The Ice Bucket Challenge went viral 2 months ago, raising funds & bringing awareness to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Social media feeds have been jammed with ALS challenge videos from family, friends, friends of friends, sports & movie stars, industry leaders & even former US Presidents.
Awesome to see folks from all walks of life doing something selfless, showing a little humility AND donating to a common cause.
Since June, I’ve voyeured in silence, haven’t hit ‘like’ or added Facebook comments – laid low, drawn no attention, thought I’d been spared. Happy Birthday Keenan! from cousin Chuck & wife Marla – then BAM I was nominated. Thanks cuz!
Within 24 hours of being challenged, participants have to record a video of themselves in continuous footage.
First, they are to announce their acceptance of the challenge followed by pouring ice into a bucket of water. The bucket is lifted & poured over the participant’s head. Then the participant can call out a challenge to other people. …the participant is expected to donate $10 if they have poured the ice water over their head or donate $100 if they have not.
There have now been so many videos – literally thousands – how to make this challenge my own?
Asked Ash & Tom to join me Monday to hike Mount Sanitas in Boulder. Hit the trail just before 6pm, my bladder bag full of now mostly melted ice (downside of hiking on a work day). Upside? Hiking on a Monday night – dogs couldn’t have been any happier 🙂
Trekked at a fast clip to summit before nightfall. BONUS – not only helped raise awareness for ALS but also witnessed a stunning pink sunset, slowly dipping, illuminating the Boulder skyline. BEE-YOOT-I-FUL!
Thankful for good health & my Colorado life.
If you’re also able to give back, here are a few recommended links:
ALS https://www.alsa.org/fight-als/ice-bucket-challenge.html
Autism Speaks https://www.autismspeaks.org/
Juvenile Diabetes https://jdrf.org/
Multiple Sclerosis https://www.nationalmssociety.org/
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on Mount Sanitas
Woke a little stiff after yesterday’s marathon but excited to see sunshine – first in days. Friday’s attempt at seeing the Tetons ended early, most of the day spent at Visitor Center(s) viewing park films & museum artifacts.
Today with 10 hours before my flight back to Denver, wanted to fit in a hike – the landscape so beautiful, reminiscent of our Colorado Rockies. And as clouds cleared, snow was visible on the high peaks – first of the season.
Snapped some of my most memorable shots of the trip this morning. WOW!
Decided on Inspiration Point as today’s hike destination. Bought a boat ticket across Jenny Lake to cut 2.5 miles off the hike distance. Jenny Lake, named after a Shoshone guide in 1872, is one of the Park’s largest bodies of water. That said, the trip across couldn’t have lasted more than 15 minutes.
Stopped a few minutes at Hidden Falls – a half mile UP – then continued on the well defined trail to Inspiration Point.
The quick stairmaster-esque hike & elevation was similar to Boulder hiking but the landscape so more lush. It’s been a wet summer this year in the Tetons; waterfalls & rivers running high, tall Pines & multiple varieties of wildflowers peppered the forest’s green floor. Only wish there had been more time.
Visiting America’s National Parks highly recommended.
Day after July’s marathon in Missoula I went whitewater rafting, this month I hiked Grand Teton National Park. Finding creative recovery an active part of marathoning. A-ok to keep re-setting the bar 🙂
“Keep your dream in front of you. Never let it go regardless of how far fetched it might seem.”
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- Grand Teton Nat’l Park
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- first sunshine in days
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- today’s WOW shot!
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- snowfall visible on the high peaks – first of season
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- Jenny Lake — formed by glaciers, 423 feet deep
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- left off the boat dock, then hike UP
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- Hidden Falls
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- Cascade Canyon
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- stairmaster-esque
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- soaking in thin air
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- today’s hike destination
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- goodbye Tetons
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- Jackson Hole WY – small airport, BIG landscape
2:15am alarm set on my iPhone – early start to marathon day. Struggled to wake but left Jackson on time & hit the road, destination Ashton Idaho & the Mesa Falls Marathon. Kept the radio dialed to KJAX Country 93.5. An hour half later I pulled into Ashton Elementary school’s parking lot, picked up my racing bib & potato sack 🙂 then scored a free bowl of oatmeal before boarding the Marathon Start bus at 5:15am.
Lotta rain in the Teton Valley, resulting in bumpy travel as we travelled over dirt & gravel roads in Targhee National Forest. Still dark with temps in the low 40’s; I was happy snow stayed above 11,000ft – first snow of the season. Lover of the white stuff but hadn’t planned on winter precip when I packed my bag 3 days ago in Colorado (jeez, it’s August).
Was concerned [re: training] coming into the race. I had tapered 2 weeks before Ironman to focus on swim & bike. Ironman fail, a week of recovery, a week of the blues, then BAM it’s Idaho marathon time. Fingers crossed.
Smallest marathon field to date – less than 200 runners – but one of the most organized events I’ve entered.
First 9 miles all trail. After days of rain & flash flooding, dirt trail = lotta mud. That said, trail running felt really good.
Transitioned to highway & the sky opened – heavy cold rain until mile 17. So saturated that my shorts drooped – whole lotta water. Brief rain reprieve, one mile more of trail then a 3 mile hill just before mile 18. Trail running was slow going, requiring runners to closely watch footing but gotta say, body still felt good.
Legs started to tighten & my mind panicked – “the Wall” – but instead of mentally collapsing at mile 20 or 21, I had already passed mile marker 24. Brief water break, another mile, another water break…and I’m running mile 26. Sweet.
Either I’ve made a serious break thru mentally or it was the rain but…either way, finished strong.
By far the highest elevation I’ve ever raced, over 6,000ft. Raced the last 5 miles aside golden farm fields in Idaho’s potato country – something simple, yet spectacular to see.
9th consecutive marathon month — that’s stamina baby! 6 long weeks ’til Nebraska — expecting good things in September.
Bib 97 K R HAGA Marathon » Louisville, CO Finished 04:38:08 Overall 63rd
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- Idaho FINISHER – marathon #10
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- only 40 states to go!
