My life is drastically about to change tomorrow - as I am starting my marathon training program through Chicago Endurance Sports. Dear Lord, help me.
I have always loved to run, like REALLY loved it. I have been a runner since I was in sixth grade and could first start competing. If you know me at all, you know I'm either really, really, really into something, or I could care less about it. All or nothing. Track was ALL. It was my LIFE for six years. But, I'm a sprinter. Even the 200 M Run was too long for me. Once my coach placed me in the 4x400 relay and I thought it was a death wish. So naturally, running a marathon has never crossed my mind. I hate running long distances. My years of sprinting, high jumping, and triple jumping have created pretty terrible shin splints. My lungs start to burn after 1 mile, and I get really bored after running past 20 minutes. So why would someone like me want to run the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon? Funny you should ask.
I have known I have wanted to teach children with autism since I was in sixth grade. I went to junior high with a young man with autism, and I became his ally. He inspired me everyday and I was constantly fascinated by how intelligent he was, yet how completely different he was from all of our peers. In high school, I became a peer buddy and a Special Olympics coach for our school's multineeds program. It was then that I really understood the power and the opportunity that Special Olympics has for the disabled community. It's an unbelievable organization that provides individuals with disabilities of all levels the chance to participate in something that not only celebrates their differences, but let's them compete in athletics the way that their typically developing peers do.
When I graduated from Illinois State University with an undergrad degree in Special Ed, I knew I wanted to pursue inner city teaching. My involvement with the Golden Apple Scholars program opened my eyes to educational injustice and prepared me to teach in tough schools. I am so fortunate to have found a school that definitely fits that category, but is supportive, caring, and holds each child to a high standard. I am a teacher of ten little ones with varying degrees of autism. This job is what I have ALWAYS wanted. I am challenged every single day, no day - or moment, really - is ever boring, and I am constantly inspired. I have a lot to learn, and my kids are throwing me curves everyday. But, I wouldn't want to do anything else - & I'm doing my best to continue raising the bar for quality inner city special education. Autism isn't an excuse, and neither is poverty.
Special Olympics Chicago, which is mainly funded by Special Childrens Charities, provides FREE athletic competition for the disabled community in the city of Chicago. My students participate in the Spring Games Track & Field Competition, Cubs Care (softball skills training), and Juniors Bowling. It is clear to me that without Special Olympics Chicago, my kids would never have the opportunity to do things like this. Their social, sensory, and cognitive limitations would not allow them to participate with typical kids, and their monetary barriers wouldn't allow many of them to participate in city leagues. Watching their faces light up when their name is called to receive the gold medal brought me to TEARS (literally - I cried standing at the podium and couldn't even take their picture!).
When I attended the Special Olympics coaches training meeting, I was almost irritated by how moved I got after watching a video of their marathon team. I am SO busy. I do not have time to train every day. I am spending a month of my summer volunteering in Africa - how on Earth could I train there? And most importantly, I HATE RUNNING! But those excuses don't match the intense need for Special Olympics Chicago to continue to be funded. I have the privilege to actually watch the way that Special Olympics enhances the quality of life for its participants. So I sucked it up. And I followed my heart. And I closed my eyes and clicked the link - and here I am, the night before marathon training begins - nervous, a little scared, but excited for the adventures of the next six months!
So - this blog (created due to a shockingly high amount of requests) will follow me through my training, my experiences with Special Olympics Chicago, me politely asking you to donate to this incredible cause, and will document my adventures of training for said marathon while volunteering in South Africa & Uganda for the month of July. So expect some whining, a lot of victories (HOPEFULLY), many firsts, and definitely a LOT of good stories.
So... are you interested in donating? Maybe? I have $1000 to raise by October, and I will update you with my creative ways of raising money. But for now, here's the link if you're interested :)
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/alliegriffin/2012chicagomarathon
Love,
Allie
I have always loved to run, like REALLY loved it. I have been a runner since I was in sixth grade and could first start competing. If you know me at all, you know I'm either really, really, really into something, or I could care less about it. All or nothing. Track was ALL. It was my LIFE for six years. But, I'm a sprinter. Even the 200 M Run was too long for me. Once my coach placed me in the 4x400 relay and I thought it was a death wish. So naturally, running a marathon has never crossed my mind. I hate running long distances. My years of sprinting, high jumping, and triple jumping have created pretty terrible shin splints. My lungs start to burn after 1 mile, and I get really bored after running past 20 minutes. So why would someone like me want to run the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon? Funny you should ask.
I have known I have wanted to teach children with autism since I was in sixth grade. I went to junior high with a young man with autism, and I became his ally. He inspired me everyday and I was constantly fascinated by how intelligent he was, yet how completely different he was from all of our peers. In high school, I became a peer buddy and a Special Olympics coach for our school's multineeds program. It was then that I really understood the power and the opportunity that Special Olympics has for the disabled community. It's an unbelievable organization that provides individuals with disabilities of all levels the chance to participate in something that not only celebrates their differences, but let's them compete in athletics the way that their typically developing peers do.
When I graduated from Illinois State University with an undergrad degree in Special Ed, I knew I wanted to pursue inner city teaching. My involvement with the Golden Apple Scholars program opened my eyes to educational injustice and prepared me to teach in tough schools. I am so fortunate to have found a school that definitely fits that category, but is supportive, caring, and holds each child to a high standard. I am a teacher of ten little ones with varying degrees of autism. This job is what I have ALWAYS wanted. I am challenged every single day, no day - or moment, really - is ever boring, and I am constantly inspired. I have a lot to learn, and my kids are throwing me curves everyday. But, I wouldn't want to do anything else - & I'm doing my best to continue raising the bar for quality inner city special education. Autism isn't an excuse, and neither is poverty.
Special Olympics Chicago, which is mainly funded by Special Childrens Charities, provides FREE athletic competition for the disabled community in the city of Chicago. My students participate in the Spring Games Track & Field Competition, Cubs Care (softball skills training), and Juniors Bowling. It is clear to me that without Special Olympics Chicago, my kids would never have the opportunity to do things like this. Their social, sensory, and cognitive limitations would not allow them to participate with typical kids, and their monetary barriers wouldn't allow many of them to participate in city leagues. Watching their faces light up when their name is called to receive the gold medal brought me to TEARS (literally - I cried standing at the podium and couldn't even take their picture!).
When I attended the Special Olympics coaches training meeting, I was almost irritated by how moved I got after watching a video of their marathon team. I am SO busy. I do not have time to train every day. I am spending a month of my summer volunteering in Africa - how on Earth could I train there? And most importantly, I HATE RUNNING! But those excuses don't match the intense need for Special Olympics Chicago to continue to be funded. I have the privilege to actually watch the way that Special Olympics enhances the quality of life for its participants. So I sucked it up. And I followed my heart. And I closed my eyes and clicked the link - and here I am, the night before marathon training begins - nervous, a little scared, but excited for the adventures of the next six months!
So - this blog (created due to a shockingly high amount of requests) will follow me through my training, my experiences with Special Olympics Chicago, me politely asking you to donate to this incredible cause, and will document my adventures of training for said marathon while volunteering in South Africa & Uganda for the month of July. So expect some whining, a lot of victories (HOPEFULLY), many firsts, and definitely a LOT of good stories.
So... are you interested in donating? Maybe? I have $1000 to raise by October, and I will update you with my creative ways of raising money. But for now, here's the link if you're interested :)
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/alliegriffin/2012chicagomarathon
Love,
Allie
Hi Allie, I am so looking forward to following your training! I just registered in the past few days to run for Special Olympics Chicago as well!
ReplyDeleteYou sound perfectly passionate about the cause, and Africa will be amazing! Take notes!
Anyway, I lookforward to hearing all about your adventures in teaching, training, and traveling. Hopefully we'll share a run at some point.
You can find me at http://annabellewinters.wordpress.com