Thursday, November 1, 2012

I'm IN to Finish 2012....

I’m feeling so many mixed emotions at this point….  Between feeling guilty that I’m frustrated getting into NYC along with everyone coming with us at different times and making sure everything is set ok for everyone…..but yet I shouldn’t feel “guilty” when my problems are logistics when so many others have problems at a higher level of my silly logistics.  What seemed to be a fun idea in the beginning has turned into a not so great idea of riding the train now when the tunnel is still filled with water into the city.  So given a last minute distress call to the airlines and a hike in airfare during the 15 minute conversation I had with the representative I bit the bullet and said Let’s do this…so JFK here we come.

I’m reading mixed reviews of being accepted as a runner into the city because some feel the marathon shouldn’t go on.  However, some say they need the marathon to happen to boost morale and spirit as well as the economical impact the marathon can have on businesses.  So…what is the right way to feel?
I’ve read blog entries and articles from one extreme to the next.  About booing the runners and throwing the water at them as opposed to handing it to them….really?  At any point in time is that truly what you think someone should do?  I will be happy to pick up my own cup of water if it means a volunteer can be helping someone else in need from the storm; I’m completely ok with that. 
Now given, I’m well aware that’s one persons opinion and sometimes the craziest comments sneak the attention of publicity….but I will say…to claim these runners are selfish is beyond something I want to debate on, I don’t feel it’s a necessary argument.  Many runners have dedicated months of their own lives to raise money for charities (some of which are probably benefiting due to the circumstances right now), spent their weekends doing 3 hour runs, etc. I am not a New Yorker (nor am I claiming some of that justifies what others are going through right now)…. I am a West Virginian so my opinion could be different than a local’s.  I never want to see devastation; I would never celebrate it, nor ignore it which has been some of the claim along the way.  Do people really think we are “celebrating” Hurricane Sandy by running the marathon?
Plain and Simple…I am running this marathon to honor my dad who battles on a daily basis a lifestyle far worse than Hurricane Sandy.  This disease is life altering just like Hurricane Sandy.  But I’m not going to point fingers for things others do while my dad is struggling and say they are celebrating Parkinson’s Disease.  I will do whatever I can to help New York City given the opportunity while there…because that’s what people do.  I’m not there to intrude on your lifestyle and infringe on things that have happened due to the hurricane.  West Virginia has had our share of Hurricane/Super Storm Sandy, as well as a horrible storm this past summer, I never thought once at insulting people coming into our area while we were getting trees removed from our properties and so forth.  I will be the first to admit I don’t understand the extreme of race logistics, this is my first race ever of this size & magnitude…but I’m ok with some amenities of the race being altered so people can be utilized elsewhere to help others….this race means a little something different to me.  I'd even meet a new friend and see if they wanted to run 26.2 miles to still complete what we set out to do, with or without bleachers full of people and parties along every block.
I questioned at one point if I should withdraw from the marathon when the first E-mail blast went out due to everything that has happened, but I realized I’m doing this for a reason…and quitting now is going against everything I decided to prove months ago.  Things will never be perfect, there will always be obstacles and we still have to do what we set out to do.  We’ve raised ALMOST our goal of $10,000 and I have people counting on me to do this….most of all…my dad.  Tomorrow will not be any better for any Parkinson’s Disease patient if I don’t strive to make a difference now.  Now…I may sound selfish that my heart is set on the Parkinson’s Community for this effort, but there isn’t a time if someone needed help I wouldn’t do what I could to assist in it… 
I'm IN to finish for my Dad
Many people who run the NYC marathon do it to accomplish something, to honor a charity/person/a reason, and to prove you CAN do anything.  One of the reasons I love NYC is because they are a city of “do’ers”…when 9/11 happened they embraced community and set forth a plan to recover, which is exactly what they are in the process of doing now.  I just hate I’m feeling “guilty” for still moving forward with the marathon a little bit.    

I’ve been reminded by many…if anyone can do this….Team Foxers can….  And that’s just exactly what Team Spangler is going to do for Team Fox.  So if you want to throw your cup of water at me….so be it…I’ll compare your throw to my dad’s quarterback arm and I guarantee yours won’t be as good.  Ok that was a rant and I take it back J
I suppose this is my most controversial blog post ever….probably will stay that way as well…and I’m certain I’m missing the point of some people’s resentment of the NYC marathon going forward.  Please just know…if there is something my group of 6 can do while we are there…we will do it….but we are also there to prove to my dad he taught us to never quit when we’ve put our mind to something.
So as of today I’m still “IN TO FINISH 2012”
 

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Thanks for the visit "Sandy".....

I’m no so sure who invited “Sandy” to NYC (well the entire east coast for that matter) but someone really should have slammed the door in her face.  I’m speechless as to the damage this has done to the east coast and the pictures that display what the storm has left behind.  New York City is dealing with water filled subway lines and I’m sitting here in West Virginia with snow falling around me on October 30th.  I swear…just last week I was running in a tank top and shorts, I mean really?

I wanted to blog yesterday to highlight fellow “Team Spangler” runner Johnny Hogue with his amazing performance at the WV State Cross Country meet but instead I spent most of my day rearranging our NYC plans to postpone arrival and departures to figure out exactly what’s going on…so instead…sit back and relax and prepare for a novel J
This past weekend was the States Cross Country Meet….Ritchie County had 1 runner make it (Johnny)…  His mom has told us, Johnny probably never would have ran if dad hadn’t had a big talk with him one summer at a little basketball camp he hosted and encouraged him to take up the sport….  Junior year in high school Johnny has made all state for all 3 high school years….  It appears Johnny made a good decision J  Congrats Johnny and thanks for giving us someone to “yell at” during the race so we could run around the course like crazy people cheering. 

 
Johnny Finished 3rd place in this years meet :)
 
 Also…now I can’t remember if it was Holli or Melanie who said when the 2nd place team took the stage…”That was us 12 years ago”… TAKE THAT BACK!  Actually it’s ok…they tried to charge me student admission to get into the State Meet…so the age 30 breakdown is still pending.  I also wanted to note, I’m a bit jealous at the way they put on the State XC awards now….We didn’t get flashing lights, grand reveal, and so forth back in my day.  It really gives kids something to be excited about and want to work for.  Never forget at that moment at the ceremony when you tell yourself “I want to make All State next year”…. Realize it’s from that moment until the start of next cross country season you have to work to make that happen. 
(this was us...12 years ago..I mean...I few years ago) Just to play "remember when"
 
Now..I had promised some an update of how to track me during the NYC marathon….  Well that is…if it’s still going to go on…I’ll keep you posted.   I believe you can insert my “bib number” into a few different programs (depending on your preference) and track my progress of the race….. I told a few but if it seems a “delayed of progress” with me on different areas of the course…you just might want to research the stores in that given area and see if I got side tracked.  (You know..Tiffany’s…cupcake shop…Starbucks…there could be a lot of things) J 
My Bib Number is: 17238
My Start time is 9:40am (I’m in Green Wave #1, Corral #17) Whatever that means.  There is a chance I will start in the Blue Wave depending on the opening ceremony of the flag presentation and being a WV State Ambassador
Here are some programs they referred to us:
You can “Support your Marathoner” through this Asics Program: (I think it tracks somehow too)
There is another program, however I think it costs something…this is what was sent through the NYC Marathon emails that the Marathon endorses.
This is also an option for some tech savvy people, this website displays some options:  (I however just crossed over to an iPhone and completely overwhelmed and get excited at the concept of accomplishing downloading an app…so some techy questions I may not be your best source for answers.
Info Link
I’m starting to wonder if this storm may have scared the Kenyans away…if so I just might have a chance at this…   Oh gosh I’ll catch havoc for that, and please understand my expression of extreme sarcasm on that J  Kenyans or not…you can find me making friends among the slower pace crowd.
 

As for the fundraising….we are kickin’ butt if I may say so myself.  We’ve had some amazing surprise donations that keep creeping us closer and closer to our big goal of $10,000…seriously who would have thought we’d be here?... I mean I kinda pushed for a little extreme when I issued this as our goal to make us reach a little further….and if my estimations are right with what is pending (See it’s tricky….depending on some donations I have to mail them to the Michael J. Fox Foundation to be issued so they take a little bit longer then via online). BUT….I think we are around $9500… (We are currently in 6th place for fundraising for the NYC Marathon group of Team Fox not counting pending donations mailed in)   We have truly come together as a “Team”.  I have been emailed a few times requesting the donation link again (I realize some of my blog entries are lengthy and it’s hard to find something upon going back through to come back to)…so…. Here it is.
Also… we would LOVE for you (if you have one) to wear your Team Spangler Shirt on Sunday November 4th for race day!  Take a picture and post it to my Facebook or dad’s Facebook…or even email me!  Just for fun to see all the Team Spangler Followers! J 
Don't Forget!