Running for a Reason

It’s time to start training. Of course, I never should have fallen out of training. But the sad fact is I got lazy this winter — and sometimes distracted. I haven’t been running regularly and now I’m paying for it. 

The founders of Asha for Life Community,
Tommy and Tom Colclasure and Harsha and
Shrikant Mehta, all of Galesburg.

Not only have I not run regularly, I have not run competitively (like I’m really a “competitor”) since the Bix last July. And now I’ve gone and committed to running the Run Galesburg Run Half Marathon Express again — yes, the whole half! I made the mistake of taking a poll on Facebook and none of my friends was kind enough to tell me the 5K was plenty. In their defense, they were all encouraging and supportive of my ability to complete the half.

Last year I ran my first half marathon and I survived. I was part of Team Acapulco, sponsored by Galesburg’s Acapulco Mexican restaurant. While I’d love to be a part of the team again, I’ve committed to a cause this year. I’m running for Team Asha. As the flyer says, “Join Team Asha and make a difference!”

Here’s the rest:

Help raise funds to aid in the battle against human trafficking and sexual slavery.

Sign up to participate June 1^st 2014, in “Run Galesburg,” at rungalesburgrun.com

Join TEAM ASHA and ask your friends to family to sponsor you for the half marathon, 5 “K”, or mile dash.  Proceeds will support direct assistance to survivors of sexual slavery as well as fund human trafficking prevention effort.  Slavery in the world today is real!

Be a champion for freedom from human trafficking and sexual slavery!

An alley in the Mumbai, India red light
district. Brothelsl are accessed from
alleyways such as these. It is estimated
that in Mumbai alone 20,000 minor girls
are held captive in the sex trade.

I first heard about Asha for Life Community two years ago when my friend Tom “Tommy” Colclasure — along with his father and two other Galesburg residents — founded the organization after a trip to Mumbai, India. Tom and his dad, Tom Sr., were moved by the living conditions — “the crushing poverty” — they witnessed in Mumbai. Friends of theirs, Drs. Harsha and Shrikant Mehta, natives of Mumbai, informed them the real horror of life in Mumbai is human trafficking.

“We found that 1.25 million people are trafficked each year … hundreds of those a trapped in the sex slave trade,” Tom told The Register-Mail in a March 2012 story.

You can read more about Asha for Life Community here.

Anyway, when Tom posted on Facebook some months back that he was putting together Team Asha to run for a cause, I chimed in my support. So here’s the deal: I need your support, too. I am seeking pledges — by the mile (13.1, round it to 13) or a flat sum — as a member of Team Asha. The money you give will go toward the fight against human trafficking. That’ll help assuage my inevitably aching knee and heaving lungs — who isn’t rejuvenated and inspired by a warm-fuzzy feeling?

To pledge, email me at rob.buck7@gmail.com or send me a private message on Facebook and I’ll add you to the list. I’ll update this with information on when pledges are due as soon as I know.

To paraphrase Bartles and Jaymes: I thank you for your support.

Today's Stats (April 2, 2014)

Temp: 39 degrees F

Distance: 3.54 miles

Weekly Total: 3.54 miles

Treasure: 26 cans.

iPod Playlist (Shuffle):

Piano Man - Billy Joel

The Long Run - The Eagles

I Will - Matchbox Twenty

Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O’Sullivan

Get It Straight - Trampled Under Foot

Hold My Hand - Hootie & the Blowfish

Bitch - Meredith Brooks

Reconsider Me - Warren Zevon

One Week - Barenaked Ladies

King Tut - Steve Martin

When Will You Come Back Home (live) - Ryan Adams