Mass Mentoring. WHY I run. 16 miles.
Stats
- 16 miles
Why I run.
Last weekend, when I reached my final water stop after 13 miles, I was not entirely sure I could finish. I was in pain and my will to continue had run dry. Luckily for me, it was my charity team that hosted the water stops that day. Upon seeing the familiar faces pouring me water and handing me tissues when I was crying, I was quickly reminded that I don’t run for myself. I run for the Mass Mentoring Partnership. I run for thousands of kids who are counting on people like me to make it possible for them to have futures. How could I NOT continue when considering all of this?
When I initially considered running for a charity, I wanted more than anything to make sure that it benefitted kids in need. Mass Mentoring absolutely fits that description in so many ways. Mass Mentoring gives kids hope.
These are kids of single-parent households, kids in circumstances of poverty and extreme need, kids from inner cities and underprivileged communities, kids with no one to guide them and help them realize their potential.
Most of us take for granted the opportunities we have at our doors as a child: loving parents, good school systems, healthy homes, people to show you the way. Mass Mentoring is able to take care of that void for so many kids who don’t have these things.
Consider Quantell, someone who self-admittedly could have ended up in jail had it not been for his mentor:
When the going gets rough in training, it isn’t difficult for me to get inspired. All I have to do is think about my team and this organization and remember that the 26.2 mile distance is for a greater good. Then it doesn’t seem so impossible.
To help support me in my fundraising efforts, visit:
http://www.razoo.com/story/Sheree-Dunwell-And-The-Mass-Mentoring-Team
Help me reach my goal of $7,500. I am 75% of the way there! ($5,584.80!)
Thank you, in advance. I appreciate each and every ounce of support.
Wow way to go! It’s great that you came this far. What race did you use to qualify for Boston? I’m so glad you’re doing it the right way and actually qualified to get into this wonderful race. What was your qualifying time? You must be proud that you met the standards to get into Boston, a lot of people don’t. Way to go!
All I can say is, you’re right. I did not time qualify to run this race. But that does not give me any less right to run Boston than you… Although my guess is, based on your unwarranted comment here, that perhaps you missed qualification? Maybe by 30 seconds?
Well, here is my advice to you…perhaps you should think about dedicating your running to a good cause instead of stroking your ego with every second shaved off your pace. You might see that being a little selfless may motivate you to run faster. Maybe then you will succeed in qualifying.
In the meantime, I will enjoy the wonderful work I am doing changing kids lives with my unselfish and “disqualified” running.
Sincerely,
11 minutes per mile.
P.s. I noticed you had enough bitterness to comment, but not enough class or courage to enter a valid email address. I can only hope that one day you see the good that charity runners do, Mr. Scrooge. Who knows? You might become less of a jerk.
well said!
What an asshat.
There are two kinds of runners in the Boston Marathon: the ones who qualify with their time, and the ones who qualify by running for a cause. It makes no sense that this guy is worried about all the people at the race who don’t run a 3:20 time…if he’s so damn fast, then all those non-qualifiers will be way behind him right from the starting gun.
But perhaps you’re right, perhaps he just has sour grapes about it because he wasn’t fast enough to qualify and he’s too damn lazy to raise money for a charity. Too bad for him.
And BTW – 11 minute miles is an AWESOME pace.
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