Paws & Claws 5K - June 29, 2013

Paws & Claws 5K - June 29, 2013

The Animal Welfare League of Frederick hosted their 1st annual Paws & Claws Run!!!! This was a   5K Run or 1 Mile Walk to benefit the AWLFC cat & dog programs!   374 runners and walkers (and dogs) turned out for this inaugural event!  I don't tend to run too many races in the Summer months, but the Lillard's group running for Sophie and Madigan were going to do this one, so I definitely wanted to join them to continue to show my support!   A great group turned out for the event!!   Here is the link to learn more about how you can help support them as well:  http://sophieandmadigansplayground.org/homepage.php

For a late June morning, it was actually pleasant out, just a little on the humid side.  This was my 1st 5K race for 2013, so I really had no goal other than to push myself and see where I was in timing.   I was pleasantly surprised that I only missed my 2012 personal 5K record by 10 seconds!!   I finished the Paws and Claws 5K in 26:20.  I came in #34 overall, and 3rd in my "new" age group of 40-49 women :)

For an inaugural event, this was very well run with a lot of vendors.  It was a lot of fun to see all the dogs out running today too!  I am happy to support the AWLFC!  Our cat, Tippy, was adopted from them :)

Love for the Lillards 5K & Half Marathon

The Love for the Lillards 5K and Half Marathon Virtual Race came about when a friend from my former Mom's group suffered an unimaginable tragedy on January 31st, 2013.  Two of their four daughters were killed in a house fire, Sophie (6), and Madigan (3).   I was like everyone else hearing the news.  Shock, denial, tears, and the desire to help in any way possible!   My local running group, Run Mama Run, wanted to do the same, and one member asked the question of "can we do a virtual race to raise money?".  This threw into motion many phone calls and emails to friends who have done this before, and we were able to kick off the virutal event that lasted from February 8th - March 24th, 2013.  

We had 70 runners, 52 for the 5K, and 18 for the Half Marathon.  We raised over $1,500 for the Lillards!

Joan, from Bitsy Creations, donated her time and designed the Virtual Race Bib for us.  Beautiful!!

After word was out about the Virtual Run, I was contacted by the Frederick News Post.  They ran an awesome story about the Love for the Lillards Virtual event and really helped increase our participants!!

Below are a few pictures that were posted on the Facebook Event page by the runners.  Thanks to EVERYONE that ran the Love for the Lillards 5K or Half Marathon!  

 If you didn't get to run in this event and would still like to help, please go to the Sophie and Madigan Lillard Memorial Park Facebook page.  The family will be running the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February 2014, and plans to bring another virtual or sister run to the Frederick County area are being considered!!

Click HERE for the Facebook event page for the Disney Princess Half details.

Much love and continued prayers to the Lillards for peace, strength and healing !!