Marathon Update: Week 16!
Hi Everyone!
"You're walking, and you don't always realize it, but you're always falling / With each step, you fall forward slightly / And then catch yourself from falling / Over and over, you're falling / And then catching yourself from falling / And this is how you can be walking and falling / At the same time."
-Laurie Anderson, 'Walking & Falling'
Yes, folks, when I'm not lurching along the running trail, I'm listening to obscure minimalist postpunk music from 25 years ago and then having the nerve to quote it to the general public-- and worse-- to those who know me all too well enough already. All of this to simply note that my running style has taken on a form that pulls out all the stops to prevent myself from splatting to the ground as I careen forward. A wonky knee will cause this geometric display, evidently, around mile 16 or so. Gravity, in this case, is not my friend.
In fact, getting ready for these longer distance training runs has taken on proportions not unlike the preparations NASA goes through prior to a flight of the Space Shuttle, only without crumbling pieces of foam (unless the systematic destruction of cartilege counts ; ), and Congress' full funding. Between the stretching, the icing, the sunscreen application, the pre-emptive Advil intake, the strategic placement of the hair pinned back, the careful loading of my 'fuel' belt, the munching of the proper amount of tasteless carbs; etc., I think my training group would agree our nerdy theatrics could give the space program a run for it's... er, some money. Oh, wait-- we are!
Because of your support, in all its forms (from encouragement ["Bravo!"], to health warnings ["Stop!"], to fundraising tips ["Over there!"], to donations ["Here!"]), I have so far raised a total of $2,615 for AIDS Project LA, and because I reached the first minimum before the first deadline I've received an extension and now have until September 22nd to gather at least another $1,185 before running my fanny off for 26.2 miles. That's a lot of numbers-- but, with time running short, they add up to making a difference for a large number of people.
But with all that's going on in the world, why these people, these people living with this disease? For those interested, there is an striking photoessay about what is so in the world of those with living with HIV/AIDS today: http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/2006/graying_of_aids/. They are no different than you or me, other than a particular hand they've been dealt, as opposed to another hand others are dealt, and then another to others. I choose these people, this time, because it remains that they can be empathized with, criticized, disagreed with, quoted, glorified or vilified. The only thing they can't be is ignored. Because they are no different than you or me. To think they are, and not lend them the benefit of tools we all have, is to deny ourselves the opportunity to be inspired by human resilience and grace in the face of a big ol' universe.
So, if you can and would like to give a tax-deductible donation in any amount (even $1 per mile), or even are able to be a water volunteer for our training runs, please go to http://www.aidsmarathon.com/participant.asp?runner=LA-4492&EventCode=FL06, or www.aidsmarathon.com, click on 'Sponsor a Runner' and enter my runner #4492 to read more about what's provided by your generosity. Or call me directly at 323.828.2040 to volunteer, or forward this email to a friend. You really wouldn't believe the difference it makes, and the people who are crazy enough to think they can make a difference in the world are the ones who do.
Thank you for everything, once again!
xo
Danielle D.
"But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?
We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win."
-J.F.K. (1962 ... Seven years later, the first man 'walked' on the moon)
We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win."
-J.F.K. (1962 ... Seven years later, the first man 'walked' on the moon)
