The group I will be running Tough Mudder with after we had completed the Autism Awareness 5k!
Today’s post is from our regular Tuesday contributor, Sally.
Back in January, I somehow signed up to do a 5k in St. Louis in April. It’s a family affair every year, as my dad comes down from Minnesota and runs the half, while many times one of us children will attempt the 5k. This time was different though as my sister has been running consistently over the past year (we usually only run for a few months and then stop), so she insisted that I do it too.
Side-note, my sister and I attempted to do the half one year. We finished, but I’m pretty sure some of the marathon runners finished before us. I wish I was joking.
At the same time, my friend was telling me about how she and her boyfriend had signed up for the Tough Mudder, an event that raises money for the Wounded Warrior Project, that was going to be in Kansas in May.
Now, there’s quite a bit of difference between a 5k and the Tough Mudder. A 5k is a 3.1 mile-long run. The Tough Mudder is 12 miles with 40+ obstacles along the way. Again, I’m not quite sure what happened, but that next week, my friend and I were at the gym setting up times to come in and work out with the school’s strength and conditioning coach in order to prepare for the 5k and the Tough Mudder.
Our gym facilities are free to students, faculty, and staff, and we are also able to use the personal trainers in the gym to help us with workouts or nutrition plans. A lot of people on the campus don’t realize it or feel awkward working out with student-athletes, so although they’re technically paying for the use of the gym through their tuition and fees, they will then also go to the local Y in town and pay to have a membership with them.
I am, of course, all about the “free” and have only ever worked out at the Y one time, which was for a Zumba class. It was still free to do, because the first time you visit the Y, you get to check everything out without having to pay. I enjoyed it, but spending the extra money a month for a membership and having to drive to the facility, was definitely not something I was or am willing to do.
So every morning around 5:45, I wake up, get ready, and head to the gym to workout with my friend. About a month into it, a few other 5ks popped up in the area that I had the opportunity to do. One was the ColorDash, which benefitted the town’s human society (we raised $10,000 dollars!), and an autism awareness run, which a group of students put on for a class project.
I didn’t think I would enjoy running as much as I am, but I also didn’t realize how many 5ks and other runs were set-up as fundraisers for different causes. While I am on a budget, if there is one thing I am willing to spend my allocated “fun” money on, it’s definitely to donate it to a good cause, especially if I get to become a little bit healthier in the process!
Do you run for fun or to raise money for a cause? Or do a different kind of exercise to raise awareness or money for something?
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Photo by Jamie Lanagan
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A few months ago, when we there was a tragic calamity in our country, our governor held a running for a cause for the victims. All the money that was collected during that event was sent directly to the cities that was affected by the typhoon and the earthquake.
Good for you for taking part in this! I am not a runner and typically do not participate in events like this, but I definitely support my friends and family who do. My hubby walked in the Avon three day breast cancer walk because his mom and grandmother are both survivors and he said it was one of the greatest experiences of his life.
I have never run to raise money for a cause. I think it is agreat way to raise awareness for so many important causes. Eventually I would love to do the MS150. It’s a cause near and dear to my heart as my Grandma has been suffering from this disease for many years.
I run for fun, but when I ran the NYC marathon last year it was for Fred’s Team- the cancer research program at a hospital here in NYC. I was able to raise $4,000.
My biggest one was when I did the avon breast cancer 3-day walk. That was a time commitment for training…yes just for walking. I also raised close to 5k for the livestrong foundation and did several of their charity bike rides. I’ve scaled back a bit due to my budget, but I’d love to do an obstacle course run, but maybe not the super challenging ones like tough mudder. I’m tired of getting injured! :)
Good for you for taking part in this! I’m not much of a runner, but my wife has done a number of runs to support breast cancer as we have a close family friend who had stage 3 and is now in remission.
Running is great exercise, but hard on the joints. I used to run a mile in 5;32, as late as my early 20s. I likes to run a 5 mile run, just on a whim.
No Nonsense Landlord That’s an impressive speed! I’m happy with my ~8 minute miles : )
Great cause there Sally,
5km’s to me isn’t a great deal, will be doing a 21km’s half marathon in a few weeks that will really test me :O