Rallying for the Prevention of Childhood Obesity

After a day and a half to recover from the mother of all blisters (still there but tolerable to an extent), I have had a chance to reflect on everything and have come to realize it is time RALLY like the Gateway YWCA always does and finish the Gateway Run of the Mill with a bang for the sake of our Childhood Obesity Prevention and Awareness programs. This week we want the entire Gateway Family involved in the Run. I will be completing the week spending a majority of each day on the ‘Mill and want members and staff to join me.The treadmills and the event are set up in the Cyber Cafe. Between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. sign up to spend an hour on the “Guest” Treadmill. The guest with the most distance covered in one hour will get a prize package. Iron Mike Huddleston has the top mileage right now at 7.5 miles.  Also remember the raffle we will be having for a bunch of great prizes. The drawing will be after Ticky Burden attempts to break a record for the Most Free Throws Made in One Hour. Prizes include free 2 year membership to the Gateway YWCA, a swim party at the pool, free personal training, free sessions with Ticky himself, gift certificates to area restaurants and other businesses.

Also during the week, each day is designated as one of our sponsor days. Monday is Advanced Body Solutions day. Drop in and talk to Sean and the team about Personal Training and how they will be able to help you reach your fitness goals while you are at the Gateway YWCA. On Tuesday, one of the area’s most popular restaurants, the Fox and Hound will be at the Gateway with samples of their great foods. Wednesday is ADVOCARE Day and Advocare Representative will be at the Gateway to tell all about all the great  supplement products Advocare offers to help you in your Fitness Quest. She will also be distributing information about a 24 day challenge Advocare and the Gateway will be hosting beginning April 26th. Thursday is WRIGHT CHIROPRACTIC DAY. Come out and learn all about Dr. Wright and his practice which is conveniently located right around the corner from the Gateway YWCA on Main Street. And please do not forget to visit CHICK-FIL-A on Hanes Mall BLVD. this week and from here on out for GREAT FOOD and SERVICE. Thank you Todd and Kate for all you do!! The week will be a great time and we look forward to seeing you all at the Gateway.

Right around the corner are exciting events like the return of the Susan G. Komen crew, basketball tournaments, Chris Paul Camp, kid’s Summer Camp, a community Luau that is in the works, as is a Hoola Hoop 2 person per team Marathon Contest and much, much more!!!! The Gateway YWCA is TRULY Winston Salem’s”GATEWAY” to health, fitness and happiness for the entire community. I hope to see you all next week and beyond. And don’t forget, “Chase Life”!! (just watch out for blisters). Marcus

ps-Don’t forget our Facebook Contest. Become a friend of the Gateway YWCA on Facebook. Once we reach 1000 fans we will be drawing for a free LIFETIME membership to the Gateway!!

Day One-Bittersweet

The Run of the Mill to raise money and awareness for the Gateway Childhood Obesity Prevention programs kicked off yesterday. There was GREAT support from all the staff as many of them took their turn on the ‘mill. The members were also very supportive.

There were many ways the members and guests could show their support. There is a raffle for a two-year membership for the Grand Prize. Other prizes available were gift certificates to restaurants, car washes, florists etc. The drawing will be held on Friday, April 16th.

Other ways people could give was through donations and also by purchasing a “Run of the Mill” T-shirt. Stop by and give to the cause!!

Marcus and YWCA CEO Florence Corpening

 

The Run started at 6:00 a.m. and all was well. After a quick bathroom break, I settled into a good pace and was joined in the 7:00a.m. hour by our CEO,Florence Corpening. As always, Florence was there supporting her staff and the Gateway in all we do. It was an honor having her be the first “Guest Runner”!! Still on a great pace and with the AWESOME support of the Gateway family, I continued on. From 9:00a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Kim Gebbia and Nicole Ducouer joined me. Kim spent an hour and finished 7 miles. I was jealous watching her pace increase as mine stayed moderate and steady.

WXII 12's Kim Gebbia

 

Kim got off the ‘Mill after her hour, having to head to a news story that was waiting for her in Davidson County. Again, thanks Kim for taking the time to stop by and participate.

Kim passed the “baton” to her WXII 12 colleague and YWCA board member,Nicole Ducouer. You can’t ask for a better board member than Nicole. Every time I have asked her to help with something she has, and she is so nice while doing it. Definitely a “cool” person. She got her run on and then also had a trip ahead of her, to Virginia. Thanks for stopping by Nicole.

YWCA Board Member-Nicole Ducouer

 

This brought me to my first break and I had 23 miles under my belt,a pace that was actually ahead of schedule. When I stepped off the treadmill I felt GREAT!! Not just good, but really good, fresh with the body feeling like it has a lot more left in the tank.In my mind I start thinking all the hard work has paid off. I used the down time to hit Subway around the corner, so I could take my official “assistant” and Awesome son Cain, to get something to eat. I took that time to stretch, and when I got back, took a shower, changed and got ready for round two.

Round two started with me being joined by our Youth Wellness Coordinator, Hatti Taylor. Hatti is a trip!! She was the perfect person to help kick off round two. She keeps things light and relaxed.

Gateway Youth Wellness Coordinator-Hatti Taylor

 

Then the big gun came to the party. Iron Man Triathlete Mike Huddleston got on and clocked a quick 7.5 miles. He wasn’t planning on putting that many miles in since he had a swim meet he was participating in later that day, but when he saw how many miles Kim Gebbia covered, he took it as a “challenge” and proceeded to best the WXII news reporter. AWESOME!! And even though this sounds repetitive, Mike is always there supporting the things being done at the Gateway YWCA.

Iron Mike in action at the Gateway

 

 Now is where it started to get disappointing for me. I still had a decent pace going, but started to notice what felt like something was in my shoe,like a rock, or maybe my sock had slipped a little into the shoe and bunched up. I ran like that for about an hour and then at 3:00, got off and changed my shoes and socks. When I got back out to the treadmills, I was pleasantly surprised that I was being joined by our Member Services Director, Eurica Daniels, whom I affectionately refer to as “E-Money”. 

Eurica Daniels-Member Services Director

 

 She spent a little time on before having to get back to work. Once she left, all my attention focused back on my foot. It was throbbing, and I now knew it wasn’t a rock or my socks, but something going wrong with it. This was unchartered territory for me, since I hadn’t had any foot problems throughout my preparation for the run. I had a scheduled break coming up at 5:00, so I decided to walk for the last 20 minutes and then get off to see what my foot situation was. The problem was now that my left foot was hurting to the point I was putting more on my emphasis on my right foot, which started to do the same thing to it. 5:00 finally came,and I stopped for the break. I had 42 miles under my belt, still on pace for what I needed, and from the ankles up, I felt fairly good. I knew from the pain radiating out of my shoe, that my left foot was bad, but I didn’t want to admit how bad it was,so I tried to put on the brave face, telling myself I would be back after the break, knowing deep down that would be tough to do.

Some of The Gateway TEAM They are AWESOME!! Trevira, Eurica, Shelia, Renae and Charlie

 

 Being that my wife, Jennifer, is a nurse, I knew if anything could be done about my foot she could do it. I met her at the house. I hadn’t taken my shoes off because I was afraid of what I was going to see.I took the right shoe and sock off and found a basic blister, but one that could be semi-tolerated if need be, as long as padding and precautions were taken. Now the left one. Taken the shoe off hurt, but not like a soreness, more like a burning,stinging rawness. When I got the shoe off, my worst fears were realized, the left sock was blood-red on the entire bottom of the sock and when the sock came off, I had 2 blood filled blisters on the bottom of my foot, right behind the ball of the foot. The first words out of my wife, the nurses mouth was, “You aren’t running tomorrow.” Words I didn’t want to hear because I didn’t want to let myself or anyone else down, but words I had already told myself. The bright spot for me is the fact that other than my feet, the rest of me was fairly fresh considering I had just done 42 miles, and when I woke up today, the body was ready to roll, the feet just couldn’t answer the “bell” for round two.

The reason for this event was to raise awareness for our Childhood Obesity programs and that is why we will see this through ’til the end. Next week, all goes as planned minus the record. God willing, I will be back up on the treadmill Monday morning. Our Great sponsors will be there throughout the week, and we will persist, just like the YWCA always does. Thanks to Chick-Fil-A,Vitamin Water, Fox and Hound, Wright Chiropractic State Farm, Comfort Inn and Suites , Advocare and all our other sponsors for all they did and continue to do for the Gateway YWCA. See you Monday! Marcus

About to start...

 

Eating on the Run

 

At the end-Talking about blisters with Michael from ABS

It’s time

It’s time to put up or shut up, and I don’t feel like being quiet right now so, HERE WE GO!! Day one starts in less than 12 hours. I have such a good support team!! Remember, the run is called the GATEWAY run of the mill 168,with a big emphasis on the GATEWAY. Thanks to Robin, Eurica, Hatti, Trevira, Lorie, Heather, Tara,Mike and the gang. Remember, the Gateway does rock!! Of course, Jennifer and Cain, the reason why I love everyday I lucky enough to be here to spend with them. My Mom and Dad, always the encouragers and a special shout out to my sister Kim for all she has done for the run, from technical support to support only a big sister can give. See you at the finish line,Marcus

“Chase Life!!”-Favorite Quotes

If you know me, you know I like quotes and like to use them when I get a chance. I thought today, with only a few days left before I start the Run for the Prevention of Childhood Obesity, I would share some of my favorite quotes: 

My favorite quote is “Two men looked through prison bars, one saw mud, the other stars” but I have dozens that really mean something to me. 

1) “It doesn’t matter how HIGH the mountain is, once you’ve climbed it you realize how LOW it was.” 

2) “Wherever you go, go with ALL your heart.” 

3) “DO NOT go where the path may lead; GO instead where there is no path and LEAVE A TRAIL.” 

4) “BOLDNESS has GENIUS, POWER, and MAGIC in IT.” 

5) “GREAT things are done by a series of small things brought together.” 

6) “If you’re already walking on thin ice, you might as well DANCE.” 

and here are a couple from Lance Armstrong that are really appropriate 

1) “If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to HOPE? We have two options; quit or FIGHT like #@&*!!” 

2) “Pain is TEMPORARY. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but EVENTUALLY it WILL subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts FOREVER.” 

"Chase Life!!"

 

and my new one, 

“CHASE LIFE!!” 

Take care, Marcus

One week and counting…thanks to all the sponsors

Well, 7 days from today I will begin what I hope will be a week-long trek on the treadmill at the Gateway YWCA. I hope that the week raises money and awareness for our fight against childhood obesity. I hope it brings everyone a little closer together. I hope people gather at the Gateway to support the cause and have fun experiencing all the Gateway YWCA Sports and Wellness Complex has to offer. Thank you in advance to all the people who have been supportive up to this point. Thanks to Robin Ervin for allowing us(her staff) to think WAY outside the box. Thank you to all the sponsors of the event as well. Please support them!! Take care,Marcus

Run Forrest(Marcus), Run

Forrest Gump is a great movie. Outwardly, Forrest is not the brightest lightbulb in the bunch, but he always seems to make an impact on those around him. A lasting impression. People are in a better way after encountering Forrest. And from his perspective, he is just “doing what he does”, living each day as himself. The entire movie really is awesome, but for obvious reasons, the running sequence is my favorite. One day Forrest is just sitting on his front porch and decides to start running, so he just takes off in his “Old School” Nikes with the light blue swoosh.Once he starts, he just keeps going. He gets to one ocean and then decides to keep going, so he turns around and runs to the other ocean. He tells the old lady on the bench that he inspired people along the way, gave them hope, something to believe in. Tom Hanks character might not have absorbed what that truly meant, again emphasizing the fact that Gump just did his thing, didn’t try to be anyone other than who he was, he lived HIS life!! When Forrest finally decided he was “Tired and wanted to go home” he had run 3 years, 2 months, 14 days and 16 hours. Wow!!  

Run,Run,Run

 

Now I am definitely not the brightest bulb in the bunch, apparent by the committment to spend a week on a treadmill. My hope is to bring awareness to the problem of Childhood Obesity. If I can get at least one kid to believe in themself, get a sense of worth and go on to do GREAT things, I’ll be happy. I hope to see all of you during the week of April 9-16th for the Gateway Run of the Mill 168. Thanks, Marcus  

ps-Here is the Forrest Gump Running part of the movie, enjoy!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sozP3BlQmfU&feature=youtube_gdata

22 on 22

Nothing special to relay today. Since it was the 22nd, which is my favorite number, I decided to run 22 miles. I actually settled into a pretty good zone and zipped right through it(figuritively speaking). 19 days and counting!!

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it!!”

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it"

I’m a huge sports fan!! I grew up playing baseball, dreaming of the big leagues and idolizing all the players from the past. One of the most colorful players ever to play the game was Yogi Berra. He played in the 1940′s, 1950′ and 1960′s with the New York Yankees. Even though he is in the Hall of Fame and considered on of the best catcher’s ever to play, he is also very famous for his crazy, off the wall quotes he used to make. They are known as “Yogiism’s”. One of my favorite is, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” At first glance, that really doesn’t make any sense, because the fork in the road represents two choices, so it is impossible to take “it”. The more I have thought about this particular quote over the years, the more it really does make sense to me. At a fork in the road, you have to choose. That choice plays a big part in what lies in your immediate future. The catch there is the unknown that awaits after your choice is made. Regardless, you have to live with your choice, so I believe Yogi meant, make your choice, charge ahead because you have the power to make whatever choice you make the right one. Don’t stand around at the fork in the road and wait and wait while debating on which road to choose. That’s my take on it anyway. And always remember, “Don’t look back, something might be gaining”-Satchel Paige. Have a great weekend, Marcus

ps-So far, no matter how much time I spend on the treadmill, I haven’t run into a fork yet (ha) but I’m still pushing forward!! 22 days until the fun begins!!  22, How Ironic.

The countdown begins-30 days

 The countdown has begun!! 30 days until the Gateway Run of the Mill 168! No turning back. The next month should be fun. Stay tuned!! By the way, if anyone is wondering, today ROCKED!!! Have a great weekend. It’s ACC Tourney time. It doesn’t get any better than that!! Take care, Marcus

Sweet kicks-Mizuno Wave Riders

I have tried to go with a different shoe. I’ve tried New Balance(hate them), Asics(good, but something missing) and even Addidas, but I always find myself migrating back to the Mizuno Wave Riders. If you remember, they were the running shoes I actually wore out. I then made the mistake of trying something new. Nothing fits my needs better than the Wave Rider! Luckily I found a new pair at Sports Authority on Hanes Mall blvd. Now I’m off to the races!! The Mizuno Wave Riders is now the unofficial, official running shoe of the Gateway Run of the Mill 168!! Thanks for making a great shoe Mizuno!! Take care, Marcus