“14 miles” I mutter, as I crumple into a salty, lifeless heap on the grass by the road. “I must be insane to have voluntarily signed up for this.” I clasp my shoes by their frayed laces and as I struggle to peel them off my swollen, angry feet, I reflect on the past four months that have been unlike any I’ve experienced before.
Since April this year, I have been training with the AID-Asha team to run the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. on October 31st, 2010. A novice at running, my longest distance before joining the team was the 100m dash for the bus every morning! As I steadily work my way up from the couch to 26.2 miles (42 Kms), I am honored to be undertaking this Herculean task for a worthy cause that lies very close to my heart.
My motivation in running this marathon is to raise money for Asha for Education. Asha is a volunteer based non-profit organization that promotes education of the underprivileged to catalyze socio-economic change in India. Many of Asha’s initiatives have enabled rural children, street kids and brothel borns to escape child labor and prostitution and be in schools where they belong. As an independent woman and an academic, I deeply appreciate the power of education in actuating progressive socio-cultural evolution. I feel fortunate to have the opportunities that education has provided me and rather privileged to be able to pick and choose a future of my liking from amongst them. By running this marathon I hope to reach out to children less fortuitous, and gift them the same – a future in books, not bricks.
My goal is to raise $2620 i.e. $100 for every mile I run. What this means is by the time I cross the finish line I will have raised enough money to completely take care of the living and educational expense of 5 children till they graduate high school as well as educate several hundred rural woman in infant health and hygiene.
Along with the greater good, this journey holds an immense personal significance for me. It is beautifully summarized in Gary Elliot’s words below:
“Marathoning provides you with a unique challenge. It pushes your body to its limits, but above all, it challenges you to come to terms with yourself, your fears and your strengths. Through the process you gain a deeper knowledge of yourself, if you are prepared to look.”
Through this blog, I hope to make you a part of this journey and to share with you my thoughts and experiences as I work my way up to 26.2 miles. I hope you will come back often and will not hesitate to drop me a line. After all, it is your encouragement and well wishes that get me through those though miles!
My goal is to raise $2620 i.e. $100 for every mile I run. What this means is by the time I cross the finish line I will have raised enough money to completely take care of the living and educational expense of 5 children till they graduate high school as well as educate several hundred rural woman in infant health and hygiene.
Along with the greater good, this journey holds an immense personal significance for me. It is beautifully summarized in Gary Elliot’s words below:
“Marathoning provides you with a unique challenge. It pushes your body to its limits, but above all, it challenges you to come to terms with yourself, your fears and your strengths. Through the process you gain a deeper knowledge of yourself, if you are prepared to look.”
Through this blog, I hope to make you a part of this journey and to share with you my thoughts and experiences as I work my way up to 26.2 miles. I hope you will come back often and will not hesitate to drop me a line. After all, it is your encouragement and well wishes that get me through those though miles!
