Fall 2010

With the fall season approaching, there's so much to share!!!

First of all, we're adding two sites to Jackson County, one in Independence and the other a Girls on Track in Raytown.  At the same time, we'll be keeping our 7 other existing sites.

We are also in the process of expanding. Instead of just Jackson County, we will soon be Greater KCMO and include both Platte and Clay Counties. Hard to believe that just 3 short years ago we were becoming a council, and started that first season with just 6 girls. Now, we'll be in 3 counties with hundreds of girls.

We are also establishing our 5K's. We've partnered with KC Running Company (who brings you awesome events like Rock the Parkway, Love to Run and many others) to help us take our 5K's to the next level.

This fall we'll be running down Main Street in Blue Springs. Competitive Runners will start at 8 am and the girls will start at 8:10. We'll be giving medals to top finishers!!!  

Our fall season starts August 23, so sign up today (while cost is only $50).  Oh, and if you're wanting to run the 5K, you ought to go ahead and sign up for it to. Only $15 RIGHT NOW. Check out www.jacogotr.org for sign ups to both events.

9 weeks to go

The countdown is on, I have 9 weeks to raise $1200 and to get mileage and speed up.  I am sure I can do both. However, I obviously need your help with the fundraising piece. Please consider giving a donation of $10 or more to support my SoleMate quest. What does your money do???

Quick example: We have 83 girls signed up for GOTR this spring. Of those girls, half are fully scholarshipped in at our "closed" sites in the urban core. Now, where does that money come from to pay for the girls? You guessed it - SoleMates is our number one funding source for cutting costs and providing scholarships.

Donate NOW! See how easy I made it for you!!!


On to the training. My goal is to drop about 20 pounds for this event. Being lighter will help me run faster and avoid injury. I've made 3 significant changes to my diet and have dropped 5 of those 20 pounds in the last 2 weeks. 


1. Drink WATER - just check out my profile pic on FB and all my water posts to know this is true.
2. No cream in my coffee. I'm still drinking my coffee every morning, just cut out all that sugar and calories the cream added.
3. Cut out chips.  By far the hardest!! However, I've replaced chips with Wheat thin chip like crackers. I believe the factor with these are that while I'm making lunch, chip bag is not open and I'm not eating and eating and eating chips.  (We've gone from 3-4 bags of chips a week to maybe 1.)


These are pretty simple changes and have huge results. Does this mean I'm planning to do these things forever? Mmmmm, the water is probably a good thing to keep up with, the cream I'm learning to live without. Chips, well, maybe doing portion control will be a better alternative. But while I'm training, YES!!!!  I can live with these three things!!!!

Week Two - Done

Hey, I did run three miles on Friday, they were slow, but they were a run.  Foot feels so much better, I look forward to more miles and a quicker pace this week.

My goal for race day to improve speed is also to cut weight. As you know, I've been carrying Big Jug all around town including the zoo. At the same time, I've decided to give up cream in my coffee. I'm switching to splenda and skim milk. I'm also giving up chips - UGH!!! No chips for 2 months. I'll live, it's only 2 months.

With both my online and offline donations, I'm at $285, very close to that $300, and with a more than 2 months, I've got plenty of time to hit my ultimate goal of $1500.

Remember, it's easy and safe to donate on line, every little bit helps! Help support my efforts and GOTR.

Katie's Visit

I'm taking a break from my solemate entries to share with you the last few days.  First of all, I want to say, my brain is so full of stuff, I'm not even sure where to start or how this will go, so bear with me as I try to capture this moment, you know me, I'm a talker, chances are this is going to be really long. . .

Let me back up to last summer.  David and I hit the 10 year mark with a bang, and not in a good way. David moved out for about a month which forced me to reevaluate my life and the direction I wanted to go.It was during that month that I first met Katie.  She was this young, 23 year old, passionate kid who was running across the country to inspire people to live their passion.  Hearing her message spoke deeply to me.  My passion at that time came down to two things, my kids and my Girls on the Run. My GOTR included my board president, Emily who has been a big part of my life since the seed of GOTR was planted in Jackson County. She came over and helped me redecorate my house, ok, helped is not accurate, she redecorated for me. She and my vice president, Sarah, sat with me into the wee hours one night on Emily's roof top over looking the city while we talked about my future. My SoleMate coordinator, Aimee, came to my house and sat with me letting me vent, cry and whatever else needed to happen. Through that process, our friendships were strengthened and my commitment and passion for this program grew.

And then came Katie.  She brought such joy with her and such determination, I took from that and realized I would be OK. I had great friends, a great organization and wonderful kids. And eventually, David came home. He saw the changes in me and realized that I too had changed. That I wanted more in life than just getting by.

The last year has been one of the toughest in my life, but it's also been one of the most rewarding. I've gotten to do some pretty cool things and meet some pretty fantastic people, and I've gotten to restore my marriage.

The last few days, Katie has been in town, staying at my house.  Being around her reminds me of how much I love GOTR. Thursday she and I took a trip to Fairmount Elementary School, one of our sites.  One of the most rewarding parts of GOTR are the stories. Seeing them unravel right in front of my eyes, watching and listening to the girls, seeing the difference GOTR is making.  And so, Katie spoke to these girls. She asked them what their passions were.  One girl said, "I want to be a model, but that won't happen." Katie took that opportunity to tell her that she could do anything she wanted. ANYTHING!!!  Then it was time for the work out piece of the day, the girls clung to Katie, holding her hands, standing only a few feet away, just being near her.  As I watched, I could only smile. I knew what they were feeling.  Wow, here's this amazing person who has an incredible message, and she thinks I'm cool enough to hang with, AND she believes in me.

When we left, I asked Katie if that was pretty typical, "Do all the kids take to you like that?" I was not surprised when she said, "Yeah." Of course they do, adults do too, she's just that kind of gal.

Yesterday was a blast! It was beautiful outside, and we spent most of it outdoors, playing baseball, going to the park, riding bikes, hanging out.  And then she cooked us dinner. AHHHHH!!!!!!

This morning we woke up with a blanket of snow. We all new it was coming, but we were hoping it would pass or the weather folks were wrong, they weren't.  Oh well, off we went to Loose Park, where over 30 people showed up in the freezing cold snow coming down kind of day to meet Katie. Several of us had met her this summer, but for others, it was their first meeting. Nearly all the coaches showed up, including the Pave Your Lane coaches.

Wait, I guess I skipped that part of all of this.  So, while Katie was running across America, she was raising money for GOTR.  At the end of the run, she sent us a check which allowed us to open a site at Imagine Renaissance Academy (located at 17th and Hardesty). Because of her efforts, 15 more girls this season are touched here in Jackson County.  This legacy will continue as we add more Pave Your Lane sites in the fall and spring!

And now, she's gone. Off to Trenton, MO and eventually back to Chicago on April 1. I miss her already, and I will cherish our time together. She reminds me of the importance of what I'm doing and of why I'm doing it. And she reminds me of the passion my board has, how amazing they are and how blessed Jackson County is to have such fantastic women passionate about this organization.

Running today

went pretty well, .25 warm up, then 5.5-6.0 run for 2.5 miles (average 5.7 according to Treadmill, so 10:34) then .25 cool down.  Total of 3.0 miles done.  Foot is not grand, but not bad. Waiting to see how much I raise for SoleMates between now and 10 pm before I decide what tomorrow will bring. For every $10, I'm running a mile.

Want to up my mileage for tomorrow? http://www.active.com/donate/SoleMates2010/slea1 .

Also, learned that guys get a really cool shirt if they do solemates, not girly pretty like mine!  If you're a guy and you're interested, you should totally do Solemates, the fundraising goal is only $262 (unless you're a maniac like me - $1500)

WATER LOGGED

Week 2, Day 1: Yesterday I said I'd start hydrating.  Today you could see me around town with monster water jug.  Look at this thing, it's huge!!!!

.  Celebrating that I got one of these big jugs down. All I can say is thank goodness for lemons!!!!

I'm thinking of doing a flat stanly with the water jug, where will it turn up next???  Keep hydrating while having fun, I always say, not always, but will start now!

Thinking I will make this one profile pic on FB, why not??  It's my new best friend.

Week One - complete

Training: On February 14, I hurt my ankle.  I've spent the last month resting it, using non-impact cardio machines like AMT and elliptical, but not running.  Yesterday, was my first day of "running."  Running being a totally subjective term.  I went a total of 1.65 miles at 5.0 - 6.0 pace, and walking every half mile.  However, the foot feels good, and today I was able to run a total of 2.0 miles without walking in between. Pace was still between 5.0-6.0, but foot still feels good.

Fundraising: Over the past week, I've used my facebook account to begin encouraging people to donate to GOTR. In one week, I've raised $210, enough to convince me to up my goal from $1000 to $1500.  That money will be enough to fund 2 inner city sites for one season or one site for an entire year. http://www.active.com/donate/SoleMates2010/SLea1 takes you right to my fundraising page.  I'm encouraging everyone to give at least $10.  Every dollar counts in an organization like GOTR of Jackson County!

Perks: Yesterday I received my welcome box to SoleMates.  My $26 registration fee got me a lot of goodies!!!  First, notice how cute welcome box is, tennis shoe box with footprints on it - ahhhhh.








In the box was a bunch of really fun loot, my favorite being the singlet.  There's also a training manual for half and full marathon. . .gets me thinking maybe October will hold the KC half marathon for me.  We shall see.

Besides my foot, the biggest struggle I'm facing right now is the weather, the long winter, and the extra pounds I've picked up to drag me down.  So, starting this week, my first priority will be to hydrate with water.  If you know me at all, you know I do not like water. However, yesterday I picked up some lemons at the grocery store, got my HUGE cup out of storage and will start downing at least one big cup of lemon water a day.

My SoleMate's Journey

One week ago, I signed up for Solemates, the charity running piece of Girls on the Run. The event I chose is Hospital Hill 10K, and my goal is to set a PR of under one hour.  You will be able to track both my training and fundraising progress through this blog.  My hope is that everyone sees how empowering reaching a goal truly is.  Stay tuned for all the perks and struggles this adventure will surely bring!

Make a Difference

Let me be frank, I'm asking for your money.  (PLEASE DON'T STOP READING, unless you're going to scroll down to the link and donate right now.)

 Jackson County Girls on the Run serves suburbs like Lee's Summit and Blue Spring, rural areas like Grain Valley and Buckner as well as the urban core in the heart of Kansas City - think VanBrunt and 17th Street and areas like Sugar Creek.  This season we've nearly tripled in size going from 33 girls last fall to close to 90 this spring.  We've added 3 fully funded sites - thanks to Pave Your Lane, LINK and SoleMates.  At the same time, we've been able to maintain our registration fees to $50-$75 for our public sites. Our total out of pocket site per girl is $200, so offering it at an affordable rate means we need help!

I've signed up for SoleMates (the charity running piece of GOTR) this season with two goals in mind.  I'll be running Hospital Hill 10K.  Last year I completed it in 1:06, this year I want to do it in less than an hour.  If you're not familiar with HH, let me just say, the name is NOT deceiving.  This race is full of HUGE hills, and if you know me at all, you know I'm a treadmill kind of chick.  But I'm up for the challenge - 60 minutes, 10 minute miles, YES I CAN!!!!

My second goal is to raise $1000 for GOTR through SoleMates.  http://www.active.com/donate/SoleMates2010/SLea1  Here's the link to my page.  You can see how much I've raised, who the biggest funders are and all that fun stuff.  I will also be posting awesome stories about the girls and about how your gift of $10 (yep, that's all I'm asking for - 100 people to give $10) is impacting girls in our area.

Last season two women wanted to add a site at their inner city school, and I wasn't sure how we were going to fund the site.  Basically they decided to do SoleMates which would cover the cost of their girls' registration fees.  I am excited to share with you that they currently have 15 girls signed up for Girls on Track (6-8th grade girls). Here's a blip of how SM/GOTR has made a difference in this girl's life.

"Thinking about the girl who is overweight. . . I am really excited she is involved.  She is looking forward to learning about healthy eating too.  I think this will be great for her.  When we first mentioned the group to her, she asked if she could just be the cheerleader or help coach, because she didn't think she could do the running.  So, I'm glad she signed up.  And, another chubby girl signed up once she saw this other had signed up.  She said, "If she's gonna do it, then I'll do it too."  I know GOTR is not a weight-loss program, but if they can see that exercise is feasible and can be fun, as well as eating well, then maybe they will eventually see a change in weight and lifestyle."


What chokes me up about this is that the girl wants to coach or cheer on other girls because she's already told herself she can't.  She's already living in that girl box about what a big girl can and can't do.  And she signed up anyway.  She'll learn over the next 11 weeks what it's taken me most of my life to learn, I can do anything. 


More to come!!!!  You can donate right now, it's painless and easy - $10. . .and it does directly affect our girls right here in Jackson County!

Battle Wages

Sunday was the Love 2 Run 4 Mile race around the downtown airport.  It was also Valentine's Day and my birthday.  We decided to celebrate by doing this run.  At the time I signed David and I up for it, I wasn't thinking about the weather. . .Did I mention, I hate being cold.  That morning we woke up at 7 am to a 27 degree day with wind chills in single digits, and oh, it was WINDY!!!  I even considered staying home, well, more than considered. I told David it was really too cold, so let's not go.  And as I sat there thinking about it, I changed my mind.

So we put on our warmest running clothes and headed to the airport.  I'm not sure that I still understood how cold it was going to be outside. When we arrived, people were trickling into the parking lot.  As I'm looking at them, I tell myself that they're pretty elite athletes (of course they are, what other kind of person would come out in this extreme weather?), and the voices start in my head.  The ones of doubt and discouragement. They go something like this, "It's too cold, you hate cold, you can't really do this, you'll finish dead last, look how cold it is, this is going to hurt, you're not going to make it" and on and on.

However, there was another voice, the voice of my husband, standing right next to me, "This is going to be fun." Ahhhhh. . .so we got out of the car, and headed to the start line.

The race started right on time, so off we went.  We were standing pretty close to the start line, and for about the first mile, runners passed us.  Again, that voice, "You're going to finish dead last, what are you doing out here, it's so cold. . ."  About the first mile, the inside voice started coming out.  Each step was painful, cold and uncomfortable and I let David know."My knee hurts, we haven't even gone a mile, this is horrible."  David loaned me his two holed hat to put around my neck and over my mouth, but when I'd wear it I couldn't breath, and when I didn't I was freezing.  I complained about this too.  Truth is, I fussed the ENTIRE time.  And yet, David stayed strong, he kept encouraging me.  I said, "I'm going to walk." He said, "No, we can do this." He held my hand going up the hills, he stayed calm and ran right next to me.  I told him he could leave, he said, "No, we are doing this together."  And so we ran.

At the 3 mile mark, I said, "Why couldn't this be a 5K?" We laughed, and kept on running.  Finally, the finish line was in sight.  That voice in my head continued the entire run, but David's company and encouragement allowed me to believe him and keep on running.  We crossed the finish line at a little under 44 minutes.  Afterwards, I was wiped out, cold and sweating at the same time.  And I finished.  And I ran the whole thing, yes, it was hard, and I didn't think it was possible, but I did it.

This is what coaches, running buddies, and family members do for our girls during their 5K. For most girls, this is their first 5K, and they wonder if they can really do it. They want to quit, but the person next to them says, "You can do this."  "I'm staying with you the whole way, and we'll get it done!" Then they reach that finish line and realize they did it. My hope for each girl is that the voice she hears in her head when she tries something new or hard is that of her coach or encourager - "YOU CAN!!!"  For me, that voice is getting stronger every day, and completing those seeming impossible things generates such empowerment inside of me! I can and I did!

On Line Registration

is now open!!! https://secure.mysportsnetwork.com/kcsc/GirlsontheRunJacksonSpring10/Register.aspx Thanks KC Sports Commission for your patience with me and all of your help.  


Sign your daughter up TODAY as space is limited to first 15 girls per site.

Record Number at Coach's Training

Coach's training is this Saturday at DLT for the spring season.  I have 12 women signed up to come and get certified to coach GOTR!!! HOLY COW!!!!  The great thing is that each site will have 2 certified coaches.  2 certified coaches with the hope that in the fall each new coach will spread their wings and start a new site.  I LOVE having a growth plan, and I love Girls on the Run!!!!

So What!!!

I think there's this whole secret women thing going on out there where we tell ourselves we have to do it all. You know, things like "I am woman, hear me roar." "I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan." Suddenly, a woman's role is defined by how much she can cram into her day, how much she can get done. Never mind her own peace of mind, like DORY from NEMO, "JUST KEEP SWIMMING."

I've been talking to my sister about our struggles with juggling careers, parenting, marriage, housework, and everything else we have going on, and it's occurred to me, that we're not alone on this, even though I feel like that for most of my day.  So, I'd like to take some time here and blast these lies and myths we, as women, convince ourselves of and then aspire to live up to resulting in pent up anger, frustration, and unhappiness.

I think we get this idea that women can do everything, and when we can't, what's wrong with us.  This is the lie, it's a lie I've been struggling with for years.  Why aren't I happy,I get to do it all.  Why do I get overwhelmed and feel so  broken down. No one else does.  TRUTH: EVERYONE ELSE DOES, women just don't talk about it. I think there's this unwritten rule that you better not share your struggles with anyone else bc you'll seem weak.  Well, who cares!!!  I'm weak, I need help, I can't do it all!!!!  Ahhhh, now that's freeing.


Someone posted on their FB status that Pink's "So What" is her theme song.  Know what, me too.  I am a rock star!! We all are! Let's start embracing that.  Not the overwhelmed I can't do it feeling. Next time it creeps up on me, I'm going to stop whatever it is I'm doing, crank up that song and start dancing around. Sound stupid or silly or embarrassing?  My response, "SO WHAT!!" 


What does this have to do with GOTR, glad you asked.  Because this is the direct opposite of that girl box.  Being able to say, "Who cares. This __________ does not define me."  That's empowering, and that's what we want to show girls. You don't have to do everything. You're awesome just the way you are!  You are a Rock Star!  

Overcoming doubt = EMPOWERMENT

I teach a class each week at the Y, and at the end of  class we've been doing forearm plank (see picture). We started doing this consistently with the start of the new year.   Let me add that these women are amazing, the average age is 65, and right now they are doing forearm plank for 1:20 seconds (we increase 5 seconds a week). Watching them struggle through plank it occurs to me that I get to experience a glimmer of what the GOTR coaches experience through the entire season of GOTR.

When I first told the ladies that we'd be doing forearm plank with a goal of 3 minutes, their eyes nearly popped out of their head.  Many of them doubted ever being able to do that for one full minute, much less 3.  When coaches tell the girls that they'll be doing a 5K at the end of the season, you can imagine a very similar reaction, especially when the girls realize a 5K is 3 miles, and they can barely manage 1 mile.

And yet, at the end of the GOTR season as with the end of our "plank season"  goals will be reached.  Girls and women will come to realize they are strong, and what seemed impossible only a short time ago CAN be obtained.  That feeling of empowerment is what draws me to both being a fitness instructor and council director for GOTR of Jackson County.  As women, we often feel defeated before we've even begun, but with the help and encouragement of coaches/instructors/mentors, we can reach those goals (not necessarily with ease, but if it was easy, would we really feel empowered?).  

LOVELOVELOVELOVE what I do!

"I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!"

Ever had one of those moments, where you're so full of joy your heart is bursting?  That's how I'm feeling right NOW! Energy and excitement are all around GOTR of Jackson County.  Just when I think we've hit a new peak, something else happens that elevates us even higher.  11 at volunteer orientation, new site added last week, brand new partnership with Rock the Parkway (KC Running Company), invitations to speak at events (all of this in the last two weeks), and it keeps GROWING!!!  What will this week bring??? So much potential, and I'm ready to harness it.

I hope that each of you have something in your life that you feel such passion and commitment too.  Passion makes life a grand adventure.  Find your passion and EMBRACE it.  You can change the world!!!!

Seeking Volunteers

Still trying to decide if you want to get involved as a volunteer with GOTR?  Wondering if we even really need you?  Well, wonder no more, WE DO!!!

Specifically we need assistant coaches (committed to once a week). Ideally, we'd love to have assistant coaches this season who want their own site in the fall - is this you????  I really think YOU should come to volunteer orientation Thursday night from 6-7 at DLT (6217 Blue Ridge Blvd. Raytown, MO 64133) and see for yourself!

Volunteers Needed

Hello WORLD!!!!  Very soon, all this snow will melt and the arctic tundra living conditions will pass, then it will be time to head OUTSIDE!!!  And do I have a super outside event for you: Rock the Parkway.  Girls on the Run of Jackson and Johnson County are the exclusive charity partners for this event.  So, if you're looking for a 5K, 10K or half to train for in the early spring, HERE YOU GO!!!  This event takes place down Ward Parkway, so it's FLAT and BEAUTIFUL. Just talking about it makes me want to lace up my sneakers and RUN.  Unfortunately, my commitment is to volunteer.  What am I saying, unfortunately, I LOVE to volunteer, and I LOVE to cheer people on.  "RUN RUN RUN, YOU CAN DO IT!!!" Now if that's more your gig, then contact me at jaco.gotr@gmail.com.  We need you!

It's never too late

Ever seen the movie Julie and Julia? Over the last two weeks, I've rented and watched lots of movies, but none of them has touched me quit like this movie did.  While this movie focused on food, the universal theme was living your dream and realizing your passion.  At the same time, what struck me about this movie was the message that it's never too late.


So, here it is, January of a new decade, who's ready to live their passion?  To get involved in something they've always wanted to, but never really new how.  For me, my passion is Girls on the Run.  The mission of healthy living and self-respect for girls is something I wish I felt as a child, teen and young woman.  Now, to get the opportunity to instill that in our girls and help them find their own passion, dreams and goals, is something I'll do forever.


Stop, right now, make a list of the things you want to accomplish, of the things your passionate about, of the legacy you want to leave behind. Go ahead, make your list.  Now, look at it, what is getting in the way of you living it?  What if you could put those obstacles aside and do what made you happy?  Would you do it?  What if you new it was going to be hard, of course it is, what if you new people would question you, would you still do it?  That's what this movie was about, and you know what, both ladies did it.  They set a goal and achieved it, with immeasurable results! 


My challenge to all of you is to find your passion and LIVE IT!!!!!  There will be challenges along the way, but in the end the rewards will be so worth it!  Just look at me, I get to change lives, and 5 years ago I was an obese couch potato who had no clue what I wanted to do with my life. 

New Year, New YOU!

This year, pick a race to participate in and raise money for GOTR through SoleMates, get lots of support for event and for fundraising including your own fundraising page. What could be a  better healthier way to celebrate 2010?


www.jacogotr.org or http://www.girlsontherunsolemates.org/ (Be sure to sign up for Jackson County, Missouri)

Here's two events we're partnering with: Hospital Hill - http://www.hospitalhillrun.com/ and Rock the Park Way http://rocktheparkway.com/ or there's always New Balance Girls on the Run 5K on May 22.

"Run at your Happy Pace!"