tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7562537422142054972024-02-20T07:27:44.709-05:00DisMom on the RunChronicling the slow and stead progress of an unnatural runner. I hope you find it informational, amusing and uplifting.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14829246206142447039noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756253742214205497.post-48594327872034860512014-05-09T18:15:00.000-04:002014-05-09T18:15:55.336-04:00Where did the time go?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Despite my intentions, I have not kept up on my blogging. I can find a host of excuses, but I just didn't carve out time to pick up the computer and just write. Since my last blog post, I have completed 2 more marathons, including this year's Boston Marathon, several half marathons and many 5k and 10k races, my Avon Fundraising Team has disbanded and I have started a new job at a new company. <br />
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I am so proud of Team AllEars! This year we raised over $100k...not bad for 100 Disney Nerds :). It has been quite the journey and January just won't be the same. I have made so many friends through the team that I would not have otherwise made and have really been able to put faces with the fight against breast cancer. Alas, time must move forward and while some of my friends will be racing at Walt Disney World in January 2015, I will be home in Salem, NH, cheering them on and wishing I was there.<br />
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I was a part of another fundraising team this year. Once again I represented Team BMC at the Boston Marathon. We were 100 BMC Strong this year with our honorary captain, Kevin Spacey, at the helm. For those of us affected in some way by the tragedy of last year's Boston Marathon, it was time for redemption...it felt so good to pass the point where I was stopped last year. I got to take the left onto Hereford and the right onto Boylston, where I saw my mom, my aunt, my brother and my nephew and got to give them all big high fives! A short way down Boylston, my Team AllEars friends waiting patiently to scream my name! I was one of the last people to cross the finish line and this meant a ton to me. I did it! I crossed the Boston Marathon Finish Line!!! Team BMC raised over $1 million to support is Emergency Department, the busiest trauma center in the state of Massachusetts. BMC received some of the most critically injured patients from the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Before January 2013, I did not know much about Boston Medical Center, but I have learned how important it is for the community, especially the poorest in the community. They provide exceptional care without exception for all patients, regardless of ability to pay. I am honored to have been a part of such an organization!<br />
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A foot/ankle injury is my excuse for not putting a ton of effort into running lately. It started at the Walt Disney World Half Marathon in January, got pretty bad during the Full Marathon the following day and has hampered my running efforts since. Couple this injury with a crappy New England winter and that is all it took to keep me off the roads. I have put on some weight and feel generally yucky. I have an appointment with a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon next week who will hopefully be able to help me on the road to recovery.<br />
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At the end of December, I left my previous employer to take a higher level position at another company. It has been rewarding and challenging, but I must say my ultimate goal is to work for myself. While I am working my day job, I will spend any "free" time that I have to organize my law and mediation practice. While this portion of the entry is not about running or fundraising, it is about how running and fundraising have shaped my thoughts and actions. I have always wanted to have my own practice and be able to come and go as I need to in order to make my work and personal lives function, but I have lacked confidence in my ability to get it started. If you had told me 4 years ago that I would be running regularly and running half marathons, I would have laughed in your face and sent you way. Not only have I completed 5ks, 10ks, and half marathons, but I have also run 5 full marathons and one of them was the 4th race in the Dopey Challenge! Both running races and running a business require hard work and positive thinking. My mind has gotten me over the pain that my legs, feet and hips have endured during races and it is been strengthened by these experiences. <br />
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I hope to keep this blog running, but I will slowly but surely be writing more blogs on certain areas of concentration of my law and mediation practice. <br />
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Keep running...it is good for your butt and your brain. </div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14829246206142447039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756253742214205497.post-74995751697422809832013-10-09T16:11:00.000-04:002013-10-09T16:11:25.209-04:00Maine Marathon - Sunday, October 6, 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I completed my 2nd full marathon, which should actually be my 3rd, but for the lunatics who blew up innocent people at the Boston Marathon. My finish time was 5hrs, 49 mins and 53 seconds. That may be slow to some, but I started it and I finished it. Yes, I had to talk myself into continuing...I had to kick my ass into gear when people at least 30yrs senior to me were passing me, but I did it! Am I crazy??? The jury is still out on that one...chance are that I am. </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started the race with my husband, who was running his first half marathon. He had to keep slowing down for me, but we were pacing somewhere around 11 mins 20 secs for the first 6 miles and then we split off so he could finish the half and I could continue on the marathon route. Boy, was that a long, lonely road. It was a pretty area full of gorgeous homes and cows in pastures, but it was definitely lonely. I normally run alone, but something about being on an unfamiliar route freaks me out. The locals who were out were super cheerful and one even offered to take my trash along the way. I wouldn't dare drop my used gu packets and biofreeze packets on the pristine streets of Falmouth, Maine. <br /><br />I cursed myself, I whimpered, I questioned my ability to finish the darn thing. Then something changed, I talked to myself reminding myself that I had been here before and had finished a marathon in harsh conditions and that I had run in the Boston Marathon. Now was not the time to give up. I still don't know where I summoned the strength around mile 20 to kick my 2min run interval into 9 min miles, but I was able to do that for a bit. At the last relay exchange location (this event featured a half marathon, marathon relay and full marathon), I jokingly asked the volunteers if it was too late to sign up for the relay :). I let Keith know that I was heading into my last 2 miles and I was getting texts that I had this in under 6 hrs. I knew I was getting there...I saw Keith who told me to sprint to the finish. My sprint was a little slow, but I reached the finish line and got my medal and mylar blanket. I did it! <br /><br />Having run races of varying lengths, I have come to realize the difference between pain and soreness. I know that the soreness will go away, but if it is pain, that could be an indication of something of a larger problem. This has really helped me mentally get through the wall. I returned to my desk job on Monday morning and tried to remember to get up more and move more than usual, but it didn't always work. People were surprised I was there, but hey, I am a hearty New Englander...plus I have to save my days for my Disney races ;). <br /><br />This weekend I have a half marathon on Sunday and a 10k on Monday. Let's see how my body likes me after those. Check back next week!</span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14829246206142447039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756253742214205497.post-21947926815726290262013-10-03T15:55:00.000-04:002013-10-03T15:55:21.544-04:00Breast Cancer Awareness Month<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Did you know that:
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•A woman has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime.
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•Every 3 minutes, there is a new diagnosis of invasive breast cancer.
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•Approximately 230,480 women and 2,140 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.
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•Every 13 minutes, a life is lost to breast cancer.
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•39,520 women and 450 men in the U.S. will die from the disease annually
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These are sobering statistics and just a few facts about breast cancer that have struck me. Breast cancer doesn't care if you are young or old. One of my high school classmates was 30 years old when she was taken by breast cancer. Another high school classmate was in her early 30s when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer after fighting a brain tumor. She eventually succumbed to the disease, but managed to hold on to see me get married in 1999. Several of my teammates have had cancer or have been touched by cancer.
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Since I am female, I have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer...I am not happy with this statistic. In order to improve both research and resources that support breast cancer research and treatment, the least I can do is to put some effort forth to raise some dough for the cause!
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In honor of breast cancer awareness month, I am holding 2 fundraising events. One of them is a virtual 5k to support my local cancer center mecca, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA...check it out. The second is the Laugh Away Cancer Comedy Fundraiser to benefit the Avon Foundation! If you are in the Merrimack Valley area, please consider joining us for an awesome time!
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Help support these great causes! </div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14829246206142447039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756253742214205497.post-50971647681882698522013-09-13T09:10:00.002-04:002013-09-13T09:10:57.845-04:00Friday the 13th! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Happy Friday the 13th! </div>
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The weather in Boston is apropos for the day. </div>
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I have once again been a slacker with my blog. I can offer up all of the standard excuses: fall sports, school starting up again, work, blah blah blah, but I know I am not the only one out there who is dealing with these things, so I have no additional excuses for you all.</div>
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I am trying to gear up for a busy fall race and fundraising season. I was very lucky to be able to gain entry into the 2014 Boston Marathon as one of the runners who was unable to finish the 2013 Boston Marathon due to the tragic events of the day. Along the way I have a ton of races to keep me on the right track with training. In addition to my training and races this Fall and Winter, I am also organizing a couple of pretty great fundraising events. </div>
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The first is to benefit Team AllEars and the Avon Foundation. On Friday, October 25th, I am holding the Laugh Away Cancer Comedy Night at the Lots of Laughs Comedy Lounge (@China Blossom)on Osgood Street (Route 125) in North Andover, MA. Doors open at 7pm and the tickets are on sale through the link on the home page of this blog or you may send a check made payable to Heather Melito-Dezan to 41 Park Ave, Salem NH 03079. We will have 3 comics, door prizes, 50/50 raffle, prize raffles and a sports memorabilia auction. The full China Blossom menu is available for purchase in the Comedy Lounge. </div>
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The second event that I am organizing is the Boo! to Cancer Virtual 5k Run/Walk to benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. If you are unfamiliar with virtual races, they are the most recent craze in bling collection. You register and then on your own, you run, walk, hop, skip or jump the 5k distance and send me an email that you have completed the distance...and then I send you the bling!!!!! I have a great medal designed and they shipment should be coming in mid-October. The cost is $25 for the race and if I reach at least 100 registered participants, I will throw in a t-shirt to each participant! You can see the facebook event page for all the information or if you are ready to register right now, click on the paypal link on my blog homepage. If you would prefer to pay by check, you can make the check payable to Heather Melito-Dezan and mail to 41 Park Ave, Salem NH 03079. </div>
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This weekend I will be participating in the Half Way to St. Patrick's Day 5k in Manchester, NH with my husband and kids. My son and husband will probably finish well ahead of my daughter and me since she is only 5 and tends to want to walk or completely stop. We will have our kilts on :) </div>
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Gear talk... I have been using this new running accessory to hold my keys, inhaler, chapstick, tissues and phone while I run. Sometimes a traditional running belt bothers me so I gave the running buddy a try. Today through Sunday, buy 2 running buddies and get 25% off AND free shipping. Check it out at <a href="http://www.therunningbuddy.com/">www.therunningbuddy.com</a>. </div>
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I am still trying to figure out the best water bottle system to use....stay tuned.</div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14829246206142447039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756253742214205497.post-1332309999874484572013-08-22T15:39:00.001-04:002013-08-22T15:53:47.398-04:00I'm Back...AGAIN!Hi All!
I am back again...I know it has been over a year since my last post and much has occurred. It took almost 7 hrs, but I finished my first Marathon in January 2013 at Walt Disney World. It was hot and humid and I was doubting myself many times during the race, but I did it. It was at that time that I vowed that I would not do another marathon, just stick with half marathons. Well, I returned to my office to an email looking for volunteers to run the Boston Marathon for Boston Medical Center. I thought about it and then threw my sneakers onto the course. Crazy me! I mean, Boston...the holy grail of marathons! Not only was the fundraising commitment a bit daunting, but training was almost non-existent for me.
I was nervous and excited for Boston and once I got going, I was ok. The weather couldn't have been more perfect for running and then the Boston Marathon stopped! There was confusion amongst runners, especially just before Mile 20 in Newton, which is where I was stopped. There was also confusion among volunteers and everyone was on high alert. The emotions of that day still creep back in, but they just help keep my determination to finish the Boston Marathon in 2014.
Not only am I training for Boston 2014, but I my October is filled with 2 full marathons, a half marathon, a 10k and a 3k and a few short months after that, I will be participating in the Walt Disney World Dopey Challenge, which consists of 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Full Marathon on successive days. Yes, I really am Dopey! For the final year, I am fundraising for Team AllEars and we are hoping to raise $100k this year. We have to go out with a bang!
I am holding a Comedy Night Fundraiser - Laugh Away Cancer at Lots of Laughs Comedy Lounge at China Blossom in North Andover, MA on Friday, October 25th at 7:30pm. Tickets are $25 each in advance and $30 at the door. We will have lots of great raffle items! There is a link to purchase tickets on the right side of the blog :)
I am also hosting a Virtual 5k - Boo! to Cancer Virtual 5k Run/Walk. Details can be found at the top of the page and the paypal link it on the right side of the blog homepage where you can register.
I am going to attempt to update weekly....Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14829246206142447039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756253742214205497.post-79826471736895311562012-07-31T07:59:00.000-04:002012-07-31T07:59:32.220-04:00Back in the SaddleHello out there to whomever is reading my posts! I have been very lax in updating my blog, to say the least. Quick synopsis of the last few months: January 2012, I completed my very first half marathon and it felt great (mentally..physically it was draining); I took a break from running seriously for a couple months; had jaw surgery and am now back in the saddle to train for a busy fall of races! In the interim, I have committed to Team AllEars 2013 and have decided to give the WDW Marathon a whirl! Why not, right? If I can run 13.1 miles, I can run 26.2...I think :). In June, I held my first fundraising event of the year and was able to raise nearly $500. Thanks to all who helped!!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14829246206142447039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756253742214205497.post-75611602834919489242011-11-03T10:19:00.000-04:002011-11-03T10:19:03.172-04:00It has been awhile!Well, it has been awhile since my last post. I have a host of excuses...work, vacation, school starting back up for my son, life...you name it. Training has been inconsistent at best, but at least I have more confidence about running the Half Marathon in January now than when I registered for it this past March. <br />
I slacked off for pretty much the entire month of August, and then topped it off with a trip to Walt Disney World. I was ok in September, even fitting in a local 5k. Boy, was that a wake up call to let me know that I needed to get serious in training. On Columbus Day, my sister-in-law, my friend and her friend ran the Tufts 10k for Women in Boston in 83 degree weather! That is New England for you...who knew that some areas of New England would get socked with 2 feet of snow a mere 3 weeks later. I finished the 10k in a reasonable time...good enough to move my corral position in the Half Marathon. I got in a few more sessions of training after that and then came down with a chest cold, so I have been coping with that for a couple weeks and well as lower back spasms. I intend to get out today and get at least 30 minutes in. Excellent running weather in Boston today. According to Jeff Galloway's plan, I am supposed to run 9.5 miles on Saturday. I am not sure I will get this in, but I hope to get out sometime this weekend to do some training. <br />
Happy training!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14829246206142447039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756253742214205497.post-16314168396104886252011-08-12T09:34:00.000-04:002011-08-12T09:34:31.128-04:00Well...this has been a not so successful training timeFor the past month I have not been training due to some personal issues. I hope to be able to pick up again this weekend or at the very least on my next scheduled training day on Tuesday. Then we are off to WDW to hopefully enjoy a nice HOT vacation...I think we will be a less Disney-commando family this go around and more the see how it goes...this is a real change.<br />
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I have made some decent fundraising progress, but and still looking for donations! No amount is too small to help the cause!<br />
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Please click on the Donate Here tab on my page to link right to Deb's Avon Walk Page!<br />
Don't forget to let me know you have donated so I can keep track :)<br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14829246206142447039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756253742214205497.post-5951132892530730432011-07-11T22:45:00.000-04:002011-07-11T22:45:47.498-04:00I met some of my team members on Sunday!I took a break from my blogging last week and took my kids to York Beach, Maine! I love that place. It just reminds me of when I was a kid and we used to go up there to Goldenrod for their delicious taffy. It was a good time had by all...I had to drag the kids home. <br />
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I still got my jogging in on Tuesday before heading up to the beach and then my sister in law and I took the chance to get out and jog along the beach on Thursday. On Saturday, I managed to pull myself out of bed for a 4.22 mile jog/walk. <br />
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On Sunday, I had the chance to meet 8 fellow Team AllEars members for a BBQ on the beach! It was great to meet some of the team members face to face! A few of us went for a jog/walk (5.18 more miles for me!). As my son so eloquently put it "mom, they make your knowledge of Disney look pathetic." Well, I guess I am in the right group...they can help me increase my running and my Disney knowledge : ). It was great to put faces with names. It is somewhat strange that I feel like I already knew them in some respects. Thanks Mandy and Nick for having us!<br />
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It is supposed to be hot an muggy in my area tomorrow and I hope I can at least get out to walk for 30 minutes tomorrow after work. <br />
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Don't forget to click on the Donate Here tab on the page or send me a check...no amount is too small!<br />
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Until next time...Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14829246206142447039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756253742214205497.post-84082305306436028392011-07-01T14:15:00.000-04:002011-07-01T14:15:50.533-04:00Am I going to be able to keep this up?Well, I have managed to keep up some semblance of training over the past month. I have forced myself out of bed early on Saturday mornings to get the jogging in before I can think about what I am doing. The good news is that I have increased my endurance...the bad news is that I am trying to follow the run/walk/run strategy and I keep forgetting to walk when I am supposed to walk! At first blush, you may applaud my running efforts, however, I am still a non-runner and an uncoordinated one at that. I should be doing all I can do to avoid injury and fatigue, which will just lead me down the road to giving up and slacking. I have never run a race over 3.5 miles, so if I tire at that point, I am cooked!<br />
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Tomorrow is my "long run" day. I hope to get 4 miles under my belt and not care about pacing at this point. I have 6 months until the Half Marathon...I have to be the little engine that could...I think I can, I think I can. Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14829246206142447039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756253742214205497.post-61243008732118753732011-06-23T07:00:00.018-04:002011-06-23T08:23:50.072-04:00How you can help<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know you have been anxiously awaiting the next blog entry :). I promised you more details about how you can help and here they are!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know that times are tough and it seems that at every turn someone is asking for another dollar for something. If you can spare a couple dollars, they would go to good use! There are a few different ways that you can help me this year...volunteer time is just as valuable as a monetary donation:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(1) Make a donation online at: </span><a href="http://info.avonfoundation.org/goto/DebWills2012"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://info.avonfoundation.org/goto/DebWills2012</span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - click on the thermometer to donate using your credit card or debit card (which have the visa or mastercard logo). Please note Team AllEars - Heather Melito-Dezan in the personal note section so that Deb knows that your donation should count toward my tally. Please save your confirmation.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>Please email me with the date and dollar amount of your contribution so that I can keep track and so that I can thank you!</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***<strong>Note about Employer Matching</strong>*** Your donation confirmation will include the address to which you should submit your Employer Matching paperwork. If your employer will match your contribution and you plan to submit the request, please let me know when you will submit and for how much the match will be. I will provide you with the information necessary for the match to be credited to Deb's walk. If you would like, you can complete as much as you can on the form and give to me to forward along to the Avon Foundation. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(2) You can write a check payable to: Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and mail it to me at 41 Park Ave, Salem NH 03079.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***<strong>Note about Employer Matching</strong>*** If you contribute via check and your employer will match your contribution, please let me know you will be seeking the employer match and how much your employer will match. Please forward me the employer match paperwork and I will forward it along with your check!</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Donation incentive***As I think of other incentives, I will post them*** For a donation of at least $50, I will run one mile during the Half Marathon in your name (or on behalf of a loved one of your choosing) and will add that name to the shirt I will be wearing on race day. If I run out of miles for the Half and people are still interested, I will do the same for the 5K...that's 3 more chances! When you make your contribution, please let me know if you are selecting this option!</em></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial;"><em>I also welcome ideas for various donation levels </em>:)</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(3) You can donate an item or service to be used as a door prize or silent auction item at one of my fundraising events...more info to come on dates and events. If you know anyone who owns a business or has sports events tickets that would be willing to donate something as a silent auction item or door prize item, I would appreciate it greatly!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(4) You can lend a hand at one of my fundraising events (there is a little something for everybody).</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <em>In the works...mini golf fundraiser, Lia Sophia home party, Pampered Chef book party, Creative Memories book party, Laser Craze fundraiser, You're Fired fundraiser, Pink Party fundraiser in September, yard sale.</em></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(5) You can lend words of encouragement to keep me going with my training and fundraising. If you have had success in fundraising or running and have words of wisdom, please pass them along!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial;">(6) You can come to the WDW Marathon Weekend in January 2012 and cheer on the Team!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial;">Until next time.....</span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14829246206142447039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756253742214205497.post-82150951135584490122011-06-22T09:10:00.001-04:002011-06-22T16:36:51.972-04:00Welcome to my blog!<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thanks for visiting my first blog! I have thought about blogging in the past, but never got around to setting anything up. Chalk it up to fear; fear that it would be too consuming and that no one would want to read what I had to write anyway. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">My participation in Team AllEars 2012 (TAE) has spurred me to begin a blog so that my supporters will be able to view my progress in training for the Walt Disney World Half Marathon (which I am still trying to visualize completing) and raising money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer with TAE!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Let me tell you a little bit about why I am participating in TAE and why I have decided to run (at this point it is a slow jog, but that is semantics) the Walt Disney World Half Marathon and the Family and Friends 5k. In January 2011, my husband and I participated in the Buzz and Woody Best Friends 5k in Walt Disney World, which also happens to be one of our favorite vacation spots! We decided to leave the kids at home as this was our first time participating in WDW Marathon Weekend activities and we had no idea what to expect that weekend. I have to admit that I was nervous about being able to finish a 5k with zero training, but we did so in a reasonable time....though we can do better :). While down in Disney World that weekend, I remember looking around at the participants in the various races (5k, Half Marathon and Full Marathon) and seeing those of all fitness levels and ages. On more than one occasion I thought that if people you would not expect to be participating in the Half Marathon and/or the Marathon were doing so, why couldn't I? The seed was planted for my participation in the Half Marathon at WDW in January 2012. As we made the long walk to the starting corral for the 5k, I remember seeing several TAE members, including Deb Wills (25 yr breast cancer survivor, Honorary TAE Captain and founder/webmaster of <a href="http://www.allears.net/">http://www.allears.net/</a>). While waiting for the start in the masses there were several TAE members right next to us. When I saw them, I remembered reading about TAE on <a href="http://www.allears.net/">http://www.allears.net/</a> and then decided that I would join TAE 2012 when registration opened. Once the 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Registration opened, I also checked about TAE registration and decided to join! TAE 2011 raised over $50k for Deb's walk...I hope with 99 people we can easily exceed that this year!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">TAE 2012 is a group of 99 Disney fanatics from across the U.S., Mexico and Canada, who are united by our love for Disney, desire to move toward a healthier way of living, have been touched in some way by cancer and want to do our part to help end breast cancer! Each team member has committed to raising at least $500 toward Deb Wills' participation in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer (see the link to her Avon page on the home page to this blog) in addition to participating in at least one of the races during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. Some are participating in one race and some are participating in the 5k, the Half and the Full Marathon (affectionately known as the Dopey). </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">My goal is to reach at least $1,000 in donations. I have about 6 months to rally the troops to help me reach (and perhaps even exceed) my goal. In my next blog entry, I will give greater detail about how you can help!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Thanks for hanging on until the end of this long entry!</span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14829246206142447039noreply@blogger.com0