Dear Friends and Family,
In December 2010, for some crazy reason I decided that 2011 was the year to run a marathon and cross it off my “bucket list.” I am 45 and have occasionally run a few miles here and there and even ran a 10k once about 8 years ago, but nothing much more....ever. I decided to run the Rock N' Roll Marathon in June 2011. I downloaded a 6 month training program from the internet that told me how much to run each day, and I proudly told my wife my intentions to which she kindly responded, "maybe you should try a half marathon first." Undaunted, I immediately signed up for the La Jolla Half Marathon in April and the Rock N' Roll Marathon for June and immediately went out for my first 3 mile run. It was a little hard but not too bad.
I decided that the goal couldn't just be to finish the races, but to finish with decent times; I had to go through the journey of the training. My goal was to lose 40 pounds and run the marathon in 4 hours. I followed my plan religiously and my wife was extremely supportive in allowing me time to run. I told everyone I knew my plan so it would make it really hard for me to quit. What a journey it has been! I have run in the rain, the cold, late at night - if my wife knew how many close calls I have had out there, she would have pulled the plug.
The first time I ran 5 miles, it was hard, but I had done a 10k before so I knew I could do it. When I ran 10 miles for the first time, I was amazed. The first time I ran 12 miles I was sick when I got home - my wife really did threaten to pull the plug then. When the schedule called for 15 miles I realized I needed about 3 hours. This was starting to get tough to schedule. The daily 3 to 5 mile runs were no problem, but my long runs were scheduled for Sundays. I have two little boys who play baseball (I manage one of their teams) and between that and household chores/errands I did not have 3 hours.
My solution was to run on Sundays from 3 to 7 am so I could take the boys to baseball at 8 am. Again, my wife thought I was crazy. However, I found it was fantastic running at that hour. It is so quiet, not a car on the road, and I had so much peaceful time to think about things, life, and what is important. I watched the sun come up and was able to hear the birds and see things we never see when scurrying around in our cars. Ever since, I have run my weekly long runs at this time on Sunday. It has been a great, unexpected part of my running journey towards my first marathon.
So, as the miles passed on my early morning Sunday runs, I thought about how hard the runs were and whether I could really run a marathon (because it seems really long now that I am training!). As I wondered if I could finish the 16 miles I scheduled for that day, I thought about my wife and how much I love her and about my kids and how much I love them and how I want to be there for them and enjoy many years of baseball, special occasions and family memories, and I used that as motivation to keep going.
Among these same thoughts, I remembered my good friend Renato Shaffer. We have been co-workers for 20 or so years. I remember when his daughters were born, his family trips and Barney the Dinosaur. Renato's wife Sharon was diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease (HD) a few years ago and it took their family by surprise and changed their lives forever. Renato took up riding his bike in the Race Across America, training for many, many hours. He does it to find treatments and hopefully a cure for HD so that his daughters, and so many others, will not have to live with this in their lives or have it hanging over their heads.
I remembered a magazine that ran a story on Renato’s efforts to raise money by riding his bike across America. In the story they asked him how he kept it going and if he ever wanted to just stop. His reply should inspire us all. He said he does not stop because he keeps in his thoughts that those with HD do not have the option of quitting and that they are enduring so much more. If they can endure then so must he.
I have used that motivation and decided to dedicate my first marathon to raising money for HD in the name of the Shaffer Family, and I will not quit. Neither should we stop or quit in finding treatments and cures for HD so that others can have a life free of this terrible disease. There are some really courageous families out there battling this disease who are not quitting so we must not quit in trying to stop it. I will do my part and run this thing, I am asking you to donate to my run. Unlike the marathon, we don't know where the finish line is for an HD cure, but we know much progress has been made and your donation could be the one that puts us over the line.
This is my first marathon and it is a little daunting but I am doing it. Donate for the one you love and join me on my journey.
Many thanks,
Nathan
P.S. I ran the La Jolla Half Marathon in 2 hours, 9 minutes! In 4 months of training I have logged almost 350 miles and lost 25 lbs.