The Wife's Blessing

Until now, I have kept the thoughts of participating in the TransRockies run pretty quiet.  Sure, Lynn knew.  And I spoke about it with a few co-workers who wanted to know when my next marathon was.  Next marathon??? Chump change of running. I have grand thoughts of running accross America, hiking the Appalachian Trail, doing something that wouldn't involve working 5 days a week.  I need a sponsor!  Someone who doesn't care how good I am, but just wants to fund my adventures.  Alas, I am a dreamer. What does it hurt to have grand thoughts?  You've been there, right? 

Back to reality.  My wife, Brenda, didn't know I had laid the foundation for August...until last weekend.  The moment came while I was on a call with Emmah's mom, Julie, and she was listening in.  I was mentioned the run, the fundraising for Emmah's care, Neuroblastoma, and how I wanted to help.  She didn't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out something was up.  So after the call ended, I shared the plan.  Not that I was worried about the response, mind you.  Brenda has always been very supportive of my runs.  She knows that when I say I am going to do something, I see it through to completion.  That goes back to my first marathon, the Goofy Challenge, learning piano, projects around the house, etc.  When my mind is set on something, I MAKE IT HAPPEN!   And this run needs to happen....for me, for Lynn, for Emmah.

So, Brenda was once again supportive...we would do what it takes to help Emmah.  Our network is strong, and we know we can help, even if we are 800 miles away.   The run isn't for another 7 months, but preparation for it and the fundraising needs to begin now.  Lynn and I would register for the race, and we would need a team name.  That we would leave to Emmah and her parents to decide.  It would become the name of this blog and our team entry.

Wife's support - check.

Wheels in motion...time to get quite serious...Emmah's isn't well - she's been in the hospital for the past 30 days.  She needs help...and prayers.  Or as her dad ends every blog posting he writes.  KEIYTAP.  "Keep Emmah In Your Thoughts And Prayers".  

KEIYTAP

A Call to Help….A Time For Action

Emmah Gudeman (to be 14 in March) is the oldest of six children (ages 3 -13). I’d like to think I had something to do with Emmah’s presence with us today. You see, I introduced her parents to each other approximately 18 years ago. Yes, I am Bob Eubanks and I made a Love Connection!

In the early 1990’s I did two good things (well, probably more…but my memory is fuzzy). I worked at Arthur Andersen (which opened many doors), and I played recreational softball (living out my Cubs fantasies with many other wannabees). As a result of this mingling of work and play, I met Julie and Jeff (definitely a fellow wannabee) and introduced them on a social work trip to the University of Illinois in 1992. They are Emmah’s parents. I stood up in their wedding, and Jeff was the best man in my wedding. They are good friends who have had more than their share of setbacks the past few years - amongst them Julie’s promising 13-year career at Andersen vanishing in an instant through a shredder. A tornado damaging a portion of their home in Joliet, IL. And cancer affecting one of their precious kids. Emmah’s cancer.

Neuroblastoma is a rare form of cancer, and Emmah has been battling it for nearly 4 years now. She’s a fighter, and has experienced more ups-and-downs than any child should. The cancer has robbed her from doing some of the everyday activities that kids should experience. She has seen many doctors, had many surgeries, and has been in and out of numerous hospitals for various forms of treatment. Jeff and Julie have made many sacrifices to help rid Emmah of her cancer. And so have their other kids: Nick (my godson), Jakob, Rachael, Lyndsey and Ana. They all juggle family responsibilities – Julie working, Jeff spending countless hours at the hospital by Emmah’s side – and make the most of the hand they have been dealt. Yet they all remain upbeat and hopeful.

So I want to help Emmah and the family…and I hope you will want to as well.

In mid January, I met with Lynn to get her final commitment to the TransRockies Run. But I also wanted to share with her my idea to do the run to assist Emmah and her family. Raise funds in support of either Neuroblastoma Research or for Emmah’s care. Lynn was immediately on-board. More wheels were set in motion. We had research to do regarding charitable donations to an organization and a family.

But first, I called Jeff. I wanted his and Julie’s blessing to share Emmah’s story with a wider audience, and make sure they were comfortable with any fundraising activities Lynn and I might take on. I told Jeff about the run, and that I needed a running partner – Lynn. You could hear the audible sigh of relief from Jeff when he realized he wasn’t going to have to run 113 miles in the Rockies to support his daughter. I’m sure he would have if I asked…but hospital food isn’t conducive to honing a runner’s body.  Nor was the food at the Cracker Barrel where we at when our picture here was taken this past December!

To make a long story, short – Jeff and Julie were on-board. Their blessing was given. We would run for Emmah

• Running Partner – check.
• Helping others – check.
• Inspiration – check.
• Wife’s blessing….Uh, Houston….is there a problem? Time for THE discussion.

Inspiration

Inspiration comes from many sources. I started running nearly 10 years ago after seeing Dick and Rick Hoyt (Team Hoyt) on TV during the Ironman Triathlon Championship. If a father could endure through 170 miles of physical activity towing, riding and pushing his handicapped son, I could surely run my first marathon (done in Tampa in Dec 2000). My daughter, Erika (11), was my inspiration to begin taking piano lessons at age 40 (I am still at it today, slowly getting better). I love a good story to help balance out all the bad we hear about in the world today.

So what is inspiring me to do the TransRockies Run? I’ve known for a year I wanted to do this run, but my excitement level was raised to a new high just after the first of the year. I was reconnected, through Facebook of all things, with a woman I attended grade school (4th – 6th grade at Kruse Elementary School) with nearly 30 years ago. Not just any woman, but one who runs. Who runs far. Really far. An Ultra runner who has participated in some of the most prestigious Ultra run in the world, such as Badwater, Western States, and Spartathlon. Her runs range from short distances (50k – or about 30 miles) to long distances (240k – nearly 150 miles). Crazy? Probably certifiable! But she is good, really good! In fact, she won Badwater in 2007 (135 miles through Death Valley). She is Lisa Stranc Bliss – and you can read about her journey and runs via her blog. Trust me, she has a great story to tell, and it is a bonus that she is also a great writer.

Anyway, Lisa and I have traded some messages regarding my interest in Ultras, and while she doesn’t yet know it (yet), she is already an inspiration to me. Having a “personal” connection to someone who has blazed a path before me can only help me. Lisa can be a resource to answer my many questions. She can offer tips (and already has). And she is someone I can follow to keep my excitement level high (just like I still follow the Hoyt’s). No, I am not going to run Badwater (never say never?), nor am I going to win anything in the Ultra world. I merely want to test my running limits and push myself to do something others only dream about. I want to explore new territory. I want to have a goal that will keep my interest in running high.

And I want to continue to look for inspiration in many different places. Which is why I want to find a way to help others in need while I pursue my goal.

I am inspired by Lisa.  And I am inspired by Emmah….

Laying the Groundwork

My name is Ken Bansemer, and I am a runner...nearly 10 years now.  During that time I have progresseed from 5k's to 10k's, from 1/2 marathons to full marathons.  I will never win any races I enter, but that has never been my goal.  I chose to run for a variety of reasons - exercise, thinking time, cool destinations, and testing myself.  Two years ago I ran the Goofy Challenge -  39.3 miles over two days at Disney World with Team-In-Training to celebrate turning 40, and in the process raised $8,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  At that Team-In-Training event, I met Lynn Pettus, who is now a good friend and often my running partner. Besides the Disney Marathon, we have also run the Country Music and Chicago Marathons together.  She is good!  Qualified for the Boston Marathon and will be doing that one solo in April (did I mention I have not qualified for Boston?  Must have been an oversight).

During our training in the fall of 2009 for Chicago, I mentioned to Lynn there was an event I was interested in doing.  "No more marathons", I said, "I want to do something bigger".  I proceeded to tell her about the Gore-Tex Trans Rockies Run, a 6-day, 113 mile run across some of the Colorado Rockies.  She was intrigued, and wanted to know more.  Ah...I now had her attention (of course, she is up for anything running related).

Why did I mention the event to her? Well, it is a team event - two runners must compete.  I couldn't go solo on this one.  We agreed to think about it and consider it is a possible future run.  I am pretty sure Lynn didn't give it much thought after that.  I, on the other hand, had already been thinking about the event for most of 2009 and began to set in motion a plan to MAKE THIS HAPPEN in 2010! 

Only needed to clear a few hurdles first, such as:

• Needed to get Lynn committed to participate
• I sucked in the Chicago Marathon, so why would anyone besides me think I could do 113 miles?
• My wife was already skeptical about my desire to do longer runs - would she buy in? (FYI - I see the mental eye-roll when I mention I want to do an Ultra someday)
• Could I gain the mental edge needed to endure months of training, and essentially run a bunch of marathon distances over 6 straight days? Up steep hills? In high altitude?
• How could I combine this personal endeavor with a charitable component, like I did with the Goofy Challenge?  Finding a way to benefit others is important to me, but would people donate in these difficult economic times.

First things first.  I sent a short email to Lynn in early January that simply read:  "Gore Tex Run.  Aug 22-27. Are you in? Let me know".

A response took only a few minutes: "I'm in". 

The wheels were in motion - I had my partner.  Time to work on the other items!