"You See....Your Dad....he's on the Naughty List"

Just Kidding (Quoted from one of my favorite movied of all times) :)....my dad certainly isn't on the naughty list...at least probably not this year....however you may not want to ask his nurses after some of the jokes/pranks he's pulled on them this year.  One consiting of him hiding a kitten under his blanket so when they pulled it back it jumped out at them and scared them :)

“Ohhhhh A Christmas Tree!!!!!!!”

“I just like to Smile….smiling is my favorite”

“What’s a Christmas Gram?...I WANT ONE!”

“SANTA….I know him…..I know him!!!!”

If you want me to continue I will….I’m certain I can probably site the entire movie to you if you’d like J  If you don’t yet know, It’s Elf….seriously the best Christmas Movie of all time.  Which is why also, this moment while running the “Run it Anyway Marathon” was at the top of my best things to ever happen list J

Christmas is my favorite holiday simply because of the spirit of Christmas.  No, I’m not talking about the grumpy people at the store…..but the sense of hope and excitement in kids.  It brings out the good in people on most things because others put others before them and try to make sure others are taken care of.  I ALWAYS tell myself I’m going to make all these wonderful handmade items I see that I’m inspired by and then of course a few days before Christmas I’m aggravated I didn’t have time or find the time to make it “as special” as I’d hoped.  So here is to good intentions J

I cannot express how much my dad laughs at Christmas Vacation movie…I will probably argue that’s the 2^nd best Christmas movie.  Most movies are the “heart felt warming blah blah blah” (Which is fine..I enjoy my Lifetime and Hallmark movies this time of year)…but Christmas Vacation is hilarious.  We all know we have one Cousin Eddy in every family and you can’t help but laugh.

 

(Well....you know the famous line here I won't quote to avoid offending anyone by the language) :)

Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead? 

I’m looking forward to filling my next few days with more Christmas movies because I haven’t had enough of them.  I can’t wait to stuff myself to the point where I can’t move at my Grandma Nelson’s house on Christmas Eve and catch up with everyone.  It’s easy to tell yourself ‘That’s why I run” so I can eat as much as I want.  Dad always use to say “I run so I can eat”.  He does love his sweets J

 Another thing I’m excited about is this picture I was finally able to find to surprise dad with for Christmas.  Don’t worry…he won’t see this blog unless someone shows him and mom and them know they aren’t allowed so I’m sure we are safe to share J  I want dad to see just where our journey took us this year and how involved we got to be with such an influential person in the Parkinson’s Community, so he can see this picture and be reminded we all continue to battle this together.  Michael J. Fox is beyond a positive person, he’s a symbol of hope to so many who didn’t have a thought of hope at this disease.  They have literally moved mountains in the world of research in their quest to find a cure and continue to progress further every day.  I just wanted to hug Michael J. Fox and fight back tears at just how much it has meant to us to get here.  Our family isn’t much of a crying and sympathetic of moments as we’ve all been raised to be “pretty tough”…..so it goes unspoken with some of our struggles we face seeing our dad battle this….and I hope this picture keeps dad smiling on his bad days so we can continue to hope that “tomorrows” will be better.

 

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL Christmas……and thank you so much for everything this past year…..and I mean it J   

Coming out of "hiding"....

I feel like I need to start this last posting in this manner:

I’m Missy Spangler and I’m disappointed about the NYC Marathon….. 

I almost hate to admit this…and I think I’ve spent the last month convincing myself it was what it was but really not dealing with how disappointed I was….  I’m really not someone who dwells upon things to the point it alters their life…I’d rather just find something else to consume myself in and move along.  However….I’ve found myself making every excuse in the world to avoid days of running….I know it sounds ridiculous and maybe I need to sit down on the couch and have an in-depth conversation with a therapist such as in “Good Will Hunting”….   I know myself well enough to know I’m just being stupid or stubborn (usually they tend to go hand in hand)…..  BUT I find myself disappointed every time I REALLY think about it….I think what the problem truly is….I feel like I disappointed everyone I made a promise to.  No, nobody has said anything remotely like that….I just feel like I spent almost an entire year making a promise of running the marathon….promising….raising money….and everything all to feel like I didn’t uphold my “REAL” promise. 

Now before a critic gets a hold of my “words”, this has nothing to do with the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy and me not being sympathetic about the situation and decision to cancel the marathon.  This is me feeling like I cheated a promise that motivated me to run 3-31/2 hours on a given day telling myself I was running the marathon to honor my dad. 

I find myself getting more and more frustrated with myself with each passing day that sneaks by I don’t put on my running shoes and get back to it full force.  A little while after the marathon I got sick and wasn’t allowed to run for awhile because it was making it worse…and then I just kinda “fell off my wagon” as best as I can put it…..and truthfully it’s not really who I am.  I’ve been timid as to making another goal to shoot for and I think it’s because I’m still disappointed in some realm that I let my last goal down.  The more I recap telling the stories to others who ask as to how great our experience still ended up being in New York the more I kick myself to get home in time to run and then I get to working on something else or pulled in another direction and it’s another “after dark” arrival at home and I need to find a solution to the problem. 

I pulled myself together today to inquire about a few other races I want to set a goal for and get myself going to keep on doing this.   I’ve still got NYC Marathon 2013 (TAKE 2 of course) pending as well as maybe a hopeful adventure to CA to run a race with some fellow Team Foxers we met in NYC.   I also promise to set it prior to any “New Year’s Resolutions” because I feel if you truly want to do something you don’t need a resolution to do it…you’ll either stick to it or not….but if it makes you feel better….I’ll welcome you to join Team Spangler for your New Year’s Resolution J

This is why we do this......Believing in a better tomorrow through Team Fox....

I’ve been in touch with Team Fox and once 2013 arrives we will be able to designate a “Team Spangler” actual Team under Team Fox and have you join to be a part of it if you wish J  I’ll work on spreading some motivation your way and we can look forward to doing things as a group if we’d like J  Show them how powerful we can be!  I am going to limit how thin I spread myself this year with everything and want to focus on what’s really in my heart…..and that being this Team Fox family who has given us so much this past year.

I feel like a lot has happened since I last blogged…which is another thing….I think I kept wanting to hide from being vocal about my current state of dwelling on this and pulling myself together J 

The tragedy that has American’s hearts broken all across the US still tugs at me.  I mean, how do you describe what has happened?...where do we go from here?  I was raised within a family of teachers…and I don’t just mean a few….literally surrounded by teachers J  From my mom and my dad, to my grandma, to my aunts and uncles….no matter which school I was at…I had a family member there.   To think how much of their lives they put into making a better life for the children, I’m devastated to think of that being at risk.  My dad has touched so many people’s lives being the educator and coach he is, and I always hear people speak of my mom and the differences/memories she made in their lives being their 3^rd grade teacher.  Teachers teach for the love of children, not for the salary….otherwise if you broke down the extra hours and everything they do they probably make about 10 cents on the hour.  Being a teacher is almost a version of a small town celebrity….I laugh when I meet a little kid and I say “Well Mrs. Spangler is my mom”….you would think she must be a movie star in their favorite movie….SHE’S YOUR MOM…..oh how cool!  Sometimes I take for granted…thinking ummmm yeah…she’s my mom J.    To know the passion a teacher has for children’s lives….my heart was empty given this tragedy and the familes who have to deal with such a devastating moment, I don’t even personally know any of the victims and to know how much  this tears at me……I can’t even imagine.  Also, say an extra prayer for all the first responders, what close friends I have that have been in that situation I know how hard it is for them to not personally be devastated, this is one of the worst to have to respond to….that is their worst nightmare as well….and I hope this brings this country a little closer together right now….we sure need it….and hope for a better tomorrow. 

On a happier note….for any of those who know me know….this is my FAVORITE time of the year….so I better sign off to finish up my list of to do’s that as always I’m behind on…..and we have basketball practice this evening J  …Yes….I’m coaching elementary school age basketball again this year so Blue Thunder is on the move again! J

Smokes Wishes you a Merry Christmas :)

 

Let them eat Turkey....

Sooo….tomorrow is Thanksgiving and the web is filled with everyone expressing what they are thankful for.  I have to say…I’m thankful for the past year…..it’s given me a new prospective on this journey we’ve been battling as a family.  I think some of it went unspoken because at times we just didn’t want to talk about the obvious, which was hard to face.  I’m thankful that through this journey I’ve had “good news” to share with dad daily.  The positives we have been able to pull from this, the opportunity to be in touch with some we haven’t heard from in a long time, the notes, the encouragement, the stories, the memories, and most of all the laughs at “remember when”.  Sometimes we get so busy in the everyday life of demands we forget the little things.  Trust me I’m not preaching to the choir, I’m probably one of the worst at that so I’m pretty much talking to myself as I type this.  It’s always been about reaching a particular goal but the important thing to get from that is to understand and appreciate how you got there. 

I know I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for my family.  As crazy as we may be J  Ok…we aren’t crazy…maybe just loud… opinionated…poor dad never stands a chance in a house full of woman.  I think of everything he claimed was “his”…he lost over time because we took over.  I remember when building our house he was so proud of the basement getting to be his (it was some sort of agreement mom had with him so no “Hunting memorabilia was in the actual living/visiting parts of the house)…(I suppose now people refer to those as man caves)…a place he could finally hang his deer trophies…turkey hunting whatever…football memorabilia etc.  I can’t say I remember how long he had that “room”…but I do know it wasn’t long J  Sadly the kids started to take over little by little, and then I think I actually took over it with craft projects so much he didn’t even bother putting up a fight about it being “His Space”, now it’s Andy’s room J.  Maybe he just considered the “Hunting Cabin” they built to be his “place”.  Which is another thing this time of the year always reminds me of…..Deer Camp….  Now I must say you have to be from around here to truly appreciate this ritual….I don’t even know where to begin to explain it J  But there was a rule “No woman allowed”  but somehow they always let me sneak in…I think I brought cookies is the reason or I usually wasn’t seen without being attached to dad J

I remember in high school they tried to have school the Monday/Tuesday of what some call Thanksgiving break….We kinda refer to it as Deer Season…. I remember there were so many students absent (they were hunting) they couldn’t even count the days…..so we still get a whole week off for Thanksgiving here…I suppose you have to pick your battles J  Dad lived to be in the woods….I remember questioning all the “tricks” of hunting…. vanilla extract poured all over clothes (you know so the deer can’t smell you)…to “survival of men only” at Deer Camp for the week, but don’t worry we had Thanksgiving Dinner after Dark so they had time to make it to dinner after they’ve come out of the woods for the day J  Dad scheduled basketball practice around deer breaks…..he showed up in camo….had to answer the question everyday if he got one.  I guess that was always the week dad got to “getaway”.  It’s kinda a ritual around here, and growing up around it I’ve learned to appreciate it.

Last year since dad can’t attend “Deer Camp” now….they came to visit him…camo and all J  It’s easy to forget just how fun this week was as a kid and to be honest, it seriously was less than a half a mile from our house, but it seemed like a whole different world.  Some of the deer camp stories I hear now, I definitely don’t remember being allowed to hear as a kid haha….but they are worth all the laughs now that’s for sure.

 

I’d made a big move back to WV last June…so this has been my first full year here being back “Home” in WV and I’m thankful to be here.  I’m thankful to get another Thanksgiving with my family.  I’m thankful my family still doesn’t believe I can cook so I’m never really asked to bring anything J  I’m thankful to be surrounded by people who care about me, to have all the blessings I do have in my life that I take for granted on a daily basis.  It's good to have a day we disignate to be Thankful for and all the traditions that come with it (especially the food part)....we need a certified day sometimes to help us get things in perspective and remind us of what it's really all about.

Here is to everything we all have to be thankful for…but sometimes get a little sidetracked at the little things that bother us and tend to forget all the blessings we do have…..it’s ok…we are human J 

P.S. Turkey trotters don't forget to wear your Team Spangler T-shirts tomorrow! :) (I sadly am side-lined if this cough and repertory whatever doesn't straighten up over night....it's always good when a Doctor tells you that your stubborn and to "just take the medicine already".... a battle once I get to this point I’ve yet to learn to give in and surrender) J  Don’t forget to send pictures! 

 

And just a warning...if ANYONE touches my grandma Nelson's Macaroni Salad that I know she makes JUST FOR ME...we'll have a wrestling war going on at our household :) 

Celebrity Sighting in Central Park

Ok…so what now J

I suppose our Journey can’t just run into the brick wall from the cancellation of the marathon.  Maybe it was a trick to make me feel like the “big” goal wasn’t technically accomplished so we must keep doing more.  Not that I didn’t have that intention anyway….

In regards to the question I’ve gotten a few times….yes donations can still be made regarding our quest for this in honoring Team Fox for running the Marathon (At least in Central Park) J  I’ve mailed in a few more, and also on  behalf of a donor on the Michael J. Fox Board…they chose US (Team Spangler) as one of their 4 teams to donate an additional $500 to on behalf of our efforts in Central Park...how cool is that!?…so with the additional funds I’ve sent in that places us around $10,700 once it gets credited….so maybe we should shoot for $11,000?  Sorry..I know…always asking for more. , don’t act surprised.

I had to share this picture because my first thought was I hope dad doesnt' see this.  I'm in a "race" and I'm smiling...he would quickly respond with..."You weren't running hard enough"....  I actually think he had several talks with me about why I would smile in a race :)  I suppose I've forgotten my "game face" over the years.

 

I’ve been asked a few times what they are going to do about the marathon…to be honest, I have no idea J  We received an email from the marathon stating they were still figuring things out and needed some time and would get back to us. 

I have to share this chuckle from another running/blogger friend I’ve met (via social networking of course), who stated he feels like the email was a breakup email with the typical excuse “We need space…it’s not you it’s me Email” from NYRR (You can check out his NYC Marathon feelings on this post of his…it’s funny) J  http://markmatthewsauthor.blogspot.com/2012/11/never-mind-ill-find-someone-like-you.html

It made me chuckle….I even had a few thoughts of the movie “He’s just not that into you”…the marathon is over ME….so I assume while anticipating what will come of it…hopefully we will just makeshift a project in 2013 with the motto NYC Marathon…take 2…. Who’s with me? J

A few highlights we got lucky with regarding publicity from this is an article ESPN did….YES ESPN J  You can see it here….

 

Also, the Charleston Daily mail did an article on the “adventure”, our cause and still running! 

http://dailymail.com/foodandliving/201211070291

I am working on a few ideas for 2013 for Team Spangler…and I’ll keep you updated J  Just be ready to get your runnin’ and walking shoes on with me J  I probably won’t be doing any more races this year…however I’m working on a game plan for 2013.  It will certainly be bigger than this year (Of course!). 

Soooo…for today’s laugh…because that’s what we do….is for me to share another big highlight for me in NYC (For those of you who know me…know this pretty much is one of the best things that ever could have happened to me in Central Park and my obsession with the movie)

 That’s right…I saw Elf himself while running in Central Park! J  I have abided by the rule of not being allowed to watch it till Thanksgiving Day…..but I just keep thinking I’m not going to make it this year….  I told the guy it’s pretty much my favorite movie ever and I wasn’t afraid to admit it.  Somehow that didn’t creep him out…. Most people would have preferred some big named celebrity while walking through Central Park…but this made my day….I could spot this outfit from a few hundred people back and I made sure I Picked up my pace so I could get my picture with him J 

Just remember….. I just like to smile…smiling is my favorite (I think I'm suppose to put a registered trademark or something on this?) J

Run Anyway Marathon NYC 2012

So….Yes….the marathon got cancelled…..  You might want to grand a beer, glass of wine, stiff coffee, sweet tea, or something and sit back in a chair to read this as I have a feeling this blog post may be a long one.

Now…before someone wants to go off on a tangent of saying I’m a selfish, only out for myself runner, didn’t want the better good for people, and whatever other crazy things I’ve seen you publish all over social media…I will politely ask you to move along and maybe this blog post isn’t for you….because you are going into this single minded not wanting to actually understand what I am about to express.  Nor, do you really know me as a person and want a place to rant and rave as if everything we have done isn’t enough.  I will make this statement now….It was the right call….but it was terrible timing. 

Now in saying that…. I wouldn’t have changed a single thing about what happened this past weekend in New York City.  Now…I am going to talk a little bit about “me” here so forgive me if it seems insensitive as to what was going on around the outskirts of the marathon course….I’m simply expressing my journey…..that is why I ended up in NYC in the first place…. for the NYC Marathon on behalf of Team Fox.

So upon the rise and shine at 3am on Friday to make it to the airport in time to catch our connecting flight in Charlotte to JFK …. I hated I still felt this tension of “Should I be doing this”…I let the words on social media sites allow me to feel guilty for keeping my word….(which is something I don’t think happens as often as it use to.)   Upon leaving I grabbed some Team Fox stickers and stuck them all over our carry on luggage and tied my orange shoes to the top of my bag.  This is why we are doing this….

 I kept checking the flights of Mom & Kelly, and Holli & Melanie’s departing through DC and LaGuardia.  So far so good…..  We arrived at JFK no problem…actually 20 minutes early.  I had been in a panic trying to pre-arrange a ride to the hotel from the airport….there was a gas crisis and I wasn’t sure of the details…also they were requiring 3 people to be in a car to cross over the bridge into the city.  Upon leaving the plane we made our way to the public transportation line.  I had asked a representative at the transportation help desk her opinion….she said you could share a cab/flat fee…in the midst of me standing there another couple walked up asking the same questions….the representative said “She is looking to get into Manhattan why don’t you all share a cab and go together”…  Well…talk about pressure…. The gentleman had a Livestrong backpack and I hoped deep down they were runners and had some sort of common ground.  I assume there was a 2 second judgment period taking place then we kinda picked up our bags and said “OK”….  We made our way out to the cabs (No line to wait in and easy)…upon talking they were from California….they’d run the NYC Marathon a few times and were so excited for this to be my first time.  They had run in the London Marathon last year and we shared lots of running stories and laughs.  (Perfect)….  He was teasing Brock upon his first experience in NYC when a cab pulled up next to us and was yelling and honking his horn….he chuckled and said “Welcome to NYC” my friend.

Upon arrival to the hotel and getting settled, mom and Kelly arrived not too long after…Accomplishment #1 they made it J  They shared a ride with someone as well who was running in the marathon…they even met someone not too far from us….small world.

We went and enjoyed a lunch….walked around a little bit to take in the city.  Mom kept saying “Ohhhh the city smell”.  J  Weird… kidding!  We got back to the hotel to get checked in and settle in a bit before going to dinner.  Mom drifted off to sleep…Kelly was getting ready and Brock and I went down to the lobby to wait on them…. Upon entering the lobby restaurant they had a big screen TV displaying news station and a big banner running across the bottom of the screen displayed “NYC MARATHON CANCELLED”….  I think Brock was scared of the edge I might fall off…..REALLY….you’re going to tell me this FRIDAY NIGHT....after all this months of preparing….months of promising this to my dad…this goal… everything in a split second just rushed over me.  I was speechless…my phone started buzzing with messages, texts, notifications, emails, etc…. I just didn’t even know what to say…..A sense of failure somehow snuck up over me….  (and again before someone wants to stomp all over my emotions that’s fine but these are my feelings).  Yes…a sense of failure…tears didn’t seem appropriate but I questioned them for a slight second of discouragement.  And again…it isn’t the REASON…..it’s the TIMING.  This marathon wasn’t for ME….it was FOR a purpose.  In our lobby were runners from France….Italy…. and other locations…. A gentleman had just walked in with his Expo bag in hand filled with all his marathon registration..and I kinda tried to speak to him to show him the news and then I realized he didn’t speak English and I don’t think he knew what I was saying…but then he saw the news….and then I wasn’t sure what he was saying but I don’t think it was great.  I messed Holli & Melanie as I knew they currently where in flight from Charleston to DC….and at least wanted them to know…..

I will re-address my previous statement….I don’t blame the reason…..just the timing.  As a marketing person I almost immediately questioned if it wasn’t some sort of set up to get all these people into the city to spend money without having to actually put on the marathon.  So please refrain from the negatively opinions of everything else I should have been doing at that point and time and how I should have been feeling.  I can’t help but feel a little frustration when they allowed the NBA games to go on….as well as the football games….but yet the marathon was getting blasted left and right.  The food and water for runners should be used to help those who need it more….however there were concession stands etc at the games?  I’m not arguing the point…don’t get me wrong…I’m just a little questionable as to why one got so much negative publicity against the others.   The marathon raised millions of dollars for Sandy Relief in a matter of days…we were giving back to the city….runners donated their clothing….money...I don’t understand at what point we were such terrible people.  I did enjoy a good laugh over a Facebook post stating “All these runners are so selfish coming into our city wanting to run for Prize Money”….  Ummmm I’m going to assume you weren’t referring that post to me personally because I knew when I made this decision 6 months ago to do this, I wasn’t doing it for the prize money nor did I even have a shot by at least 20,000 people to be in contingency for it.  But almost everyone else I have encountered through this…they aren’t doing it for the prize money…somewhere you have missed “the runners” point, that you so categorized as “THE RUNNERS…..those TERRIBLE RUNNERS”.  I guess this has hit me soooo hard and bothered me soooo much because these people were all telling us what we should be doing….not having a clue what we’ve been through or done to already get there.  I know it shouldn’t get to me the way it was….but it did.  I just know going back a month ago when I was running a 3 hour run to dedicate this journey to Parkinson’s  maybe one of these hypocrites were sitting on a boat on a lake enjoying themselves….I never felt internally to myself “That person is selfish…I’m out here running for Parkinson’s and you’re just out there sitting on a boat drinking beer”….. We all do the best that we can and try to do what I can…..I should have avoided the social media…it really really bothered me.  (Can you tell?)  I’m so sorry for devastation, and I was ready to make the most of whatever we had.  I just felt bad at the travel expenses it took for those supporting me to get there….and everything in between when the timing of the announcement of the cancelling should have been sooner (I realize this isn’t comparable to what others are going through….but I see devastating stories go on everyday….I’m not taking away from it..I’m just telling my story)….however, I’m also grateful is wasn’t, because like many other blessings…..this was in disguise.  There is so much I wouldn’t have gotten to be a part of it they had cancelled the marathon sooner.

On Saturday they presumed with the Team Fox Dinner……so we all gathered at the restaurant filled with “Team Foxers”….met some new ones I hadn’t had the chance yet….and put some faces to some voices/names.  Most of all….standing at the entrance to greet everyone was no other than Michael J. Fox himself.  The inspiration to all of this that displays that One Person Can make a difference.  I hugged him and he knew I was to be a runner for the marathon.  A million things raced through my mind to get to this moment…..and I hardly knew what to do.  We proceeded into the dining room and sat at a table surrounded by others involved with the Parkinson’s Community.  Sharing stories and so much more it was such a wonderful evening.  It was an evening that was good for the soul and it was nice to share in laughter after everyone having mixed emotions about it all.  Michael J Fox’s speech gave light to the evening as well….and you know it speaks volumes to have someone so involved with their own charity, some it’s only a name connection….and he….he’s the inspiration behind it all.   This is definitely a group I want to stay involved with and do everything I can to help make tomorrow a better day for Parkinson’s Patients.

 

Now….on Marathon Sunday….it may not have been exactly how it had been planned….but like I said….runners make the best of everything they can.  We set out on a mission…and we were going to complete it.  At the Team Fox Dinner we met the Creator of Charity Miles (You all have heard me rave about this app many times)….what an awesome person!  Probably my biggest inspiration to get a iPhone so I could get the app J  He announced some were still meeting at Central Park to get a run in….we were meeting other Team Foxers around 9:30.  Well to my surprise it was an AMAZING event.  I really didn’t have true intensions of running 26.2 miles that day….I just thought we were going to run…and the atmosphere took over.  Brock and I ran to Central Park (Yes the little sprinter ran about 3 ½ miles there with me)…. Once we got closer to the entrance we could hear cheering, cow bells, whistles, clapping and more.  These runners and charity goers were doing exactly what they came to NYC to do……run for their cause.  I took off on the first lap (6 mile loops in Central Park)….thinking I would just run a loop with my new found Team Fox Friends…..the atmosphere was marathon frenzy….supporters all around the loop at the park….cheering for “Team fox”…or even yelling Missy (My jersey had my name on it)….  I got my 1^st lap in (a lot faster than I anticipated…adrenaline gets me EVERYTIME)….  2^nd lap I kept going and another Team Fox Runner met up with me and chatted…I even was asked “How many people did you bring up here…they are everywhere”…. I said there are 5 of them but they are professional race location specialistJ. I had in my head that I would run 2 laps after I bypassed the 1^st one…upon finishing the 2^nd one…I was egged on by “Charity Miles Guy’’…sorry I keep wanting to call you that…his real name however is Gene J…..and Brock volunteered to run a lap with me….so lap 3 here we go J  I think Brock learned a thing or 2 about the running world during that lap.  He had on the Team Spangler shirt, and everyone was cheering “Go Team Spangler”….handing out water…Oreo cookies, pretzels, and so forth.  See distance runners may be crazy…but they are awesome! J  Complete strangers wanting to help those seeking to still get their promised marathon in…..one word…. “Amazing”….  Thank you for your support along our journey and reason for being in NYC…..  we all have a story why we were running that marathon…and thanks to all of you standing along the side, cheering, runners supporting runners….maybe this experience was worth more than the actual marathon itself.  I had no intention to run that far when I woke up that morning, I hadn’t prepped like I would have for the actual marathon for that specific day…and I just couldn’t stop once I got there.  Between the run to the park, around the park..and even some walking later that day….my GPS actually had me going 29 miles…  So there dad….how about a few extra miles…just because J

 

This experience left me wanting to do more….this is something that truly helped me feel a part of something bigger….and I am looking into a few other races to set goals for now.  Possibly Miami in January…and even the marathon in CA that goes through the vineyard hills with our new Team Fox friends we made…… 

Thank you to the best support group a girl could ask for. I had the best cheering section in the park…I am somehow not surprised they found pathways to run to get to a couple spots during the loop at the park….must be all the Cross Country experience for that J  I couldn’t have reached our goal without each of you who helped support with donations and involvement…I received a $100 donation today that I will be mailing in tomorrow that is the icing on the cake for this adventure….today we were at $9,983…so that will put us at $10,083.  That my friends….is called achieving a goal….something dad has taught so many of us to do….and I couldn’t have done it without the entire group of “Team Spangler”

Now…I will go back to complaining about how sore my legs are and walking funny if you don’t mind…hopefully only for a few more days J  Having some little kid ask me when I was walking down the steps in the city “Are you ok?”…..made me realize I may not be pulling off a normal walking pattern after all J 

Stay tuned….there will be lots more to come! J

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”

 

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 30^th.  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 2^nd 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)

 Support Your Marathoner Link- Asics

There is another program, however I think it costs something…this is what was sent through the NYC Marathon emails that the Marathon endorses.

Track My Runner Info Link

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 6^th 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.

Fox- Missy Spangler Donation Link

Also… we would LOVE for you (if you have one) to wear your Team Spangler Shirt on Sunday November 4^th 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!