Fundraising for the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation this weekend

Below is the email I sent to all the friends in my address book about our groups first event, the Guns N Hoses 5k in Woodstock.


Dear friends,

You might have heard of the running group I have formed called Sweet Sara's Chargers. Our story was featured in our local paper, The Cherokee Tribune recently. Nearly 30 of my closest friends and family..and even a few new friends have all been training for two months to run and walk in our first fundraising event...The Guns N Hoses 5k this coming Saturday in Woodstock. Most of our team members are beginners that have never done anything like this before. We are all asking for donations to be made to the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation to honor all of our hard work, but more importantly to honor Sara and everything that she has been through overcoming CHARGE. The CHARGE Syndrome Foundation has become our lifeline and a very important part of our daily lives. Please help us support this wonderful, caring organization by sharing this email with your friends and by making a donation. No amount is too small.

Babies born with CHARGE suffer life-threatening birth defects. Despite hearing loss, vision loss, balance problems and a host of other serious medical problems, many of these children overcome insurmountable challenges to far surpass expectations. Thanks to the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation, individuals with CHARGE syndrome and their families have a place to turn for information, research, support and hope. Attendance at one of our biennial conferences can be a life-changing event: an opportunity to meet with other families and professional experts.


Click on the link below to visit my personal web page to make a donation, become a fundraiser or simply to learn more about the Foundation. Your gift will make a difference in the lives of individuals with CHARGE syndrome!

Thank you.
Melissa, Grant, Griffin and Sara, and the entire Sweet Sara's Chargers team.


Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support CHARGE Syndrome Foundation

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Melissa Brown

Ready or not, here I come....

"Ready or not here I come, I'm gonna find you"..thats a song lyric by the Fugees that my friend Jennifer suggested for a workout playlist. I think it struck a chord with me because most of the time I feel like if my stress could talk, that's exactly what it would say. This ridiculous marathon goal and related fundraising project has brought me a heaping helping of tasks and connections and discussions and ideas that I am struggling to keep up with...but I am loving it all. This is good stress. It is stress that inspires me and energizes me. I have a precious little newborn idea, that I am worried about and caring for..and it is exhausting me but driving me all at the same time. I am so proud of the people around me and how much of themselves they have given already. I feel an almost crushing joy that my family's challenges have made way for this loving network of strength and encouragement not only for me, but for everyone working their butts off training for our first race. It's amazing to be a part of.

Since my last entry I have been introduced to Nick's very kind and experienced friend Matthew who met me out on the trails for my 10 mile long run. It was refreshing to have someone cool to talk to; someone with marathon experience that got why I would want to do something like run 26 miles. I know he could go much faster, and without the walk breaks I need to take, but he was right there with me the whole time. I am so excited to have a new running friend.

I had a little bit of arch pain in the days before the Polar Bear 5k..so I made a trip to Big Peach Running Company in Marietta. The manager had me run in the parking lot, and just by watching me run and asking questions about my training schedule he diagnosed me with plantar fascitis, and prescribed an more firm insole and a pokey football shaped ball for massaging my foot. He suggested that I taper my long runs down to half every other weekend, because my pain was probably the result of over training. Well, three weeks and roughly 50+ miles in those insoles my arches feel great. I added some more rest time into my calendar, and it has helped all around. I am in love with Big Peach. They are so passionate about running, and more importantly know what they are talking about. I HIGHLY recommend them as a resource for any walker or runner.

I have made some progress with my ego on the indoor track at the gym, resisting the urge to outrun the muscle dudes that pop on there for their 10 minute warm up. I learned how to count laps on my watch, and rely on my nike+ to tell me when I have reached my mileage goal for each run...that means I can sort of zone out and just travel. I really thought that al this running would begin to transform my thoughts into some sort of zen reflection..but mainly I just mill over all the things I need to get done..or come up with more ideas of things I would like to do. I dont really know what to make of that. I do see progress there though.

I started a new job and it has been tough squeezing in my weekday runs around my work schedule. I will have to start getting up early to run before work...I am not happy about that, but it will be good for me to start the day with my stressors beaten down by a good run. I have always admired morning people because I have never been one.

I was lazy about writing down my schedule the last few weeks with the new job. I am in a groove though where I know what I need to do without constantly checking my training chart. My long run is now up to 11 miles. This Sunday I will do 12 miles. My efforts to incorporate some core cross training has not happened yet... but I am hopeful that once I get settled into my new job I will work it all in.

So far so good. :)

Taking Care of Business 1/12/09

This week was very productive. The non profit project is moving right along. I think we have around 12-15 folks on board to run in our first race, The Guns N Hoses 5k here in Woodstock, Feb 28, 2009. I am so inspired by the enthusiasm and energy surrounding "Sweet Sara's Chargers", it is hard for me to focus on anything BUT running.

My training schedule this week was still under 20 miles. My long run last Sunday was 8 miles, and I have to say it felt pretty easy, but I think that was because I completed it on a 1/2 mile flat loop at Hobgood Park in Woodstock. Here is what the last two weeks have looked like:

Sunday:7 miles on Hobgood Park track
Monday: off
Tuesday: 3 miles on gym indoor track
Wednesday: off
Thursday:4 miles on gym indoor track
Friday: off
Saturday: off
Sunday: 8 miles on Hobgood Park track
Monday: 4 miles gym indoor track
Tuesday: off- fitted for new shoes at Big Peach Running Co.
Wednesday: 4 miles gym indoor track
Thursday: off
Friday: 4 miles gym indoor track
Saturday: off
Sunday: 9 miles on Kennesaw Mtn trails

My training program makes 2 miles optional on those "off" weekdays, and I have been opting not to run on them so far, but this week I plan to do 2 miles of speedwork and some light cross training with weights. I want to strengthen my core, and my hamstrings a bit more.

I went to Big Peach Running Company on Tuesday and got custom fitted for a new pair of shoes. Sounds expensive, but it is a free service they offer, and their shoes are not priced any higher than a regular sporting goods store. They look at your footprint and arch, and then video tape your ankles from behind while you run on a treadmill. This helps them learn whether you need to correct your stride with your shoes. It was quick and painless and very, very cool! I must have tried on 10+ pair of shoes before finding the perfect ones. I should add that the sales girl was very friendly, extremely knowledgeable and did not mind one bit humoring my wishy washy shoe choosing. They just genuinely love running there, and it shows.

I needed those shoes badly, and had been putting it off for a couple of months now because I did not want to spend the money. Later in the week I returned with Nick, where he bought me an Amphipod hydration belt, thankyou Nick, and I replaced my old Nike+ plus shoe sensor. When my long run hit 8 miles, I think I decided it was ok to take myself seriously with all this marathon talk...I am taking care of business. I am really making it happen, and it feels amazing.

I also downloaded two audiobooks with the itunes gift cards I got for Christmas with the intention of switching to those to pass the time as opposed to my played out playlists. The first is "The Middle Place" by Kelly Corrigan. It chronicles her battle with cancer. I am sure it is a good book, infact excerpts of it about friendship brought me to tears..but during a run it was like molasses in my veins. I will save it for the next time I am stuck in traffic, or can't sleep. The other book was "How to See Yourself as You Really Are" by His Holiness The Dalai Lama. I read "The Art of Happiness: a Handbook for Living" this Summer and it really made a profound connection for me in practicing peace and happiness through suffering, a concept I believe in wholeheartedly. Naturally, I was excited to see this one on itunes. However, this one is not a pleasure read...it is very hard for me to follow as it weaves in and out of Buddhist principals that are way over my head. The concepts are worthy of studying, but not while I am flopping around the indoor track at the gym. Audiobooks as motivation get the thumbs down for now.

For Christmas Nick got me a MyRoadID bracelet so that if I freeze into a block of ice on the side of the road, or have a heart attack..the person who finds me can call and hear a computer generated voice detail my vital information. We cracked ourselves up plugging in completely inappropriate phrases and then playing them back to check their accuracy. Great for safety on those long lonely trail runs, and highly entertaining on a quiet Thursday night in front of the laptop.

Yesterday, I ran at Kennesaw Mountain, and was joined by Kristy P and her son Pooch for the first 1.5-2 miles. It was nice to see a friendly face out there! This was my first time on those trails so I didnt really know my way around. Well, long story short I took the wrong trail a couple of times and went way off course...so bythe time I hit 9 miles I was still 2 miles away from my car. I had to call Nick to meet me at the closest drop in and drive me back...but I ran the full 9 miles I had planned on. Nick made me a huge meal afterwards. He is so supportive, I dont know how I got so lucky.

What is more amazing to me than running 9 miles is that I attended two girls night parties Saturday, and managed to make it without partaking in cocktails. I still had fun, but the dynamic of being social has changed for me. I am getting some good natured slack about what this world must be coming to when I decline a cocktail on my off weekend (the kids were at dad's house) to get up early and squeeze in church before a Sunday long run. I am not making any crazy over the top declarations about changing my life completely. I have always liked balance. But I do like what I am learning about myself through trying some different things, and committing to this running goal without excuses. Every Sunday as my mileage increases I am exhilerated by the realization I am doing something I have never done before. I am growing and improving in ways I cant describe. The rewards for the effort are already infinite, and I'm not even half way there.

Marathon bound, 1st journal entry 12.31.08

I have been using running as therapy for about three years now. I ran Cross Country in high school, but honestly I don't really remember learning much about running, other than how to stretch, and then just to get out there and don't stop. So I showed up for practice, ran trying not to stop, and usually finsihed each 5k race somewhere in the middle. I was a member with little natural talent compared to the superstars on our team. I don't know if the Coach even knew my name...I dont remember his now. I don't have any stories about winning medals or trophies. I would just finish each race and then socialize. Cross Country was fun, running really was not. By my junior year of high school I had moved on to different social endeavors which included smoking cigarettes and pretending like I was a super creative non- conformist-ish alternative chick. Although I should note for accuracy we didn't like to actually use the word "alternative" back in those days in reference to ourselves. I was such a ridiculous brat. I stopped running. So wise beyond my years...
A little over a decade, a marriage, three kids, and a divorce later I began moving again. My divorce was devastating. In response to my subsequent insecurities, I bought a gym membership, and hired a personal trainer. Since I was falling apart mentally and emotionally I needed to compensate with physical strength. It really did help to have something to be proud of during such a down time in my life. I lifted weights, and I also ran my heart out. I would crank up my crappy little shuffle to the most angry music I could find, and just have it out with the treadmill. I had no training plan or method, or desire to read up on how to improve, I just ran because it was all I knew how to do at the gym. I ran in the Peachtree Roadrace 10k that year, and actually completed it without stopping. That was a huge accomplishment for me after years of being sedentary, and always too busy with the children to do anything for myself. I began to call myself a runner. It was my first identity outside of stay at home mom in years, and it was all mine. I participated in several 5k and 10k races here and there just to keep me active. I always finish somewhere in the middle, and still feel very proud just to complete a race.
Now my goal is to complete a marathon. I am running five days a week, with Sunday being my long run. Each Sunday I increase my mileage by one mile. My last long run was a little over 7 miles. This marks the beginning of my online journal for the three people out there that may be interested.

December 31, 2008


So far, I have stuck to my training calendar very well.

I have politely declined Saturday night cocktails and beers...and even Sunday brunch bloody marys. I opted for a latte instead. I still had a great time at brunch. I miss my cocktails, but know that this 32 year old body cannot recover from drinking like I used to, especially not if I think I am going to run long distances.

I really hate cold weather so it has been almost painful to go outside and face the brisk air, and even GASP cold drizzle. The money I spent on running tights and dry-fit shirts and jackets was well worth it.

My toenails are already hurting and breaking..so much for my French pedicure.

As predicted, I am already tired of every song on my ipod and dread learning to run without music..just me and my thoughts seems awfully scary. I suspect I will find some kind of zen in all that breathing and what not..but I am still hanging on desperately to my playlists, eventhough they cause me to go faster than I need to.

I don't like pacing myself. Going slow makes me panic because I want to show off to all the other folks outside, not actually paying attention to me that I CAN run faster.

Yesterday at the gym I actually began racing some poor dude on the indoor track. He was just minding his own business warming up for his workout..and by mile three of my scheduled leisurely 4 mile jog, I was feeling oppressed and chased down a stranger just to prove I could. I don't really know where that came from. I guess I need some inner talks with myself about humility and well, maturity.

The indoor track at the gym has these floor to ceiling windows that give me multiple views of myself nearly the whole time. I try not to look at myself, but there I am, Big Bird like lanky limbs flopping around as I chug my way around the track. Not so hot looking, but making steady progress. 9 laps= 1 mile, so as I round the laps I visualize the number of the next lap in an imaginary blinking finish line..with confetti when I get to it. Mainly that helps me keep track of the laps.

I am still very frustrated with my fancy Nike+ pedometer because it is still calibrated wrong, and cheated me out of half a mile again. Nevertheless I am tickled to post runs when I use it. I think I need a new foot sensor and new Nike sneeks, because these old shox I wear to run in the gym are not cut out for 20+ miles a week. Friday I am heading to Big Peach Running Co to ask a million questions and hopefully avoid dropping cash on gear I don't need yet.

This is an easy week with only 3 runs, and I am enjoying it. I had a beer last night and bacon and cinnamon rolls for breakfast. My diet has not been over the top strict, but I have been trying to avoid empty calories and cheese. I miss cheese.

I am giddy about all the people that are joining me doing this, it is already worth it to push myself when I would rather stay home or stay in. I am not suprised by the challenges that have popped up here in the beginning. So much of this for me is about trying to overcome character flaws. I don't like that I have used Saturday night cocktails a little too much to help me escape my stresses. I dont like that I am afraid to be alone with my thoughts. I don't like that I am so incredibly vain. I dont like that I am so impatient and cannot just do things slow and steady. I don't like that I am sitting here picking myself apart either. The good part is I did exactly what I was supposed to do this month. So far so good.