| Previous Races |
Lewis and Clark Half Marathon Fall 2007: Perfect weather 02:05, Pace: 9:32
Lewis and Clark 10 miles Fall 2008: Hurricane Ike - cold, stinging rain & floods, 10miles - 1:35 - Pace: 9:30
Lewis and Clark Half Marathon Fall 2010: Good weather, ran with Sangarsh, 02:04, Pace: 9:28
Lewis and Clark Winter 2010 Frozen Buns Run, cold, Placed 21st of 111 women. 53:32, Pace 8:37
Rock and Roll, 23rd October, 2011
The first 2 races were difficult more because of the discipline the training required. Waking up early weekdays and weekends, and learning how to put in sustained effort, one step at a time. The last three races have definitely been difficult for the discipline reason (rebalancing my new life as a mother), but also physically challenging.
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Alternatively, mail cheques payable to: "Asha for Education"
with "Anjana - Team Asha St. Louis 2011" printed in the memo to:
Asha for Education, St. Louis Chapter
PO Box 11205
Clayton MO 63105
Thanks to my supporters who have helped me raise $2023 towards my goal of $2600.
My race on 23rd October 2011
My race on 23rd was the roughest run I have ever had. As sometimes happens in life, luck was not on my side. I started with an unconnected pain that I was not fully prepared for. Early in the race I knew that I couldn't outrun the pain. I finally re-organized my resolve to simply finish, at least strong and standing rather than the pace I had trained so hard for.
More than once during my run, I remembered the children I am running for. I remembered that the voluntary challenge I had set myself up for was nothing compared to the mandatory obstacles in their lives. So many of them work unbelievably hard to move themselves up and out of poverty and hopelessness. And for some miles, I could absolutely empathize with the blackness of some of their experiences. I marveled at the strength and resolve that many of the children I’ve met have had and used it to pick myself back up, lift my back and look to the sky again. “Pain is temporary, Pride is forever”, a poster said, and I tried to keep telling my body that, despite its refusal to listen.
I did complete the race, strong and standing. I celebrated the overall victories of my team, those whom I had trained with, all of whom had personal bests. Despite my disappointment and continued pain, I also managed to celebrate my ability to re-organize my goal.
I am grateful for your support and your donations. If you haven't yet donated, remember that your donations will still work towards amazing and life transforming work in India. And I will be inspired and touched by your support, and take it as a message to keep trying, to train for next year, and to still try to achieve my <2hr half marathon goal.
Why do I run for Asha ?
I have been working for Asha for nearly 12 years now, and am intimately aware and amazed by the difference that we can make despite being an all volunteer, non-heirarchical, non-sectarian and secular group. For each one of my 15 years in the U.S. I have felt an increasing urgency to contribute back to my mother-land. Through Asha I daresay I can do more for the underprivileged in India than I could do if I lived there. It connects me to home, it reminds me that my life is more than just about me.
Check out the our organization on charity navigator . Your donations directly empower children with the idea of hope for their future, for their families and for themselves.
What motivated you to run and raise funds for Asha St. Louis?
Children, Education, India, Physical and Mental fitness: These are all things I care about. Running for Asha is a great way to meet and be with people with similar values. The team is comprised of people who are positive, energetic and who have the values and the heart to care. And both running and Asha are both no-excuse activities - we compete with ourselves to give as much of ourselves as we can.
Where do the funds you raise go? What is your target fundraising goal?
I would like to raise at least $2600 ($200/ mile) for Asha St. Louis projects - http://www.ashanet.org/stlouis
In the case of Hippocampus, this could pay to set up an entire integrated center to educate between 110 - 240 children from Kindergarden to 10th Std, year after year after year, forever. This amount would also include scholarships for those children who cannot afford the fees required by the center.
With just one run, we could together leave a legacy that would fundamentally change up to three villages and all its residents. Education projects don't just affect the children who attend them - their sphere on influence encompasses the entire community they are in.
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