Run, Run, and Run Some More!







Me and the giant Hershey bar at the finish!

So, with a marathon just over the horizon I have spent most of the summer training including running four half marathons in the month of September alone.  For October I really wanted to wrap up my more intensive training on a fun note so signed up for the Hershey Half Marathon.  Run in Hershey, PA with a mile of the course winding through the theme park it was supposed to just be a low-key training run, complete with the "chocolate aid station" at mile 10.  I happened to meet my running buddy near the start right before the race and though he could barely complete 5 miles when we started running together in the spring, he (being male and of normal height and leg length) had long since surpassed my speed at this distance.  We decided to cap off the season by running this one together and my nice easy training run turned into a true race.  

My Reese's Peanut Butter
Cup Finisher's Medal

I finished in 2:05:04.7 which unfortunately rounds up and EXACTLY ties my personal best made earlier this season of 2 hours, 5 minutes and 5 seconds which was really disappointing considering how hard I ran the entire time and how uncomfortable this was.  Sitting here over 24 hours later with stiff, aching quads I am glad I pushed myself because I am now more confident than ever that I will be able to complete this marathon and make my sponsors proud!

My Motivation: Thy Name is Bhagyashri



Bhagyashri

 This is Bhagyashri and she is my motivation to run when I am tired.  My reason to lace up my shoes when I get out of work late and I have a million things to do still at home. She lives in IN860 and this is my first letter from her

"Hello I am Bhagyashri.  Mother's name: Sumah, Father's name: Sharavan, Brother: Sujal, Sister: Nayana.  Her favorite color is pink, favorite food is rice and dhal, best friend is Kavita and she lives in a mud house. 
  The meaning of Bhagyashri is good fortune.  Mother and father are illiterate does not know how to read and write.  Father iron the clothes of the people of this community.  Mother goes to forest to collect wood to prepare food for children.  To get clean drinking water is a great problem; water comes only two hours in the morning every day.  Father sometime takes drink and fight in the house.  Bhagyashri likes English subject.  Parents are not in a position to send child to good school and purchase school supplies.  Bhagyashri says I love Victoria pleas write a letter to Bhagyashri".

For this child who says she loves me without even knowing me and who has to deal with countless struggles I will train and I will run a marathon.  For this child I will persevere even when my legs are screaming "NOOO!" so that she has a better chance in live and can hope for a life without illiteracy, unemployment, domestic violence or dirty water.