Run in Vegas again? Certainly!

Given that Fall is always such a boring, slow season for me,1 I decided this week that I’ll run the Las Vegas Half Marathon on December 5, 2010 as part of Team Challenge. This will be my fourth half marathon as part of Team Challenge2 and my second time running the Vegas half marathon. Given my long-term commitment to helping raise awareness of (and funds to find the cure for) Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, my decision to do Team Challenge again probably isn’t too surprising.

One of the great things about Team Challenge is that no matter how much you put into it, you always get many times more back from the program. Some of my most valued friendships started in Team Challenge and I’ve met countless amazing, inspiring individuals. Plus the back-to-back seasons of training have transformed me from a permanent couch potato to someone who actually possesses a reasonable degree of physical fitness — I wouldn’t be as healthy as I am today if I hadn’t trained and run three half marathons over the last three years.3

So how can you show your support? I am mentoring eight other Team Challenge runners and walkers as we train for Vegas, and your donations on behalf of them are greatly appreciated. All donations go to CCFA (the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America) and help each “mentee” reach his or her fundraising minimum. To learn more about any of the eight individuals I am mentoring, as well as to make a donation toward their fundraising efforts, click on each name below:

• Jolinda Relzoff
• Tyler Hillstrom
• Steven DeCraene
• Stephanie Guenther
• Molly Donohue
• Brenda Perry
• Darrell Jack
• Nicole Kutner

Thanks in advance for supporting our efforts to eliminate Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis!

1. When is someone going to invent the “Sarcasm” font? Do I have to do everything myself? [↩]
2. I’ve previously run San Antonio (November 16, 2008), Napa-to-Sonoma (July 19, 2009) and last year’s Las Vegas race (December 6, 2009). [↩]
3. I know there are many people who’ve run much greater distances, run more races per year, or who have overcome much greater challenges. But for me — someone who didn’t exercise at all after high school — this has been a perfect first step. [↩]