Passion and Purpose

I enter races to raise awareness of the issues surrounding poverty … and to raise money for worthy organizations working to end poverty. I truly believe we can end poverty in our lifetime.

Stopping for traffic lights, running through crowded streets, stopping for photos with children (don’t ask me what the fascination is with moms in far away places), running up and over railroad tracks, down and through subway stations, stopping at Krispy Kreme (just kidding) and at Starbucks (not kidding), getting lost, taking detours, picking up trash, dodging recycle carts, snakes and rats, garbage carts, street vendors, ahjimas, baby strollers, the occasional skunk, taxis, pizza delivery scooters, barking dogs (and one that nipped me on a Chiang Mai street--scared the hell out of me!) bicycles and kids yelling, “Hello, what’s your name?” … Now that's a good run!

Running the streets of Independence, Kansas City, Tokyo, Rancho Cucamonga, Seoul, Bentonville, Bangkok, Madurai, Prairie Village, Seoul, Chengdu, Paris, Minneapolis, Taipei, New York City, Mexico City, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Copenhagen, Denver, Osaka, Valencia, Dallas, Singapore, Independence, Chennai... as well as country lanes, back roads, suburban sidewalks and park trails are all a part of the thrill of training for me!

I receive no financial support for any race I enter to raise funds for charity, only sore muscles and frequent reminders of my old body, slow pace, and stubborn persistence. My family and I pay our own way to the races I go to. We match our costs with our own gift to the cause we are supporting.