Running for Literacy/30 by 30

So some idiot/genius, depending on how you'd like to think about it (pictured here circa 1999...note the thick stache and baby goatee) thought it would be a brilliant idea to try to raise a bunch of cash for a very, very, very worthy nonprofit by running a bunch of races to promote their cause. He also thought it would be helpful to put a positive spin on turning 30 as well since it seems to be the negative theme of the year amongst his friends who are hitting the milestone. So he decided that he would combine the two and see what happens. Well so far, some quick facts:

# of races completed at the time of this posting: 14 (with 2 more probable scheduled for this week)

Amount of money raised out of the $1,000 goal: $490
Amount of miles run for training purposes since January 1, 2009: over 1400 and counting
Amount spent on registration fees: Yeah, Bank of America will get back to me on that
Support by friends in running with me, donating, encouragement: Too much to quantify

The support has been really great (including the support in my training shoes and racing flats) and everyone has helped out tremendously. Some important things learned though: it can be difficult getting out to the middle of nowhere to run without a car (there have been some 2 hour plus rides on SEPTA, and if you know SEPTA, then you know the pain), hiding my backpack in odd places for races that do not have bag checks (parking garages, port a pots, under cars, in a tree, etc.), it's really, REALLY, REALLY hard to plan happy hours to raise money without bars flaking out on you last minute. But overall, it's been a positive experience and has really started some great dialogue on a great area of need that hits very close to home.

With 16 more races to go (hopefully less by the time some of you will be reading this) and a little over 4 months to go (the last race will be the Philadelphia Marathon on November 22, 3 days after my 30th Birthday), things are going really well and hopefully will continue to pick up momentum as the miles, days and races go by.

I'll blog another race update when something else funny or odd happens out in a race, or after Race #20 is finished. Until then, be well, enjoy the rest of the summer and join me for a race sometime:-)

A quick P.S. If you are in a fundraising/donating mood, a great cause that I've been schooled on is for C.A.R.E. Please go check them out and spread the word on all of the good they are doing!!!