Runnership and Racing for Others

28
Jun
2011
By

The last several weeks I’ve been slowed down by runner’s hip. It started with dull pain on my left hip then to my knee and now the shin. So I’ve been riding my bike a lot more and reading blog posts. Also, ice and the foam roller have been my friends. We’re working it out, which is good, because San Francisco marathon is only 5 weeks away.

The down time hasn’t been all that bad actually. Besides the bike riding fun, it’s given me some time to read several really great blogs and think about “runnership.” I tried to find a definition for this word, but when I googled and went 8 pages in, all I could find was “runners hip” which was somewhat ironic.

The blog post that influenced me most, ”Motivational Factors” describes Kelly’s struggles with balancing work/life commitments and the desire to race for others. I’ve never really considered fundraising for a cause. I’m not sure why, and it’s starting to seem like the right thing to do. So I’ve been researching on dailymile and finding some great examples of runnership.

Have you ever raced for a cause? How did it go? Are you currently racing for a cause?

Please share your stories, tips and resources in the comments below.

Jim rides a bike and loves to run. You can follow him on twitter or dailymile but he’s directionally challenged.

  • http://twitter.com/RunningBecause David H.

    I’m a big supporter of the American Cancer Society and done two Relay for Life events — while they’re “walking” events, I raised money to “make” me run. I’ve heard lots of good things about the DetermiNation races the ACS does. 

  • @esagor

    Right on Jim! I’ve never run for a cause either but am thinking of doing it for the Twin Cities Marathon tjis fall. A good friend of mine, dad of two kids, was diagnosed with lymphoma about a year ago. He’s doing well now but is not out of the woods yet. I’m thinking of getting set up woth Team in Training, which supports the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. Matter of fact, I’ve been meaning to email them for weeks and am going to do it right now.
    -eli

    • http://twitter.com/bikerly Jim (@bikerly)

      Eli! I was thinking about you yesterday…I have this half baked notion of hoping on my bike and doing a 100 mile ride after finishing TCM as part of a fundraising stunt. 

      I’m gonna go out this weekend and put together a brick of sorts. Maybe a 16 mile run and a 25 mile ride or 13 and 50…to see how it goes. 

      Thought maybe you would be interested riding along if it’s a go…at least partially? We could get that marathon AND singlespeed century ride in on the same day!

      • Anonymous

        dag nabit, what is the date of such craziness?!? I believe you are only about 14 hours away…. Mara-Century sounds awesome would bring the fixed toy…. P.S…. If I complete thes plus an extra 5k backwards you shave for charity….

        • http://twitter.com/esagor esagor

          A Marasinglecentury!!!  Holy crap!  If @egggman comes I might be in….   Date is October 2 and our basement (2 beds, bathroom) is available to anybody who wants it.

          • http://twitter.com/bikerly Jim (@bikerly)

            Okay @egggman:twitter  and @esagor:twitter let’s throw down the challenge! If egggman joins us for the century, esagor does the Mara-Century for Team in Training and I do the Mara-Century for Feed My Starving Children. Let’s do good! Announcement for tonight’s bikeschool? #doubledare

            Cc: @chmpgnepolitics:twitter @lovingtherun:twitter @lovingthebike:twitter 

          • http://lovingthebike.com Darryl is Loving the Bike

            That @bikerly:disqus is always stirring things up, isn’t he?  Sounds like a great challenge to me.

          • http://twitter.com/bikerly Jim (@bikerly)

            So you will join us for the century ride if Mike and Eli commit? :)

          • http://lovingthebike.com Darryl is Loving the Bike

            Definitely, amigo.  Are we all going to do the same century or one of our own?  Hey, here’s something…why don’t we all meet up in Vegas during Interbike and do a century together?  Are you in @bikerly:disqus @esagor:disqus @egggman:disqus ?  Who else?  (I hope I haven’t gotten myself in too far….I haven’t confirmed things yet for the Vegas trip, but this sounded like such a great idea).

          • http://twitter.com/bikerly Jim (@bikerly)

            Whoa. You’re in too?

            I was thinking of doing the 100 mile ride immediately after finishing the marathon.

            Minneapolis/St. Paul has miles and miles of goodness…self made route yet to be determined but I think there would be at least a couple beer stops.

        • http://twitter.com/esagor esagor

          @egggman I think the TCM is full but you can get in through a charity/fundraiser.

    • http://www.twitter.com/chmpgnepolitics Kelly

      Jim and Eli! Reading your comments is getting me super excited! I love baring (bearing?) witness to one’s thought process before that individual actually takes that leap. Racing for others is a great thing, and I will be following closely.

      • http://twitter.com/esagor esagor

        Well, I emailed the Team in Training folks and it all sounds pretty straightforward, so I think I’m in!  This will be fun!

  • Anonymous

    I have ran, ridden and raced for Canadian Diabetes Association, The hospital I work for’s foundation, Heart and stroke etc… I have not been racing for others lately but have been contemplating another Canadian Diabetes event maybe Disney Marathon or something like that… Get fixed before your run!!  

    • http://twitter.com/bikerly Jim (@bikerly)

      You’ve done it all, dude…but what do you mean “get fixed before your run?” :P

      • Anonymous

        Sorry, was assuming runners hip is something to recover from….

  • http://www.twitter.com/chmpgnepolitics Kelly

    Also….Good job on becoming best friends with the icepack and your foam roller…..that will SAVE your legs for your marathon. And I don’t know…I like the shorts (sorry, Brady). :)

    • http://twitter.com/bgervais Brady

      I was totally kidding about the shorts. I think they’re great. I just wanted to give our pal a hard time.

      • http://www.twitter.com/chmpgnepolitics Kelly

        Now….if Jim wore the plaid shorts WITH his famous flannel shirts…I’d definitely be concerned then. :)

  • http://www.twitter.com/chmpgnepolitics Kelly

    ‘Feed My Starving Children’ is a non-profit organization committed to feeding children hungry in body and spirit. The approach is simple: children and adults hand-pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children, and they ship the meals to nearly 70 countries around the world. 

    The uber-impressive (is that a word?) thing is that a single hand-packed meal costs only 24 cents to produce, and 93 percent of total donations goes directly toward the food program….an organization with a very low overhead. Pretty cool.

    The second uber-cool thing is that they have a permanent facility in Minnesota! You should check it out.

  • http://twitter.com/bgervais Brady

    Jim…I used to refer to you as a bad ass, until I saw those shorts. Sorry buddy…..

    JUST KIDDING! You’re still a bad ass in my book. And I love, love, love that you’re considering running for a cause.

  • Anonymous

    I love it when an athlete considers raising the stakes by competing for a cause. You think you’ve had a runners’ high before… just wait. When you do something you enjoy anyway, but you do it to help others, the immensity of the experience amplifies. I’ve done a handful of fundraisers. None more special than a very personal one in honor of my baby niece Elle - http://bit.ly/mryGqi. I look forward to following along and I’m always happy to help. 

    • http://twitter.com/bikerly Jim (@bikerly)

      Thanks, Matt. 

      I’ve been hitting your site frequently ever since Kelly @chmpgnepolitcs:twitter  described her intestinal issues while racing her first trail run. What is it about runners that make us want to talk/read about that stuff anyway? :) I’ve never done a century ride before and I still owe @grouchosports:twitter  a 100 mile bike ride on my singlespeed…it was one of my 2011 Groucho goals. So maybe I’ll attempt this.Thanks for the encouragement…love what you’re doing with raceforothers.com!

      • http://www.twitter.com/chmpgnepolitics Kelly

        You’re still giving me grief about that race report?! Hee, hee…well, you gotta do what you gotta do to finish a race strong, I guess. And YES! to a 100 mile bike ride for charity! Go Big, Jim!

Get Our Posts Sent To Your Inbox

Enter your email address:

Causes

Committed

Activity