From 13.1 to 40, From $0 to $1930, we're getting close!

 Last Sunday I ran the longest distance I've ever run, 40 miles! I'm now an ‘unofficial’ ultra marathoner! 

I woke up at 4 AM and felt a little nervous for this practice run – I was entering an unfamiliar zone. I wanted to train hard and prepare well for this race. But because of the problem in my feet, my training was really minimal – 7 miles at the most with the exception of one half marathon. I prepared for this run as I would for my regular cross country meets. That’s hardly enough to prepare for my goal of 50 miles. I needed this practice run to assure myself that I can do this!

The morning of, I quickly changed into my running shorts, grabbed 2 pieces of toast slathered in chunky peanut butter, and headed out of the door. My whole family (including my dog) got up at the crazy hour to send my mom and me off with enthusiasm! What I did not know was that I would be meeting some amazing people-strangers- who would believe in, energize, and inspire me on my quest.

When we arrived in San Martin I stretched for 10 minutes for one of the craziest runs in my life- Mistake #1. The course is a 2.01 m loop with a backdrop of golden brown hills. The cows lazily graze and gaze at the runners. I had started my run early in the morning. I had my ipod on and the first 10 miles had gone by in a breeze.  

I met a group of experienced runners who had come there for their practice runs. Some had entered for 100m, some 50m and some 50k. They all looked relaxed and were eagerly looking forward to their runs with their friends. They shared their wisdom, humor, and stories with me – the newbie.

 I had a down on mile 16, my legs were giving in, and my knees were starting to ache. This was when Sofie, an amazing runner and mom, paced with me. Without her guidance I would not have completed the run. She shared her favorite running stories and tricks with me. We even named the cows!  Sofie taught me an energy efficient way to run called chi running, which uses gravity to your benefit. She has completed dozens of half marathons, full marathons, participated in half iron mans and even a couple of ultra marathons. With all of her accomplishments, Sofie told me that she is officially a marathon maniac! I’m so glad I got the chance to meet her. Thank you Sofie Romero <3

At about 24 miles I heard Coach Rajeev’s voice. “Where’s your hat Divya?” -Mistake #2, “You are wearing black?! Change your shirt, Divya!” -Mistake #3, “Did you take salt tablets Divya?” -Mistake #4

Yes that’s Rajeev Patel, The amazing Coach with a BIG heart. He is one of the many wonderful people I was fortunate to meet and connect with along the way. Rajeev Patel coached my mom and many others for the Vibha half marathon. I had never heard about ultra marathons until then. As their coach, Rajeev was always available for the runners. He answered their questions and concerns, and guided them with proper stretches and a healthy diet (especially helpful for vegetarians).  

Before I continued my run, Coach Rajeev forced me to gulp down 3 salt tablets. Let me tell you now that they are three times the size of regular Tylenol capsules, so that in itself was a challenge for me. But it helped!  As I commenced my 3 laps with Rajeev, he explained to me 2 types of runners: time buffs that constantly think about the clock and beating PRs (personal records), and mindful runners- those that embrace the nature around them. Coach Rajeev taught me how to enjoy my surroundings, to forget about the time aspect of running, and the importance of listening to my body.

At the end of the day I had finished 3 half marathons, a marathon, and an ultra marathon! 3 in 1! 

I went WAY beyond my comfort zone during this practice run. This entire experience helped me realize how powerful a strong mindset can be- a fit body can only take you so far.

I’m thankful for all of the support and encouragement that I get from my family, coach Rajeev, Coach John, my Gummitown friends, my Chaiparty aunties, friends who wished me luck and cheered me on, and the amazing group of runners at Run-de-Vous. I’m so grateful for the generous donors who believe in and support my cause! Your encouragement is what drives me to go beyond my comfort zone! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!  I still have a long way to go.

I’m running my first Ultramarathon on August 17.  Run de Vous, 'A race with a heart'  encourages participants to celebrate a loved one or run for a cause. I'm running for Operation Smile, for the children. 

 Please Donate! 

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/divyamadhavan/Run-de-Vous 

 "A smile is a happiness you'll find right under your nose." -Tom Wilson

Smiles are great investments: the more you collect, the better you feel- Invest in a smile!

Living in America, we are so blessed. Here we all still experience the same diseases that others experience in places all over the world.  In the United States, clefts occur in 1 in 700 births, making it one of the most common major birth defects. However, most clefts are repaired during early childhood in the United States. In other countries, reconstructive surgery can take place later in life due to a variety of reasons including lack of medical care, financial resources, etc. Higher rates of unrepaired clefts in older children may also be attributed to cultural differences. It's such an easy procedure for doctors to perform, but it's sad that many people can't afford it. 

Remember... 
$25 can supply an exam station at screening
$30 can provide special bottles for babies born with clefts 
$50 can provide IV kits during surgery
$60 can provide antibiotics for 20 children
$100 can ship Smile Bags filled with toys, mirror and more 
$240 can provide a life-changing surgery for a child 
Give a little...and change a lot, one smile at a time!

"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight"-Phyllis Diller

Please donate today: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/divyamadhavan/Run-de-Vous

Sport a Smile

As an athlete, my love and passion for running has grown over the past 3 years. It has been fostered by a multitude of experiences and by the many wonderful people I was fortunate to meet and connect with along the way. 

John Vincenzo Marie Leopold Randazzo, if it wasn't for him, I would not be running. I signed up for cross country the summer before 9th grade, not knowing what I was in for. I went to my first day of practice wearing a pair of worn out basketball shoes. And yes, John made sure we had proper footwear before we ran any distance. 

John has been my high school running coach for the past 3 years. He owns a successful construction company and coaches our cross country/ long distance track team at school. I have never seen him miss a day of practice. His dedication towards coaching athletes irrespective of what level they are at is admirable. 

The words of wisdom that he imparts are filled with insight for both running and life. 

John taught me that things don't just happen overnight. Hard work is the only formula, and there's no cheating when it comes to running. When you run, there's always the option to stop, or turn around early. You must learn to embrace hard and avoid easy. Before we begin our runs, John always lines us up on the starting line and says "Set...Enjoy!". In order to succeed, you need to enjoy what you do. 

Life begins outside your comfort zone.

Thanks to John, I'll be running to help children with the cleft birth defect sport a smile! 

Any donation will be appreciated, please click on the link below:

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/divyamadhavan/Run-de-Vous

 

One Small Step Closer to a Smile

This morning I ran a half marathon. It was my first time participating in the Sevathon, an event that recognizes, supports, and nurtures a spirit of giving. Today I got a feel of how many people it takes to plan an event of that scale. It was a humbling experience to see so many volunteers helping out of the goodness of their hearts. Some helped runners and some passionately represented their cause by raising awareness. These volunteers have a busy life yet they take the effort to make time for others who are in need. I’m even more inspired to volunteer.

I ran for Maitri, a non-profit organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area that primarily helps families suffering with domestic violence, emotional abuse, cultural alienation, human trafficking or family conflict. Approximately 1.5 million women are physically assaulted annually in the United States. Domestic violence has no place in our society!

This run was also to give confidence to my parents, who were worried about the chipped bone in my foot. I ran the Sevathon at a comfortable pace. The weather couldn't have been better, and the scenery was beautiful. We ran alongside the bay, so it was nice to have a surplus of fresh air. It was wonderful to have my brother cheer me on. On my 12^th mile (my final mile) I took a wrong turn and ended up running half a mile off the course. I had to remind myself every now and then that I was not here to race.

I successfully completed the half-marathon… plus an additional mile. I can continue my training for the Ultra with a little bit more confidence. This was definitely a small step towards reaching my goal to make a difference in lives of kids with the cleft birth defect

Please Donate! http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/divyamadhavan/Run-de-Vous 

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I'm going to run, let the CHIPs fall where they may.

I recently found out that I have a bone chip near the head of the first metatarsal in my right foot. When the podiatrist looked at my X-Ray, he told me he'd never seen anything like it before. There really is no treatment for a detached fragment of bone, so I was advised to rest for 6-8 weeks. I was devastated by the news. This was such a let down, because I had been training hard for weeks with a goal of running this Ultra Marathon ultra fast. I was ready to set records. I couldn't stop now. How am I to know what I can achieve if I quit? I decided that a mere 2-D image isn't going to tell me what I can or can't do. 

I came to realize that I'm not only running this for myself. I am also running to gift 12 special children with the smiles they deserve. This Ultra Marathon goes out to them. 

As former Dodger's star Tommy Lasorda said, "The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination".

A smile changes everything. Transform a child's life today. Please chip in for my favorite charity, Operation Smile!

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/divyamadhavan/Run-de-Vous

The shortest distance between two people is a smile!

I love to smile. With a smile comes a genuine happiness that cannot be attained in any other way. Everyone’s smile is special and unique. The ability to smile itself is a blessing.

Every three minutes a child is born with a cleft birth defect. 1 in 10 of those children will die before their first birthday. The children who survive are often unable to eat, speak, socialize or smile. These are all things we take for granted. In some places, they are shunned and rejected. In most cases, their parents can't afford to give them the surgeries they need to live a productive life. I firmly believe that every child deserves to have a future filled with hope and smiles.

Aside from smiling, I also love to run. This summer, I’ll be running for a cause- plenty of miles to provide smiles. I am running an Ultra Marathon on August 17 for my favorite charity, Operation Smile. This event is only a month away! Operation Smile is an international charity that heals children with the cleft birth defect.  By the end of this summer, my goal is to raise $3,000 in hopes of helping these children in need. That’s enough to perform surgeries on 12 underprivileged children! For as little as $240, you can help provide a cleft lip or cleft palate surgery. This surgery takes as little as 45 minutes, but can change a child's life forever.

I can only achieve this with your help. Please follow the link below to donate!

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/divyamadhavan/Run-de-Vous

“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” -Mother Teresa