You may think you’re a rebel without a cause, but you’d be a lot cooler if you were a runner with a cause.  There are many different races available that donate proceeds to charities and causes.  This morning I went to the Komen Atlanta Race for the Cure and there were thousands of people running (and walking) for one cause.  It was amazing.  All of the participants were from different backgrounds and age groups, but they were all there.  Why is running something that can be done for a cause?

Runners are people who display determination.  They are the type of people that will take a difficult task head on and not give up.  They are the type of people who work hard to achieve all of their goals and like doing it.  Don’t you want to be a runner now?  You should.  The point is, these are the type of people who want to donate their time and effort to help worthy charities and causes.  However, it is not merely that runners are attracted to causes, but also that completing races and events are big accomplishments.  It is something that takes hard work and effort.  That is why running is a great way to “earn” money for causes and charities.

But the money earned is not the only positive benefit from running for a cause, participants get enjoyment giving and helping others.  So why not get this same feeling from helping yourself?   Why not run for your own cause?  You know you are number one in my book.  We all know that we don’t get as much back from running as we put in, but what we do get is the satisfaction of pushing ourselves, challenging ourselves, and making us stronger.  These are the immeasurable benefits from giving to running and expecting nothing in return.

So don’t just run for any cause, try to run for your own cause and give back to yourself.  If you have run so far that you have “run” out of causes then do like me, put a friend on your back and carry him along with you!  It’s all about people helping people…help themselves.

It’s time to start running for someone other than yourself, by running the 2009 Komen Atlanta Race for the Cure.  All funds for this 5K run/walk and 1 mile walk, on May 9th at Atlantic Station in Atlanta, are put toward enabling women to detect breast cancer.  The race is also a celebration of breast cancer survivors and an opportunity to remember those who were lost to this terrible disease.  Run this race and dedicate it to your mother, sister, co-worker, or friend.  You can run for your own life or run for the future.  The Susan G. Komen race series is the world’s largest and most successful education and fund raising event for cancer.  What a fantastic way to help a great cause than by doing something that you love, running.  Anyone can participate, the race FAQs even asks the questions, “What if we are not serious runners?”  Just like seriousrunning.com, all types of runners from serious ones to walkers are encouraged to participate; however, they do ask that walkers line up in the back at the start line.  Here at seriousrunning.com we allow slower runners to line up shoulder to shoulder with elite athletes!  Those with slower Internet connections are asked line up in the back though.  Thank you.

You need to register now so you can start raising money from your supporters.  They have many ways for you to contact your friends and family to support your running and this great cause.  Once you are registered you can go on the Susan B. Komen Race Center to help you get the word out.  Here you can personalize your page, keep your address book, send emails, and track your progress.  You can even let your friends on Facebook know that you are running for this great cause.  They make it easy to ask for donations or sponsors!  Currently the race has achieved 72% of its goal of 1.8 million dollars raised. You have until May 5th to submit your donation so get your good karma now and join the team!

Online registration closes Tuesday May 5th at 5 pm.  If you are a procrastinator then you can register on race day at 6:45 in front of Rosa Mexicano for 35 dollars.  After you register at 6:45 attend the survivor’s breakfast at 7:30, then the 1 mile walk starts at 7:45.  At 8:30 the 5K run/walk starts.  Soon after at 8:45 the Jazzercise and Aerobic Cool-Down starts.  At 8:50 the last person who considers themselves a serious runner crosses the 5K finish line.  At 9:15 the most serious runners get their awards at the awards ceremony.  Also, serious fundraisers will be recognized.  Lastly at 9:40 there will be a survivor recognition ceremony and photos.  This race may sound serious but it is all about having fun and raising money for a great cause.  After all of those festivities hang out at Atlantic Station for the day to enjoy some shopping, good eats, or take in a movie.  Better yet, go bowling and keep your muscles loose!

Also, wish you’re mother a Happy Mother’s Day on race day and be a day early.  Happy Mother’s Day Mom!  I love you!  That’s the best way to get it done without forgetting.

I like “being in the zone” just as much as anyone else, but we all need to challenge ourselves in order to learn and grow.  When I am “in the zone” you will usually find me on the basketball court, on the golf course, or maybe even conversing with someone of the opposite sex.   If you want to find me “zoning out” just look to my comfortable leather couch and no further.  I’m probably watching some pointless reality show; but enjoying it nonetheless.  So obviously there are many types of zones to be in but today I am challenging you to get out of a zone; your comfort zone?. Where is your comfort zone?  Check somewhere “inside the box.”

Every time I go for a run over 10 miles I try to run somewhere new.  Whether I am starting from my house or traveling by car to a trail-head, I try to experience a new environment on my run.  This weekend it only took 4 miles from my house to get out of my comfort zone.  I ran to a lower socioeconomic area of town early on a Sunday morning where I did not see one person that was the same race as I.  Being around people that don’t look like you is one way to get out of your comfort zone.  Here are some of the things that I noticed in this zone that I was not used to:  a quick handshake on a corner with the two parties retreating quickly in opposite directions, presumably an illegal transaction.  A makeshift soup-kitchen which consisted of a van, a couple of tables, and huge metal container of soup in an empty parking lot with a lot of people happily being served.  A man yelling at a woman walking behind him in a crosswalk saying, “I’m yelling at you because you won’t hurry up.  I’m late to go see my girl!”  She responded with, “I wouldn’t be walking this slow if you hadn’t gotten me pregnant, (explicit name)!”  She looked to be about 8 months pregnant so was understandably walking slowly.  So what does this mean?  It means that in order for us to grow and understand ourselves we must go out of our comfort zones and experience things we may not ever experience.

Running can take you out of your comfort zone.  Not necessarily by traveling to a different place than you are used to but the fact that you are constantly pushing yourself and challenging yourself to achieve new things you have never attempted.  Every time you think about slowing down but instead keep running is moving outside of your comfort zone.  People generally put a lot of effort into keeping their lives constant, but I challenge you to push closer to the edges of “your box.”  I’m always trying to stay edgy, that’s why I watch MTV sometimes to see what the kids are up to.  You have to make a conscious effort to break down your comfort walls.  Although I am a strict proponent of running, try starting with changing up your exercise routine with other activities other than running.  Better yet, try other exercises while still visiting seriousrunning.com and reading this blog daily!  Talk about edgy!

Just like we strive to diversify our investment portfolios (I’m risk-loving so I don’t adhere to this mantra) and our diets we need to diversify our exercise.  I know what you are thinking, ‘I run 5ks and marathons.  I diversify my work-outs.’  Sorry, that doesn’t count running man.  While running is great for the overall health of your body, it does puts stress on the same joints and builds particular muscles more than others.  That is why I recommend adding some other activities to your training.  Some suggestions are mountain biking, hiking, or kayaking to work out different muscles which will actually help to improve your running.  If you are an avid runner, I understand, try changing your running patterns by running on more trails or running steps.  Obviously, I think just by running a different route you are getting outside of you comfort zone so try that at the very least.  Exercising outside of your comfort zone prevent injuries (unless you fall off your mountain bike or something) and will leave your body more balanced.  Now you don’t have to drink as much V8!  Sweet!

Please stop being a square (box) and become a well rounded individual like our ancestors, the original “Renaissance People.”  No, I don’t mean showing your wealth by being rounded (fat) or eating so much that you throw up because you can afford to.  Don’t waste food, there’s soup kitchens in parking lots!

Can running save you from places you never thought you would be?  One place that most of us never imagine we will end up is homeless.  However, some people do make poor choices and end up without a place to live.  How can we help and make them functional members of society again?  I don’t think there is one specific answer, but I have recently read a an article about how running has been able to help these people.

The article, “Running from Trouble,” in Runner’s World this month tells the story of how one person started an organization to help homeless people in Philadelphia get back on their feet (the organization is actually called Back on my Feet).  It all started with a runner,  waving at homeless people and thinking, “Why do I get to be the runner, and they have to be the homeless guys?  Why can’t we all just be runners?”  This is true.  Running is the greatest equalizer.  You can’t fake a run.  You either run the distance or not.  You either do it quickly or slowly, it’s up to you.  It’s an equal playing field for every runner, the course is the same, shoes are not too different, and every runner has two legs.  So why can’t running bring otherwise separated segments of the population together?  It can.  Since every runner is given somewhat equal opportunities in running, it breaks down the barriers between the haves and the have nots.  Running brings all types of people together.  Back on my Feet is showing this by running setting up running programs with the homeless and competing in half marathons.  None are now training for the Olympics, but it gives the runners a sense of hope.  Running in a crowd of thousands of people, running the same 13.1 miles and shows these homeless runners that they are not different than anyone else.  Also, there are the metaphors of running that help motivate.  Running, just like getting back on your feet no matter how far down you are, takes one simple step and then another after another to reach you goal.  I wonder, what are some of the other groups that may be helped by running?  Does anyone know of others using running to change people’s lives?

He runs past churches, schools, taverns and grocery stores. Assemblyman Richard Merkt (R-Mendham) is running his campaign for governor of New Jersey; literally. Merkt runs through the town’s residential areas and downtowns to show the voters that he is working hard for them. To me running does not necessarily signify working hard, but rather shows a mental toughness that everyone should posses, especially our politicians. Merkt says, “I want to show people I’m hungry for the nomination.” I guess running is a better way to show your hunger than a pie eating contest or something else similar. Merkt has run in over 300 towns and 21 counties in the state. His goal is to run in every one of New Jersey’s 566 municipalities before next year’s primary.

Merkt obviously isn’t doing it to lose weight, he has only lost 4 pounds since he started!  So I started thinking about different causes people run for.  There are a plethora of road races that benefit different organizations.  What gets us out there running for a cause?  Throughout time there have been numerous people who have run long distances for social reasons.  What motivates these people?  Why is running the vehicle they chose to promote their beliefs?  I imagine it is two fold, running signifies staminia, a will to push yourself and always strive to go farther and faster, but I think more importantly it gives us time to think and process information.  I can see why this would be important in a mayoral race and I also think it is important for our everyday lives.  So whatever you believe in, keep running for it!