52.4 Q & A:

What exactly are you doing & what's all the hype about?:  We're raising money by doing 4 half-marathons in 4 weeks to support orphans in India. It's a big deal because most of us are not endurance athletes, and most of the 700+ orphans we're supporting have HIV/AIDS & are without family or government help (so neither of our "groups" fit very easily into a box!). Personal goals are not motivating enough to make it worth the trouble of training and racing. But in our affluent culture, stopping long enough to glimpse an innocent face that has been born into pain and rejection - and realizing YOU can make their world better - makes you want to grab your shoes and hit the road! 

# of times you've experienced "runner's high":  Once, for about a mile, out of over 1,000 logged so far... still waiting for that feeling to return.

Pace:  The faster I go, the sooner it will be over.

Favorite thing to listen to during a race: The latest message on Calvaryboise.com (no dozing when you're moving!) & a good beat the last 3 bed-of-nails miles to get me to the finish line. 

Favorite recovery food: The pizza-milkshake buffet you imagine waiting for you at the end of 13.1 miles is the last thing you feel like eating when you actually get there.  Give me a cold slice of watermelon or a bowl of soup.  Weird, huh? 

# of Advil required for recovery:  2 every 4-6 hours until the next race begins (kidding... sorta).

Biggest surprise:  That I'm still doing this!  I originally promised my arm-twisting athletic son that if I didn't collapse after my first-in-a-lifetime 6-mile run, I'd keep going.  Just checked my pulse and... still going.

Next biggest surprise:  How rewarding it is to be a part of this team helping to give hope to orphans living in homes built & sustained by sacrifice & love... Beyond words & worth the effort!

Team dynamics:  When you share pain, you instantly have something in common with your new friends.  When your old friends support you in your pain, it makes it totally worth it.

Great idea for future fundraising:  Having YOU join us next year (now don't be looking over your shoulder)!!  =D