Fitness

Mother nature had something else in mind. As you probably heard from newspapers, radio and the general public, Marathon Monday in Boston was to be the hottest race day on record, with temperatures reaching into the 90s. It’s not like me to give up, no matter what the circumstances.  Furthermore, I’d made a promise to the women of Project Hope, that I would run and raise money to help move them and their families out of poverty and into housing, with good jobs and futures for their children. So I put on my shorts and my CATZ t-shirt and hit the ground running.  I threw my time goal out the window and decided to enjoy the journey. At mile 17, my family was waiting. My son wanted me to see his balloon; my Mother-in-Law had a cheering section. My lovely wife, who sacrificed so much to let me train, gave me hugs and words of encouragement.  Strangers provided ice, food and support. Thousands cheered along the way. I suffered blisters and lost toenails, and I loved every minute of it.  No matter what the finish time, I had accomplished so very much.

My Project Hope teammates and I raised over $140,000 and you, my supporters, contributed over $7,000 to make that happen. It only takes $5,000 to help a family get back on their feet. This team, which was only an idea two years ago, was able to help so many families become self-sufficient.

Despite the lost toenails, I have signed up to run the Boston Marathon as a member of the 2013 Project Hope Marathon Team.  Together with your support, we can make a difference in other families’ lives.

No matter what Mother Nature throws at me this year, I will be running for Hope once again.

Best regards,

Mr. Fit

Stay Active, Stay Fit!