Best Buddies Challenge Hyannis Port 2012

It had been my intention to write a "pre-race report" but life took over, and it never happened. So here goes with the whole thing.


Last October I received an email from Cristina Pedraza of Best Buddies International, telling of a Buddy Talent Contest for Buddy pairs. The requirement was to upload a video to You Tube, no more than 3 minutes long, showcasing the Buddy Pair's talent. The general public would vote on the videos and then Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Founder of Best Buddies, would select the winning pair. The winners would be invited to one of the Best Buddy Challenge events in 2012.


Well, Asia and Amy's shared talent is running. So we met Amy one Fall Saturday morning at the Arb (The Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor) to try to film some running. We were chased out of the Arb by another running group having a race that day, so we moved to Palmer Field Track. It quickly became apparent that: a) I didn't have the right equipment to get decent running footage......my digital camera just didn't cut it, and b) 3 minutes of them running around the track had the potential to be pretty boring! We tried to spice it up with some workout footage.....walking lunges, etc. but it just didn't seem like something that would get votes.

When we got home I began putting together a Powerpoint slide show of pictures and text and downloaded a program that would allow me to upload the finished product to You Tube.

You can see the result here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_86Jy0YsdE
Then I sent out an email to family and friends and posted the link on Facebook encouraging people to vote..........and we watched the number of *likes* rise!


Amy and Asia were neck and neck with another very talented Buddy pair for quite a while. The voting ended at the end of October, and on November 2 we were notified that Anthony Kennedy Shriver had selected Amy and Asia as the winners! They would be invited to one, possibly more, Best Buddies Challenge events, which include a 100-mile bike ride and a 5k run.....the Carl Lewis Challenge. They would speak about their love of running and how Best Buddies impacts their lives and then lead the 5k race with 9-times Olympic Gold Medalist Carl Lewis! The events are in Boston/Hyannis Port, MA, at Hearst Castle in California, and in Washington, D.C. We would be notified after the first of the year which one(s) they would be invited to. (We were all (not so secretly) wishing for Boston, because the Honorary Chairman of the event is Tom Brady, New England Patriots quarterback and, more importantly, University of Michigan alum!)


The mild winter passed quickly with Asia's training for the LA Marathon in March and before we knew it, it was April. On the 17th we received an email from Cristina, inviting Asia and Amy to the Hearst Castle Challenge in California in September and suggesting that there was still a possibility of an invitation to Boston! We held our collective breath and crossed multiple sets of fingers and waited. A few days later we received an email inviting Asia and Amy to the Best Buddies Challenge: Boston-Hyannis Port, were they available to leave on May 31 and return on June 3? Oh, I think they might be able to make it!!! We learned that each girl could invite a guest, and since Amy's parents could not take the time off work, Jerry and I could both go! Kali, the Deputy Director of Programs, and the Ambassador co-ordinator arranged a conference call  with the 3 of us the following Saturday. Kali remembered Asia from her days as College Buddy Director at the University of Michigan. Amy and Asia met for a run at Gallup Park on Saturday morning and after lunch at Saigon Garden we went to my Jeep for the conference call.Kali answered our questions and had a few of her own, in order to prepare the pep talk Asia and Amy would give at the start of the Carl Lewis Challenge. By the time I got home, there was an email from Kali with the short talk. I printed off 2 copies and Asia began practicing, with me speaking Amy's part.


A few days later our flight itineraries arrived.  Kali sent us an agenda for the weekend with clothing suggestions, based on the activity and weather. Asia and I went shopping and made packing lists. We picked Amy up the morning of the flight. The adventure was about to begin.


The Delta flight arrived 30 minutes early (shocker!) and we were waiting in baggage claim with our luggage when Kali arrived to pick us up. After introductions and hugs we loaded her car (and overheard another passenger remark, (Are you really going to get all that AND 5 people in that car?) Of course! A short drive later we arrived at the Westin Waterfront Hotel in Boston and checked in to our adjoining rooms before joining Kali and some of the Best Buddies Staff and Ambassadors for lunch. We met Cristina face to face, after many emails and met Ashlee Coffman and her Buddy Maggie Speers. Ashlee is a Buddy Ambassador, and was scheduled to speak at the lobster bake following the Challenge. Following lunch Kali wanted to rehearse the pep talk with Amy and Asia, but first we were privileged to hear Ashlee's speech. Jerry and I were so impressed! What a vibrant, intelligent, personable young woman!

While Kali, Asia, and Amy rehearsed, Jerry and I hit the streets and headed east, toward the ships we could see in the distance. After 45 minutes or so Amy called to say they were finished. We returned to the hotel, gathered them up and headed back out.We had about 2 hours to wander the streets of Boston until we were to meet the rest of our group for dinner. After a wonderful dinner with our new friends and weekend companions we gratefully collapsed in our beds.

Amy, Jerry, and Asia at the subway...goin' to exploring in Boston!

 

Ashlee, Maggie, Amy, Asia, and Kali

Friday morning dawned sunny and cool. We were free until about 4pm. On Thursday while waiting for us to return, Amy used her laptop to plot our travels for Friday. After a short run for Amy and Asia and breakfast, we took the subway downtown and walked to Boston's Historic North End where we had lobster for lunch and played total tourists taking pictures of each other. Friday night we enjoyed the Tom Brady Football Challenge at Harvard Stadium, featuring, among others, Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Michael Chiklis, Guy Fieri and contingent of Best Buddies. The Celebrity Chef Tailgate Party, inspirational speeches, auctions, and Tom Brady-signed football toss completed the evening. We were advised to get plenty of rest in preparation for Saturdays big event.

Anthony Kennedy Shriver and his young son Joey.

Tom Brady

Chef Guy Fieri 

The early forecast we had heard for Saturday proved that weathermen CAN get it right sometimes, just not always when you want it. There were sustained winds of +50 mph with gusts of who-knows-how-much and the rain was blowing horizontally. Kali, Andre', Katie, and Ashlee left the hotel at 5AM for the opening ceremonies of the 100 mile bike ride, which was scheduled to begin at the JFK Library at 7am. We got to sleep in, and left the hotel about 6:30 for the start line of the Carl Lewis Challenge 5k in Hyannis Port. The rain let up by only a bit, but the wind never did. We arrived with about 30 minutes to spare and found a tent anchored into the asphalt in which to wait. Carl Lewis arrived, and after a few pictures, he, Amy and Asia were ushered onto the stage for their pep talk. Asia was nervous, but they both did well and Amy's adlib made everyone laugh. The Kandoo Band sang the National Anthem, a cappella and then it was off to the starting line, with Amy, Asia, and Carl Lewis at the front. In deference to Asia's dislike of starting guns, there was a countdown from 10..........and at # 1 Asia took off like a shot, with Amy laughing and chasing after her. Luckily several of the fast guys caught up with and passed them, since they didn't know the course.

Amy, Carl Lewis, and Asia

You can just see Asia's Ann Arbor Track Club hat as she takes off at the start,

 with Amy close behind

Jerry and I didn't know the course either and were waiting for the runners to come in...........from the wrong direction. Thanks to Maggie we got to the correct spot just in time to see Asia and Amy cross the finish line. Because it was more of a fun run than a competitive one, there wasn't an official timing clock, but the announcer gave their finish time as 23 minutes and some seconds. Given the winds they were running in, that was a fantastic time!

Asia and Amy at the Finish Line

We took them to get water and lunch with Maggie and to watch and cheer as the bikers crossed the finish line. After lunch there were some PR pictures taken for Team Best Buddies and then we changed into our clothes for the Victory Celebration Party, a lobster bake. We were watching the Friendship Races ( multiple laps on a 1/2 mile criterium loop, with Buddy athletes paired with celebrities on tandem bikes) when Kali came to get us. "Come on," she said. "Do you have your camera? There's someone I want you to meet." (Uh, I think we can rustle up 1........or 6, if you include smart phones.) We pushed our way thru the wind, which had increased in velocity, over to another large tent. Inside was Verne Troyer, Mini-me from the Austin Powers movies and another huge Best Buddy supporter. While we were visiting and taking pictures, the wind forced the stop of the Friendship races and we moved to the rear as more people poured into our tent. The sides had clear windows, and while all the men held down the tent poles we watched in amazement as two Port-a-Johns bounced across the parking lot, blown by the winds. All we could think of was 1) I hope no one is in there! and 2) Please, God, don't let them blow over!

Amy, Asia, and Verne Troyer

Holding hands so none of our group would be blown away, we made our way to the giant tent which housed the post-race lobster bake. We found 2 tables that would accommodate our group plus Ashlee's parents, who had arrived the night before. To say that none of us (Amy, Asia, Jerry and I, at least) had never attended a post-race party like this would be a colossal understatement. There was a lobster for everyone there, and there were probably 2,000 people, including the 1,500 riders, 200-300 runners, honored guests, Best Buddies staff and volunteers. There were serving tables on one side, with flank steak, assorted pasta dishes, salads and desserts. There were bar tables set up at each end and on the center of one side was the stage. Asia is never happier than when she is eating, so we made sure to fill her plate early. Anthony Kennedy Shriver welcomed and thanked everyone for their fundraising efforts, which raised over $4 million dollars for Best Buddies. The top fundraising teams were recognized and there was another Tom Brady-signed football toss. Kali moved Ashlee into position to the right of the stage in preparation for her speech. Ashlee's mom and I had front row center spots, and her dad joined us with the video camera. Ashlee was even more amazing in front of the huge crowd as she told of her life and how Best Buddies had changed it. I think it's safe to say that everyone who could hear her was moved by her story...and hers is only one story out of the tens of thousands of young people who have grown as a result of their association with Best Buddies.

Ashlee giving her presentation.

The Kandoo Band brought the crowd to their feet as the opening act for the Plain White Ts concert following the lobster bake........and then the evening was over. Kali and Maggie herded us all to the front and went to get the cars. We stayed at a charming inn, the Cape Codder, for the evening. After everyone was checked in, we gathered in Kali's room for pizza, and somehow, in spite of all we had eaten just 2 hours before, we managed to polish off a couple of pies before bed.

Sunday morning we were on the road by 7am, bound for Boston's Logan airport. Everyone was tired but elated, glad to be going home but sorry to have the weekend end. One last group picture at the airport and our happy little band separated........like a dandelion going to seed........off to Michigan, Arizona, Iowa, and Miami.

Maggie, Ashlee, Andre', Amy, Asia, Adair, Katie, Jerry, and Kali

We knew going into the weekend that it would be like no other trip, no other race the 4 of us had experienced. But it far surpassed even our attempts to imagine. If there is a class above 1st Class, this was it. Amy and Asia (and Jerry and I by association) were treated like honored guests. We made new friends and learned more about the Best Buddies organization and all they do to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We had an absolute blast, and were so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing group.



And they get to do it all over again in September!

Asia-isms

Asia was about 12 y/o and in trouble about something when she said,
“ I wish it was tomorrow because then today would be yesterday.”
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At an IEP meeting one year:


Wally: What I think Asia is saying is………
Asia: No, Wally, I’m saying what I said.
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(Asia, limping into the living room) “My foot is napping.”
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We dropped Asia's classmate off, picked up Taco Bell and came home. All the way home we talked about how much she should run. The conversation went like this:

Asia: How many miles tonite mom?
Me: Well, that's up to you honey. How many do you want to run?
Asia: (silence)
Me: Do you want me to tell you how many to run?
Asia: Yes
Me: OK, 1 mile then.
Asia: What happened to 5 miles:
Me: Coach said for these next few weeks if you want to run 1 mile it's fine.
Asia: Did you talk to her? What did you say? What did she say?
Me: No, I didn't talk to her, I emailed her. And I just told you what she said honey.
Asia: Did you see it on the computer? I want to see it.
Me: Trust me Asia...........she said you can run 1 mile if you want. It's ok. She said you were in such good shape and you've run so many good miles that it will be fine.

So, we arrive home, Asia changes clothes and heads down to the treadmill. Running commences. I'm thinking it should stop about the time I'm done feeding the dog, cat, checking the mail, etc....8-10 minutes. 15 minutes pass and she's still running. I went downstairs to tell her she should stop so she can eat dinner and shower and still have time for popcorn (nightly treat). She's at 2+ miles. Asia: OK mom, but can I do a cool down. Me: OK honey. I came back upstairs and got ready to shower. Still running. I got out of the shower. Still running. I sat down to type this email and she came upstairs and proudly announced: 5 miles, Mom! Me: That's awesome, Asia! You ROCK!

Smiling, she warmed up her tacos.


Asia: How many miles tomorrow mom?
Me: ......sigh.......
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2/21/09
(from Coach Gina and the RF501 E-news) Asia - a true inspiration:


Asia is our autistic runner who runs with the AA group. Her Dad, Jerry, labels some of Asia's comments (which are usually pretty funny): Asia-isms.

He could write a book and this one would be great:


Saturday during the long run with her partner Katie, (Asia is training for her first marathon - Martian - and Katie who is going to Boston is helping her with her long runs), so towards the end of the long run, Asia started slowing down and falling behind. Katie led for and while and Asia would not catch up. So Katie went back to Asia and said: "Asia when I get in front of you, that means I want you to try and catch up to me." and Asia replied: "Yeh, well when I am frowning that means I'm mad!"
Asia will be running in the Martian Marathon, her first marathon. If you aren't running that day, please come out and cheer for her.
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Meghann sent Asia 4 dollar bills and some coupons for crackers from Whole Foods. Asia wrote her and said, “I don’t want the crackers, but thanks for the dollars.”
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Asia to Jerry: “ Dad, you have on a long sleeved shirt and shorts. Did you go outside like that? What did people say?”
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We were driving to Asia’s first marathon and she was talking to her grandparents on Jerry’s cell phone. The grandparents are both hard of hearing, and Asia had the speaker phone on so we could hear too. They talked for a bit and then things started to break down:

Wim: Well, it was nice talking to you. Have your dad call us after the race.
Asia: When is the reunion?
Wim: That’s fine honey, we love you too. Bye now.
Asia: Wait a minute, when is the reunion?
Wim: I know, it was good talking to you too. Thanks for calling.
Asia: Wait a minute!
Wim: We’ll talk to you tomorrow after the race. Run fast now!
Asia: Wait a minute! Can we continue this conversation here!
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Dear Meghann Conly


I'm Excided That You have a Baby Soon With Jeff and I'm about to Pray about Her.


So I'm Still Thinking about Her. I'll See You in Sometime in October or November I Hope.Take a Picture of the Baby and Send it in in The Mail Ok So We Can See it Soon. I Hope The baby is Not Crying When it Coming Out. Soon. We Hope The Baby Will Be Happy and Talk and Say Hi So We Will Like it Soon. We Hope You have The Food and Crib For The Baby and Toys and Something To Play With. So The Baby Will Have a Name and Interduce To Every Body. So We Can Remember So We Can See it at The Reunion. Maybe You Can Take The Baby To Work. Baby Will Grow Up Soon. To Be a Grown Up Person. Ok. Maybe Baby Will Have Dolls To Play With Soon.


My Mom Will Be Grandma and I'm a Aunt and Dad is Grandpa We Hope Baby Will Have Birthday Soon.


Love Asia Renning
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July 11, 2009

(email from Coach Gina)

Adair, thanks for being out there today.


Cliff told a funny story when he got back:

He was running with Asia when the thunder and lightning hit, He said that he was a bit nervous,
and when the big clash of thunder and lightning crashed, he said he kinda jumped to the side of the road and covered his head. Then he looked up to see Asia just continuing down the road without breaking her stride.


He laughed and said he felt like a 'wimp' at that point.
We all had a good laugh.
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One sloppy late winter/early spring Saturday, Asia was running with Brian along Broadway in Ann Arbor. A car drove by really fast and splashed them with icy slush.


Asia: Brian, is he a jackass?
Brian, struggling not to laugh, because Asia charges other people a quarter for cussin’: Uh, no, I don’t think so, just not very considerate.
Asia: No, he’s jackass.
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9.21.10


Jerry has a cold and has almost completely lost his voice. Asia to Jerry, “ Dad, if you’re not better tomorrow, tell mom to give you Tylenol, so you can use your voice for laughing and singing.”
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3.31.12

Asia: Let’s talk to Katie about Art Fair and Monroe Fair and getting together in May and……….
Me: Let’s talk NOW… Let’s enjoy the run tomorrow and MJC coming, and your birthday ….Let’s not get so far out there in planning, let’s enjoy NOW
Asia: So, are you going to enjoy taxes tomorrow, Mom?
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The 90’s


Asia likes certain movies and will watch them daily. One of her favorites growing up was Amazing Grace and Chuck. Sometime during that period Adair was fixing ground chuck [hamburger] Asia read it and in a very concerned voice said” GROUND CHUCK? CHUCK WHO?”
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2006


Don’t say jackass Aunt Sam, the asses don’t like it!
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Coach Gina swearing, Asia responds…Oh no Coach, no cussin’ you owe me a quarter!
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October 2011

Since 2009 Asia has continued to say that she didn't want to run another full marathon, and was pretty adamant about it. She didn't enjoy her last marathon at all, and we supported her decision. Then on September 6 I received an email from Ben Fesasaiga, President of Train 4 Autism in California. He asked about Asia's running schedule for the coming year and casually mentioned that if Asia was interested, he would like to invite her to run on the T4A team in the Los Angeles Marathon on March 18, 2012. (Yeah, right, I thought. She'll never do it.) But I promised to mention it to her.

I was pleasantly surprised when the first words out of her mouth were NOT an emphatic NO! She asked excellent questions. Will Coach make me a schedule? Who will run the long runs with me? Who will run the race with me? (Marathons are the only races in which Asia has a dedicated running partner.) She said she’d think about it. The fact that she didn’t reply with an outright, emphatic NO is testament to how much she likes the Train 4 Autism people she’s met so far.

Several days later, more questions. Would she get to see Ben and Molly and meet Sam’s son? Where would we stay? Would we fly out there? She said she was still thinking about it.

Two weeks later we were at the hotel the night before the Brooksie Way Half-Marathon. We were about to settle down for the night, when Asia asked, “ Mom, are there any Chinese restaurants in LA?” That’s when I knew she was hooked. “Yes, honey,” I replied. “There are many Chinese restaurants, and about any other kind you can think of, in LA.” “Any all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants, mom?” Me: “Oh, I’ll bet we could find a few.” “OK,” she said. “I’ll go.”

LA Marathon Race Report

*Note* Race reports are usually written by the runners themselves. For obvious reasons, this one is written by the runner’s mom……who’s never run a race or written a race report…..I just write. Apologies in advance for the length.

Asia’s journey to the LA Marathon began in September, 2011, with an invitation from Train 4 Autism President, Ben Fesasaiga. Running another marathon was not in Asia’s plans, certainly not one 2,000 miles away. But after she decided to do it we began training plans. The training involved more than Asia running with her team on Tuesdays and Saturdays and the rest of the days on her home course. Her Coach, Kathleen Gina of the Running Fit 501 Running Group added extra miles each day, an additional mid-week long run, and back-to-back 10 mile runs on the weekends. By February she was running 60 miles a week. Those extra miles and extra days would have been impossible without the support of many current and former teammates. You all know who you are, and we thank you.

In January we began fundraising. We wanted to raise money both for Train 4 Autism and all they do, as well as the University of Michigan chapter of Best Buddies. I set up a fundraising page on Crowdrise, added a few pictures, and sent out the link in an email. Our original goal was $1,000, which I thought might be a stretch in these tough economic times. I was stunned when I needed to raise the goal to $1,500, then to $2,000! Now, at the end of the fundraising, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of family, friends who are like family and teammates, over $2,000 was raised. Add to that a charitable donation of $1,000 from Rockwell Collins, the parent company of my employer, Kaiser Optical Systems, Inc., and Asia’s fundraising total is $3,061. Once again, we thank you all.

Training done, fundraising done, time for the marathon! We left Michigan on Thursday, March 15, California bound. We were greeted in LA by weather reports that sounded like impending monsoons. Thursday was nice enough, Friday a little showery but nothing horrendous. Friday night we were welcomed warmly by the Train 4 Autism team at their pre-race carb-loading dinner. We had met Ben, Molly, and Shelly on previous visits to LA but the rest of the team we only knew by their Facebook pictures. What a treat to meet them and their families in person. The dinner was a potluck, and oh my, did we sample some amazing dishes…..the chicken enchiladas and chili with brown rice were Asia’s favorites. After dinner a slide show of the previous year’s events, heartwarming and inspiring words from Molly, Ben, Adam, Coach Nadine, and Lyndel and an award ceremony completed the evening. Molly presented Asia with the Reid Thompson Memorial Award, given each year by Brian and Kristen Thompson in honor of their son Reid, who died suddenly and unexpectedly at age 11. Looking around the room I was struck by the excitement, enthusiasm, and love shown by all of these individuals and families, all whose lives had been impacted in some way by autism; all who were running or supporting runners in the race on Sunday; all who were raising awareness of autism daily by living their lives and funds for autism research through this race. And this is but one chapter of Train 4 Autism. What an inspiring group of people! And it was clear that they all love Asia! We left Long Beach with the feeling of leaving many new friends. But not for long…we’d be seeing most of them again Sunday morning.

 

Saturday morning dawned gray and dripping. We had planned Asia’s last run before the marathon to be 1 mile on the Strand in Manhattan Beach, followed by breakfast at the Kettle Restaurant. With all three of us in rain gear, we set off for the Beach. By the time the mile was done and we arrived at the Kettle, the cleaning staff had to mop up the puddles we left on the floor. After breakfast we packed up to move to one of the host hotels in Santa Monica, which was less than ½ mile from the finish line of the race. After check-in we drove to Dodger Stadium to the Race Expo and packet pickup. The rain had picked up and brought the wind with it. Jerry, who had refused to wear anything but shorts because *we are in California, dammit!* was freezing. We picked up Asia’s race packet as well as one for Sam Felsenfeld, who had agreed from the beginning to run the race with Asia. (In a race with 25,000 participants, in a strange city, we didn’t want to risk losing her.) Next at the Expo was to pick up our Media Credentials, invaluable hang tags which would allow us access to parts of the race denied the general public (the Luxury Suite at Dodger Stadium, the Start Line, and most importantly, the Finish line.) We were able to get these because of our affiliation with Discover Milan News and Train 4 Autism.*Thanks, Dave and Ben!* After 1 hour in the cold and windy rain, we were pretty happy to be back in a heated car on our way back to the hotel. We wanted to follow a course which would allow us to see the runners on Sunday but the Saturday afternoon LA traffic worked against us, so we headed for the hotel, showers, and dinner at P.F. Chang’s. After dinner, organizing everything for Sunday morning….maps and directions, addresses in the GPS, laying out Asia’s race gear….took us up to bedtime at 8pm.

2am Sunday morning came wayyyyy earlier than I wanted. Because the host hotel didn’t provide coffee pots (what?) we couldn’t heat water to make oatmeal, so Asia ate cold rice with soy sauce and a banana. We left the room about 3:30 to meet Sam at his parking lot and all four headed for Dodger Stadium.

Train 4 Autism had a luxury box at Dodger Stadium to use as a meeting place, which offered the team coffee and pastries, water, a warm room to wait in before the race and, most important, bathrooms. We arrived with Sam, who had been the past president of the South Orange County chapter of T 4 A. Sam is the father of 3, Ben, Jack, and Ava. Jack has autism. Sam recently moved to Colorado and had flown back on Saturday just to run this race with Asia………well, and to help wind things up with his family for the move. Team members arrived over the next 2 hours, and the mood was relaxed and happy. Everyone had trained hard for this…….everyone was ready. When the time came to go down to the start line the runners donned garbage bags with holes cut for their heads to keep warm until the start of the race. We walked as far as the start line with Asia and Sam, took one last picture, gave them kisses and hugs and walked back to the car.

From this point I can only report from our perspective until Sam and Asia cross the finish line.

We drove to Mile 10. We had been notified earlier that Deena Kastor, Bronze medalist in the women’s marathon in the 2004 Olympics and American women’s marathon record holder, was going to interview Asia and Sam during the race. The plan was for her to jump in about Mile 10 with a cameraman on motorcycle riding next to them. We prepared Asia for this in advance as best we could. We got a text alert when Sam and Asia crossed the 10K timing mat and we waited….and waited…and waited. Thankfully Deena saw them and got her interview but we never did see them. When we got the text alert for the 20K we left to drive to the finish. They were keeping a nice, even pace of 9:05/mile.

The one good thing about our host hotel was valet parking. We didn’t have to find a parking space, just tossed our keys to the valet and headed for the finish line, constantly checking our phones for the next text alerts. We had no idea why, but by the 30K text alert we could tell that Asia was slowing down, now a 9:35/mile pace. We only hoped she wasn’t injured. We were joined at the finish line by my former boss, Jacques Habra, who lives in Santa Barbara. Our Media Credentials allowed us to get right beside the finish line clock. We got the text alert for 40K and had a better idea of when to expect them. Jerry, thanks again to the Media Credentials, climbed to the media bridge across Ocean Avenue to have a better view. I couldn’t even talk I was so nervous. And then I spotted her unique shirt…royal blue with white letters RUN ASIA RUN. We knew there was only one shirt on the race course like it! Asia and Sam crossed the finish line to our cheers and made their way to the side while Jerry captured video and Jacques snapped pictures. I could tell by the way she walked that her legs were very, very sore. The first words out of Sam’s mouth were, “You need to work on her in-race nutrition. She didn’t drink any Ultima, (electrolyte replenisher) on the course. Lots of water, so she wasn’t dehydrated, but no Ultima. She hit the wall.” I was stunned! Her team trains with Ultima at each practice and we bought the flavor they were serving at the race. In retrospect, the only reason I could come up with was Asia’s mile-wide independent streak, which sometimes works to her disadvantage. She simply chose not to drink the Ultima. But Sam was amazed that in spite of the pain she was in, she wouldn’t quit running. She toughed it out to the finish. Her time was 4:27:02. We were so proud of her! We made our way back through the crowd until time to part ways with Sam. We will always be grateful to him for running with Asia. Her participation in the race would not have been possible without him, and with him, her safety during the race was never in question.

Asia showered while we visited with Jacques and packed to move out of the host hotel and back to our favorite place in Manhattan Beach.

Dinner that night was from another favorite…….Wahoo’s Fish Tacos. Early dinner, early night to bed, sleep in (well, til 7am anyway, that’s sleeping in for us) Monday morning. Monday was a day of relative leisure. The weather dawned sunny, clear and warmer than any other day since we arrived. Asia spent hours in the hot tub while we read by the pool. When we called Asia’s Coach after the race, the first words out of Asia’s mouth, in spite of her painfully stiff legs, were, “How many miles tomorrow coach?” Kathleen told her to *walk* 2 miles with us. Yeah, right! Who did she think she was kidding? We left for the pier in Manhattan Beach and started to walk. Soon Asia was jogging.

We called her back and walked some more. Soon jogging, although stiffly, again. We did some stretches then more jogging. She just can’t *not run*. It’s as ingrained now as eating and breathing. Asia ran for Train 4 Autism; she ran for U of M Best Buddies. She ran because she was given a chance by Coach Steve Porter and the Milan Cross Country and Track program. She ran because of the support of past and current Running Fit 501 teammates. She ran because it’s who she is and it is her gift.

5 more days

Whew! When we started all this marathon planning 5 months ago it seemed like March 18 was ages away.....now it's 5 days away! Asia's life goes smoother if there is a certain amount of predictability. There aren't many things she can control, so we give her leeway wherever we can. For example, Asia thinks that lunch should be at noon and dinner at 6pm. We try to accomodate that as much as possible. With the exception of certain training schedules, Asia has run an average of 5 miles a day for 13 years. She goes out to run and her internal clock tells her when she's run 5 miles. Her Running Fit 501 Running Club meets on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Her preferred (tried and true) race day breakfast is Jimmy Dean Hot Sausage with scrambled eggs. When Asia ran an out-of-town race, I would fix the meal the day before and we took along our toaster oven to reheat it the morning of the race.

Training for the LA Marathon has changed all that....well most of that. For the most part, lunch is still at noon and dinner at 6pm, but the rest of the rules flew out the window. Many days her training called for her to run more than 5 miles. We used a timer to make that easier for her. In addition to her team practices on Tuesday and Saturday we added Wednesday 10 mile runs with Aaron and Michael and every other week a 10 mile run on Sunday. That all went well, although she mentioned frequently that "After LA we could go back to Wednesday nights at home and sleeping in on Sunday morning."

But when I found out that the host hotel we were staying in in Santa Monica didn't have a microwave to reheat sausage and scrambled eggs (which I was sure we could purchase from some local restaurant), my heart skipped a beat.............how would Asia deal with something else on race-day morning? I brought it up at dinner one night. We were discussing other LA plans and I *casually* mentioned the *no microwave* thing. Under his breath Jerry said, " Uh oh!" I quickly continued on to suggest that we ALL have oatmeal and banana that morning...and held my breath. "Ok", she said. Just like that..........OK mom! All my worries for nothing!

And now we are 5 days from the Marathon. Packing, printing off maps and directions and lists. Adding addresses to the GPS and phone numbers to the contact list. It's been quite an experience so far...........and the best is yet to come! Thank you to her Running Fit 501 Running Club for coming in early/staying late to help her get her miles in for the day. Thank you to other running friends (Aaron, Ashley, Eric, Katie, Gwen, Michael, and Elizabeth) who ran with her on Wednesdays and Sundays to make sure her weekly totals matched her training schedule. Thank you to all the friends and family who donated to her fundraising page on Crowdrise. The results there were phenominal! Asia is running this race because all of you got her to this point in her training. We all thank you.

I don't know if I will get to post again before the marathon, but for sure I'll post after we get home. As someone very near to us (Katie) said, "Watch out, LA, here come the Rennings!"

Almost ShowTime!

We are in the final countdown.....the last 2 weeks before the marathon. Asia has peaked at 60 miles per week for several weeks and is now in her taper. February 25 Aaron came to the Running Fit 501 practice to run Asia's 20 miler with her. Typical of most of her Saturday long runs, it had snowed the night before and again Saturday morning. But she wore her screw shoes and she was fine. Last Wednesday was her last mid-week long run with Aaron and Michael, and she's already trying to figure out a way to keep it going....even to talking about running another marathon, if that's what it takes. This past Saturday and Sunday were her last back-to-back 10 mile runs......Saturday with her team and Sunday with Katie, Gwen, and Elizabeth.


All of this extra training would have been nearly impossible without the help of the dedicated runners who ran with her. We will make an LA Marathon collage picture when we get back, and include the pictures of her with her running buddies. We want to do something as a *thank you* but haven't decided what yet.

The other huge thank-you goes out to the family and friends who donated to Asia's fundraising campaign on Crowdrise. She was invited to run the marathon by Train 4 Autism, an organization founded and populated by people whose lives are impacted by autism.....in a family member, friend, co-worker, neighbor. Their purpose is to train endurance athletes to compete and raise money for the autism-related charity of their choice. Their newest project is to pair young runners who are on the autism spectrum with high school and college runners......thereby creating the next generation of *Asias*. Asia (and we) chose both T4A and the University of Michigan chapter of Best Buddies as the recepients of any monies raised. Our initial goal was $1,000 when I sent out the first and only email at the end of January. I am pleased to report that we had to raise the goal to $2,000, and have surpassed even that! The total, as of today, March 6, is $3,036, from 40 donors! I work for Kaiser Optical Systems, whose parent company is Rockwell Collins. Rockwell donated $1,000! We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our family and family of friends.

I have printed off the course map, as large as it would allow.....12 sheets taped together! (Even with a GPS, there's just something about a paper map!) Jim, a friend at work who used to live in LA went over the map with me after the street closure list was posted. We worked out the best way from the host hotel to the Start, and then in reverse, from the Start to the Finish. We found routes that will allow us to intersect the course and see the runners at Mile 6 and again Mile 17, before driving to the Finish Line. With luck we will see Asia and Sam (her running partner) at least once.

We are making mental packing lists......it's only 12 days now til the race.....

Long Overdue

It's been over a year since I've written on this Blog. Shortly before the last post there was a division in Asia's running team. It caused such a profound rift, and left many of us feeling like, as someone else said, the children of a bad divorce, that I couldn't write without writing about it. So..........I didn't write at all. But a year has passed, the Team is now an equally wonderful new Team, and we haven't lost touch with the old members who were so important in Asia's life. And so, life, and running goes on.

The long and the short of it is, Asia is still running every day. In 2011 she ran in 12 races, including 3 half-marathons, the Martian Half, the Dexter-Ann Arbor Half, and the Brooksie Way Half. She continued to say that she didn't want to run another full marathon, and was pretty adamant about it. She didn't enjoy her last marathon at all, and we supported her decision. Then on September 6 I received an email from Ben Fesasaiga, President of Train 4 Autism in California. He asked about Asia's running schedule for the coming year and casually mentioned that if Asia was interested, he would like to invite her to run on the T4A team in the Los Angeles Marathon on March 18, 2012. (Yeah, right, I thought. She'll never do it.) But I promised to mention it to her.

I was pleasantly surprised when the first words out of her mouth were NOT an emphatic NO! She asked excellent questions. Will Coach make me a schedule? Who will run the long runs with me? Who will run the race with me? (Marathons are the only races in which Asia has a dedicated running partner.) She said she’d think about it. The fact that she didn’t reply with an outright, emphatic NO is testament to how much she likes the Train 4 Autism people she’s met so far.

Several days later, more questions. Would she get to see Ben and Molly and meet Sam’s son? Where would we stay? Would we fly out there? She said she was still thinking about it.

Two weeks later we were at the hotel the night before the Brooksie Way Half-Marathon. We were about to settle down for the night, when Asia asked, “ Mom, are there any Chinese restaurants in LA?” That’s when I knew she was hooked. “Yes, honey,” I replied. “There are many Chinese restaurants, and about any other kind you can think of, in LA.” “Any all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants, mom?” Me: “Oh, I’ll bet we could find a few.” “OK,” she said. “I’ll go.”

Asia’s coach, Kathleen Gina, developed a training schedule for her which started in October, to gradually increase her miles to 60 per week. In non-training periods Asia runs 5 miles a day, every day. She uses her internal clock to tell her when she’s run 5 miles. Her training schedule called for many days of more than 5 miles. Since she typically runs before we get home from work, we decided to set a timer based on the # of miles x her usual speed. She clips on the timer before going out to run and comes in when it goes off.

As soon as we had the training schedule in place I sent out an email to Asia's teams, both the new one and those from the old team that I thought would want to help. Starting in January there were 8 weeks of 10 mile runs in the middle of the week. And there were 5 weekends of *back-to-back* 10 mile runs on Saturday and Sunday. We immediately got responses from Ashley, Claudio, Aaron, Eric, Katie, Gwen and Erin. Aaron offered for Asia to run on Wednesdays with him and Michael and the others offered to pick up some of the Sunday 10 milers. We had a plan in place. I printed a calendar for Asia with her miles for each day and who she was running with.


Angie, Asia, and Ashley

Eric and Asia

We are now in the 60-mile per week period, which will last until the week before the marathon. If regular practice miles didn't match what Asia needed for the day Doug, Vanessa, Erin, Maureen and other members have come in an hour early on Saturdays. Rich has stayed late on Tuesdays to make sure Asia gets her miles in for those days. Most Wednesdays since the first of January Asia has run with Aaron and Michael. Kumi met us in Ann Arbor last Thursday for an evening 10 mile run with Asia. Ashley, Eric, and Katie have filled in all the Sunday slots. And one Sunday, Meg's sister-in-law Angie was in town and ran with Asia and Ashley. If it takes a village to raise a child, then it's taking the commitment of a dedicated Coach, a supportive team, and wonderful friends to get Asia to the Marathon.


Stay tuned.....now that I'm back into writing, there will be more news to follow as we all go thru this Marathon journey.