Fun with Fundraising!

Donations from friends and family are invaluable to my participation with DetermiNation.  To add a little fun and additional "thank you" to any financial contribution you are able to make, I've decided to add a few incentives, of sorts, to certain donation amounts.  Check them out below and donate at my personal fundraising page

Donation Incentives

Any amount – you can request race dedications to people you know who have been affected by cancer.  I will fill out dedication ribbons to wear on the back of my singlet.

$20 – I’ll make (and ship, if needed) a batch of one of the following homemade treats for you:
---Granola/energy bars (oats, coconut, peanut butter, honey, nuts, dried fruit)–2 dozen
---Cookies with baking chips (chocolate, butterscotch, etc) of your choice–3 dozen
---Banana bread with streusel topping–4 mini loaves

$26 – Entry into the “Guess Beth’s Split” pool which includes a chance at winning $50, see details below 

$40 – A batch of homemade treats AND an entry in the pool

Group donations are welcome; associated incentives can be split evenly among the members of the group

Guess Beth’s Split Pool 

This year my personal running goal is to run a consistent race at a steady pace.  You can be a a part of that by entering the pool. 

By donating $26 or $40 (or some multiple thereof), you get to:

1. Select a mile

2. Decide if I will be over/under relative to my average race pace 
---Don't tell me that part though!  I'll put you in contact with a third party (my friend, Allie) to keep track of this until post-race to avoid any bias in my running :-) 

Post-race I’ll determine which guesses were in the right direction.  Of that subgroup of guesses, the individual/group that chose the mile where I was closest to my race pace gets a $50 gift card (or multiple ones that add up to $50) to a retailer of their choice.

So, you want to choose which mile you think I’ll be best at keeping my pace but a little off in one direction or another. 

If there ends up being any miles where I am exactly on pace (within 1 sec of average), those who chose those miles will receive a $10 gift card if they predicted that I would be faster than my average pace.

To help guide your choices, here are some details about the race and my running:

1) I don’t run with a GPS watch and will be manually keeping my splits, starting when I cross the start line (chip start) and hitting for splits as I pass the mile flags (I’ll try my best to minimize human error :-)).  All times will be rounded to the nearest sec

2) My 2011 Chicago Marathon mile splits are below (keep in mind I’m hoping to run a smarter/more consistent race than I had that day :-))

3) I will do short walks at some water stops (probably 4 to 6 of them), not sure which ones but that may slow down my pace at those miles (see water stop locations on the race course map: https://www.tcmevents.org/_asset/mb5kr7/2011marathonmap.pdf)

4) There’s a gradual hill in the course, from about mile 20-23.5 with 160 ft of elevation gain.  I’ve heard from past marathoners that it can be tough

5) Up to 12,000 people run this race, so less of a crowd than at Chicago.  However, I will be starting somewhere in the back 2/3 of the field, might be a little crowded at the beginning.

Chicago Marathon 2011 ~*~ Finish Time = 3:55:56 ~*~ Pace = 9:00 min/mile

Mile	Split	Under/Over	Difference		Mile	Split	Under/Over	Difference
1	8:52	Under	-0:08		14	9:00	-	0
2	8:30	Under	-0:30		15	8:36	Under	-0:24
3	8:31	Under	-0:29		16	9:07	Over	+0:07
4	8:13	Under	-0:47		17	9:10	Over	+0:10
5	8:22	Under	-0:38		18	9:31	Over	+0:31
6	8:38	Under	-0:22		19	9:10	Over	+0:10
7	8:15	Under	-0:45		20	9:49	Over	+0:49
8	8:38	Under	-0:22		21	10:15	Over	+1:15
9	8:40	Under	-0:20		22	9:27	Over	+0:27
10	8:35	Under	-0:25		23	10:12	Over	+1:12
11	8:45	Under	-0:15		24	9:50	Over	+0:50
12	8:40	Under	-0:20		25	9:37	Over	+0:37
13	8:45	Under	-0:15		26	9:05	Over	+0:05

Why I Run

In 2004, Melissa Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer.  In 2005, she wrote I Run for Life, a song about hers and others' experiences with breast cancer.  She describes the first verse as being about a survivor, the second about her own experience, and the last for those who know someone who has been affected or have not been diagnosed themselves.

Check out the song below

I first heard this song at a Relay For Life in college.  It was a powerful tune playing as our survivors kicked of the event with their opening lap.

While training for the Chicago Marathon with DetermiNation last year, it became an incredible song and reminder of why I was getting up so early, running so much, and honoring loved ones affected by cancer.

I recently signed up to take on marathon #2 with DetermiNation - Twin Cities Marathon on October 7, 2012.  In addition to training I'll be raising money to support programs of the American Cancer Society and honoring those affected by cancer - my friends, family, teachers, mentors, and patients.  Last year 47 dedications written on my forearms helped carry me through the marathon; 27 of those represented people that I've known personally.

To donate and learn more about the American Cancer Society and DetermiNation visit my personal fundraising page

In preparation for Twin Cities Marathon (which is 10 weeks from today!) I'll be writing weekly blogs.  In I Run for Life, Melissa has 10 different lines with the word "run" in them.  Each week I'll pick one of those and talk about how it touches me and relates to what the American Cancer Society does to eradicate cancer.

I hope you'll join me on my journey!

~Beth