By the time you read this, the crew (Lori, Katie, Brian and I) will be on our way to New York to conquer the New York Marathon.

Oh. Yeah. Baby.

In case you want to follow along with our adventures, you can check me out on Twitter (@mammamania) or on Hip As I Wanna Be’s Facebook page.  My bib number is 53416 for those feeling all stalkerish… heh.

And a big shout out to all of the people who supported my charity- Run For Something Better. What a blessing you have been to all of the children who need you!

Thank you! Thank you…

• Flatout Bread, Inc.
• Joe & Linda Winter
• Jack Mory
• Tom Lynch & Karlys Kline
• Katie Barkdoll
• Holly Haught
• Barbara Winter
• Beth Schillaci
• Cheryl Fanning
• Collin & Sharon Kelly
• Jeff Grouser
• Jerry & Yvonne Schaefer
• Lori Rypka
• Roger Smith
• Larry Herman
• Karen Maduschke
• Kimberly Hanner
• Amanda Changuris
• Anastasia Resnik
• Bart Yasso
• Chris Eurice
• Deborah Molesworth
• Donna Nagy
• Elizabeth Parziale
• Jessica McFadden
• Joshua Bokee
• Katie Atkinson
• Kimberly Breen
• Mary Heston
• Mary Kate Battles
• Melissa Curtis Cherry
• Sue Paul
• Teresa Strahlman
• Tom & Annette Nicolay
• Tracey Capone
• Guy Fletcher
• Janet Winter
• Jill Smokler
• Kevin Bruce
• Mary McCarthy
• Cathy & Greg Claycamp
• Michele Anderson
• Nancy Luse
• Sunday Stilwell
• Wilton Stitely
• Elena Sonnino
• Jennifer Alcorn
• Sheri Sorrell
• Andre Pellet
• Brian Dyl
• Erin Domareki
• Stacey Ferguson
• Erica Moore
• Dotty Koster
• Tracy O’Dowd
• Aunt Franny

And I would be remiss without thanking my family as well as all of my blogging, social media and IRL pals who are constantly cheering me on and helping me believe in myself! You guys are unfreaking-believable.

Now, let’s rock this marathon-thing!

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.” – Christopher Robin to Pooh

 Get rid of your of worries. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. -1Peter 5:7

Tags: NEW YORK MARATHON, new york marathon 2010, run for something better charity

Can you guess the significance of the following number?

3: 37

That is the amount of time that I spent running on Saturday morning… 3 hours and 37 minutes.

Another significant number?

4

That is the time I got up in order to begin the 3 hour and 37 minute run.

A final number for you to ponder?

15

That is the number of minutes that I missed of my son’s soccer game because of my 20 mile training run.

But at least I made it. I was a pungent but PRESENT mother. And because that mattered to my son, it mattered to me.

I’ve tried from the beginning of this training program to not let it interfere with my family life. I get up at ridiculously early hours of the morning to train so that the my husband and kids feel like they are a priority over the running.  At least, I hope they feel that way.

It is now six weeks until the New York Marathon.  I have two weeks left to raise $1,500 for the ING Run For Something Better Charity. It is truly an honor to help them fulfill their mission for children. Won’t you please consider donated a couple of dollars to my cause? Even $5.00 can make a difference to a child. Believe me, it is true.

Tags: 2010, marathon, New York City Marathon, run for something better charity, Running, training for the NYC Marathon

Best run to date = pain.  Who knew?

This week was my longest run to date in FOR-EVA.  Katie & I tackled 14 miles, six miles of which was hills. The weather was good, we had endless energy and the conversation was flowing. It was glorious.  (And for the record -  we didn’t walk ANY of the hills.  MIRACULOUS.)

Today though, today I am so sore.  The best way to describe the pain is to liken it to the first time you do a lower body leg workout.  The day after pain you experience.  The I-can’t-walk-why-am-I-doing-this-again (?) pain.

I feel like an old woman today. Ouch.

When I feel like this my mind starts to ask questions.  Questions like “WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE, JENNIFER?
My mind sometimes sounds like my dad.

You wanna know why?  For the kids.  For my kids. For your kids.

Let me explain: One day my friend Tracey encouraged me to take a five mile run with her through the park.  I told her that there was no way in hell I could run five miles WITH HER. (She had previously run a marathon.) But her persistence and encouragement that day paid off.  I ran that five miles and I realized that I was limiting myself.  That I could accomplish great things in life by taking it ONE STEP AT A TIME and by believing in myself.

That day represented SO MUCH MORE than ‘going out for a run.” It represented A PHILOSOPHY. The realization that I really could accomplish the unthinkable. And it shapes my life to this day.

My only wish?  That I had learned it sooner.  I am embarking on this charity run in order to pass that spirit along to MY CHILDREN and TO OTHER CHILDREN. I want them to find their power NOW.

So all of this training and running is for ONE REASON: To raise money for the “Run for Something Better” charity. This charity focuses on changing children’s lives through fitness. R.F.S.B. encourages healthy lifestyles, empowerment and the prevention of childhood obesity. They fund running and fitness education programs in schools to show kids how exercise can help achieve good health,  positive self-esteem and self-worth.

And people, I need to raise $2,500. HOLY CRAP.  I need to raise it in the next two months.

Yes, I am scared.  I’m not sure that I can do it.  I’m nervous.  Very nervous.  What I know is that I can’t do it alone.

Will you help me? Won’t you please consider making a donation to support and empower children? (Totally tax deductible, of course.)

• You can donate at my Active.com page.
• OR via PayPal to jlgerlock@comcast.net
• OR via check (happy to give you the address and information if you need it)
• OR your business could sponsor me. (Further details can be worked out on how this can be mutually beneficial. I’ll blog. I’ll tweet. I’ll wear your logo on a coolio t-shirt. And so will Katie because she is a fantastic pal! Email jlgerlock@comcast.net)

AND/OR

• Support me and my cause and help propel it forward through social media. Facebook, Twitter, on your blog.

Together we can help transform children’s lives and attitudes!  If you’ll support my commitment to Run For Something Better, I’ll do all the training.  TRANSLATION: Pain free for you!

Thank you so very much!

Tags: Health, marathon training, new york city marathon 2010, orange laces, Philanthropy, run for something better charity, training for the NYC Marathon