16 replies to this topic

[Ben F]

Fellow Lizards,

One week from today, I will toe the line in Eugene for a half marathon. You might say "Why would you do that? You seemed like a relatively sane person, plus you're completely out of shape and you might die." To which I might reply "Because I have an opportunity to help support a good cause, and if the end result is irreparable damage to my body or feeble mind, so be it."

A little background about MAPLE. It's an acronym that means microdevelopment for the alleviation of poverty through leadership and education. Check out the website as it contains far more information than I could provide: http://maplemicrodevelopment.org/

To summarize concisely (pulled from the website), "MAPLE Microdevelopment is dedicated to reducing poverty, empowering women, and fostering self-sufficiency across generations. We provide small-scale entrepreneurs and community groups in East Africa a range of financial and educational services to help individuals and communities build sustainable business ventures."

I have a few friends involved with MAPLE and I had no reservations when asked if I'd like to help fund raise, even if it meant that I had to run 13.1 consecutive miles...in the same day. We've held a fundraiser and are doing what we can help raise some money, which is what brings me here. I have one week left to raise money using the Eugene half marathon as a call to arms (though you're welcome to donate any time after the half, of course). So, if a good cause run by good people isn't enough to persuade you to donate some cash, perhaps some gimmicks will help push you off the fence (assuming you were on it). We all know I'll be sacrificing my body in Eugene. Now I'm offering my dignity...for a price.

Guess Ben's official finish time! - For all donations of $10 or more, you are eligible to guess my official chip finishing time. The charitable person who is closest will receive a free pint of beer, redeemable at either a Fulton post-run or at a First Friday. (beer or another beverage of comparable cost, super-expensive special beers excluded) This isn't the Price Is Right, so whoever is closest wins. In the event of a tie, BOTH win.

Free pint! - For all donations of $25 or more, I'll buy you a pint at either a Fulton post-run or at a First Friday. (beer or another beverage of comparable cost, super-expensive special beers excluded).

I'll try to make it to the Fulton this week and next, as well as the next First Friday. If you're willing to commit (before you can hand me a check, or before you can submit payment online), you'll be eligible to enter the "guess my time" thing. See the MAPLE website for payment options. Send me a PM if you donated (and want to me to know) and include a projected finish time. Let me know if you have any questions! Donations of any size is welcome, so get to it!

In order to help "guess my time," here is my training log since Oct 30 (my last run in 2011):


Date Miles Time Pace
4/22/2012 12.0 mi 1:29:16 7:27

4/21/2012 2.0 mi 14:30 7:15

4/19/2012 6.0 mi 44:19:00 7:24

4/17/2012 4.0 mi 28:45:00 7:12

4/15/2012 11.7 mi 1:28:30 7:34

4/14/2012 8.0 mi 59:35:00 7:27

4/13/2012 6.0 mi 43:14:00 7:13

4/10/2012 6.4 mi 47:14:00 7:23

4/9/2012 4.0 mi 30:18:00 7:35

4/7/2012 12.0 mi 1:25:36 7:08

4/6/2012 6.0 mi 42:16:00 7:03

4/4/2012 4.0 mi 28:46:00 7:12

4/2/2012 4.0 mi 29:50:00 7:28

3/25/2012 6.0 mi 43:30:00 7:15

3/24/2012 8.2 mi 59:04:00 7:13

3/23/2012 1.0 mi 7:30 7:30

3/22/2012 4.0 mi 27:19:00 6:50

3/19/2012 6.0 mi 44:18:00 7:23

3/18/2012 1.5 mi 12:00 8:00

3/17/2012 4.0 mi 29:30:00 7:23

3/16/2012 4.0 mi 28:36:00 7:09

3/15/2012 1.5 mi 11:00 7:20

3/10/2012 3.5 mi 27:00:00 7:43

3/4/2012 5.6 mi 42:00:00 7:30

3/1/2012 4.0 mi 29:30:00 7:23

2/26/2012 12.6 mi 1:50:00 8:44

2/25/2012 4.0 mi 29:30:00 7:23

2/15/2012 4.0 mi 29:28:00 7:22

2/10/2012 4.0 mi 30:34:00 7:39

2/6/2012 4.0 mi 28:50:00 7:13

2/4/2012 4.0 mi 29:56:00 7:29

1/31/2012 4.0 mi 31:06:00 7:47

1/29/2012 11.0 mi 1:30:00 8:11

1/25/2012 7.0 mi 55:28:00 7:56

1/24/2012 6.0 mi 47:39:00 7:57

1/19/2012 4.0 mi 30:40:00 7:40

1/13/2012 4.0 mi 30:45:00 7:42

1/8/2012 4.0 mi 31:30:00 7:53

208 miles since Oct 30

[allezvita]

1:38:15 to finish and $25 to MAPLE

[andicamp]

Ouch. I'll lower the bidding to 88 minutes! I was actually going to guess 85 minutes, to put a little pressure on Ben, but Sarah scared me off!

And I'll donate 20 smackers. After dinner.

[Joe D.]

He was able to keep up with 6-year-olds on his bike at the Kids Kilometer, so I think he's sandbagging

Put me down for 1:24:30. I'll bring a check to the Fulton this week.

[Ben F]

Thanks Sarah, Andi, and Joe! We're off to a good start. Joe, I'll be at Fulton this week, even if I might be a little late.

[Ben F]

Thanks for the check, Joe, and the optimistic half time!

While donations are accepted at any time, time is running out if you want a shot at a free pint. All it takes is $10 and you have a good shot at getting half back in liquid form! The First Friday/Summer Series Kickoff is approaching. Wouldn't it be nice to find yourself with a free beverage as a thank you for giving to a great organization? It's go time

[andicamp]

Good luck tomorrow Ben!

[steves]

Saw you race today, Ben. You seemed to be cruising to a good result and cause. Put me down for $25.00 and where to mail it.

Steve Sexton

[Joe D.]

He was able to keep up with 6-year-olds on his bike at the Kids Kilometer, so I think he's sandbagging

Put me down for 1:24:30. I'll bring a check to the Fulton this week.

1:21:56! Nice job Ben!

[Ben F]

Saw you race today, Ben. You seemed to be cruising to a good result and cause. Put me down for $25.00 and where to mail it.

Steve Sexton

Awesome! I saw you standing near the entrance to Hayward Field but I was kinda focussed on catching the guy ahead of me. You can make the check out to MAPLE Microdevelopment and send it in to: MAPLE Microdevelopment, P.O. Box 3894, Eugene, OR 97403 USA. Or you can hand it to me at some event (First Friday?) and I can turn it in. You can also pay online at the MAPLE website, if you prefer. Thanks for the support!

1:21:56! Nice job Ben!

Thanks, Joe. It was a great day for a race, even if that race was 13.1 miles. I suppose I'll post a short recap.

First, thanks to everyone who threw in some support for MAPLE. I brought in about $200 from Lizards and family in the last week. All told, I think our team raised about $6000, which is great. I owe some of you beer. Let me know when and where. Joe hit the jackpot and guessed the closest time and now has two beverages of his choice coming.

The Race:

The weather was perfect for racing. Cool, overcast, and maybe a bit foggy.

My splits, rounded to the nearest second (strange how many times 6:03 and 6:09 show up)
1 - 7:00
2 - 6:03
3 - 6:03
4 - 6:13
5 - 6:09
6 - 6:00
7 - 6:03
8 - 6:09
9 - 6:30
10 - 6:09
11 - 6:14
12 - 6:17
13.1 - 7:01 (6:20/mi pace?)

Somehow I drew Corral B. When registering, the lady asked me how fast I planned to run so maybe all slots in Corral A were filled. Corral B turned out to be a big problem. From the moment I crossed the start line until about mile 2.5 it was a battle to get past people on the narrow residential streets. The only thing I could do was sprint for short periods between parked cars, then run-walk with the crowd until the next opening, then repeat. I knew this was going to be a bad thing for my legs but the alternative was a 20 min 2 mile time. The second mile time looks relatively normal only because I had longer periods to sprint. Blah. I really don't think this was a problem for most people, though. Paces seemed to be sorted out quickly in the crowd and I didn't see anyone else in my situation. Not a big deal, it's a charity race.

From about the 3 mile mark on, I settled into a comfortable pace. The race at this point had become a sort of Hood to Coast race with a million people in front of me to catch. That certainly helped my motivation. I spotted Wendy Terris around the 10 mile mark and she appeared to be cruising along. I saw a few others sporting Lizard singlets that I didn't recognize. Mile 10 was approximately when my legs began to fail. I wasn't bonking (surprisingly), but rather my legs were just fatigued. I kinda held onto a strong pace through the finish but I was ready for the race to end. There was a guy just ahead of me as we entered Hayward, so I couldn't quit early.

There were only 2 hills to speak of, unless you consider the final slog from the river to Hayward as a hill (I will, because my legs were trashed and it was a battle). I'm sure the first two miles hit my legs hard but the chase-race aspect probably made up for it. It was a fun race but I probably won't be running another half anytime soon. I liked the course, though. Relatively flat, kinda scenic, laid out well, all-business. Very similar to the Columbus Marathon.

Thanks to everyone who donated and I'd like to extend the offer of a free pint for everyone who pitches in $25 or more through Friday, though you can redeem anytime after that.

[Joe D.]

Nice recap and solid race Ben. Now you can celebrate with a soccer game Tuesday night!

[Amygirl]

Ben, sorry forgot to post was going to mention it to you last Wed! Nice race you little sandbagger

$25 smackers from the Amy foundation to you this Friday at summer kick-off.

[Dreed]

Ben-

Nice solid run! That B corral thing really sucks- I just hooped the fence into the A corral at the last minute and no one batted an eye. Even in the A corral I had to dodge and weave for a bit to clear traffic- seems like a lot of people decided to grid themselves a little quicker than they should have.

Looking at your finishing time I think you must have passed me in the last mile or so- I must have been one of those lizard's you didn't recognize.

Put me down for $25 and I'll take you up on that pint some day.

Dan

[Ben F]

Nice recap and solid race Ben. Now you can celebrate with a soccer game Tuesday night!

I'd love to play but the timing this week is terrible...plus my legs are still recovering. Good luck tonight.

Ben, sorry forgot to post was going to mention it to you last Wed! Nice race you little sandbagger

$25 smackers from the Amy foundation to you this Friday at summer kick-off.

Thanks Amy! I'll see you Friday.

Ben-

Nice solid run! That B corral thing really sucks- I just hooped the fence into the A corral at the last minute and no one batted an eye. Even in the A corral I had to dodge and weave for a bit to clear traffic- seems like a lot of people decided to grid themselves a little quicker than they should have.

Looking at your finishing time I think you must have passed me in the last mile or so- I must have been one of those lizard's you didn't recognize.

Put me down for $25 and I'll take you up on that pint some day.

Dan

Sounds good. Will you be at First Friday this week? Also, were you the tall guy in a lizard singlet that I saw around mile 11? You looked familiar but I'm comically bad with names.

[Amygirl]

Ben, sorry I just missed you at FF. Hmm.....You left right before I got there, just before 8pm. Will get it to you.