Thank You for Your Support!!

Well, last week at this time I was on the road driving from Kearney back to my home sweet home at the Open A Bar 2 Ranch.

I was in Kearney for the 2012 Komen Central Nebraska Race for the Cure.

If you missed the last post, you probably should go back and read it.

Anyway, WOW, WOW, WOW... what else can I say and where do I start?


10 weeks ago I started a little running program called The Couch-to-5K ® Running Plan.  I tried to do this little program last year, but with a disappointing ending because I have a bad ankle and it began bothering me to the point where I just could not run.  I was determined this time, that I would be extra careful and baby my ankle so that it would not give me trouble.  By God's grace, the ankle held up.

Let me give you a little background on my physical ability or lack there of when it comes to running.  I have never been a distance runner, only did sprints in school.  I loved to run during grade school and jr. high, but injured my ankle in high school and  just up and quit sports all together when I was a sophomore.  When I went to college, I did do a year of bodybuilding, yes that's right, you read that right, bodybuilding.  Oh, those were the days!  Anyway, uh, MANY days ago...  I have always thought of myself as somewhat athletic, but NEVER, NEVER, NEVER a distance runner.

The one thing I liked about the Couch-to-5K program is that it started out easy.  Run a little, walk a little, run a little, walk a little.  It seemed almost too easy until I started having to run much more than I was walking.  But with God's grace, again, I was running a mile before I knew it.  Then it was two miles.  I was in awe of what God was accomplishing with my nearly 50 year old body, neglected body.  When it was time to run 3 miles I decided I needed to sign up for my first 5K before I chickened out.

I knew that Katy, Chris's girlfriend in Kearney, was doing the Race for the Cure in Kearney.  I really wanted to do it with her, but was having a hard time justifying to myself that it would be okay for me to take off from my busy schedule and drive down to Kearney, a 4.5 hour drive from here and just do it.  I finally talked myself into doing it and registered on line.  I was so excited after I registered that I texted Katy to let her know I was coming down to do the race with her!

The text went something like this:
ME:  Hey Katy, guess what?  I registered for the Race for the Cure.  I am coming down on Friday!
KATY:  That's great!
ME:  I am so excited!
KATY:  Me too!  You DID sign up for the FUN run/walk right?
ME (with my jaw touching my knees):  Uh, no, I signed up for the RACE!

Well, I had already committed and wasn't going to back out now.

As part of the race, you can raise money for the cause through pledges.  You can set up your own page where people can donate.  Here is my page.  They suggested that you set a goal, so I set my goal at $100.  I posted on Facebook what I was doing and in a matter of 24 hours or so, I had met my goal.  I then raised my goal to $250.  Same thing, told people on Facebook and met that goal within a day or two.  Call me crazy, but I then upped my goal to $500!!!  Once again, met the goal.  Call me a lunatic because I then set my goal for $1000 with a couple of days left for fundraising and was suddenly one of the top 10 individual fundraisers for the race!

As the deadline for the donations neared, I feared that I would not make my goal, but thanks to some incredible friends and family that supported me I raised $1025.67 and was the 2nd top individual fundraiser for the event!  Everyone who made donations is listed on my page except for Myrna and Bruce Mitchell who gave me a check!

I am listed on this page 2012 Komen Central Nebraska Race for the Cure as the 2nd top individual fundraiser.  AND funny story about that...  the guy listed as the top individual sent me a message Friday night on Facebook and said "Congratulations on your fundraising effort for Susan G Komen. It was your effort that helped me put in a little extra time for this great cause. Hope your first 5K is fun one for you."  How cool is that! I was nipping at his heels and at one time did hold the top spot!

Well, I don't want to make this post too long, and I have other things to get done this afternoon, so I am going to have to close for now, but not before I say how truly thankful I am to each and everyone of you who donated to the Race for the Cure.  I can not tell you how much it means to me.  You made me feel so special that you wanted to support something that was dear to me.  WOW, what an encouragement.  You are ALL truly special and I pray that God will richly bless your generosity!

More about the race in posts to come.  Stay tuned.

Katy and Me before the actual race.

Boy oh Boy was I cold and nervous!!!

Picture I put on Facebook.

One of my friends asked if this was the "chicken run"!

And Chris said, "You are not bringing the chicken are you?"