Donations for a worthy cause

It is the eleventh hour and I am remiss that there hasn’t been sufficient time to pursue fund raising.  Below is an e-mail I mailed to pretty much everybody in my e-mail address book last night.  I am posting it here because every dollar makes a difference…

Dear Friends,

The big day is almost here…or should I say days?  On October 15^th and 16^th I will attempt to complete a 58 mile ultra-marathon through the wilderness of Reunion, a tiny volcanic island off the coast of Madagascar.  For the most part I am very excited, but there are moments of utter terror when I wonder what I’ve gotten myself into.  The adventure began eighteen months ago when I decided to challenge myself physically to celebrate reaching the ripe old age of fifty this year.

There is a twist in this effort because of my affliction with Juvenile Diabetes.  Long distance running is not recommended for juvenile diabetics and serious training did not begin until after I talked things over with my doctor to get his okay.  It was this conversation that led to creating a fund raiser, because it occurred to me that without the medical break-through yielding insulin, I wouldn’t be around at all at 50…let alone attempting something this outrageous.

Diabetic research has a great deal to offer and new discoveries continue to enrich the lives of people like myself.  I will be using a device which only became available recently to help me with the Reunion run.  Just three weeks ago I began using a Continuous Glucose Monitor, which provides constant feedback on blood sugars, including trends and whether levels are rising or falling (and even how quickly).  I cannot begin to express how valuable this information is to someone who needs to fret about blood sugar levels 24/7/365.

So the reason I am sending this e-mail is to seek donations in hopes that future generations might reap even more benefits than I have been blessed with.  I’ve run nearly 2,000 miles training for this event and for the last six months devoted 12 to 15 hours each week on the road (or getting ready for the road – there is a lot of details you need to pay attention to when you are diabetic and go out for a 20+ mile training run!), which hasn’t permitted time to pursue contributions.  When it dawned on me how close the big race was I decided to get something out – apologies for the “mass mail” approach but I feel strongly this is a worthy cause and I hope you find my effort is worthy of sponsorship.

If you are able to support this drive, please visit my page on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) web site: 

JDRF Donation Site

The web site only accepts credit cards, but I have also established a charitable association and you may alternatively make a check out to “Ultra Fund Raider” and mail it to:

Vance Stephenson

6047 Willow Glen Drive

Wilmington, NC  28412

It has been quite a journey so far.  When I had that first conversation with my doctor in the spring of 2010, he was initially negative, but proposed a game plan where I would train for a half marathon in the fall, followed by a full marathon this spring.  In my doctor’s words, “if the marathon doesn’t kill you, the ultra probably won’t either.”  Not only was this sage advice, it behooved me to pay heed because to run the Reunion race you are required to submit a medical waiver signed by your physician.

As fate would have it, my doctor ran in the same marathon this past March and passed me around mile six.  We chatted for a bit and then I waved goodbye as he pulled ahead.  However, I caught him at mile twenty five and got to exclaim that he would have to sign off if I beat him! 

Many other fun connections have arisen from this adventure (one of my favorites is the three-letter abbreviation for the airport on Reunion à RUN), and I hope you follow the blog to see whether the story has a happy ending.  The run is nicknamed the “diagonal of fools” because there is more than three miles of elevation gain along the route.  The race begins at 4,000 feet and over the first three miles you ascend to over 8,000 (to the highest point on the island, Piton des Neiges, or “Snow Peak”), followed immediately by a 5,000 feet “technical descent”.  If I survive the initial up and down, there will only be 45 more miles (with another 2+ miles of uphill) to conquer…

Last year less than half of the entrants successfully completed the entire run, so my goal is simply to cross the finish before time runs out  --- I’m not after any pot of gold, I just want to see the end of a rainbow!

But more important, I sincerely ask that you help support this cause.  I am living proof of what can be reaped from diabetic research, but there is so much left to do.  I appreciate your consideration and will close with  a link to the site where you should be able to follow my progress during the race à Race Site.  My bib number is 5313 (plus I am the only American entered in the Bourbon Trail run) and should start at 9PM EST on Friday, October 14^th (it will be 6AM Saturday morning on Reunion).  I will have until 2AM Sunday morning (EST) to finish.

Thank you so much,

Vance

PS.  Please know that I am paying ever cent of the expense to travel halfway around the world and back from my own pocket.  My commitment to this cause leads me to insure that 100% of your donation goes to JDRF!

It’s Swell not feeling swell…

Glad to report that I followed up the Tuesday trot with nine mile runs yesterday and today..and the calf hasn’t ballooned à no swelling is swell!  This is certainly encouraging because the challenge is so close that I would be crushed if I was still reduced to limping through short routines.


I’m still bummed that I’ve been forced to punt on a lot of training miles in the home stretch, but remain hopeful the sixteen mile run scheduled for Saturday might be accomplished without inflicting more pain and swelling.  If I can get past this (and ten miles on Sunday) with no aggravation of the injury I might be able to start getting my game face on.  What have I gotten myself into?  This is going to be a monstrous challenge and I need to begin gathering up confidence and convince myself that I can rise above...


Since time is running out, I need to implement a last minute drill for raising contributions.  I’ve regretted not having the bandwidth to focus on this aspect, but it has been frustrating.  Seems every attempt I’ve initiated has met with no response or a negative response, and frankly I have not received much assistance in this effort.  Guess the lesson learned is that there are many good causes and resources are limited.


I am a terrible fund raiser, because it seems you have to be a real pest to rake in proceeds and I just can’t bring myself to be a pain in the butt.  That said, I will finish up a last minute plea and e-mail it to friends this evening --- and keep my fingers crossed that it finds some traction.  To those of you who have made a contribution, I cannot stress enough how much these have meant to me, and during the hours I’ve tackled the twenty+ mile runs I often recall each of you and picture you in my mind…and it makes me smile no matter how weary I am.  Thank you again because I would not have made it this far without the boost your generosity and thoughtfulness has provided (and continues to provide!).  Thank you, thank you, thank you…

On the Road Again…with Friends!

I’m on the heels of a satisfying 6.5 mile run this morning, because the calf never complained enough to slow me down, so let me get off the running road and veer towards the traveling road.  Despite the looming race being a mix of excitement and terror, the non-race prospects of an afternoon in Paris and exploring Reunion are pure glee.


If both of our flights go according to schedule, I rendezvous with Jeff early Sunday morning (October 9^th), and we don’t get aboard an even longer flight to Reunion until that evening.  This affords a rare opportunity to see Rudolph and Jacomien, who will venture to Paris from The Hague and they’ve planned a splendid sprint together through the City of Lights.  They will meet us right at the airport so time isn’t squandered attempting to decipher the metro, and away we scamper to a bateaux tour on the Seine.  I don’t usually relish “touristy” junkets, but time is short and it will be a fun intro to Paris, as well as idle time to chat and catch up with our Dutch friends.


But the fun is only beginning, because after the boat ride we head for the renowned Musee d’Orsay.  Rudolph was thoughtful enough to score “advance entry” tickets so we can avoid the usual hour-and-a-half wait to gain admittance.  But of course we part ways with Jeff, who has little interest in the Impressionist masters, lol.  We won’t have ample time to fully relish the marvels of Musee d’Orsay, but what a fun beginning for the adventure!


And if I can’t thank Rudolph and Jacomien enough for the guided tour, they also proofed my attempt to translate the Bourbon Trail course description into English from the La Diagonal des Fous guide I recently received.  It got complicated because of typos in the French text, which I discovered frustrate the Google translator…and me!  But I muddled through and necessary repairs were effected with a little help from my friends.



Another day closer…    J

Unplugged

The good news is that I ran 10K this morning and the calf didn’t feel too bad.  Previously I would keep going and cause the calf to get sore and swell up again, but exercised prudence rather than legs.  Still, I only put in 26 miles this week where I should have logged 65 miles…and in two weeks I will almost be on the island!


The bad news is that the sensor for the Continuous Glucose Monitor came out during the run.  I had asked intently whether all this activity would disqualify me from being a good candidate for the device, and was assured there would be no issues.  But I suspect the sweat and movement contributed to the sensor coming unhinged --- the adhesive had pretty much come undone yesterday and even though I attempted to use band aids to secure it before taking off this morning, it completely fell out.


So if that result was driven by only running 26 miles, one wonders what the prospects are for the trial of Reunion?  The sensor gets replaced every week and at least it made it to the last day, so I did my best to install it this evening and will ensure I don’t bump or rub it.  Perhaps it got brushed by my hydro belt during Thursday’s run, but I swear I held the belt out of harm’s way the entire time (much to my dismay).


Time to start making sure I have everything I need, because the countdown is getting serious!

On the Road Again???

Starting to fret now as the healing process drags out and the ultra-marathon gets closer and closer…


After a ten day layoff from running I ventured out for six miles Wednesday morning.  The calf was still weak and painful, though much improved from the last effort.  Didn’t seem to have stressed it too much so it was back out again Thursday.


The game plan for Thursday’s trot was to try and extend the distance beyond six miles, and if the calf felt okay to stretch it out as far as twelve.  Unfortunately, the entire run was a mild disaster.  This was the first time I strapped on the hydro belt since I began injecting the CGM sensor into my abdomen and the crazy belt rides high enough to rub up against where I had placed the sensor.  So the initial conundrum limiting any desire to run a longer distance was the need to continually keep one hand on the belt to ensure it didn’t dislodge my sensor.  Not a fun way to run!


Enduring this annoyance, I persevered and decided to run behind the local high school.  I take a road that extends 1.7 miles between River Road and Carolina Beach Road, past the local high school (and middle school and an elementary school).  There is a single left turn just before the high school which appears to run behind the school and sure enough, when you near the other end there is a road plugging back in.  Seemed a logical conclusion that this was a continuous piece of pavement, but as luck would have it, they are independent stretches and the first road dead ends at the ball fields behind the school.  There was a trail and I started running down it, assuming I could squeeze behind the fencing around all the fields, but after several hundred yards it is blocked by an impassable stand of brush and fencing, so I had to turn around and backtrack.


Of course the final straw was that my calf started giving out and although I ran the whole way (except for when I was trying to push through the brush behind the ball fields), I only logged eight miles and once again my calf is painful and swelling.  Even worse, this morning my legs were a little stiff.  I sure hope this layoff hasn’t caused my endurance to rot so much I get sore after an eight mile jaunt (though it was more likely due to an awkward running style to try and protect the calf).


What to do?  Tomorrow I will try to get six miles of road work in and follow up with an hour of rowing + an hour on the bike --- hopefully this will still provide an extended workout that doesn’t cripple me.  We’ll have to see how this pans out before deciding what to do for the last two weeks of training.  The big disappointment is not being able to test how the CGM helps me manage long runs (Saturday was supposed to be the final 26 mile training run).


Trying to keep the spirits and prepare myself as much as possible, but a disconcerting development…

Packing Up

Even if this leg refuses to heal I remain bound for Reunion, and the departure draws near --- I’ll be there in three weeks!  It’s time to get packing and though I’ve done my best to dodge electric concerns when traveling (for example, I purchased three camera batteries and just charge ‘em all up before I go), bringing the Continuous Glucose Monitor along requires a means of recharging.  So I had to pick up a convertor/adapter among other things.


There is an “Equipment List” that you are required to pack along for running the ultra, including a medical kit, flashlight and blanket.  I already mentioned thoughts around a spare headlamp and my lovely wife resolved that dilemma by suggesting I get another and give it to her for Christmas afterwards.  So I get to assuage concerns around running at night and “lighten” my Christmas list at the same time…    J


Went to the LL Bean web site over the weekend and picked up a small medical kit and compact camping blanket, so cross those off the list.  But what about a better day pack to tote all this stuff?  The one I have is fine for hiking, but it doesn’t snug up too well for running.  Seeking a solution here has proven a bit more arduous – can’t seem to pin down anything created specifically for extended running.  Any suggestions?


On a more positive note, I half-heartedly pursued enabling myself with a cell phone that works internationally…assuming it would wind up being cost prohibitive.  Stopped in at the Verizon store to learn my droid couldn’t be upgraded for use outside the US and was given a phone number to contact their “experts” in this milieu.  This turned out quite well.


Verizon will ship me a phone to use for thirty days that I only have to pay $20 for (which is just to have it shipped back and forth à they will send it to me with a return FedEx label and I can call to have it picked up once I return home!).  I will receive the temporary device immediately before departure and just need to deactivate my droid / activate the temporary unit and I will be armed and dangerous with the same phone number.  For Reunion I will need to pay $2.29 per minute for connect time (didn’t opt for any internet capability), but for emergencies having this available with hardly any sunk cost is pretty decent!

Sole consideration

The calf felt a lot better today, but still aching…so the layoff persists.  Another combination workout featuring an hour and ten minutes on the rowing machine and an hour on the bike.  My legs are getting a good workout, but whether this carries any benefit for the big run is an unanswered question which haunts my confidence.  My attitude bounces between excitement and terror…


I am glad to report that I scored a pair of “trail runners” last weekend.  These are sneakers specifically designed for racing along mountain trails.  It was an amusing purchase.


Dropped in at the local sports shop (Omega Sports) where I have bought a gazillion pairs of regular sneakers over the past year and asked one of their knowledgeable attendants what they offered in this realm.  The guy quickly admitted it was a short stack and there were only three different models in stock.


Trail runners span a broad swath of design features to accommodate the widely varying terrain ultra runners might face.  I communicated the essential ingredients were solid traction to help me avoid plummeting to my death and that I would definitely be dipping these babies into some water.  My research proved valuable because the attendant directed me towards the model with Gortex, but I had read that these might be a detriment for long hauls (because the water barrier also keeps water in, which translates to carrying a lot of excess weight).


So he reviewed the attributes of another model and I was leaning in that direction.  He followed up by asking whether I had ever read the book “Born To Run” and (if you’ve been following this blog, lol) I confirmed.  Then he told me the sneaker had been designed by the author!  This confused me because a theme in the book was the author’s disdain for expensive sneakers, the theory being that all the cushioning to protect feet in modern footwear is what causes knee injuries.


After raising this point my confidence was boosted when the attendant didn’t blink and agreed.  He asserted this model was designed to accommodate the author’s concerns and demonstrated the sneaker’s rigidity by having me flex all three models --- this one definitely was tougher to twist.  The only bummer was that for my shoe size the only pair in stock was blazing red!


In spite of the rather loud color, I was pleased to have added another quality component to my arsenal for the assault on Reunion.  Well, at least until I perused the Forums on the web site for the race.  Once again my brother-in-law came through and advised me to upload the Google Chrome browser so I could automatically translate web pages from French to English.  This made reading the forums possible, despite the often clunky translations.


Just randomly sifting through the entries after I had proudly purchased my trail runners, I read some very detailed forum posts where runners detailed the three different pairs of trail runners they would deploy, indicating the shoe characteristics and at what point in the run it would make sense to unveil the particular breed.  Criminy, I feel like getting a t-shirt made up that says R-O-O-K-I-E now!!!

My Trail Runners – so much for being subtle!

Need to close with a thank you for a nice donation I received.  I met with the owner of Massage Envy at the Greene in Dayton, OH, to try and arrange a fund raising event to support my drive and even though plans fizzled (due mainly to my lack of time to cobble things together), they were kind enough to write a nice check to my JDRF drive.  Thank you so much, Matt and Massage Envy!!!