Join CC RxExercise Ambassador Team to Dublin Marathon

Join Charities Challenge RxExercise Ambassadors A-Team today and travel team expenses paid to the Dublin Marathon, Oct 25, 2010!

Primary A-Team Travel Dates to Ireland Oct 21-27.

Join CC’s Dublin A-Team between March 17-31, 2010 for a
Lucky $500 Fast Start to Travel Team Expenses paid to Dublin!

(Dublin Castle, Photo by GaryWestlund/CharitiesChallenge)

*Early Bird Special! To help get the Dublin Team moving forward, A St Patrick’s Day Irish Blessing…
Join the Dublin A-Team starting on St Patrick’s Day, Wednesday, March 17, through March 31, 2010, and receive a $500 Early Bird CC reduction in your fundraising goal, leaving only $3000 to go after joining the Team with your $150 A-Team Member registration fee. (CC will provide training & fundraising leadership for success!)

To join CC’s Dublin A-Team today by calling
Certified Coach Gary Westlund 612-245-9160 or go to

http://www.charitieschallenge.org/

Join online via Active.com http://www.active.com/running-membership/anoka-mn/dublin-marathon-rxexercise-ambassadorship-by-charities-challenge-2010-sl480 or by mail today…to be in Ireland in October!

We “CC A-Team Dublin Early Birds” will begin gathering together @ 6 PM on Wednesday’s, March 17, 24, and 31, at Como Lake, St Paul, MN:
1. Fun CC Team Training Times (open to all CC Members)

2. Happy Dublin A-Team Travel Planning
3. Pleasant A-Team Post-training social time after 7 PM

(Above: Glendaloch, near Dublin,

Below, Cliffs of Moher, West of Ireland;

Photos by Gary Westlund/Charities Challenge)

CC Coach Gary Westlund has coached hundreds, helped with fundraising, and traveled and travel

planned, for 5 Charities Teams to the Dublin Marathon and excursions throughout Ireland in the past 10 years, and happily looks forward to introducing many more RxExercise Ambassadors to beautiful Ireland.

Happy St Patrick's Day and Claddaugh Ring Irish Traditions: Friendship-Love-Loyalty!

March 14, 2010 - St Patricks Irish Traditions 5k

CC's 2nd Annual St Patrick’s Irish Traditions 5k, “Celebrating Active Friendship-Love-Loyalty” at Como Lake, St Paul, MN, Sunday, March 14, tripled in size and success.

Our 2010 St Pat's 5k was the 3rd of 11 Holiday Run Events presented by Charities Challenge in 2010, where we celebrate the Power of RxExercise to improve lives and even relationships.

Race results, which will be kept at CC’s web site, are available at http://wayzataresults.com/roadraces/2010/StPatricksDay5k/index.html

To find St Patrick’s Irish Traditions 5k musical slideshow go to http://www.charitieschallenge.org/cceventphotos/2010%20Holiday%20Run%20Series/

Notice the Holiday Run theme repeatedly seen in the slideshow: “Miles o’ Smiles”, because RxExercise does improve lives and relationships!

I was particularly cheered by the images I saw, and some that I was lucky to capture with my camera, of families and friends sharing their Friendship-Love-Loyalty, the Irish Traditions of the Claddagh Ring, ‘round Como Lake.

I so enjoy seeing so many active, loving family-friends sharing happy-healthy walking/running activity on and around special Holidays, smiling, laughing, dancing, singing and hugging, because of shared RxExercise.

Thanks to all the CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers who make CC Event so enjoyable for so many others:
Jeanne DeMartino, Don Soule, Mary Pat Flynn, Laura Westlund, Kent Spellman, Mary Lunzer, Karen Kinnear, Bridget McClatchey, Mary Riches, Jason Denen, Amy Kohout, Rick Recker, Scott Beesley, and racer-turned-course-marshal, Andrew Hanselman. GO CCREW!

Thanks, again, to 2010 Holiday Run Series KIND Sponsors, David & Pam Glass of Black Bear Crossings Café http://blackbearcrossings.com/ , and the California Dried Plum Board.

Additional thanks to Bronze Level Sponsor financially supporting the event, Ann Larkin, Xango Independent Distributor http://www.annlarkin.mymangosteen.com/distributors/annlarkin/contact.asp

(Ann is a happy runner who ran the 2002 Dublin Marathon as part of a charity team coached by CC Coaches Gary & Jeanne!)

Thank you to music-man Sishir Chang of The Serfs http://www.myspace.com/mnserfs for live music, and graphic artist/illustrator Laura Westlund for her lovely Irish Traditions honoring shirt logo design.

And, thanks to professional timer/scorer/records-keeper, Josh Gerber of http://www.wayzataresults.com/ and pro-announcer, Gaylen Morse of Morsound, for making our St Pat’s 5k a classy, first-class racing experience for over 300 participants. 20% of the participants were first-time racers who we hope will keep up all those happy steps, partly as a consequence of how they enjoyed Sunday’s experiences.

Next up, please join us for
1. The 3rd Annual "Easter Sunday – Rise ‘n’ Shine 5k" on Sunday, April 4, at Como Lake, the 4th of 11 Holiday Run Events. http://charitieschallenge.org/html/easter_sunday_rise__n_shine_5k.html
2. The 5th Annual Challenge Obesity 5k - Celebrating Effective RxExercise, and the RRCA MN State 5k Championship http://charitieschallenge.org/html/challenge_obesity_5k.html

Keep GOING IRISH…All the way to Dublin, Ireland in October!
Keep walking & running, and stay motivated by joining our RxExercise Ambassador Team to the 2010 Dublin Marathon, taking advantage by tomorrow, Wednesday, March 17, St Patrick’s Day, with the St Patrick’s Irish Blessing special “Fast Start” special promotion.

Join the CC Dublin Team by tomorrow and receive a $500 credit toward your fundraising goal of $3750 total needed to travel expenses-paid http://www.active.com/running-membership/anoka-mn/dublin-marathon-rxexercise-ambassadorship-by-charities-challenge-2010-sl480

Charities Challenge will help Dublin Team Members achieve both the training and CC fundraising goals to allow each RxExercise Ambassador’s CC Team Member’s expenses-paid travel to a grand finish line in Dublin. I’ve coached hundreds of others to 5 Dublin Marathons, and I’m eager to introduce many more to Ireland’s grandest marathon experience. Join CC’s Dublin Team now and run Ireland in October, 2010! http://charitieschallenge.org/html/cc_traveling_rxexercice_ambass.html

Keep up your daily RxExercise, live well, and meet life's challenges with more strength and happiness.

Mothers Day 5k - Celebration of Active Generations

Charities Challenge's 3rd Annual Mothers Day 5k – Celebration of Active Generations served over 200 participants to a families’ & friends’ Holiday Run Series RxExercise experience of a timed 5k and fun 1.5 mile fitness walk, increased participationg representing about a 50% growth over 2008!

What a special joy it was to see as many as three generations of moms and kids walking and running together, most with other family members and some with supportive husbands, and even a mom soon expecting to deliver new life.

Once again at another CC Holiday Run Event I saw "Miles of Smiles" which I camera-captured and may now be reviewed at Charities Challenge's Photos Slideshows record at the CC web site http://charitieschallenge.org/html/cc_event_photos.html via the 2009 Holiday Event Photo Gallery

At the above linked slideshow, be sure to turn up your sound and set the duration of slides to 1 second, then ENJOY the "Miles of Smiles" from the Mothers Day 5k at Como Lake!

Official 5k race results and records by CC Race Team Member and founder/owner of Wayzata Results, Josh Gerber, can be found at http://wayzataresults.com/roadraces/2009/MothersDay/

Because of the help of CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) Volunteers (see below), even Josh the timer/scorekeeper got to "Share the RxExercise Challenge" with his mom, Susan, on Mothers Day.

Well done to Josh and his mom Susan Gerber in all regards as RxExercise leaders, and for demonstrating the special shared joys of a "Celebration Active Generations", of another actively supportive mom/son team.

CC recognizes all the moms at each Mothers Day 5k as "the most important influence for physical activity in kids lives", by encouraging them with a rewarding Mothers Day 5k celebration for the years of moms' leadership to their families' health an RxExercise.

And, at each Mothers Day 5k CC also presents two moms as "Honored Active Moms" who receive special recognition to remarkable moms who inspire us all with their active love for their families, their kids, sometimes grandkids too, and their various communities they serve with their RxExercise leadership.
Above Photo: Jeanne DeMartino, Corey Johnson, Amy Kohout, Patty Gaffney, Judy Meyer, Joan Wilson, Honored Active Moms ("HAMs")of the Mothers Day 5k 2007-2009.

All four Mothers Day 5k "Honored Active Moms" of 2007 and 2008, pictured above, were participating at the 2009 Event as CCREW Volunteers and/or racers and delighted in presenting hanging baskets of flowers to the 2009 "HAMs", Amy Kohout & Patty Gaffney, who each wore bib number 1.Active moms are greatly encouraged by the growing numbers of supportive walking & running companions at CC Events and especially of other active moms on Mothers Day.

New course records were set by various USATF divisions, but none more impressive than Amy Lyons's 17:36 (Amy finishing photo above) which brought her to the finish line first overall. And IMAGINE! Amy was the first athlete to see her own mom, Lynn Lyons, who was serving as finish line CCREW volunteer collecting bib tags.HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, MomLynn!

Happily review in all the images in the "Miles of Smiles" Mothers Day 5k slideshow linked above how very many were images of lovely daughters and handsome sons of all ages who walked or ran with moms, cheered moms, hugged moms, and/or cheered by moms.

Also note memorable images, like the one above of Patty & Terry Gaffney, of those actively supportive dads/husbands who helped free moms to walk and run, too. Join Charities Challenge in continuing throughout the year, day by day, to honor moms with our active support of their health and strength by encouraging their daily RxExercise. Moms' health and happiness will be improved with RxExercise, so that in turn they may also continue to do ALL that moms do to bring us life and happy lives of their children, including inspiring kids' health/fitness. GO MOMS!

Special "THANKS!" to CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) Volunteers who delivered a brilliant 3rd Annual Mothers Day 5k - Celebration of Active Generations:

CC Coach Jeanne DeMartino (CC Event Co-director & Announcer)
Kent Spellman
Rick Recker
Lynn Lyons
Jason Denen
Don Soule
Mary Riches
Jerry Hammer
Danielle Gordanier
Amy Kohout
Katie Jones
Roxann Schmitz
Linda & Nicholas Abbott
Beth Buck
And thanks to 2009 Holiday Run Series KIND Sponsors, David & Pam Glass of Black Bear Crossings Cafe.

And, thank you, Jerry Hammer, in addition to being lead biker for the 5k race, thank you for greeting about 100 moms and grandmoms at the finish line with both a lovely colorful carnation and your congratulatory handsome smile.

What a great way to finish the 5k with flowers and smiles, but only because...
What a great way to start Mothers Day with a 5k shared with family & friends at the Charities Challenge Celebration of Active Generations! Go MOMS!
Continue to "Share the RxExercise Challenge" with family & friends by returning to Como Lake on Sunday, June 21, for the 3rd Annual Fathers Day 5k – Celebration of Active Generations http://charitieschallenge.org/html/fathers_day_5k.html

Please add your comments about how walking and running on Mothers Day 5k may have especially brightened-lightened your day and/or for someone you love. For example, enjoy reading below e-mails that have already been received about Mothers Day 5k:

“Thanks for putting on such a wonderful race today! :)” Amy Lyons

“The race was a great way to start off my first Mother's Day :) It was also the first race with my husband, Marshall, and son, Fletcher - I often run by myself. So fun!” Susie Morehead

“Sarah that I ran with today…had a disk removed from her back 9 months ago. Today was the first time since her surgery that she has gone more than 1 1/2 miles…[she] commented on how friendly everyone is and how well managed the race was.” Katie Jones

“Thanks… for all your hard work…the [day] was delightful.” Carolyn Garcia

“What a WONDERFUL way to start my mother's day. You and all your CCREW made me feel so loved and special. Not to mention that I was surrounded by my family - what else could I have asked for…I am blessed…” Patty Gaffney

“Thank you so much…for such a wonderful and meaningful Mother's Day. I was truly honored to be a ‘HAM’ and I continue to be inspired [by CC leaders toward] living a happy, healthy life through exercise!” Amy Kohout

Active Recognizes DeMartino & Westlund as Event Directors of the Month

Go to http://www.activeendurance.com/assets/emails/2009/04-13/Edge_April09_web.html#EventDirector to read Active's recognition of CC's Coaches Jeanne DeMartino & Gary Westlund as "Event Director[s] of the Month" in their monthly e-newsletter, The Edge, which goes to Event Directors around the world.

(Photo: 3 of 6 2009 RRCA MN State 5k Masters & Grand Masters Champions, Roxann Schmitz, Katzuyuki Yamamoto & Raymond Mitchell, between Gary Westlund and Jeanne DeMartino, CC Events Directors at the Easter Sunday 5k, April 12, Como Lake, St Paul, MN.)

Coach Jeanne and Gary Westlund, Event Directors of CC's 23 Annual Events, are very gratified to be recognized by Active.com, the leading online activities registration/training service in the world.

Easter Sunday - Rise 'n' Shine 5k Stories & Photos

April 12, 2009 - Como Lake, St Paul, MN

Charities Challenge's 2nd Annual Challenge Easter Sunday – Rise ‘n’ Shine 5k served nearly 200 participants to families’ & friends’ sunny Sunday RxExercise experience of a timed 5k and fun 1.5 mile fitness walk, representing an 80% growth over snowy 2008 Easter Sunday 5k!

The Easter Sunday 5k continues as “The Only Easter Sunday Road Race in Minnesota” and one of very few such “Actively Celebrating Life” racing events in America.

This year’s pleasant conditions allowed us to have Josh Gerber, and his brother Danny, officially time the 2nd ES5k for the first time, so we have ES5k results and records. http://wayzataresults.com/roadraces/2009/RiseNShine/ With Danny's and others' help with timing, Josh even got to run a fast 5k himself in the middle of his morning's busy-business of timing and scoring and always being winsomely pleasant to everyone. Read Josh's story at his blog http://www.joshgerber.com/

The Easter Sunday 5k records will stand as worthy goals for those who will return on April 4, 2010, for the 3rd Annual ES – Rise ‘n’ Shine 5k . Online registration is already open via Active http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1728358&assetId=3b80066f-e3f4-4976-b401-b17b7d93419d

The ES5k is the 3rd of CC’s 9 Holiday Run Events for 2009, emphasizing the Power of RxExercise to improve lives and even relationships every day, and especially so on sometimes stressful holidays. Yes! Exercise is powerful, happy medicine, as seen in the “Miles of Smiles” online slideshow http://www.charitieschallenge.org/cceventphotos/Holiday%20Run%20Series%202009/index.htm

The following stories and photos are about some of the noteworthy performances from the 2nd ES5k:
1. Foregoing personally participating in the ES5k, 6 CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers worked busily throughout the morning in delivering a memorable experience to so many others. Thanks to:
Jeanne DeMartino
Kent Spellman
Rick Recker
Lynn Lyons
Naveed Mohammed
Katie DeMartino Liberko

2. And more “Thanks!” to CCREW who both worked before and/or after their 5k race to help take up the rest of the essential duties of delivering a pleasant experience to others.
Monte Guenzler
Beth Buck & Kids
Mary Ann Gariepy
Danielle Gordanier
Bruce Leasure

3. Overall first place finisher, Brian Davenport, M34, Minneapolis, in an ES5k record time of 17:21. (Photo: Brian a few steps from the finish line.)

4. First women’s division winner and 2nd overall finisher, Amy Lyons, F23, was just 20 seconds trailing Brian to the finish line. (Photo: Amy about to finish.)

5. The youngest finisher and setting an ES5k record was Dallas Buck, age 10. (Photo: Dallas, Beth Buck, Kent Spellman.)

6. The eldest-athlete finisher, and age group winner, was 73 year young Sy Gross. (Photo: David Weissbrodt, Sy Gross, Mary Gariepy, Beth & Emma Buck.)

7. Three RRCA MN 5k 2009 State Masters & Grand Masters Champions whose winners’ plaques had not arrived in time for the April 4th Challenge Obesity 5k happily received their awards at the ES5k:
Raymond Mitchell, RRCA Mens Masters 5k State Champion
Katzuyuki Yamamoto, Men’s Grand Masters 5k State Champion
Roxann Schmitz, Women’s Grand Masters 5k State Champion

(Photo: Coach Gary Westlund, RRCA MN State 5k Champions Roxann Schmitz, Katzuyuki Yamamoto, Raymond Mitchell, and Coach Jeanne DeMartino.)

8. More than 50% of ES5k racers have raced in other CC Events.

9. Athletes were visiting from 7 other states and Canada.

10. Easter Lilies, a unique ES5k award, were presented to various division winners.

(Photo: Women's winner, Amy Lyons center, Coach Gary Westlund, Dad Curt & Mom Lynn Lyons, Coach Jeanne DeMartino, left to right. See Curt Lyons professional race photos http://roadraces2009.glossydigital.net/2009RR016041209EasterSundayRisenShine5K01.htm

Next up for CC Holiday Run Events: Mothers Day 5k, Sunday,

May 10, back at Como Lake where we'll together enjoy a "Celebration of Active Generations" http://charitieschallenge.org/html/mothers_day_5k.html

Challenge Obesity 5k (4th Annual) - 2009 RRCA MN State 5k Championship

April 4, 2009 - Como Lake, St Paul, MN
Charities Challenge's 4th Annual Challenge Obesity 5k - 2009 RRCA MN State 5k Championship continued to see growth in the numbers of participants coming to the only road race where weight-challenged athletes of all shapes and sizes will be honored, cheered and celebrated for thePower of [their] RxExercise in meeting overweight and obesity challenges.

Complete race results/records/awards and fabulous online photos slideshow with Challenge Obesity theme song music is available under "Past Events" section on CC's home page http://charitieschallenge.org/

This Challenge Event of all our CC Health-related Challenge Events (Hearts & Minds, Cancer, Diabetes, Arthritis, Aging) throughout the year brings together the happiest crowd of active celebrants of life, including loving family and friends who are so proud of those "Big Losers who are Big Winners" at the CO5k.

The following statistics and stories are about the 113 registered athletes, 82 of whom completed the 5k competing in the RRCA MN State 5k Championship the 4th Annual Challenge Obesity 5k.
1. Nearly 40% were running their first ever road race.
2. About 25% reported losing more than 30lbs; 16 more than 50lbs; 8 more than 100lbs!
3. Bib #s were assigned in reverse order of weight loss, so Roxann Schmitz of St Cloud, MN, having lost 189lbs, wore bib #1 for the first time in her life at a road race.
4. Roxann Schmitz went on to win the 2009 RRCA MN State 5k Women's Grand Masters Division Championship (over age 50)!

(Photo: Last year's Grand Champion, Siglinde Moore, passing the Champ's plaque to Roxann)

5. Winning the 2009 RRCA MN State 5k Men's Grand Masters Division Championship (over age 50), was Katzuyuki Yamamoto, coming all the way from Osaka Japan years ago, now living in St Paul and happily racing CC Events. (Photo: Allen Gibas, M63, who finished seconds behind "Katz", and Coach Jeanne DeMartino who also served as race announcer.)

6. Jeanette Lepore, running in her first-ever road race, running in the Athena Wt Class Division (Women >145 lbs), and celebrating having lost over 50 lbs, won the 2009 RRCA MN State 5k Women's Masters Division Championship (ages 40-49)!

7. 48 Year Young Mike Davis won the 2009 RRCA MN State 5k Open Men's Division Championship with @ 17:05 time. (Photo: Mike Davis with 1 lap to go 'round Como Lake win.)

8. 15 Year Young, Hannah Strom, in her 1st ever road race, won the 2009 RRCA MN State 5k Open Women's Division Championship.

9. Raymond Mitchell, M42, held off very strong Ben Eskin to win 2009 RRCA MN State 5k Men's Masters Division Championship (ages 40-49). (Photo: Ben Eskin, M42, former MN Gophers Linebacker and Raymond Mitchell sharing congratulations right after CO5k)

10. Regular CC Events racer, Don Soule, M59, also a 100+ lb weight loss winner, ran well with his new heart pacemaker.

MarathonMan Don Soule wrote today about his CO5k experiences:

"Top Ten Reasons the Challenge Obesity 5K was a Great Race!
#12. My wife Meredith was there cheering me on!
(Also Coach Gary, Coach Jeanne and all the Charities Challenge
workers and fans)
#11. Any time I can get out and run 3 miles, it's a great day!
#10. I finished before all the walkers !!
# 9. Free snacks!
# 8. I beat my 2009 White Bear Winter Frolic 5K time !!
# 7. New post-PM PR !!!!
# 6. The odds are great for another post-PM PR in my next 5K !!!! (when I get my PM fine tuned correctly)
# 5. I was wearing the number 4 !!!! (This is the only place you can get rewarded for once weighing over 300 lbs. They give the lower numbers to those who lost the most weight number "1" went to someone who lost 189 lbs - # 2 had lost 165 lbs)
# 4. At least I didn't need to lose 189 lbs !!!
# 3. Came in 1st in the Male 55-59 age group !!!!!! (Did I mention there was 1 runner in the male 55-59 age group - I've heard this is one of the perks of getting older and entering small local races).
# 2. I was a "Real Bread Winner" !!! (They give loaves of healthy bread as prizes to:
1) the winners. 2) whoever the race director deems deserving that day.
3) whoever hangs around for the awards ceremony on a beautiful 30 degree Minnesota spring morning.)
(Photo: Don and Coach Jeanne - Celebrate 100+ lb loss plus running with New Pacemaker)
# 1. ANOTHER T-SHIRT !!!! Plus All the Great Pictures !!!"

10. Another regular CC Event walker, Wendy Tolenen, reported having lost 80 lbs since first walking a CC Event a couple years ago. (After the CO5k Wendy wrote: "Just wanted to say thanks for putting together these great walks. I wanted to talk to you afterwards, but you were so busy. I wanted to tell you that since Sharon and I have been doing your walks, I have lost 80 pounds! i've attached a pic from one of the 1st walks and one from the Valentines day walk. I'm so glad I participate in the Charities Challenge walks they've changed my life! : )"

Wendy included one photo (below) from just a couple years ago at another Challenge Event. And next to that photo is Wendy on finishing the CO5k on Saturday, still walking/running with her cheerleading friend, Sharon Rosner.

11. Everyone cheered all the “Big Losers as Big Winners” both before and after the 5k.

12. The most enthusiastic participants at the 4th Annual Challenge Obesity 5k were again those who came to celebrate The Power of (their) RxExercise in improving their lives,or the lives of their loved ones, well beyond their weight management challenges and so were the very models of "Challenge Obesity".

13. 12 went home as "Real Bread Winners" for a variety of racing and volunteering brilliance. (Photo: Real Bread Winners)

14. 10 year young, Anastasia Davis-Dunbar, who won a writing contest about her first running/racing experience, thereby earning a complimentary entry into the CO5k race where she set an age group record, running with her dad, Jeremy, and went home a "Real Bread Winner", too. "Keep creatively writing and imaginatively running, Anastasia"!

(Photo: CC Coach Jeanne DeMartino, Anastasia, dad Jeremy)

We can read Anastasia's winning story at http://stopdropandtri.blogspot.com/ including her report about running the CO5k.

Next up for Charities Challenge and all you happy to "Share the RxExercise Challenge" with family and friends at our Holiday Run Series...

The 2nd Annual Easter Sunday - Rise 'n' Shine 5k at Como Lake this Sunday, April 12 http://charitieschallenge.org/html/easter_sunday_rise__n_shine_5k.html

Come "Rise 'n' Shine" with us on Sunday and start your day with RxExercise.