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!

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.