Showing posts with label Dean Karnazes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dean Karnazes. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

In the Spirit of Christmas: Help End Childhood Obesity


Don't end up like this tired puppy! Get moving!

As you know, I'm all signed up to run my first marathon in a little more than a month. And I've been thinking about it; while I'm not specifically signed up to run it for a charity, I'd like to. And I have a cause that's close to my heart.

On the right you'll find a link to my fundraising page. As a high school teacher in the Bronx, I see first hand the effects of being overweight. My students lack energy, ambition, motivation, but more importantly confidence. Plus, major health issues that keep them out of school. And it's not always just their health issues. Sometimes it's their parents, their brothers, their sisters... And they don't have to look unhealthy to be unhealthy. In NYC, tomato paste is a vegetable. Most of my students don't even EAT lunch. They skip it entirely because the food offered is so lousy. So they're tired, irritable, and malnourished. Last year, I would share my vegetables with students at lunch, and many times my high school students would ask me what the vegetable was, because they had never seen it before. Something as simple as a bell pepper.

Help fix this. I've chosen Dean Karnazes' foundation, Karno's Kids, because I know they money will go directly to the cause. One dollar can buy you a cheeseburger, or it can help get a kid moving. Thanks!

Find out more: http://www.facebook.com/karnokids

Sunday, November 6, 2011

NYC Marathon, Dean Karnazes, and Apple-Spiced Muffins from Kat


Brad, Kat, Kat's friend Kyle, and I headed down to 110th and 5th Ave today to watch the marathon. Before spectating, Brad and I ran 10 miles on the newly opened South County Trail. Awesome run, though freezing, as demonstrated by the white layer of frost covering all vegetation and vehicles this morning. Then, we showered, hopped on the 1, and proceeded to Kat's apartment to be fed apple-cinnamon-raisin-walnut muffin amazingness (ala Kat) and bottomless coffee.

We missed the front runners of the women, but we saw the men, and boy were they cooking. Mutai had a new world record for the course on this perfect November day, so it was super cool to see the course record shattered by 2 minutes! We were right before mile 23, so they were definitely in the home stretch.

Kat is a master cheer-er, getting smiles, thumbs up, thanks, and nods. Meanwhile, I spotted Dean Karnazes. I said, "That's Dean Karnazes!" and then hollered "GO DEAN!" He turned around, smiled, and fist-pumped. Total awesomeness. He wasn't wearing his name or anything to identify him as a "celebrity" so it was really cool that I recognized him.

Also saw Apolo Ohno, the Olympic speed skater, who was running for Team Subway and charity.

We left after the 3:40 pace crew came through. Tired, hungry, and ready for some football. But definitely worth checking out if you ever happen to be in NYC for the marathon. Completely and utterly inspirational.