I’ve been running, off and on, for about five years now. My biggest obstacle to improvement and consistency has been getting pregnant and having two more babies! I’ve started running again during every maternity leave, only to get lazy and complacent … and then eventually ended up pregnant again and couldn’t keep running. It just didn’t feel good.
This summer, with my work stress levels about to make my head pop off, I decided to start running again. No matter what, I would get out there and go. I’ve been sticking to a Beginner 5K training plan on RunKeeper – which I’ll finish next week! It’s time for the next challenge …
I’m joining Team Homes For Our Troops at the Walt Disney World Inaugural 10K during the January 2014 WDW Marathon Weekend!
On January 10, 2014, two of my friends and I will run the first WDW Marathon Weekend 10K. The course runs through Epcot, and I’m super excited to have my very first RunDisney experience. (I’m pretty sure it won’t be the last … )
We’re part of a charity team, each raising at least $500 for Homes For Our Troops (HFOT). HFOT is a charity committed to helping those who have selflessly given to our country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries since September 11, 2001. From their website:
We assist severely injured Veterans and their families by raising money, building materials and professional labor, and by coordinating the process of building a home that provides maximum freedom of movement and the ability to live more independently. The homes provided by Homes for Our Troops are given at NO COST to the Veterans we serve.
I want to blow that $500 goal out of the water! I have so many personal connections to the armed forces – father, grandfather, uncles, friends … Our Vets are treasures. A home is one of the most important assets anyone can have, and I’m excited about this opportunity.
So here’s where you come in …
It’s a Disney race. Half the fun, apparently, is the crazy costumes that people wear. So I’ve decided that if I meet my fundraising goal, I’ll run in costume.
For every $10 you donate, you get one vote toward choosing my costume character. (Alice in Wonderland, Cheshire Cat, Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast, Daisy Duck, Mrs. Incredible … I’ll come up with some fun options!) If you donate $30, you get three votes. $50, five votes. Like that!
If you donate $25, I’ll send you a HFOT support sticker (10 available!) … and you get two character votes!
If you donate $50, I’ll send you a HFOT “We Support Our Troops” car magnet (5 available!) or lapel pin (5 available!) … and you get five character votes!
If we somehow get to $750 total, I’ll let my three-year-old have final say on putting together the costume for the character who gets the most donor votes. Yes, this girl:
Oh yes, this could be interesting. You’ll vote on the character, I’ll give her three costume options, and she’ll choose the one I actually wear.
Are you in?!
In the meantime … other suggestions for characters? I’ll start building and posting potential costume ideas as they come to me …
If you donate and would like one of the thank you gifts, please be sure to leave your contact info in the donation site’s options!
For more info about Homes For Our Troops, please visit their website: http://www.hfotusa.org/.