Run Across MN 2021

 Here we are, 10 years later.

I've completed a Marathon in each of the 50 States.

We're in the midst of a global pandemic.

What to do?

Let's do an anniversary run!  

Again with Hubby John's support, I'm going to run and bike 250 miles across MN.

I'll be fundraising to support Disabled American Veterans.  Please visit my DAV Fundraising page at https://dav.donordrive.com/campaign/RunXMN-2021.

More to come on the route!

Thanks to Jones Soda!

Sounds like Jones soda raised around $285 on their Free Soda Friday/charity donation.  Thanks to Jones and all the Jones drinkers who contributed!

~Relentless Forward Momentum

Recovery and Thanks!

FUNDRAISING: $3419.51!

Jones Soda is donating the proceeds from Free Soda Friday (2nd sodas cost $0.50), I haven't heard the total yet.

Couple more Lessons Learned:
Safety-it might not be the best idea to advertise that you won't be home for a week.  Be careful with such things, folks.  Knowing John was home during the week made me more comfortable with it.
Car Window Pens-WHITE and SILVER.  Don't be wooed by the other colors, they don't show up as well.

My legs are FINALLY feeling normal again.  I ran Monday night and this morning and feel pretty good.  Always better when I run.  :-)

I'd like to do some thanks again:

THANKS TO RIGHT FIT RUNNING!! Their support was super.  I wish more of you could have made it to the party, they did a great job.  Hey, there's still time, go and check out their store.  If you need help picking a running shoe, they are SUPER at that.

THANKS TO MY FAMILY/CREW!  I couldn't have done this without my crew.  They made everything smooth.  Great job, John, Jack, Dad, Kathy, Mike, Mom, Joe and cheerleader CHLOE and phone support from Mel, Dave and Lu!  And Dean & Anita at the Finish Line!

THANKS TO MY FRIENDS THAT CAME OUT TO JOIN ME OR CHEER: Carol & Lloyd; The Hillsboro Crew: Ron & Brenda, John, Tom & Helen and Henry; Deb, LAI Peeps: Renee, Sheri, Josh & kids and Amy; and Dave.

THANKS TO THE MEDIA:  Columbia Heights, Fridley etc. Sun/Focus, Northwest Community Cable Channel 12, Hutchinson Leader and WCCO!

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED!  THANKS FOR MAKING MY RUN A SUCCESS FOR AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY!

Love, Laurie ~Relentless Forward Momentum!

Lessons Learned

Fundraising Total: $3294.61 of $5000 (66%)

I'll do at least one more update after Jones Soda's Free Soda Friday promotion.  All their proceeds (2nd sodas are $0.50, and people can make additional donations to the cause of the week) for this Friday are going toward the Run X MN-American Cancer Society.  Thanks again, Jones!

What Did I Learn:
1.  Fundraising is humbling!
2. Everyone has a cancer story.  Some are heartbreaking, some are heartwarming.
3. More people are awesome than are not.
4. Publicity is about persistance.

5. I don't know how to train for 22 miles a day for nine days, but what I did worked out.
6. Never did figure out what to eat to both recover from one day and prep for the next.
7. The journey is more important than the destination.
8. I have more supportive people in my life than I realized and I am more greatful than ever.

9. It doesn't matter how many songs you have on your MP3 player after 5 days.  If it's on shuffle, you'll hear at least one song repeated each day.
10.  I don't want to run across the country, at least not alone.  I do want to run in scenic destinations and travel.
11.  Be nice to the support crew!  Let them drive their own car.
12.  You don't need more than one car.
13.  Running across the state didn't save gas-I think the vehicles drove across the state AT LEAST twice...
14.  Day after day of mileage increase need for sleep exponentially.
15.  There's nothing better than icing the muscles to reduce the soreness.
16.  Relentless Forward Momentum will get you there!

WCCO Story

Miles ran today: 0 (really, did you think I would??)
Fundraising: $3159 of 5000!

Here's the link to the WCCO story.  I'm really happy with it!  I sure heard a lot of people who saw it, and I heard they ran it again this morning and on the radio as well.  Super thanks to CBS/WCCO for helping promote American Cancer Society!
Minn. Woman Runs Across State For Charity

FAQ:
1.  What are you going to do next?  I'm going to Disney World!  Just kidding, I don't have a next escapade planned....yet.  I'd like to get marathons in 2 more states this year and I'm planning to do some pacing for Anderson Race Management.

2.  Are you going to cross the state south to north now?  Border to Border Race has been on my radar for some time...but no, I won't do the same thing I just did in a different direction.

3.  Did you really eat all that stuff while running?  NO!  That's what I consumed in a day.  With the exception of the omelette day, there was about 3 hours between lunch and the next run.

4.  Do I know how lucky I am?  YES!  To be able to run 22 miles every day, to have the friends and family supporting me, and to get so much attention for American Cancer Society.  Yes, I'm very blessed.

Still contemplating lessons learned...for tomorrow...

Thanks!

Finish Line

Total Miles:  199.47  whew!
Funds Raised: $2674.61!! (53% to the goal)

Today went really fast!  John and I picked up Jack and we headed to the start, which incidentally was the back parking lot of Kozlak's Royal Oak Restaurant.  With Jack on bike and me, of course on foot, we headed up the short jaunt to 96 and followed that into White Bear Lake.  We travelled through neighborhoods on nice shady downhill roads.  It was a real treat to have the smell of the lake and the beautiful gardens.  And did I mention shade...and downhills....

Then we turned onto Hwy 12 and continued making time.

With 4 miles to go, Kathy dropped off brother-in-law Joe to run it in with me.  Niece Chloe was in the car with pom-poms cheering.  Such a supportive group! 

Then I got word that WCCO had arrived at the finish and was going to come out on the trail.  Wow!  That picked up the pace quite a bit!  We got to the bridge and there were quite a few people waiting!  But, of course I can't just stop at the bridge...I had to go to the middle.  Everyone hustled out and my Uncle Dean and parents' neighbor Tom Corrigan held out a finish line reading "state line" for me to break through.  Here's some pictures:

 



The finish line crew included those who provided support over the duration, husband John, in-laws Jack and Kathy, my parents Richard & Susan, as well as people who didn't have to put up with me for the entire week, my brother Mike, brother-in-law Joe, niece Choe, friend Sheri, neighbors Tom & Helen and aunt & uncle Dean and Anita.

Sheri brough me flowers, my parents had decorated the support car and had a banner and it was very festive!  My dad had a donation bucket out and we picked up some more fundraising there.  I had an interview with WCCO (local CBS) which just aired and they did a fantastic job!  Then we headed up to Leo's for some ice cream.  They gave me mine for free, and we donated that amount to American Cancer Society. 

Thanks to everyone for their support!  I can't imagine a better finish!

Intake: PB english muffin, 2 PB & honey sandwiches, gatorade, waffle fries, fruit cup, butterscotch malt, cheetos and that's it to this point.

GPS data:

Part 1 (separated only for MapMyRun abilities)

Finish Line

Tomorrow I'll follow up with some final thoughts and lessons learned...and hopefully a link to the WCCO story!

FINAL DAY ROUTE CHANGE

Google says it's 1.1 miles shorter to take 96 to Cty 12, so I'm going to do that instead.
Hope to see you in Stillwater around 11:30!
~Relentless Forward Momentum