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Tell everyone you meet that you’re going to be running a race…   This is the advice that I read in a running magazine for people that are setting a goal to run a race.  OK- so I start telling every poor soul that sits next to me for longer than 30-seconds that I am planning on running the Disney Half-Marathon in January 2009. The conversation usually goes like this: “Hi.  Can I have a medium iced-coffee please? Wow- this iced coffee sure will taste good after I’m done RUNNING A HALF-MARATHON!!!” (I’m very subtle…)   “Oh wow- you’re running 26 miles?  That’s amazing!”    “Um… actually it’s only the half-marathon. 13 miles not 26.  But you see, I don’t run.  At all.  So 13 is like 26 in my world.”   “Oh.  Well, I guess that’s good too…”   Not quite the “go-get-em” speech I was looking for.  Hmm? So, why in the world did they give out this advice to tell so many people if it’s not to boost your ego?  And then it happened… I found out that I have a lot of nosy people in my life.  They were everywhere. Family and friends would ask me if I’ve given up yet (they know me a little too well…); My neighbors would leave me inspirational notes in my mailbox; these same neighbors also cheer when they see me run by or they would drive behind me when I’m getting a little slow to say “Move it!  You can go faster!”  They also ask me whenever we get together: “So, how’s the running going? Are you making it any further?” Knowing that I have these eyes watching and questions coming really motivates me (or shames me- whichever way you want to look at it…) to keep running when I want to stop.   These people are really helping me with my overall progress.  Usually, that’s going pretty well and everyone’s been really encouraging. But, it’s the day-to-day routine of getting out of bed, hitting the pavement, and running the miles that is so easy to let slip.  That’s where my nosy co-worker comes in.  Usually, before I have filled up my first cup of coffee, I hear a voice coming over my cubicle: “So, Charlotte, how many miles did you run today?”… I HATE it when I have to throw back excuses for reasons I didn’t make my morning run, or why I cut it short, or why I ended up walking through part of the run.  I hate it so much that it usually is enough to motivate me to actually run just so I can shout back over my cubicle: “4 miles today…”  Now, I’ll be honest- if I haven’t run, I’m usually shooting the nosy-coworker dirty looks when he asks in the morning.  But, knowing that question is going to hit me everyday is half the reason I have stayed on my training schedule. So, I’d like to take a moment to say “THANK YOU” to all you nosy people in my life.  Thank you for ignoring all my dirty looks and continuing to keep me on track. And, for all you “nosy” people reading this (thanks to you too- knowing that somebody out there might actually be reading this really helps me stay committed!)  -no, I still haven’t broken the 4- mile mark.  It has been brought to my attention that even if I add a mile per month to my run, I will still be short by race time…  Oh Great.  So, it’s clearly time to step out of my comfort zone and push myself a little more.  I have a couple of races scheduled soon so just stay tuned next week to see if I’m able to cross the finish line in one piece!   

If you would like to support Charlotte’s Miles for Meals you may send a check (payable to SJCS- please notate “Miles for Meals” on the memo line) to:

 St. Joseph Community ServicesPO Box 910Merrimack, NH 03054 

or you can click the “Donate” button at the top of the page to pay via credit card.  (again, please notate “Miles for Meals” on the donation page).

 THANK YOU!

So how in the world did a complete non-runner decide that she was going to run 13.1 miles to support Meals on Wheels?  Well, maybe I should start at the beginning. I really love going to Disney. As much as I love going to Disney, I think I love planning for Disney trips almost as much as being there.  I will spend way too much time online researching tips, tricks, and reviews to make our trips better.  So, as I was planning for our family trip in April, I stumbled upon the announcement for the Disney Marathon Weekend 2009.  That’s when my mind started scheming… “Hmmm.  I have wanted to get into shape.  And I would love to go to Disney again.  This is a perfect excuse- I mean match!”  So I called up my buddy who is a REAL runner and asked if she’d like to do it with me.  She was in and we signed ourselves up!  Alright!!!  Another trip to Disney!  More planning!  More fun! Yippeee!!!  Uh Oh.  What did I do?  I got myself in waaaay over my head.  This wasn’t just a trip- this trip had a purpose.  People were going to expect me to run!  OK, Charlotte, don’t panic, you can do this.  So, the next day I went and bought some new sneakers and hit the pavement.  Wow.  Since when did a mile get to be so long?  I really could not even run a mile.  I am in big trouble.  But, I’m going to do this, I think…  So for 5 whole days I was very dedicated.  And then… not so much.  I would start to turn off the alarm and say “Oh, I’ll go running when I get home from work” (yeah, right!) or “Today is supposed to be my rest day” (which happened whenever I felt like resting!).  Then I started to notice my husband asking me every morning when my alarm went off, “Are you going running TODAY?  You better get out there…”  I do believe if I read between the lines that this was husband-speech for “Honey, we’re spending a lot of money for a race that you signed up for hundreds of miles away. We need to get plane tickets, hotels, park tickets, and food just so you can run. Certainly, you could have found a much closer race and the last time I looked you can run 13.1 miles through our neighborhoods for FREE.  But, I have been supportive of your decision so far.  Now it’s time to keep up your end of the bargain and go RUN!  Dear.”   Ok, so clearly the allure of a bonus vacation to Disney was not going to be enough to get me to hit the pavement.  I needed to find something more meaningful to get me out the door.  That’s when it came to me- why not use this as a way to raise money for a great charity?  So, I decided to dedicate my run as a way to support St. Joseph Community Services/Meals on Wheels.  When I think about how much the services that Meals on Wheels provides helps the people in my community I can’t help but get excited to raise money for it!  Now I know that I’m not just running this alone, but taking all of our Meals on Wheels clients and supporters with me.  Knowing this has really changed my outlook on my training.  I feel that I am running with a purpose.  I am proud of what we might be able to accomplish together.  And… drum roll please… I’m actually getting out to run!  I have been running 4-5 days a week without fail.  I have gone from a person that could not run a single mile without calling an ambulance to somebody that says “I’m going to run my loop” and that loop is 4 miles long.   4 miles!  More than once a week!  And I’ve lived to tell about it!  Certainly not 13 yet, but we’re getting there! Up next… Thank goodness for nosy people and can Charlotte break past 4 miles? 

If you would like to support Charlotte’s Miles for Meals you may send a check (payable to SJCS- please notate “Miles for Meals in the memo line) to:

St. Joseph Comm. Services, PO Box 910, MerrimackNH 03054        

or you may click the “Donate” button above to pay via credit card (again- please notate Miles for Meals)-

THANK YOU!!!!!

I am not a runner. That is the only way I know how to start this post, because it jumps out at me when I see the title “Charlotte’s Running Miles for Meals”. I am NOT a runner. Now, I have friends that say “Oh, I don’t really run…” but then in the next breath they’re talking about how they went for a “little” four mile jog before work this morning. What??!!! When I tell you that I am not a runner I really mean it. I hate to run so much that if I were being chased by a lion in the Amazon, I would probably just lay down and surrender rather than having to run to get away.

Now, here’s the funny thing. I am signed up to run the Disney Half-Marathon on January 8th in hopes of raising money for St. Joseph Community Services/Meals on Wheels. That’s 13.1 miles- in a row- from somebody that doesn’t run!

So, I’m sure by now you’re asking yourself “If she hates to run so much, then why in the world is she running Miles for Meals?” Ah…. great question! Stayed tuned to find the answer!

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