While this was a “run where you are” event, I didn’t receive any pictures/times from 5ks out in the world, but you did something more important — you donated. When I announced the event last week, Team Alan still needed $1500 to make their goal. Now that number is down to under $800. I’m told this last stretch was largely from people who donated during our final push here, so if you donated at least $25 and I owe you a signed book, please let me know via my contact form.
In Denver, we had a team of five runners and one dog.
Here we are celebrating with a beer after the finish line, and I have to commend our runners who weren’t used to the altitude and/or had too much fun celebrating Halloween the night before.
You might have also noticed that I shaved my beard. You know that Halloween fun the night before I mentioned? Check out my costume:
Know who I was for Halloween? Leave your guess in the comments below.
Thanks again to all those who donated or helped spread the word!
WordPress, the site I use to host this blog, is doing their annual online 5k. It’s a physical event without a singular physical location; that is to say, you run/walk where you are, but through the magic of the internet, it’s one cohesive event.
I joined in a few years back, along with some of you–Dear Reader community–and then blogged about the results. But I haven’t joined the event for the last few years because I’m pretty bad at staying consistent with this whole social media thing. (Anybody remember when I used to do Humpday Hypothetical or Trivia Friday on Facebook? Yeah, me neither.)
But this year, it’s even more important to join in!
When I saw the WordPress announcement email, I thought of one person in particular–my US Air Force Academy classmate, Alan Martinez. He was hit by a drunk driver in 2012 and his recovery has been slow, but steady (like some of us on our 5ks). His family still needs our help. Here’s how we can step up:
The Worpress Worldwide 5k “runs” from now until Novemeber 1st. You can run or walk 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) anytime during this window and be part of the event. But get this: The Martinez family is already hosting a virtual charity run.So, as an online community, we get to run a race together for a great cause.
Donate to Team Alan. New people who join and raise at least $25 I will send a FREE signed book of your choice.
Results will be posted on this site and the #1 racer of each gender will have an extra $25 donated in your name for Alan.
Here’s the real kicker: Team Alan still needs to raise around $1500 to pay for Alan’s recovery, and specifically, his speech therapy. So, if we can rally to raise the money, I…will…shave my head and beard. And I’ll record a video and post the excruciating results of my looking like a freshly-shorn lamb.
Want to see what this face looks like naked?
Interested? Hit me up with a comment below or drop me a line to let me know you’re in or for more info/questions.
UPDATE 2: The Martinez family is still accepting donations, so hop on over and contribute and I’ll extend the offer to shave my head. Hair today, gone tomorrow….
It’s a funny name, but here’s what it is: a 5k run/walk race without any physical location. I’m inviting friends, family, readers, followers, and first time visitors to the site to join up and run a race together.
WHAT IT IS: A 5k run/walk (approximately 3.1 miles). You can run, walk, or skip. It’s up to you. There’s no time limit and there’s just one requirement: that you participate! You can do it inside or outside, on a treadmill or on a track, or even do a swim or a bike ride instead of running/walking – just get moving!
A 5k is roughly equal to:
3.1 miles
12 laps around a track
approximately 6000-7500 steps
approximately 50-60 minutes of brisk walking
Here’s what makes it cool & unique: I’ll be running with my family in TX, my friends and fellow writers in CA (and worldwide), my fiance Michaela and her flight who’re training at Maxwell AFB, AL. I’m even going to pressure people living abroad to join in (you hear me Sam and Brian?!). And I want to invite you too.
All you have to do is move 3.1 miles, any time on the 29th of April. That’s two weeks from now. I know, I’ve been slacking too, so we’d better get a few training runs in. Because the winner (we’re on the honor system here, people) will get a $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com.
Ten-Dollar Holler!
Find a route around you (www.mapmyrun.com), pick a time to race (anytime on April 29th), take a picture of yourself/your team on race day, and send me your photos & race times. Results will be posted on this site and the #1 racer of each gender (go Michaela!) will get a $10 gift certificate. And remember, this is for posterity, so…be honest.
Interested? Hit me up with a comment below or drop me a line to let me know you’re in or for more info/questions.
Author James Schannep 