Mar. 29 - Day of Rest, 5 Miles Sponsored

I had to finish up about 2 days of work on my final day with Travelers, which left no time for running.  I almost went out around 7:30 pm after I finally got my office cleared out, but I decided against another run in the dark.  Instead, the plan is to get a long run in this weekend.

High school friend Sonja Wulff Gray sponsored 5 miles today.  Thanks Sonja, it's great to hear from you and thanks for supporting the cause!  You have miles 360-364, which I should reach on April 11.

I also wanted to share my email exchange with about 100 co-workers upon my exit from the company today:

After thanking my co-workers and saying good-bye, I shared my involvement with 1000 4 Chase, and stated the following:

Over the last several weeks, several people have asked for information about a cause I am supporting related to the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy.  With my time in Farmington running short, please indulge me as I provide that information here.  Steve and Becky Kowalski, high school classmates of mine, lost their son Chase in the tragedy.  I have pledged to run 1,000 miles in 2013 in honor of Chase, who loved running and actually won a kid's triathlon the summer before the incident.  I regularly enter posts in a blog in which I update my progress (I'm up to mile 317 at present).  The blog address is10004chase.blogspot.com.  While I have connected a grass roots fundraising effort to my running, please do not take this as solicitation to contribute.  My goal is to introduce people to the Kowalski's, a very special family, and convey their wish that people honor their son by making healthy lifestyle choices and sharing them with others in their community.  If you are so motivated, please take a look at the blog and consider walking, running, biking, swimming a mile or two in honor of this innocent sole.  And if you are really motivated, please enter a comment in the blog or email me at kevelshea@gmail.com to let me know about your effort.

To this, I received the following responses:

What a great cause you are running for.  I have been running the past few months as a lifestyle change.   Now every time I step onto my treadmill I will do it for Chase. 
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Best wishes to you, your family and not least the goal of running 1000 miles. Thank you for your inspiring email I will attempt to visit the blog to find inspiration to better my health in walking and riding a bike. 
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I’ll definitely check out the blog.  HAPPY RUNNING  - “CARPE VIEM”  (seize the road)!

Best of luck

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Kevin – that was very moving… and yes, you may have just inspired me to get off the couch.

I wish you well in all of your future endeavors…and I am so glad that you are carrying Chase’s name on and influencing others to make better choices in his honor.

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It was great working with you, and I wish you the best of luck in your new endeavor.  I also think what you are doing for your friends to bring awareness to their precious son is just wonderful. 

Very rewarding to read responses like these.  I have to believe this is just the positive, grass-roots response that Steve and Becky are looking for.