year old girl named Mariana.  The first thing that Mariana said to me was, “I am really shy”.  I began to ask her some questions about herself to break the ice and hopefully bring her out of her shell a bit. We began to run our first lap (out of 12) around the block and began chatting.  I was asking her questions and she was responding to them quite timidly.  We ran a couple laps around the block, skipped a couple laps around the block, ran backwards around the block, and by the time we completed about 3 laps, Mariana was no longer the shy girl she said she was about 15 minutes beforehand.  As we kept lapping the block, Mariana was now quizzing me on my favorite subjects, siblings, telling me about good times she has had laughing with her friends, stories about sleepovers, her dreams, her family, etc…  By the end of the hour, we had completed our goal of running/skipping/jumping 3-miles around the block and had gotten to know one another.  The Running Buddies were saying our goodbyes to the girls, so I told Mariana I couldn’t wait to see her again at the Lollipop Race to cheer her on.  She smiled a huge smile, gave me a hug, and said, “okay”.

Since that afternoon, I cannot seem to get her sincere smile out of my head.  It was so amazing to see how far we had gone in just one hour of hanging out.  We laughed, completed 3-miles together, and best of all the girl who told me she was very shy had come out of her shell to share a piece of herself with me.  In one hour, it was apparent to me the difference a program like Girls on the Run can do for young girls.  In addition to Mariana’s progress in that short time, I saw over a dozen smiling faces, open hearts, good energy and impressionable young girls looking to have a good time and for true guidance.  Girls on the Run is able to provide this to these girls and for that, they are such a valuable resource to have in our community and this is why I am fundraising for Girls on the Run!  To support my efforts, please visit www.firstgiving.com/rawls

Check out some photos of Girls on the Run in Action!

Lollipop Lollipop Lollipop Run

Come out and support the girls as they accomplish their goal of crossing the finish line!

Can you think of a better way to spend your Saturday morning?

The Lollipop 5k Run is a family-friendly, community running experience to celebrate the accomplishments of program participants, while fitting them into the context of the wider community that both supports their endeavors, and comes out to run too!

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009
Time: 10:00am (5k Start); 10:05am (1 mile start)

Program: 10:45-11:30am
Location: Golden Gate Park, Music Concourse Bandshell

Check-in and race day registration begins at 8:45am

Race Registration Fees

Youth (15 and under)

$15 Register HERE $20 on race day

Adults (16 and older)

$30 Register HERE $35 on race day

Running Buddies (16 and older)

$35 Register HERE *no race day registration*

Family of GOTR Participants

Select your school when registering. Girls in the program are already registered.

Volunteers

No fee and T-SHIRT provided! Register HERE

All registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Who: ALL families, friends and neighbors in the Bay Area community are
invited! Girls on the Run participants will complete the run as a
season-ending component and celebration of the program. The girls’
families are invited to join, and run, cheer and support them!

Activities: This family-friendly, one-of-a-kind event features not just 5k and 1 mile
fun runs, but DJ music, face painting, scavenger hunt and other fun
activities!

Running Buddies: Every Girls on the Run program participant is paired with a
volunteer Running Buddy (male or female) to support her in her goal of
completing the season-culminating 5k run! Running Buddies meet their
girl buddy once or twice prior to the Lollipop 5k Run and speak with her
over the phone before the race. Together on race day, the pair will run,
encourage one another and celebrate the huge accomplishment of
setting a goal, achieving it and crossing the finish line!

Volunteer: Don't want to run? You can still take part in the fun! Apply now!

LOLLIPOP 5K RUN

Date: 12/5/2009 10am
Location: Music Concourse Bandshell in Golden Gate Park
Cost: varies; all proceeds benefit Girls on the Run

visit our event page! www.lollipoprun.org

REGISTER NOW!

view the 1 mile and 5k course maps here

Golden Gate Park map and directions