Vegas Baby!
December 12, 2009 at 5:33 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: Crohn's Disease, IBD, Crohn's, Las Vegas Rock n' Roll Marathon, Las Vegas, Running Elvis's, Santa 5K run, TeamChallenger in 2:08
What a great experience I had in Vegas. Wasn’t quite sure how the race would turn out since I didn’t sleep very well for most of the week and had all but stopped training for the two weeks prior due to some pesky foot injuries. Those foot injuries, I’ll tell ya.
At any rate I did pretty well; finished the half-marathon strong in about 2:08. Officially the time was 2:19 but I’m deducting 11 minutes for the time spent in line for the restroom at the 8-mile mark. Ever see that movie 8-Mile, starting Eminem- it’s really about me waiting to use a porta-loo as 27,000 people run past me. I tried to make it without stopping, I could have made it, but sometimes there’s a higher calling. Everyone out there with IBD knows what I’m talking about no doubt. That of course highlights the fact that I do not have IBD and should have manned-up and held it.
OH WELL! 2:08 and I’m sticking to it!
The race was really fun, the atmosphere was awesome, though the weather conditions could have been better. I started out of coral 16, which meant about 55 minutes of waiting to start running. 120 minutes altogether, in the freezing desert cold (36 degrees), wearing shorts and 2 t-shirts… waiting as my muscles and eyeballs froze.
And just as all was about to be lost, we three thousand or so runner-pops were slowly ushered to the starting line just as the sun was peaking out of the desert terrain between the mountains and the airport. We looked at each other with fear and doubt in our eyes (waffles-to-come, with extra blueberries and whipped cream in mine) and fireworks suddenly went off as a Blues Brothers Tribute band playing high above us on a raised platform started singing “You Make me Want to Shout!” and all threw our hands up and shouted…. and threw our hands up and shouted… and threw our hands up…. ok I’ll stop. It was the perfect way to get everyone jazzed up and ready to run.
All was great, starting a run with a massive dance party is an indescribable experience. A former coworker of mine used to say on a boring Monday that he would give anything for the streets to suddenly erupt into dancing… well Parsa, they did. And it was awesome.
Not too many other highlights to recall after that, it was really a lot of killing time after that point. I was stoked to find out there was a Santa 5K the previous morning with free Santa costumes provided, and a little bummed that I missed it. It also would have been awesome if I picked up an Elvis costume and joined the Tour de Graceland runners.
The finish line was my favorite, not least of which because it was finally over. There is something to be said though about the feeling you get from an artificial sugar goo high at the 12-mile mark when you’re just about to collapse into a pile of concrete with two lead pipes that used to be legs. Suddenly I found myself sprinting, for almost a mile straight into the finish line while the crowd cheered me on. It was amazing.
At the finish line was my mom and two of my brothers, Michael and Brian. I was so happy to see them there in support of everything I had worked so hard for over the last 3 months. Thank you guys, it meant the world to me.
So to keep to my promise to Jason Leitman, and all the great people at CDSN and the CCFA, and all those others I met along the way, I will continue to maintain the blog to some extent so as to never abandon the most important part of all of this. The cause. It makes me feel good to know that I raised $3700.00 to help children suffering from IBD. My team, the New York Chapter of Team Challenge raised the most money of any team in the country, over $200,000!
My website will stay up, with stories and anecdotes about life with Crohn’s Disease and IBD, and I will continue to do my best to maintain this blog as a source of information and a connection point for those with IBD and those who can help them get through the pain and anxiety of having it.
I have a few ideas in mind that will hopefully pan out, but it’s still early and I don’t want to spill them just yet for fear of looking like a lazy slacker if they don’t actually come to fruition. I work full-time, can’t always be running marathons! I know you’ll understand.
Merry Christmas to you all, and thank you so much for your support!
On the Way to Las Vegas Half-Marathon for Crohn’s Disease
December 3, 2009 at 10:23 am | In training | 2 CommentsTags: Crohn's Disease, IBD, Las Vegas half marathon, Crohn's marathon, fundraising for IBD, helping children with Crohn's, Holiday charity
So here I am, in the final throes of marathon training. To be honest, I’m feeling very nervous and anxious. It’s tapering week (the period just before the marathon when you stop training and let your body heal and prepare) and I can’t help but feel the irrational fear that I’m going to somehow slip out of shape from inactivity and be unable to complete the marathon on Sunday.
Like I said, it’s irrational. I expect to kick butt on Sunday!
What’s more, I’m going to Vegas baby!
Now, the run may be over after Sunday but the fundraising is still on until mid-January. As of yet I’m currently $2500 from my goal- if you haven’t jumped in yet now is the time!
Consider this my final pre-marathon pitch: December is coming up. And as we approach this season of giving please keep in mind the millions of Americans with Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis in need of your help. Inflamatory Bowel Diseases are extremely devastating and as of yet there is no cure.
Help change that fact. Please donate today.
Poopser: New Blogger, No Sugar Coat Needed
November 19, 2009 at 3:54 pm | In Uncategorized | 1 CommentTags: crohn's disease blogger, new blogger, people with Crohn's
A new name emerged in the blogosphere last week, and she’s hit the keyboard typing. Mary, aka “poopser” put her first entry down on digital paper, and already the comments are rolling in.
Her blog, Crohn’s Disease: The Combat Within, talks about the life and struggle of a woman growing up with IBD. Mary describes herself as a Residential Nurse who loves her job but is unable to work right now because of complications from Crohn’s. She is currently 51 years old and was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease when she was just eight.
I enjoy hanging with my family and friends and consider myself to be blessed, and a positive, optimistic person despite years of battling Crohn’s. I also like to quilt, read (I loved The Lord of the Rings Series and the Twilight Series, and even Harry Potter books) and I think that Robert Pattenson is “hot” despite the fact that he is just a baby compared to me.
Though she’s new to blogging, I’m sure we’ll see a lot of great content from this bold and straight-forward lady.
Everyone is encouraged to read Mary’s blog and give her feedback and suggestions on what to write about next. She is a very positive thinker, and very generous too (Mary donated to my Crohns TeamChallenger campaign to raise money for children with Crohn’s Disease). She deserves all the support she can get! Help Mary feel at home in the Crohn’s community and among bloggers. Over time I’m sure Poopser will grow to something amazing.
Once more, you can find her blog by clicking here, or clicking the Crohn’s Disease: The Combat Within on my blogroll.
Boozin’ for a Cure, Part Deux
November 17, 2009 at 4:10 pm | In Fundraising event | 2 Comments
Jakes Dilemma- come join us on Saturday, Nov 21st at 9pm!
WHEN: Saturday, November 21 8-10pm (Free drinks from 9-10pm)
WHERE: Jakes Dilemma (Amsterdam Ave between 80th and 81st st – Upper West Side Manhattan)
Help save children with Crohn’s Disease and celebrate my birthday at the same time, $10 at the door for an all-you-can-drink happy hour at Jake’s Dilemma, Saturday night!
Those who came to the first Boozin’ for a Cure,
will remember quite sure
the laughter we shared
while wildly impaired!
Now’s come another chance-
to drink cheap drinks and badly dance,
So come to Jake’s for my birthday
and let’s all drink Crohn’s away!
(Please don’t critique this poem, it’s just not worth it trust me)
——————————————————————–
Alright all, for those who remember the last fundraising drink-till-you-drop event at Stumble Inn to raise money for children with Crohn’s Disease, this weekend’s Boozin’ for a Cure, Part Deux will be twice the craziness and twice the fun!
The managers at Jake’s Dilemma are hosting Crohn’s TeamChallenger and all who come out to support the cause from 9-10pm on Saturday night.
For only $10 at the door you get full well drink access for the entire hour!
PLUS….
Show up early and get $1 beers and $2 shots during Jake’s “Power Hour” from 8-9. I’ll be there pregaming the fundraiser, so feel free to stop by and kick things off early.
If you can’t make it but would like to donate and be part of this great cause you can do so by going to my official team website.
RSVP by emailing, commenting here, or calling me at (310) 218-7242.
Cheers all, I look forward to seeing you there!
Tips for Staying Strong on the Long Run
November 6, 2009 at 8:25 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: crohns charity, endurance running, marathon training, Rock n' Roll Half Marathon, running tips, Team Challenge New York, training tips
So you’re thinking about running a marathon? Cheers to you mate, that’s a big commitment. Running that kind of event is a lot of work! Here’s a short article with some tips to keep you going on the long run, written by me, a guy who never saw more than 3 miles pass under his jogging shoe until I started training for the Rock n’ Roll half to benefit children with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. It’s my first long distance run of any kind, but the information I pass on comes from both my own experience and that of others.
With time, refinement, and intelligent training, I know that soon I’ll be crossing the finish line of my first marathon. And who knows, maybe one day even an ultra-marathon or two.
After stammering and nearly talking myself out of the whole thing, I decided it was time to bunker down and get serious. Who can blame me for hesitating, I mean long-distance running is a lot of work!
Once I got serious about it though, I took the time to read up on some best practices and applied that to things learned first-hand from previous training sessions- and the results were great!
Don’t Wait Until You’re Thirsty- Have a Plan!
Staying properly hydrated is extremely important on long runs, in researching I read that having a hydration plan prior to undergoing an endurance workout will yield significantly better results than just drinking when the “need” arises. If you’re thirsty, you’re probably already dehydrated. At this point you’re likely more exhausted than you would have been had you been drinking water in regimented amounts along the way.
I purchased the Helium four-bottle hydration belt from Fuel Belt and tried that out. It comes with four small plastic bottles that strap in place firmly along the waist. First I drank a decent amount of water about 20 minutes prior to running (enough to feel hydrated but not too weighed down with liquid) then filled up each bottle half way (roughly 3-4oz each), and drank one down every 15 minutes after the 45 minute mark.
Don’t Dilute Yourself
Water is essential as anyone will tell you, but it’s not all your body needs for the long haul. It’s equally important to keep yourself fueled with the necessary amount of electrolytes. As our Team Challenge New York trainer Jay Hachadoorian explained, our body’s muscles have natural storage capacity for about 1 hour’s continuous activity. After that point you must replenish yourself with the necessary fuel to keep going.
If you’re considering running a long distance, experiment with various on-the-go electrolyte supplements like gels, tabs, or goos. See how they react with your stomach (a good reason not to wait for race day to start trying them!), and which ones gives you the best sustainable lift. My favorite is the Clif Energy Shot Block Chews. They taste great, are convenient to carry around, and don’t seem to cause any stomach issues.
You can support me too if you like- good time for a tax deduction!
* A quick note, I’m not sponsored by either Clif Bar & Co. or Fuel Belt. They’re just great brands that I trust and love.
Crohn’s Disease Vegas Rock n’ Roll Marathon Training and Fundraising Update
November 5, 2009 at 3:45 pm | In training | 1 CommentTags: Crohn's Disease fundraising, crohns charity, fundraising, IBD, marathon training, running, training, ulcerative colitis
Here’s a status report on my training and fundraising efforts for the Las Vegas Rock n’ Roll half marathon to benefit children with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Also included in this post are some tips on running long distance in a good time. If you haven’t donated yet, please do. There are few places better than this to make your money work this hard for such a great cause.
Training
The training has been going very well. Extraordinarily well actually. Last week I did a 12 mile jog in 1:46 minutes. That comes to 4 miles more than my previous distance record from the weekend before, and a pace that sets me on track to meet or surely beat my goal time of 1:55 for the half-marathon in December.
On Wednesday I cut the distance in half but picked up the pace and added some hills- came out to 6 miles in 49 minutes.
I can attribute my successful workout to the training advice from, Jay Hachadoorian, our phenomenal personal trainer. He gave me some tips the weekend prior on staying properly hydrated, and moderating pace and breathing as I run. I’ll include those tips in the next post.
Fundraising
On the fundraising front, I’m pleased to announce that with the help of some amazingly generous people (you’re probably one of them at this point, thank you!), we have so far raised $1195.00 for children with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
That’s an amazing amount, really. These donations make a huge difference.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s time to pat ourselves on the back just yet. With 3 weeks to go, my project is still short of its $4000.00 goal.
Please help us reach that goal in any way possible. If you donated, and want to do donate again you can! It’s tax deductible and the end of the year filing period is coming up soon. If you have friends who might be interested in helping, please tell them! Any small measure of support is welcome and appreciated and no donation is too small. Certainly none is too large either!
Don’t forget, the end of the year is coming up and now is the perfect time to accrue some tax deductions!
Thank you for reading and supporting, see you at the finish line.
The Scariest Thing of All
October 31, 2009 at 2:29 am | In IBD Medical Facts | 3 CommentsTags: cancer risks, Crohn's and cancer, Crohn's Disease, Halloween, IBD, real spooks, scary things, symptoms of IBD, ulcerative colitis
Halloween is a holiday of strange appeal. On this day we celebrate the things that we secretly dread and the fantastical terrors that haunt our dreams- the macabre dance of shadows from whistling wind-swept tree limbs, black-clad witches with crooked noses and masked men with shrill laughs and serrated fingernails. For many of us it’s a time to dress in mysterious costumes, impersonate the dead and embrace the night. For others, Halloween is a night to let loose and have fun behind a mask.
In all its many inceptions, Halloween remains a chance to be someone you aren’t. To do things you wouldn’t normally do.
This idea got me thinking, what would people do if they could step outside of themselves and really be another person? What if you had the chance to really face your fears, and it wasn’t all part of some elaborate night of facades, or a scripted ploy built into the walls of a smoky haunted house with strobe lights and bowls of cherry-flavored blood punch?
Would you come out of it with a different outlook?
As you know from this blog, or if we’ve run into each other somewhere in Manhattan, I am running in December for children with Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis. This is a painful, debilitating disease. And for children it is terrifying. If you don’t know much about Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and the effects they have on people, please take a moment and watch the video below from LiveStrong.com.
In this video, Dr. Susan L. McGladdery, the Regional Director from First Med Centers in Hungary, describes the symptoms and effects of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD).
Here are some key points to take away from this video, quoted from Dr. McGladdery-
Inflammatory bowel diseases, either Crohn’s Disease or ulcerative colitis, occur when “the linking of the digestive tract becomes inflamed… they’re very painful and debilitating and sometimes even life-threatening conditions.”
Both Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis can cause symptoms in the range of “pain, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, bleeding, weight loss, and anemia.”
One last point that was even shocking to myself was the likelihood of IBD sufferers to develop cancer. This is an important thing to consider- we spend a lot time and resources fighting cancer, and it weighs a great deal on our nation’s healthcare system. So why not spend more time fighting conditions that likely cause cancers to form? Isn’t that the kind of preventative action should be taking in this country?
According to Dr. McGladdery, “both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease also increase your risk of colon cancer. Approximately 10% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease go on to develop a cancer, and the risk is greatest after inflammatory bowel disease has been present and active for 10 years.”
Do you want to do the math on 10% of the 1.2 million people with IBD?
Donate today, so a child doesn’t have to worry about those numbers.
Training Update: Closing in on 10 Miles!
October 27, 2009 at 4:53 am | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: Crohn's fundraising, endurance running, marathon training, Rock n' Roll marathon, training
This week has been phenomenal in every way. Firstly, I am proud to say that my running ability is now far beyond what it ever was before. The training is working- the hills, the incremental increases in distance, speed intervals, and best of all the guiltless mass consumption of carbs- it’s all working! I am thinner, faster, and can now run further than ever before.
9 miles! I used to struggle with 3, now I just need to push it 4 more and I’ll have this half-marathon in the bag. Best of all, I physically feel great about the whole thing. My body isn’t breaking down like I thought it would, it’s actually becoming stronger and more efficient.
I’ll be honest, this is the first time I’ve ever trained for something like this and it made me more nervous than an ant in the shadow of a shoe sole when I started. But thanks to the support from my team, the guidance of my trainer Jay Hachadoorian, and the people following the Crohn’s TeamChallenger cause and telling me their stories, I am motivated and pumped to continue on!
Let’s get together and make some change in this world! Donate today and help better the life of a child with Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis!
The Benevolence of Strangers
October 23, 2009 at 8:38 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: Crohn's Disease, Crohn's Disease fundraising, crohns charity, special mention, Supporting Crohn's TeamChallenger, thanks for the thanks
The internet is an interesting place, especially this latest rendition of it. It’s gone from a large ocean fed by tributaries of voices washing across the phone lines to a series of focused and highly vocal communities. This great ocean has been desalinized and drained into small glasses- easy to drink from. Easier still to fill again.
The most beautiful thing to come out of the internet’s second coming, is the focused communities it so desperately needed in the first. The noise has been tuned into, to the point where I can take up a cause and 2 months later have close friends that I help and who help me in return.
Today a fellow advocate for Crohn’s awareness wrote this about me on his website.
I want to give a special note for Nicholas Collard. He is someone who does not have Crohn’s Disease, and didn’t know anyone with it. He took it upon himself to start doing marathon fundraisers for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). He has also right now switched focus to Camp Oasis, and helping kids. This is a wonderful camp for kids with Irritable Bowel Diseases.
Nicholas was also incredibly kind to feature CDSN in his blog:
http://teamchallenger.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/meet-the-crohns-community/
More information can be found about Nicholas under the Crohn’s Fund-raising tab; def worth the read!
Thanks Nicholas for all your support and awareness for IBD.
-Jason
This really means a lot, and as I keep saying, it serves as further motivation to keep up the cause. Thank you.
Also, don’t forget, I am raising money for children with Crohn’s Disease. I say this for those who just stumbled onto here from Google. If you would like to contribute to this charity fundraiser, click here to be redirected to my CCFA page. We’ve raised $850 so far, and are steadily on the way to making the $4000 goal by December. All money goes to the CCFA, which funds Camp Oasis for children suffering from Irritable Bowel Diseases.
Meet the Crohn’s Community
October 20, 2009 at 11:38 pm | In Uncategorized | 2 CommentsOne of the most rewarding parts of this whole fundraising endeavor has been meeting and conversing with people with Crohn’s Disease. There are whole communities out there, helping and supporting each other through this illness. It’s been a pleasure finding those people and getting to know them individually. Two things they all have in common: everyone I’ve spoken to has been very friendly, and they have all been so grateful for the work being done to raise money and awareness for their disease. And while I’m not doing this for recognition, I can’t say I don’t appreciate being appreciated.
Here are some of the people I’ve met and groups I’ve followed since starting Crohn’s TeamChallenger. Please, take a look at these sites and let them know you appreciate their work as well.
Firstly there is the Crohn’s Disease Support Network created by Jason Leitman. This site is built using ning.com and provides users with a forum to chat with each other and provide support and useful information on a variety of topics surrounding IBD. The site also contains a link to Jason’s blog, along with several others. You can log on directly, or find it on Twitter via the hashtag #CDSN and of course by adding Jason at @Jason31480. Odds are if you go there, he’ll be in the chat room- so send him a holla and let him know I sent you!
Another great resource is the blog My Journey with Crohn’s Disease by Inna Lukyanovsky. This blog is another all-encompassing one-stop shop for information on living with Crohn’s Disease. The layout of the page is very simple to navigate, making the multitude of information more easily accessable. Find the blog directly, or link to it from its parent site Journey with Crohn’s Disease, which contains still more information on Crohn’s Disease. You can also tweet Inna with your comments and questions at @CrohnsSolutions. Be sure to be friendly and follow her while you’re there, the support is always appreciated.
And if you’re wondering what’s being done for people outside of America, take a look at the Rubber Side Down project by Greg Mailloux, Vin Heney, John Scott, and Andy Peterson. These guys set out to ride “from the Rockies to the Rock” in support of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada. A large part of their project’s mission, like my own, is to raise awareness on its own for Crohn’s and colitis.
Canada has one of the highest prevalences of Crohn’s and Colitis in the world, yet many Canadians are still unaware the causes and effects of these debilitating diseases. Along with spreading the word about the prevalence of these diseases, by the very nature of biking across Canada we will promote physical activity and sound ecological practices.
Nicholas Collard
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