JUST ADD WATER PROJECT

Water in the City

2011-03-22T00:22:00.000-07:00

When I went to rural Tanzania and Kenya earlier this year to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro for clean water wells, I was already aware of the world water crisis and the work that is being done to bring clean water to the most remote parts of the world. I first became aware of the water crisis in 2009 when someone first told me about what they had witnessed and now it was in front of my own eyes - children with water jugs and women on the side of the road with jerry cans balanced on their heads.
In honor of World Water Day, would you skip your coffee to give clean water to someone who needs it? Click here to donate directly to my water well!

The work that I support with Generosity Water and other organizations working to bring clean water primarily focus their efforts on the most rural and impoverished areas, which is understandably where help is most needed. However, we must not forget that in cities and urban centers, the crisis can be just as great. In these areas where population growth is soaring due to influx from the outlying areas and high birth rates, there is an overload on the meager existing water and sanitation structures which are not designed to service such a large population.

Cities have always thrived on central water supplies - every major ancient civilization and city was founded on or near a water source sufficient for the populace, developing sanitation and distribution for its citizens. However, now there is greater strain than ever on these same water sources, which are not able to sufficiently support such demand. Where water is available, it is such a valuable commodity that it can be priced out of the reach of many and the urban poor and slum-dwellers receive little if any of the public water treatment, piping or sanitation services. Yet access to water is a human right!

Like all issues related to the global water crisis, there are no easy solutions, but as governments and individuals become more aware of the value and scarcity of water, we can become more conscious about how we use and allocate the resources that we do have. The most productive solutions will be in finding ways to more economically share water resources and services with larger populations, greater and more efficient water reclaimation, and a decrease in misuse of vital water resources. Here in the United States, many of us don't think about the water crisis affecting us - but it does! There is only so much water on this Earth to go around and simply because we have more established infrastructures does not give us the excuse to hog or waste those resources. That's right - I just called you out!

- Turn off the water when you brush your teeth.
- Take shorter showers. Get an affordable low-flow shower head.
- Don't wash dishes under running water, use a sink full of soapy water.
- Cut down on flushing the toilet. Place a brick or 1-liter water bottle in the tank to reduce the amount of water used per flush.
- Fix any leaky faucets, toilets or pipes. Renters, get on your landlord...
- Wash fruits and veggies in a bowl instead of under running water.
- Collect rainwater for houseplants or pet drinking water.
- Use landscaping and house plants that don't need a lot of water.
- Adjust sprinklers to keep them from spraying on the sidewalk.
- Run dishwasher and washing machines fully loaded. (Big bonus $avings! - air dry dishes instead of running the "dry" cycle on the dishwasher and hang dry clothes on a rack or hanger instead of running a load in the dryer)

Don't waste water! Simple as that.

100+ ways to save water HERE

For more info on World Water Day visit www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/

Back from Africa - Pt. 2

2011-02-24T13:34:00.000-08:00

After the excitement of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and spending some time relaxing on safari in the Serengeti, the next major part of my trip was spending some time volunteering in rural Kenya for Project X (a non-profit organization based here in Los Angeles that works to help impoverished communities around the world become self-sufficient.) Project X was founded by Sol Garcia, who I was able to meet in 2010 as I was getting ready to go to Africa. Not only was she an amazing source of information and encouragement, but a fast friendship formed as we recognized a shared passion to help others and our ability to simply be available. It wasn't going to work out for me to volunteer directly with Generosity Water, as had been my original intent, but as Sol and I talked we saw a new opportunity that fit perfectly. I would be able to stay in a community that she had visited on her first trip to Africa, where Project X had previously partnered with Generosity Water to build a well that serves a local church, a large primary school and a girl's secondary school.
Me with the Project X Team

As I boarded a shuttle bus that would take me from Tanzania to Kenya, I was excited and a bit nervous. I wasn't sure what to expect or what I would even be doing once I got there, but those were minor details... Every time I go somewhere new - especially when I am by myself - there is always a certain anxiousness and entering Kenya was no different. I was leaving the relative comfort and friendliness of Tanzania that I had known for the last three weeks and could immediately sense the more reserved, somewhat harsh embrace of Kenya. It was a bit intimidating, but this was exactly where I wanted to be. I had to accept the new unknown and trust that God was working everything out.

As we bumped down the dusty road past tiny villages and communities, I wondered about the town where I would be dropped off - What would the town be like? What would the people be like? What would they think of me being there? Did many of them speak English? Who would be there to meet me? All of the answers had to wait until I got there... Thankfully the bus driver remembered where I needed to get off and pulled to the side of the road in a small market area where I noticed a sign that said Bissil - this was it! As I stepped out and gathered my bags, I was met by Pastor Kiroka, a friend of Sol's who had helped arrange my stay. Immediately there was an older Maasai man who approached us and was asking Pastor Kiroka about me, curious about why I was there. I'm sure it's not often that they see anyone from outside their community.

I went with Pastor Kiroka to his home, where we talked over lunch about the community, family life and some of the common struggles they face. I learned that it is Maasai tradition for elders to touch the top of a younger person's head in blessing, so when his children came in later and bent their heads in front of me, it was out of respect and to receive my blessing. Later in the week, I also would bend my head to elder Maasai men and women that I met who outstretched their hand towards me. After lunch, Pastor Kiroka was able to show me the church and some of the water tanks and piping sourced by the well that Project X provided in 2009, as well as point out various areas of the community. He indicated that he was very glad to have me staying in Bissil, that it meant a lot to have someone there that wanted to see how things really are with the people, not just coming to visit for a few hours or on a daytrip from the capital city. I think perhaps that additional ability to personally connect in the more rural local communities has a greater impact than we think it does - it shows our shared humanity and conveys a sense of dignity to the people that live there.

A local Maasai woman invited me into her home, saying through my translator that she was honored to have me come in and to show me her home. Maasai huts are built by the women with sticks, mud and cow dung, with one small entrance that opens to a small room with a low ceiling and an extremely tiny window for a bit of light. There are two cowhide beds on the left and right with a rock pit in the middle for cooking and a small shelf against the wall. Not only do the women physically build the homes, but they tend to it as well - raising the children, cooking, cleaning, collecting water and firewood, looking after goats and smaller animals, and often finding whatever additional source of income possible doing beadwork, washing, or selling milk from her husband's cattle. As is common, this woman is married to a much older man and is his only wife, although typically a Maasai man will take multiple wives and have multiple homes. Her husband often leaves home to escape his responsibilities of a husband and father, leaving her to take care of everything in his absence. Hanging next to the bed I sat on were a couple of necklaces that she was making and when I asked about them, she said that because I had come into her home that she would like to make me one. I was so honored that she would want to do that, knowing how long it takes her to make a single necklace and that she could potentially sell it to make a small amount of money that she certainly needs. She was one of many Maasai women to show me the strength and courage they possess, not only for themselves, but for their children. These women and the children that they are raising are the true heart of the Maasai people.

During the week, I was able to learn more about the struggles faced by the Maasai community who live both parallel to and within a society different than their own, working to incorporate their culture and traditions into a changing and modern world. Traditionally semi-nomadic pastoralists, they are finding it more difficult to migrate to grazing lands with the pressures of large herds of cattle, lack of enough available grazing areas, and persistent drought. Cattle are dying and the cattle that survive are often not very healthy. Additionally, the increase of education in the area is changing the culture as well. Education is needed if the society is to grow and adapt, but often the more traditional Maasai men and women see it as unnecessary - asserting that the boys should learn how to tend cattle and the girls should become married and raise families. This is often the point of contention because once the children have had a chance to attend school, they want to learn more and begin to develop their own goals and dreams to better their lives and the lives of their families. One boy in particular comes to mind - at 18 years of age he came to enroll himself in nursery school because all his family's cattle had died and he saw an education as his only hope of a future. He had never been allowed to attend school before, but is able to see the value of getting an education for himself.

During my time in Bissil, I was hosted by some of the office girls at the secondary school, which is linked to the primary school, affording me the great opportunity to be able to interact with all the students in their daily life and talk with them in casual conversation. The students I encountered at the schools were very curious about the "muzungu" (white person) who was wandering around - especially the younger ones! They had questions about where I came from, wanted to have their pictures taken, took my hand and touched my hair so different from their own, showed me their school supplies and shared about their lives. Others giggled and shied away, or simply took me in from afar, not sure what to make of my presence in their world. Among the many students that I spoke with in my time in Bissil, I was deeply impacted by the deaf unit at the primary school. There were 28 children crammed into one small classroom with one teacher and a deaf aide who teach all of them from Nursury to Class 8. In addition to facing all the other hardships of growing up in rural Kenya, they are also forced to suffer in silence because they have little to no means of communication with the rest of the students at the school, the community or their families. I sat and talked with them for over 2 hours on my last day there, with the assistance of their teacher who was able to translate for us. I asked them about their lives and invited them to ask questions about me and my life. I knew that most people who visit the school have the opportunity to speak with the students, but rarely do they get the same chance to speak extensively with the deaf students because of the difficulty in communiation. I wanted the students in the deaf unit to get the opportunity to simply chat with me, just like the rest of their schoolmates. There are a few that stood out, whose faces will never leave my heart. One boy in particular stayed on my mind with his beautiful smile, obvious desire to learn and leadership among his peers. I am now looking into my ability to support his secondary education and give him the chance he may not otherwise have.

While a chance at secondary education is always a struggle, the girls in Kenya have the hardest time and the greatest struggles of all. If any of a family's children are allowed to attend school, it is the boy child first and then the girl child is given second priority. In talking with the children, it quickly became clear that they all think girls should be given the same opportunities for education as boys. The biggest obstacle for the girls is that they are often viewed as vital to the family's economic state, with the long-standing traditions of early marriage and female circumcision (more commonly known as FGM / "female genital mutilation.") Traditionally the girl is to be circumcised between the ages of 9 and 15 in preparation for marriage, which usually follows quite soon after to a man of her father's choosing. Culturally, undergoing "the cut" is supposed to be a rite of passage into womanhood and a mark of purity. However, in practice it is a harmful and traumatizing experience. None of the girls we spoke with wanted to have FGM. While some ran away upon hearing of their father's plans to have them circumcised, many others felt they did not have any choice in the matter - and unless they run away or find someone to stand up for them, they don't.
They are not given anything for the pain, only the "anesthetic" of the cold morning air as a group of 3-4 elder women hold her down and perform the cut. She may cry out or faint as their knife takes the tenderest part of her body away, taking a piece of her heart and soul with it. She is bandaged and given milk & blood to drink (for strength and blood replacement) and may have to undergo multiple cuts if she is not deemed to be healing properly. Most girls heal in about 4-7 days, but the procedure is very dangerous and many suffer the consequences. One girl in particular comes to mind... She vividly described her experience to us, telling about how she cried out in pain when they cut her down to the bone, how she laid in the darkness of the hut thinking that she was dying, and how after over a week she was finally brought to the hospital where they were able to treat her. While FGM has been illegal in Kenya since 2001, its outlaw has obviously only had a marginal effect and these girls are still being subjected to this horrible practice.

These girls are amazing and taught me so much about what bravery and strength really mean. They have faced more than I have ever had to endure in my entire life - and they are less than half my age! You can see that some of them feel broken, but that their desire to get an education for themselves and become an example for other girls is what drives them forward. Their bravery drives them to run away from horrible situations and throw themselves on the mercy of others, trusting that somehow it will have to be better than what they leave behind. Their strength lies in their ability to keep moving forward despite the hardships they face and not give up on themselves, to fight for their own future.

During my time in the community, I began to see the subtle undercurrent of change that is taking place. It certainly won't happen overnight, but it's picking up quickly and things will change. The girls' mothers are their strongest advocates, but their peers and brothers are becoming significant allies as well. There is a growing understanding with the boys and girls that it is better to get an education first before marriage and that you should be able to choose who you marry. The local communities are taking action of their own to protect these young girls and working to change the minds of the communites in which they live, teaching about the dangers of FGM and the value of education. The girls are empowered as individuals by this information, as well as the community itself. These are HUGE shifts in thought, but they are already occurring! How much more progress will the community be able to make when they are given more opportunites to see the positive effects of ending FGM and child marriage?! It is proven that in societies where the girls are educated and given measures of equality, social and economic benefits flouish.
We can help make that possible in rural Kenya! Here's how:
1. Tell someone about FGM - chances are they don't know it's happening!
2. Rescue a girl at risk for FGM or child marriage by providing education sponsorship through Project X: http://projectximpact.org/donate/

This experience was one of the most amazing and humbling experiences of my life. I hardly feel able to express my gratitude to the people of Tanzania and Kenya who showed me so much about enduring hardship, yet maintaining such faith and hope. They are generous and warm-hearted, despite their poverty and the struggles of daily life. I learned about joy from the children. I learned about courage from the young women. I learned about strength from the mothers. And I learned about my heart's ability to grow in compassion as I was forced to return home much too soon. I would encourage all of you to move out of your comfort zone - allow yourself to be confronted with reality in a world different that's from your own! Seriously... just give yourself a chance to see things from a different perspective and allow it to change you. You'll never regret it!

Back from Africa - Pt. 1

2011-02-18T13:57:00.000-08:00

I returned from Africa exactly two weeks ago and have finally had a chance to settle back into my life here in Los Angeles. Initially, it was difficult to deal with the reverse culture-shock and the lingering connection deep in my heart to the land and people I had left behind. While I went to Africa to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise funds for building a clean water well through Generosity Water, I was also blessed with the opportunity to volunteer with a Maasai community in Kenya, which allowed me to get a greater understanding of the struggles they face and experience life the way most of the rest of the world lives.

In this 2-part blog I will be able to share with you more about my climb to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro and my efforts to partner with Generosity Water, as well as share some details about my volunteer experience in Kenya.

Initially my desire to climb to the "Roof of Africa" was something I wanted to do to celebrate my birthday, but as I became more aware of the growing urgency of the world water crisis, I felt a desire to use my adventure as a means to bring not only greater awareness to the situation but to help do something about it: provide those in need with safe, clean water! By asking individuals to sponsor my climb, I have been able to raise enough to fund one well so far - but I know that we can do more!

I am a fairly active person and enjoy a good challenge, but I have never done anything so physically demanding before - this climb was arguably one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life! It started as soon as I stepped out onto the tarmac at Kilimanjaro International Airport... It was summer in Africa, so I felt somewhat silly getting off the plane carrying my puffy snow jacket and clomping around in my heavy hiking boots, but Kili (as the mountain is affectionately called) takes climbers through multiple climate zones from the heat of the savannah just above sea level in the surrounding areas up through the rainforests of the lower slopes to scattered rocky heath and moorland fading into a barren alpine desert before the final glacial plateaus of snow and ice.

The first day of the climb was very rainy, forcing us to navigate up and down steep muddy paths laced with huge exposed tree roots - very slippery! I was the first (and only one) to fall that day, covering my pants in mud and nearly pulling my arm out of the socket when it got caught behind me. This was also the day that I discovered my rainjacket wasn't quite as effective as I would have hoped...

The second day of our climb took us up out of the misty rainforest with its sounds of colobus monkeys and various birds, colorful flowers, and curtains of bearded moss hanging from beautifully twisted trees onto the Shira Plateau, scattered with hardier scrubrush-type plants and giant lobelias native to the mountain. This was when we got our first real glimpse of what lay ahead - as the summit cloaks herself in the clouds in the mid-morning hours and is rarely seen from lower elevations. This was when the immensity of the climb really hit us because I could see how big this beautiful mountain really was and how much further we still had to go!

Over the next couple days we moved towards Lava Tower and Arrow Glacier camps through a barren rocky landscape, almost lunar in appearance at times, scattered with lava rock, dark red mosses, and occasional very resilient ferns. We also began to see frost on the ground in the mornings, quickly replaced by thin layers of ice and snow - with our normal rainy afternoons becoming showers of tiny hailstones. While days could be quite chilly at times, the temperatures would drop drastically at night. As many of you know, I am not a fan of being cold and would sleep in warm layers, 2 or 3 pairs of thick socks, my wool hat, and a hot water bottle!

We were all surprised that we still had appetites and were feeling well at such high altitudes. I had been really worried about altitude sickness keeping me from summiting because I hadn't really had the opportunity to train at altitude and wasn't sure how my body would react. I was taking Diamox just in case to help prevent some of the symptoms, but you never know... Thankfully our guides took time to go "Pole, Pole" (slowly) and helped us acclimatize well.

From Arrow Glacier, we headed towards the crater rim via the Western Breach - by far the hardest part of the climb! It is a super steep ascent and must be done in the early morning before the frozen ground thaws and loosens the rocks beneath your feet, making it almost impossible to traverse. Past the "Point of No Return" where it is more dangerous to turn back than continue, you enter the "Bowling Alley" where risk of falling rock increases as the rising sun warms the nearly vertical face. After about 3-4 hours there is a small space where it is safe to briefly rest before scrambling up rocky outcroppings and over icy patches of scree. After about another 2 and a half hours, even as I could see where the trail disappeared over the crater rim, I began to feel overwhelmed and was on the verge of tears at the difficulty of the terrain and the purpose of my climb pushing me on, brushing them away to focus on being able to see the ground in front of me and getting up safely. I have to say that completing that section was equally exhilarating as reaching the summit!
A climber named George Fisher put it perfectly when he said, "Climbing the Western Breach is the hardest day: you start out tired and cold and you end up somewhere you've never been before in your life."

My guide was concerned by a high-altitude cough that I had developed the night before and as soon as we made it over the crater rim, he told me that I needed to summit that afternoon, rather than spend the night in the crater as planned to summit the next day - or I might not be able to go up at all. Since it was the only day of good weather that we'd had so far and we still had time, we headed up to see the Ash Pit before lunch. After the icy Western Breach, it was difficult to climb up a mound of ash that sinks beneath your feet, like desert sand littered with chunks of lava rock. Amazing view over the rings of the dormant volcano with huge ice fields in the distance... and the summit waiting behind me!

After lunch, we started the zig-zag ascent up the snowy path from the crater floor, reaching the summit in about 45 minutes. I could not believe that I was here, surrounded by rock and gigantic glaciers that are clearly fading, with a ring of clouds the only thing visible below! 19,340 feet... It felt amazing! But my feelings of accomplishment were more than just reaching the summit - I knew that a greater goal was being met by my climb. I owe the success of my climb to those of you who supported my every step. I knew that I had to make it to the top for those in need of water, but also for those of you who have partnered with me to help make my dream of building a well a reality! Whether you were able to donate $5 or $50 or $500, your encouragement and generosity were ever-present in my mind - THANK YOU!

My climb may be finished, but our efforts to provide clean water are not. I encourage you to partner with me if you haven't had the chance to do so. Let's do more together! Please sponsor my climb by donating today: www.mygenerositywater.org/just-add-water

Are you PRO-water?

2010-08-11T16:38:00.000-07:00

I have signed up to participate in the Clean Water Blogivation campaign - which I can only win with your help! If my blog receives the most votes, I will win the amazing opportunity to join Dr. Greg Allgood on a clean water expedition to Africa and more importantly a $15,000 donation for Generosity Water, as they work to help end the clean water crisis one community at a time.
PLUS: Each time that you vote for this blog, Proctor & Gamble will donate a day of clean, safe water to a person in a developing country!

Everyone seems to be PRO-something. And that's a good thing... unless it's procrastination! Despite seeming setbacks, the important part is to keep moving forward - which is something that I have been learning a lot about this year in my quest to raise financial support for clean water wells by doing a charity climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro. My hope in writing this blog is that you can perhaps get a glimpse into lessons I am being taught in the process and the growing place in my heart for this great need in the lives of so many, for which WE are the only real solution!

My sister is in high school and was visiting me awhile back. She had been working on an essay and (like many of us) had waited until the last minute to get it finished. She made a comment that we're the kind of people to "put the PRO in procrastination." I never expected one of her off-hand remarks to impact me the way that it did. While her observation was slightly amusing at the time, for some reason it stuck in my memory and upon further reflection, it was deeply disturbing. That's not something that I want to be considered a PRO at. I want to be a person that others can rely on and even the person who can come through in a pinch - but not a PRO at putting things off until the last possible minute and not being able to truly offer my best.

Even in things that I care about, often I find that I have to focus on taking the PRO out of procrastination and consciously putting it into being productive and proactive! In all my physical training that I have been undergoing to prepare for climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, not only do I have to find the time to go hiking & hit the gym, but then I actually have to push my physical limits. It's hard, but I know that not only will the view be worth it, but I'll be able to look out across Africa and know that somewhere on that continent a child now has hope and a future, simply because I was able to be a part of bringing a clean water well to their community!

Once I learned about the impact of the water crisis, I understood it's dire implications. Knowing how much I enjoy drinking a nice cool glass of water, I hate to think about the fact that almost 1 billion people around the world are drinking the equivalent of murky drainage filth - because they have no other option. They are drinking water that makes them sick. Dirty water results in diseases that kill more people every year than any other cause, including HIV/AIDS and war. This means a child is dying every 20 seconds! It's our biggest social issue that has remained largely unaddressed until recently. Safe drinking water is the most basic human need and without it the other issues of poverty, education, and economic progress in these developing countries can't even begin to be addressed. I am just one person... But whatever small amount I can do is important because someone else's life is depending on it!

To be a professional at something means that you have attained excellence. You are a PRO! It takes work and though the challenges don't get any easier, you know that the reward is worth it. Keeping that end result in mind is often the only thing that enables someone to take on a seemingly insurmountable task! So while our battle for clean water around the world continues, I am a Change Agent for Clean Water and I want to be productive and proactive on the front lines. My name is Heidi and I'm doing what I can because I'm PRO-water.
Are you PRO?

VOTE to give clean water for a day!

[Limit one vote per person/email address per day. A voter may only use one email address to vote. Final votes must be received by 11:59:59 PM ET on 8/27/10]

My First Marathon - "Stadium to the Sea"

2010-04-07T21:05:00.000-07:00

March 21, 2010 : 5 Hr 44 Min 13 Sec

Running the LA Marathon was an amazing experience! When the crazy idea first crossed my mind to run a marathon, it was just to see if I could do it. After all, I couldn't even remember the last time I'd gone running! I wasn't fast and I couldn't go very far. But somewhere during my training, I discovered that I was capable of more than I thought. Somehow I learned to just keep going (even when I could probably have walked faster than I was running...) and developed a renewed sense of determination. I can't say I relished all those long training days, but I actually began to look forward to the Big Day.

Mile 1 - Around Dodger Stadium. Found myself thoroughly amused as huge groups of guys veered off course to take a "bathroom break" (sans the portapotties). After having waited in line for 45 minutes to go to the bathroom before the race, I could only laugh in my envy. Already saw one runner go down... that would suck!
Mile 2 - Everyone is passing me! Am I slower than I thought?! What if I'm not able to pace myself good enough? Am I going to be able to finish? That couple is speed-walking faster than me... Man, I'm slow!! (BREATHE) I can do this, just keep going!
Mile 3 - Heading onto Olvera Street I saw two kids holding signs for their sister that read "Until the End" and I almost broke into tears. My Grandpa Jim was an avid runner and had passed away just a month ago from a quick and aggressive cancer. While I can't describe the feelings that came over me, I knew that my grandpa would have been so proud to see me doing something that he loved and to be fighting to the end, just as he had done.
Mile 4 - Big steep hill up to the Disney Concert Hall. Thank God for the pounding drumline along the sidelines pushing us every step of the way!
Mile 6 - Ran past a large group from the Dream Center cheering on the runners. God is doing amazing work over there and I was glad to see them out supporting us.
Mile 9 - Los Feliz. Called my friend, told him to wake up and wished him a good morning since I was running by his house...
Mile 11 - Saw my dad & stopped to take a picture with him. So glad he came to support me!
Mile 12 - Smelled popcorn from the Graumman's Chinese Theater and immediately wanted to throw up! So nauseating...
Mile 13 - Halfway!! Just keep going...
Mile 15 - Running through West Hollywood, I was surprised that the Block Party had died down a bit. I would have expected a little more excitement from that part of town. Feeling somewhat sluggish... Keep up the pace, don't slow down!
Mile 17 - Rodeo Drive - as if I could ever afford to wear clothes like that! Neon-Green People from Niketown with signs and cowbells! Wish my dad could have been there for that part. (Nike used to sponsor him - he was a much better runner than me!)
Mile 19 - Well over the halfway mark and certainly feeling the pounding pavement taking a toll on my knees. Glad to see a team of volunteers with pain-relief spray. The stuff smelled wretched, but it seemed to dull the pain... Thankful for the firefighters with their hoses spraying water for us to run through! Trying to conserve some energy for the big hill coming up soon.
Mile 20 - A portapotty without a line!!! No toilet paper either... But a quick pitstop and I was back on my way! Called my dad to let him know that I was still feeling pretty good and secretly wondering if I would unexpectedly hit the dreaded Wall.
Mile 21 - Called my best friend who wasn't able to make it out to see me run. She laughed when I told her that I was still running and wished me luck for the rest. Then managed to power up the big hill! Slow and steady...
Mile 23 - My dad biked down from the finish line to find me. Quick hug and I was back on my way. Still feeling really good!
Mile 24 - Saw a dog that reminded me of a mini version of my own dog that I'd just had to put down after 13 years. Had to jump off course & take a picture! Running faster now! Only a few miles left to go!
Mile 25 - I'm actually starting to pass a lot of other runners! How cool is that?!
Mile 26 - Last Mile! I grabbed a cup of water, took a sip and poured the rest over my head to cool off. A water station volunteer apparently thought I wanted more and proceeded to shoot an entire cup of water directly into my face! : (
Mile 26.2 - The final stretch! I kicked it up a notch & finished strong! I DID IT!

Despite all my previous claims of not being a "runner", I was able to actually run the entire 26.2 miles! My goal was to finish alive in under 6 hours and to try to run the whole thing - mission accomplished!

The next day I celebrated by hosting the very first Just Add Water fundraiser. Thank you to all my friends and co-workers who helped make the evening a success!

Here are my results in further detail:
http://www.runpix3.com/laa10/00/finord.php?EM=28813_42_