Getting started!

Well, here is a blog I never thought I would be writing! Me and running, hmmm. We have not been friends over the years. In fact, I can remember many moments of irritation over the act of running. Remember Canada Fitness? Irritating to the nth degree - particularly, the 400 meter. I did however, manage to qualify for a track and field meet running the 400m. I finished dead last.

I remember the precise moment I found running completely exhausting. I was 12. I was in my front yard. I was playing soccer. I got tired, really tired, and I stayed tired. But, for some reason, I decided a couple of months ago to sign up for a half-marathon. Even though, I was still tired. Fortunately, about 2 weeks ago, I stopped being tired. Thanks to a prescription for iron, my physical determination can now match my "iron will". Because I just happen to be a little bit bull-headed and a good dose of crazy!

I kind of lied about the "for some reason I signed up for a half-marathon" statement. The half-marathon just happens to be in my favourite place on earth, at Walt Disney World. So, that helps. I'm also running on a team - me, on a team - whaaa??? another first. I'm part of Team All Ears. We are a team of people, some like me, just getting started and some veterans to running, all inspired by a wonderful lady named Deb Wills. Deb created the website allears.net - which is the absolute BEST web site for learning about Disney World and planning a trip there. There is no way that we would have planned our first trip without her web site, and a trip to Disney is just not a good idea without fairly precise planning. So for that reason alone, I feel very indebted to her - she, unknowingly, brought a whole heap of magic into my life, when I very much needed it!

But wait, there's more.

This wonderful lady is also a breast cancer survivor and every year, she participates in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Part of being on the AllEars Team means that I have the opportunity to raise money for Deb's walk. If you are reading this, please consider sponsoring me by either donating directly to Deb's walk at http://www.avonwalk.org/goto/debwills2010 (but please be sure to put Farnan TeamAllEars in there somewhere, so that your donation will be credited toward my fundraising), or you can direct your donation to me and I will forward it.
Deb has also joined our team for the half-marathon, and I can't even tell you how exciting that is!

But wait, there's more.

I also plan on directing some of the money that I raise toward another very worthy cause. My cousin has a little girl who is also waging her own war on cancer. Being across the Atlantic has been a tough place for me to be while this has been going on. One organization that has really helped my cousin and her family out is Puttinu Cares. If you would like to learn more about Puttinu Cares, please see my Facebook profile page. Again, your generosity toward this cause is most appreciated.

But wait, there's more.

I could raise money for causes without doing something as nuts as a half-marathon. Ofcourse, I could, if I weren't so inspired by my team coaches, Michelle Scribner-Maclean and Mike Scopa!They are both feature writers for AllEars and reading their blogs and experiences with the Disney half-marathon got me all pumped up. I don't know about you but the thought of running through the Magic Kingdom. Oooh, wowie, wowie wow.

But wait, there's more.

Some of you, may have noticed my ongoing battle with roundness. A circle is a perfectly lovely shape, until you've been living in it for the better of 34 years. I thought that maybe exercising with some great purpose could help me get out of the circle.

So, there you have, my first ever blog about my first ever desire to run. Well, except that in my next blog, I will explain the whole problem with running. Stay tuned.