And let me re-iterate.... WOW!!!
So today I just finished running 23 miles in preparation for my very first marathon - Miami 2006. I could NOT have gotten to where I am without the AIDS Marathon Training Program. The entire staff is just amazing. Both our coach - Carmen - and our program director - Josh - have been just fantastic in getting us everything we need to succeed in running this thing.
Today's run was an incredible experience. Nearly EVERYONE in my program has never run a marathon before, most haven't run any significant distance at all. This program will get nearly anyone to the amazing goal for running 26.2 miles.
Of course, the program is designed to raise money for local and national AIDS support programs. My efforts have gone towards raising funds for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
During the past few months I have learned a great deal about myself, about some friends - new and old, and about the world we live in. Some of the things I've learned about the extent of the devastation that this disease causes world-wide have made me feel exceedingly small. To think that I have done some very small part to help ease the extent of this global crisis makes me feel ever so slightly less so.
If you need more motivation:
SF AIDS Foundation provides necessary drugs to 30,000 patients yearly who otherwise would not be able to afford them.
Sub-Saharan Africa has 10% of the world's population, but 60% of the worlds HIV infections.
MILLIONS of children were orphaned by AIDS in Africa alone in 2005
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