I talked to my friend who is a sponsored athlete and she mentioned fund raising. I decided it was finally time to have the courage to share my survival story I experienced almost 5 years ago.
Here is what followed. I created a fund raising site added my story to it and created a dollar amount goal. All I wanted was to afford my flight, shoes and hydration pack.
Here is the story posted on the site.
5 years ago I had a defining moment in my life. I experienced heartbreak for the first time in my life. I threw in the towel and said I didn't want to go on living. All the comforts I knew, the job I had and the roof over my head were taken away in the blink of an eye. I stopped eating, sleeping became a chore and the routine I once knew was non-existent. 4 weeks later and 30 pounds missing from my frame I decided I didn't want that 30 pounds to ever return. I decided to start running. I used a guideline found on a website and I did the couch to 5k program. I ran my first 5k in April 2009 in 32:32 and I was happy. Later that year I would run my first half marathon in 2:36:52. I've run mudmash in San Luis Obispo since it's beginning in 2010 when I helped build my first 12' obstacle wall. In April 2013 I ran my first marathon after learning I had 26.2 days to train for it. Much to my dismay I had to start doing walking/running intervals post mile 16. I've always had a goal to do a 10k in under an hour. In July I did a beach memorial run and much to my surprise I was only 1 min 22 seconds off my goal. August 10th 2013 I completed my first Spartan race. It was the Spartan Beast Monterey which is a hilly 12.6 mile challenging course. It was an emotional race for me. I wanted to give something back so I chose to be a course sweeper with a friend of mine. This meant I would be walking/running the course I had just completed. My friend and I would be supporting the last runner and picking up the trash left on the course. Walking with the last runner learning of his reason for being there was truly touching. Attending this event put a new drive in me. I'm celebrating my 36th birthday September 18th this year and I decided as my gift to myself I want to go take the opportunity to compete at the Spartan Race World Championship. I want to raise funds to help send me there, but I also want to donate any amount that is over my goal to the Didi Hirsch Mental Health Organization.
I won't be able to participate in the 15th annual alive and running 5k walk/run for suicide prevention as it is the same day this year as the Spartan Race, but this is my way of proving to myself that life is valuable, it is to be celebrated and I am thankful mine was so blessed to take on a new leaf despite the challenges I faced and choices I made those number of years ago.
The day I shared this page my friend donated $22.00 to get me started as that was my daily goal. Her friend donated a dollar for each year of birth I'm celebrating. Many dear friends and loved ones contributed generously and in 3 short days I was 77% of the way to my goal. I scheduled my flight, ordered my shoes and started searching for hydration packs. It has all happened so quickly and I've had to make time in my schedule for my full-time management job, obstacle race training, friends, family phone calls, the running group I am partially in charge of, contacting fluid and clif for sponsorship, hotshots 19 memorial WOD to honor the Arizona fallen firefighters, running a hydration, nutrition, endurance trail run of over 12 miles and mountain biking with my biggest supporter and best friend who is by far more than I could ever ask for in a person. He is a coach, a friend and most importantly a teacher who encourages me to build confidence and believe in myself each and every time we ride together. I'm certain it's mental and physical cross-training.
In less than 3 weeks I will be participating in the adventure and feat of my life and I am so excited and also so incredibly thankful for so much love and support surrounding me. People are AWESOME!
No comments:
Post a Comment