Running 50 Miles for Project Kids Eat
The Mountain Masochist Race
{ 11/5/2007 UPDATE } I ran the race. Please read my Mountain Masochist race report for the nitty-gritty details.
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At 5:30 a.m., Saturday, November 3, 2007, I will be standing, in the dark, at the starting line of the 25th annual Mountain Masochist 50-mile Trail Run deep in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The famous David Horton “50-miler” that is rumoured to actually be 54 miles.
This challenging mountain trail race begins in Lynchburg, VA and completes in Montebello, VA, and runners must be complete the 50+ miles within twelve hours to be considered an official finisher.
Having completed races of up to 31 miles, this will be my most difficult challenge to date and a first attempt at running a 50 mile ultramarathon.
Below is a description of the race from the Mountain Masochist web site:
“Started in 1983 the Mountain Masochist Trail Race has earned its reputation for being the ‘best trail race in the east’. The course itself is a challenging combination of roads, jeep trails, and single track that can cause even the most experienced runner to breath a sigh of relief at the finish line in Montebello, VA.“
Montrail, one of the event’s sponsors, adds the following:
“Are you a glutton for punishment? …these characteristics make this race one of the more challenging of the 50-mile trail competitions offered in the United States…“
Why I Am Doing This Race
I am doing this race because I love to challenge myself physically, mentally and emotionally. This will be the most difficult physical challenge and mental test I have tackled to date; but emotionally, I am already reaping the positive effects of giving back to those in need.
I think there comes a time in every person’s life when a little light bulb goes off in our head and we begin to realize just how lucky we are, to be who we are. After watching my family’s volunteer participation in Project Kids Eat last year, I realized that I also have a personal responsibility to utilize my gifts in support of others. One of my gifts happens to be mental and physical strength, and I plan to utilize these gifts by participating in the endurance challenge of my lifetime in support of Project Kids Eat. My goal is to raise at least $2,500.00 to support the project’s Holiday feeding program this season.
I want to utilize this challenge to bring awareness to more than just myself and my accomplishments – I want people to know that there are homeless children in metro Atlanta right now – as I write this – struggling for a hot meal. Kids have no choice. They didn’t ask to be homeless. They weren’t the cause of their homelessness, but some live that lifestyle each and every day.
Homeless adults is one thing – Homeless kids is altogether different.
I want to run 50 miles for them. Please support my efforts with anything you can give. When you support me, you are really supporting them. Every single penny goes to them – I pay for my own training, race preparation and travel.
Donate today | No fees. Credit cards accepted. Safe and secure donation.
…and unlike those big charities, I won’t hound you to death for 10 years after your gesture of generosity. {wink}
Thank you,
Christian Griffith
