Monday, February 4, 2013

Colored Pencil Bracelets Are Here (and you know you want one)!!

Lately I've had a very love/hate relationship with running.  I think that at some point, anyone training for a marathon (or similar type of endurance event) reaches the same conclusion:  I must be the dumbest person alive.  This point might come when you're on your third night in a row of running and all you really want to do is sit at home and watch season 3 of Breaking Bad with some Ben and Jerry's and fleece socks.  Or maybe it comes when you're dragging yourself out of bed on a Saturday morning at 6 am for the 17th weekend in a row (almost).  For me, it came this weekend during an 18 mile run.

I was slogging through mile 8 on a gradual, 1.5 mile incline, when I heard footsteps behind me.  They got a little closer and a little louder, and I could hear the breathing of the person who belonged to those shuffles.  Finally, a man in his late 40's appeared in my peripheral vision.  He said the customary "good morning" that the other crazies on the trail that early usually greet each other with, and then proceeded to say, "I think I'm breaking a rule!  I'm passing a girl!"  Now, if I had had more energy in my left leg, I would have stuck it out and tripped this funny man.  As it was, all of my energy was going towards forward motion and generally not weeping.  So instead I chuckled and asked the comedian how far he was running this morning.  "Oh man!  Out for a five miler and I'm only about halfway done!"  "Wow that's great!  I'm on mile 8 out of 18, I'm running to raise money for ovarian cancer research, so Imma let you pass me.  It's cool."

Lest I sound like big jerk-face who is not supportive of other runners, no matter what their mileage (because trust me, I am no elite runner), I will go ahead and blame my snarkiness on my depleted glycogen levels.  Ok but seriously, the man replied with some mixture of a gasp and a laugh.  "Whoa man!  That's crazy!  Good luck to you!"  He then proceeded to jog ahead where he caught up with his wife.  I heard him say "that girl is running 18 miles today!  That's just crazy!  I'd never do that."

Well sir, you are correct.  It is pretty crazy.  My super-angry peroneal tendon that gets its very own doctor's appointment tomorrow would like to personally assure you how very crazy it really is.  It is brutal on your body, and it's not much of  mental cakewalk either.  It is still NOTHING compared to what cancer patients have to go through.  It makes me SO psyched to be able to tell people about why I'm being a total crazy person and training for this marathon.  I can't say I'm happy, because I truly wish it didn't need to be done and that ovarian cancer was non-existent already, but I feel good about spreading the word and making people more aware.

If you could do me a favor, I'd really appreciate it if you would tell one other person in your life about www.ocrf.org and tell them to learn about the symptoms of ovarian cancer.  It's super easy, and requires absolutely no blisters or tendonitis :)  Thanks!  And if you want to do another awesome thing, consider ordering one of my awesome hand-made colored pencil bracelets (hand made by ME!  While I'm running!  Ok kidding not while I'm running, more like while I'm icing my legs after  run :) ).  And then share this post with others who might want to order!




The details on owning your very own colored pencil bracelet:

1.  Cost:  Bracelets without clasp (the multicolored one in the pictures):  $10
               Bracelets with clasps (you choose the color):  $12
               Add a charm that says "Joy" "Hope" or "Love" for $1
2.  You can choose any color combination (school colors, team colors, favorite colors)!

3. I will ship your bracelet straight to you for a very low cost that is yet to be determined but I promise it's not a lot :)

4. ALL proceeds go directly to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund!

5. These bracelets are awesome and unique and make great gifts!!

6. You know you want one (or three)!

7.  No really, you know you do!!  :)

If you would like to order a bracelet, please send me an email at emilyerhode@gmail.com and include the following information:

-What kind of bracelet would you like (clasp/no clasp)
-If you want a clasp, would you like "gold" or "silver"
-If you would like a charm, which one would you like
-What colors would you like
-Your mailing address

You can pay either by making a donation directly to my page or sending a check made out to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

Thanks and please let me know if you have any questions!  And as always if you'd like to make a donation, visit my page at www.tinyurl.com/ccdzmf9

Peace and Love,
Emily