2009 ProLife fundraiser (ultrasound machine)

I was pleased to hear that our LIFE Runners team raised over $2100 for the ultrasound machine for A Woman's Answer (AWA) Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida.

I need to ask that all money collected for this cause please be mailed to me by November 1st, 2009. Please make checks out to the Knights of Columbus and mail them to PO Box 14044, Gainesville, FL 32604.

My Knights of Columbus council and the AWA staff are thrilled with how much money we raised. Our goal is to have the ultrasound machine purchased in time for AWA's first annual Banquet for Life on January 22, 2010 (37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade). Bishop Galeone will be the keynote speaker and it would be great to have him bless this machine during the ceremony. This means that I need to work fast on getting all of the necessary funds and paperwork complete. Thank you for your timely contributions to this worthy cause. I will keep you posted on our progress.

God bless,
Rich
James 1:22

2009 LIFE Runners Team (taper body, ramp up soul!)

TC Marathon for ProLife: 4 Oct (Respect Life Sunday)

* Team mission: God first, Defend the unborn (ProLife), Encouragement, Health

* Teammates: Dave, Jason, Doug, Rich, John, Steve, Pat, Angi (Quad Cities), Brenda/Aaron

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Hi, LIFE Runners -

We will line up in less than one week! Rich, Dave and me all fly in around 2:30 PM on Friday. Steve is going to pick us up at the baggage claim for my flight (Northwest Flt 1647 arriving 2:18 PM). We will check in at the Best Western Normandy (405 South 8th Street Minneapolis, MN 55404, 800-372-3131) and then find dinner. Anyone want to join us? On Saturday morning, let's head over to the Expo right after breakfast. We will meet Aaron/Brenda at the Expo, as they are staying in a different hotel. We will pick up Doug Sat at 3 PM, go to Mass somewhere at 5 PM, and then find a pre-race pasta meal somewhere. I will have a GPS and i-phone to find what we need. I have Doug's info to pick up his race packet for him at the Expo.

UPDATE: Angi, Paige and me ran for ProLife in the Quad Cities yesterday. Angi ran her fastest half marathon, hit the wall, and prayed her way to 26.2 miles...for ProLife! I ran the Quad Cities 5K with Paige (9)...Paige did it in 30:02 - youngest female, #1/3 div, 118/437 overall in her first race. Many people commented on our ProLife jerseys!

TRAINING (taper wk): The TC Marathon slogan is "train your body, prepare your soul." Be sure to follow the taper week schedule...it is an important part of the preparation. Also, try not to do any new physical fitness activity this week. Although we taper physically, let's ramp it up spiritually as we prepare our soul to defend the unborn!

PROLIFE FUND RAISER: Consider asking your friends/family to sponsor you for $/mile to raise $ for an ultrasound machine at Woman's Answer Medical Center. We can give Rich our donations this weekend.

Run for ProLife!

Pat

Phil 4:13life-devotions.blogspot.com

2009 LIFE Runners Team (SF Half, 3 wks to go!)

TC Marathon for ProLife: 4 Oct (Respect Life Sunday)
* Team mission: God first, Defend the unborn (ProLife), Encouragement, Health
* Teammates: Dave, Jason, Doug, Rich, John, Jim, Steve, Pat, Tammy, Brenda/Aaron/Trevor

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Hi, LIFE Runners -

We will line up in less than three weeks!

Aaron/Brenda, Jason, Steve and me ran the Sioux Falls 1/2 marathon on 13 Sep. Jason did 7 miles before the 1/2, finishing off his first 20 miler!

Thanks again to Rich for getting us the cool LIFE Runners jerseys (see attch picts).

Run for ProLife!
Pat
Phil 4:13
life-devotions.blogspot.com

ROLL CALL (Rich)

Hi LIFE Runners,

Hopefully everyone has received their running shirts by now and has gotten a little bit of training done in them. Thank you for your patience. The task was challenging, but worth it.

Weather has improved in Gainesville and I have been able to run more outside. Erica and I have a favorite course for my 5-mile runs in which I run a 2-mile loop and catch up with her on the 3-mile leg. Last weekend I completed the first 20-mile run of my intermediate training in 2:32. Unfortunately, it was on the treadmill, because of the intense heat. My next 20-miler will be during my visit to Oregon to see my Dad on September 13th.

Fundraising has been steady, and I have raised about $300 so far for A Woman's Answer Medical Center. I still need to mail off letters to my family and friends. As you are probably aware, the Knights of Columbus are raising money for a new ultrasound machine, which will help expectant mothers make the right choice for LIFE! Please consider donating money to this worthy cause. Checks can be made payable to "Knights of Columbus" and mailed to Rich Reich, PO Box 14044, Gainesville, Florida 32604.

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon.

Thank you and God bless,
Rich
James 1:22

2009 LIFE Runners Team (4 wks to go!)

TC Marathon for ProLife: 4 Oct (Respect Life Sunday)
* Team mission: God first, Defend the unborn (ProLife), Encouragement, Health
* Teammates: Dave, Jason, Doug, Rich, John, Jim, Steve, Pat, Tammy, Brenda/ Aaron/ Trevor
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Hi, LIFE Runners -

We will line up in just a little over one month!

UPDATES: Please go to marathon-for-life.blogspot.com and post an update on your training, faith, and marathon arrival/departure info.
* My sore foot (plantar fasciitis) is improving, thanks to a night splint. I had a great 20 mile run this past weekend (cool weather). I still plan to use the Sioux Falls 1/2 marathon (13 Sep) as a training run with Aaron, Jason, and Steve. I ordered more ProLife wristbands...will bring extra to the TC Marathon.
* Rich: Thanks for mailing out the LIFE Runners jerseys...turned out great...thank you!
* Doug: Had a good 18 miler this past weekend.
* Jason: Did 18 miles this past weekend...his longest ever!
* Dave: Finished a full Ironman this past weekend...wow!
* Steve: Ended up in the emergency room during his long run in the Black Hills a couple weeks ago...I'll let him tell the incredible story filled with faith...and Murphy's Law.
* Clydesdales (Steve, Doug, Jason): How is the Clydesdale weight loss competition going? Time to send out your weigh in, lbs lost, and % lost stats.

TRANSPORTATION: My flight arrives at 2:20 PM, 2 Oct and departs at 5:10 PM, 4 Oct. Steve will pick up Rich, Dave and me. Info for others?

LODGING: Best Western Normandy (800-372-3131, "LIFE Runners Block" for $94)
* Rich/Doug: Best Western, Fri-Sun, booked
* Dave/Pat: Best Western, Fri-Sun, booked
* Steve/Tina: Best Western, Fri-Sun, BOOKED?
* Jason/Deanna: Best Western, Fri-Mon, booked
* Aaron/Brenda: Holiday Inn, Fri-Sun, booked
* Jim: staying with his daughter
* John/Chris: Best Western, Fri-Sun, BOOKED?

PROLIFE FUND RAISER: Angi and me are going to make a donation to Rich's charity (new ultrasound machine for a Woman's Answer Medical Center). Worthy Grand Knight Rich and his Knights of Columbus council are working on raising funds for this. Anyone else want to help save babies (and protect mothers) by raising $ for this ultrasound machine? If yes, let's ask friends and family to sponsor us $/mile for the ultrasound machine.
* NEW: Angi and me will each sponsor Rich for $1 per mile ($52.40). I am running the marathon with Rich...trust by verify...ha!

Run for ProLife!
Pat
Phil 4:13
life-devotions.blogspot.com

2009 LIFER's Team!

2009 Living In Faith Exchange Runners (LIFER's) Team
* Pam, Aaron, Dale, Jason, Shane, John, Chad, Bill, Tracy, Doug, Rich, Tina/Steve, Angi/Pat
* Team blog at marathon-for-life.blogspot.com.
* Team mission: God first, Defend the unborn (ProLife), Encouragement, Health
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Hi, 2009 LIFER's Team!

Note our current 2009 team members listed above, including the following new members: Pam McGushin, Tina Castle, Aaron Ferrie, Dale Sundermann, Jason Peters, and Shane Hall. Welcome! Let me know if anyone else wants to join us. Team membership simply entails being part of the LIFE Devotions Group and racing the marathon for ProLife. Like 2008, let's expect big things as we grow closer together (Body of Christ) and closer to God! Completing a marathon is a huge accomplishment (all glory to God!), but this is merely our vehicle (fueled by faith) to save physical and spiritual lives by defending the unborn. The marathon training will provide many opportunities for us to live out our faith (prayer, sacrifice, action) as we become part of the solution to end abortion in America.

The votes are in...we will be racing the Twin Cities Marathon next year (Sun, 4 Oct)! Here are the top three.
* Twin Cities (9 votes): #1 (6), #2 (2), #3 (1)
* Omaha (5 votes): #1 (1), #2 (3), #3 (1)
* Marine Corps (4 votes): #1 (2), #3 (2)

Here are some of the reasons for the Twin Cities Marathon, http://www.mtcmarathon.org/index.cfm.
* Voted most beautiful urban marathon in America.
* Cool weather.
* Teammates with connections there: Aaron, Steve, Doug, others?
* 10 mile run in conjunction with the marathon. This is a nice option for injury set backs and training time limitations.
* "The runners are treated great, the crowds are energetic."
* Just under 8,000 runners (really nice size).

I am truly proud to be part of our team of Christ disciples who defend the defenseless unborn and celebrate God's gift of life through marathon running!

Run for ProLife,
Pat
Phil 4:13
life-devotions.blogspot.com

2008 Post-Race...2009 Prep (by Fri, 24 Oct)

Living In Faith Exchange Runners (LIFER's)

* 2008 Team: John, Steve, Chad, Tracy, Bill, Rich, Courtney, Angi, Pat, Scott, Ben, Doug, Shane (deployed)

* 2009 Team (committed): John, Steve, Chad, Rich, Courtney, Angi, Pat, Doug, Others?

* Team blog at marathon-for-life.blogspot.com.

* Team mission: God first, Defend the unborn (ProLife), Encouragement, Health!

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Hi, LIFER's Team -

With the help of our team (Body of Christ)...all but one found the starting line and all but two found the finish line of the 2008 Chicago Marathon (in top 5 marathons in the world)...but we all grew closer to Christ! This was a huge life accomplishment...all glory to God!

Most importantly, we lived our faith by being part of the solution to end abortion in America (prayer, sacrifice, action). Training for and running a marathon provides a whole year of reflection and stories to tell, especially when you run for a cause like abortion which begs for discussion in our country. Please continue to make significant sacrifices leading up to this election (prayer in front of abortion mill, bumper sticker on car, etc).

Thanks to Tracy's Mom for giving me the LIFER's banner for our 2009 marathon. What marathon are we going to run in 2009? The New York City marathon (1 Nov 2009) would be really cool, as it is the largest in the world (38,000 finishers compared to 31,000 finishers for Chicago). There is one major hitch for our team...registration is done by lottery, so we would not all make it. Granted, the training fellowship, faith journey, and cause are the main entrees and crossing the finishing line is only the dessert...but we need to eat the dessert together as a team (same marathon)!

Therefore, we need to find a different marathon, and I am open to everyone's suggestions. I have heard great things about Grandma's in Duluth, but it is in June. A Fall marathon makes more sense because training in the summer allows for longer days (early morning runs don't interfere as much with family time) and warmer weather. This why I have never trained for a Spring marathon. This may change for me in 2009 if the funding package gets approved to escort 4 cadet marathon club members to the Great Wall of China marathon (16 May). Here are some Fall marathon options (please present more):

* Black Hills (Sat, 3 Oct 09): mostly flat/downhill but at about 5000 ft, half marathon option, only about 500 runners, lower registration cost ($60), lower hotel/food costs, stay close to the race start, Sante Fe trail like surface but better, amazing scenery, 7.5 hr drive from C. Springs which allows less expensive travel (drive instead of fly) and more family support. Angi, Steve and I ran this last year. http://monumentalchallenge.com/new/

* Marine Corps Marathon (end of Oct, Washington DC): flat course, 22000 finishers last year when John and I ran it, good crowd support, interesting sites (DC monuments), well organized.

* Omaha, NE (end of Sep): 8 hr drive from C. Springs...allowing less expensive travel and more family support. Aaron Ferrie said it is a really nice marathon.

* Other options: Portland OR (early Oct), Lake Tahoe CA (late Sept), Air Force (late Sept, Dayton, OH), San Antonio TX (16 Nov).

* Please send me your top 3 preferences by Fri, 24 Oct. Do you plan on being part of the 2009 LIFER's Team?

I changed the title of our blog from Chicago Marathon for Life to just Marathon for Life until we decide on our next marathon. Let's continue to use this blog for fellowship. Please encourage others to join our team. The requirements for being a LIFER team member are: email on LIFE devotions and Marathon blogs, ProLife, and want to compete in a marathon. For the local LIFER's, how about we plan on getting together at Old Chicago's Pizza (I-25 and Woodmen Rd) at 6 PM, Sat, 22 Nov? I bet you can't guess how I came up with the meeting place!

I am truly proud to lead our team of Christ disciples who defend the defenseless unborn and celebrate God's gift of life through marathon running!

Run for ProLife,

Pat

Phil 4:13