I’m doing my thing here, writing my blog and eating my ice cream and running my races. And at the same time, a lot of you are out there pounding the pavement, spreading the word and raising money and awareness for Operation Jack and Train 4 Autism. I appreciate it tremendously, but I have one question that I hope you can answer. Why?
Don’t get me wrong โ I’m very, very glad you’re here. But I want to know why you’re here. Do you have expectations? Hopes? Is it for you? Me? Somebody else? I’m doing the carnival trick, running (well, at least attempting to run) 60 marathons this year. But nothing is possible without the grassroots support y’all are providing. So I want to provide you with what you’re looking for. Maybe it’s just jokes in a blog. Maybe it’s running advice. Maybe it’s some kind of inspiration if you’re a parent of a child with autism. Maybe you need help training for your first marathon.
Whatever it is, I want to give it to you. Even if you just come by to read the blog, I’d love to know that. Please, please, please help me out today and let me know. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment publicly on the blog, please just fill out the Contact Us form or drop me an email. Let me know why you’re here! That’s not too much to ask, right?
EDIT: I think what I’m really asking is what you expect/hope for when you support or follow Operation Jack. That’ll teach me to write a blog when I’m fall-asleep tired!
Weekend Forecast
This weekend, I’m running the ING Miami Marathon. It should be an extremely exhausting weekend. Fly out Saturday, fly back Sunday. From California, that’s quite a haul. I don’t know if I’d call it a quick weekend or a long weekend, but I’m thinking it’s going to be a combination of both and Monday morning I’ll be tired.
From what I’ve seen, it’ll be a little warmer in Miami than the rest of the races I’ve run this year. I don’t think I’ve been in temps above 45 degrees at the start and it should be in the 60s Sunday. That’s getting to the point of warm, and mixed in with the humidity, it might not be an incredibly comfortable day. But the race is supposed to be pretty flat and it’s at sea level, so that should help.
I have no idea what kind of time to expect, but whatever it is will be the best I can do. Maybe I’ll be too tired to feel any pain. The race goes off at 6 or 6:30 a.m., which is 3 (or 3:30) a.m. body time for me. I’m sure I’ll be sleeping on the plane.
Ice Cream Update
I hit triple digits last night! 100 days in a row now with ice cream or frozen yogurt, just 10 days shy of my personal best. Peanut butter fudge swirl, my personal favorite, was the flavor of the night.
Thank You Erin Ruff!
OK, so in my last blog, I said I’d thank somebody different in every blog where I discuss multiple topics. So today, I’m thanking Erin Ruff. Erin is a friend of mine and one of my biggest cheerleaders. She’s really supportive of what I’m doing and emails me here and there with positive feedback. You know how there are certain people you get emails from and you get excited to open them up? Yeah, Erin’s emails fall into that category.
Anyways, she is the one who suggested I contact the Orange County Register for their Morning Read feature. I did, then corresponded with an editor, then followed up a little later, and the next thing I knew, I heard from a reporter and this story ran on the front page of the paper last week! When it finally made it up, I dropped her a line and told her it was all her fault! That article worked out well, though, and was really nice to read. So Erin, thank you!
That’s All For Today
Have a great weekend everybody! I’ll try to get my race report posted before my flight on Sunday. If it’s not up by 4 p.m. Eastern/1 p.m. Pacific, I’ll have it up late that night (10 p.m. Pacific). Happy Friday!
Marilyn Long says
Sam,
I’m here for you because of your Uncle Marty. I admire him a great deal. Inside of Marty is a very sensitive soul. The world needs more of this.
Lyn (Felsenfeld) Long
Jamie Fellrath says
I’m here supporting Operation Jack and your efforts because of a couple of reasons. The first is obvious: Duncan. (If you don’t know about Duncan, read the Team Fellrath Platoon page here). Anything I can do to help raise awareness and help for autism research and treatment I will do.
Second, though, is more personal: I believe in helping people achieve positive goals. I’m a firm believer in karma, and that if you help someone achieve a goal then you’re one step closer to achieving your own goals. Good works are rewarded.
And I totally understand knowing that you have to do something. A while ago, I shared a video of the immortal Frank Sinatra singing “My Way” with Sam as he was heading off to start his first marathon. These lyrics from “My Way” stick with me all the time:
“Regrets I’ve had a few
But then again too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption”
“I did what I had to do”, to me, isn’t about something you’re REQUIRED to do because of an outside force. It means you HAVE to do them because they’re going to make you who you want to be. When you have goals so strong and seemingly difficult (such as 60 marathons in 1 year) that you question your ability to do them at times, it becomes an even more burning desire. Set high, perhaps seemingly unachievable goals. Those are the ones that you’ll remember and will change your life.
So I suppose #3, then, is that I admire the hell out of you, Sam. For setting a REALLY big goal and going all out to achieve it.
Brian Thompson says
I too am a parent wanting to help and draw attention to autism research and assist organizations which provide support for families. Reading about your accomplishments/goals are motivating me to help build Train 4 Autism to our full potential as well as better my own marathon PR of 4:32. Thank you Sam and to your family for all of your efforts!
Molly Rearick says
I’m here as a professional in the field, and in memory of someone dear to me. Keep up the good work, Felsenfelds!
Jen Morgan says
I’m here to support you. To raise awareness for Autism. To honor my family members that are affected by Autism. Combined it all boils down to I believe in you and the cause. ๐
Good luck in Hades this weekend! I’m cranking out 22 m in similar weather tomorrow!
Ally Phillips says
I’m here to raise awareness about autism. I taught Sunday School for several years to a severly autistic little boy and it really opened my eyes. I no longer teach him but I love him so much and want to raise awareness and whatnot so that people can get out there and support autism charities. Also, I’m a former nonprofit employee and I believe in this cause wholeheartedly–doing something to help a cause–I’m there. ๐ Especially something as inspiring and wonderful as this.
Oh yeah, and, hellloooo, I get to run. Added bonus.
Laura Sullivan says
Sometimes, Sam….you simply don’t know why and you wanna know that yourself… I’m pretty sure you know why I say that.
Dan Merker says
Sam,
We’ve been in touch with my thoughts about what you’re doing, but in a much simpler way, let me enumerate why I’m here:
– to support an old friend
– because the Autism cause is close to my heart
– admiration of what you’re doing, and how you’ve transformed yourself over the past 12 years
– inspiration to me, both to be a better person, and to push myself to do things I never thought I could
You truly amaze and inspire me. Keep up the amazing work!
Allison Morris says
I read because it keeps me motivated to train for ONE marathon. ๐
Ben Fesagaiga says
My why-
3 words:
Avery Leitasi Fesagaiga
(my daughter)
It’s truly amazing what a human being can do, attempt, accomplish, dare when they are doing it for someone or something much larger than themselves. If Avery was not Autistic- I never would have met any of you, never would have done half the things I have in the past 3 years, and most importantly not been as close to her as I am today.
Keep kicking a$%^$ Sam!!
Katie Abdolhosseini says
Wow, Jen stole the words right out of my mouth! I am here to support you, to keep you going and knowing that what you are doing is awesome. I have a family member with autisim, but I don’t get to see him much. I would like to think in a small way I am helping him by helping you. BTW, you give so much more than you recieve by writing this, thanks again!
Erin Fortin says
Honestly, I’m here because I stumbled upon your blog after Chic Runner (Danica) wrote about you and your mission. It inspired me. I’m not related to anyone who has autism, and I don’t personally know anyone who’s living with it. Your story, dedication, and passion for Jack, Train 4 Autism, and running is what got me passionate about Jack, Train 4 Autism, and running for 2010.
That, and I wouldn’t mind an excuse to run a marathon for a good cause ๐ Good luck and have fun in Miami!
Janine Stillman says
I am the mother of two boys who are now 20 and 23. My journey started when my oldest was diagnosed with ADHD and I was searching for help and guidance. With the help of doctors, therapists and teachers who went above the call of duty, he is now in his third year of college and is determined to get the degree!!! I didnt’t want all of the training and counseling that I received to fall on only a few ears, so I started to share my story and worked with an educational therapist and was able to share my experience with our clients to offer hope and guidance to so many families dealing with the spectrum. Now I am able to use the gifts that I have been given to raise money for the cause. I absolutely LOVE my job! The people I meet, the stories that I share and the hope that we all are able to spread make each day purposeful and meaningful. I’m sure that you know what I mean, Sam!
Keep on Running!
Janine
http://www.designsbyja9.com
Janine Stillman says
I am the mother of two boys who are now 20 and 23. My journey started when my oldest was diagnosed with ADHD and I was searching for help and guidance. With the help of doctors, therapists and teachers who went above the call of duty, he is now in his third year of college and is determined to get the degree!!! I didnt’t want all of the training and counseling that I received to fall on only a few ears, so I started to share my story and worked with an educational therapist and was able to share my experience with our clients to offer hope and guidance to so many families dealing with the spectrum. Now I am able to use the gifts that I have been given to raise money for the cause. I absolutely LOVE my job! The people I meet, the stories that I share and the hope that we all are able to spread make each day purposeful and meaningful. I’m sure that you know what I mean, Sam!
Keep on Running!
Janine
http://www.designsbyja9.com
Susan Gillette says
Jackie is my grandson. The problems he faces everyday are astounding. Things the ordinary person doesn’t even think of. If you don’t know anything about autism, please look it up on the internet. The number of autistic children is unbelievable and the number keeps growing.
The next time you see an unruly child in a store or restaurant please keep in mind the child could be autistic and doesn’t realize what he’s doing.
I’m proud of my daughter for the mother she is and I’m very proud of my son-in -law Sam for what he’s giving up on all these weekends in honor of Jackie.
Grandma S