MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

Yeah!!! We did it! I ran it and you supported it and together WE made a difference for the Snyder family!

The race went well, we thought it was going to snow or rain on us, but God chose to take it easy on our efforts and held it off until that afternoon! It was perfect running weather - little cool, but just right!

Molly and John and my sister-in-law, Angela, came to cheer us on - they saw us off at the start, did some strolling through downtown Mackinac Island, then met us at the half-way mark to cheer us on again, give us some PowerBar stuff, take our running gloves and boost our spirits. My split times had been pretty good until that point (about what I expected at about 9:30 minute miles), but then I hit a wall, slowed down, then picked it up and then at about 11 miles, I crashed - HARD! My time ended up being 2:19:31 - a little slower than I was hoping, but then again, I wasn't used to the hill training so I wasn't sure what to expect.

All in all - I'm glad I was able to do the run for them and I'm so thankful and blessed to have my nephew still in my life. I can't thank you enough for your support in all the many ways you have shown it to me (encouragement, prayers for endurance and injury-free running) and to the Snyder's (prayers, encouragement, financial) - you have been such a blessing!

There are still some funds coming in but all that has come in has already gone to Molly and John and probably already on the hospital bills - we'll have another update soon - be on the lookout!

All our love -

5 MORE DAYS!!!

Okay, I shouldn't have looked at the race day countdown - I always get nervous before a race, but usually not this far out. Could have something to do with the fact that I'm getting sick. I'm pumping the Vitamin C like crazy, so hopefully it keeps me going!

TWO WEEKS TO RACE DAY!

According to the Snyder Report, Hayden is still doing well. He had some routine check ups the other day in Saginaw and he is continually gaining his strength back. Yeah! I know Molly, John and the boys are so relieved to be home TOGETHER as they try to settle back into somewhat of a calm routine in this chaos we call life.

We have received many financial donations, notes of encouragement and prayers of healing and safe training and cannot express how grateful we are! Thank you for all you do!

OK, so the run is only a couple weeks away and I've been told that a few people are putting this blog link on their MySpace and Face Book pages, handing out fliers, etc. so I'll try to be better about keeping it updated. And I do have to admit, my training has not been where I would like it to be, but I'm still running as often as I can. (And I'm not making excuses, but after getting home from work at 6, lovin' on my baby girl for a bit before jetting off to the trail for a run before it gets dark is getting tougher and tougher. Think my boss would understand if I set my clocks to daylight savings time a couple weeks early so I can get some better weekday runs in? :o) Long 10-12 miler this weekend planned though. Side note - I love Hal Higdon's training plans!

Hey, anyone want to go to Mackinac Island for the half marathon. If you even wanted to do it with me, that would be great. There is also a 5.7 mile course that you can run or walk that same day/time. And - you would get a t-shirt and a medal! Cool! Visit www.runmackinac.com to sign up. Seriously, if you're interested in going up, we can have Team Hayden or something and I can get ferry tickets for $15 adult round trip rather than $25 adult round trip. Let me know!

Better stop typing and get running!

Hayden is home - Again!

Hayden ended up spending another week back at U of M as they tried to balance his numbers all out. Sounds like he's being good and having fun being a little boy again. He's re-learning to do some things that he did before as he we immobile for so long and loss so much muscle strength. bit all in all, he's doing well. He even got 4 or 5 teeth in while he was down there the first time!

HAYDEN WAS HOME!!!!!

He was discharged and home for 6 days before he had to go back down (yesterday). One of his numbers (related to his blood thinner medicine) was really low, so back down to Ann Arbor he went to get that balanced out. But at least he go to go in a car this time and not a helicopter thank goodness! He could be down there for anywhere from two days to two weeks depending on how long it takes for things to adjust.

HAYDEN'S COMING HOME!

Hayden is going home today! Molly and John have been going through classes to prep for what lies ahead for Hayden, meeting with all of his specialists and learning how to care for him as he continues to heal. They were down there for 44 days - Wow. But get this....isn't it totally bizarre that two sisters know how to NG tube their children (not that we like it....). But PRAISE GOD Hayden's going home!

High-Tailing It For Hayden

THE STORY~
My 11-month-old nephew, Hayden (son of my sister Molly and brother-in-law John, and brother of Layne) was born with a couple heart conditions. At the beginning of August, he was airlifted to U of M Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, where he underwent open-heart surgery to repair the faulty valve in his heart. Molly and John have been down there with him since the beginning of August. Shortly after the surgery, they learned that the surgery to repair the valve, did not work as anticipated, and therefore, he will underwent another open-heart surgery to replace the valve. Hence, an even longer stay in the hospital….but he is on the road to recovery!

MY CHALLENGE~
I am going to commit to running The Great Turtle Half Marathon on Saturday, October 25 on Mackinac Island – all (gulp) 13.1 miles of it! BUT, I am not just running to run, I am running it to raise funds for the Snyder family. Funds will be used to help Molly and John and to enable them to stay down there by Hayden’s side, which is where they need to be. They are not able to work down there, yet they still have bills back home and day-to-day living expenses, not to mention the medical bills that will soon be coming in.

YOUR CHALLENGE~
Support Hayden and his family by sponsoring me for the half marathon, or better yet — join me and run with me for Hayden! Every dollar raised will be given to the Snyder family and put to good use!

IDEAS OF WAYS TO PARTICIPATE ~

• Make a one-time donation now because you KNOW I’ll finish the run!

• Sponsor me X amount for each training mile I log. (ex. $1 per training mile x 100 miles = $100)

• THINK BIG! Anyone want to be a matching donor for every dollar raised?

• Commit to making a donation with every paycheck you receive.

• Challenge me and put an amount on it! Can I beat my previous half marathon PR? Can I run all 13.1 miles without walking? Go ahead and make a challenge — I dare you! Actually, I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!

• Anyone want to set a goal of how much we can raise together to help the Snyder’s?

PRAYER REQUESTS ~

• Continued healing for Hayden – both long and short term

• Wisdom and steady hands for the doctors and nurses caring for Hayden

• Emotional, physical and spiritual strength for the Snyder family as they are daily exhausted in many ways

• Molly and John as they learn to care for Hayden and prepare to take him home

• Layne as he is not with his Mom, Dad and little brother

HOW CAN YOU DONATE?

• Online ~ Donate though PayPal –it’s 100% safe and secure! Click the button at the top of this page!

• Check ~ Email me! Email Sara for mailing information. (s_middlebrook@hotmail.com if the link doesn't work)
  

• If you make a challenge, I’ll invoice you after I CONQUER IT!!! (Because I know I will!)

*Donations are not tax-deductible.

Keep checking back often for updates, see how my training is going, and other new happenings! We may even have a giveaway or two!

Time to hit the training trail – hope to see you out there!

Love,
Aunt Sara