I love the TV show Survivor.  I’ve always wanted to be on it, especially since having four kids under the age of 5.  Thirty days on a deserted island all to myself.  The lack of food, clean clothing and dramatic alliances are old hat in this household.  Throw me on a sandy beach with nothing but the sound of waves lapping onto shore - and the possibility of never being found again - sounds like a vacation to me.  But in reality I know that my household could not hold up well with me being absent for thirty days, so instead I choose to get some “alone time” by training for a marathon. 

If I’m going to run another marathon (this will be my 12th), I want to do it for a good cause (other than my personal sanity), and I’ve found no more deserving a cause than the Children’s Hospital of MN.  I’ve been a nurse in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – the sick wee ones!) at Children’s Hospital Minneapolis for 8+ years now.  Even before having kids of my own, I was amazed by the struggles that children and their families go through at our hospital.  I am even more blown away by the first class care and treatment our providers are able to offer these families.  Working at Children’s has made me – daily – grateful for the health of my own children. It’s also made me very aware that we are all just one day away from a life changing diagnosis or a traumatic accident.  I’m running as part of team Children’ s because I think that the services Children’s provides are so crucial to our community and the health of our kids. 

I like to think of running as “T&T”: therapeutic and torturous.  With four kids, all demanding my constant attention - it can be very therapeutic to get a nice run in by myself.  And then there are the days that pushing a stroller with two, 20lb, 2-year old girls feels like torture - like a bad Target run.  There are also the days that are so busy and exhausting, it feels like I’ve already run a marathon, and I’m not even out of my pajamas.   This time the training, the exhaustion and the occasional torture – it isn’t about me, it’s about raising awareness for Children’s hospital and the amazing kids it serves daily.  

If you have kids, love kids or just know some cool kids I hope you will support Children’s charity running team-Team Superstars!