Team Margie: Santa Cruz Half Marathon, Poker Night, Big Sur Marathon Relay

In November 2009, a good friend of mine, Margie Miller, got diagnosed with Stage 4 Kidney Failure and was told she would need a kidney transplant in order to live. Luckily her brother is a match to donate, but the medical costs to move forward with the procedure are extremely high.

Her friends and family began a huge fundraising campaign back east, and I began a very small one over here, using two races (Santa Cruz Half Marathon and Big Sur Marathon Relay) as a way to promote her cause.

The fundraising back east was a huge success, and they raised the amount needed for the transplant!!!!!  I did pretty well over here also, with the help and donations of friends (including several NCKA members-THANK YOU!!!!) and a Texas Hold'em Poker Fundraiser night at my house.

The Santa Cruz Half Marathon (4/11) was great, except for the weather conditions-cold, windy and raining hard, but I beat my last years time by 11 minutes and finished in 2 hours and 8 minutes!!

For Big Sur (4/25) there were five of my good friends on our team. Two started together and ran the whole 26.2 miles, they picked me up just before mile 10 and I ran the remaining 16.4 miles in, and the other two guys met us at mile 17 and they cruised in from there.

There is a massive two mile hill on the course called Hurricane Point (with awesome Taiko drummers at the base), and that put a hurting on my calves right off the bat. Then we got to cruise down and over the Bixby Bridge, with a grand piano providing the soundtrack.

My friend Juan started cramping around mile 15 and I would stop and wait for him at every  mile marker to make sure he was OK and to keep him moving.  This gave me time to take a pic of every one of the special mile markers designed for this year's race, the 25th anniversary, and to take some pics of the amazing scenery...it was a BEAUTIFUL day, even though it got pretty hot towards the end.

All the stopping (and lack of recent training for anything over 13 miles) caught up to me on the last 3 miles through the Carmel Highlands, and the cramps forced me walk/run through the rolling hills. Juan had recovered by then and he stayed with me and kept me going, and helped me run through the last half mile into the finish line!!

Even with all the stopping and starting he got a time of 4:45, not shabby for his first Marathon!!!!

Anyway, though you guys might enjoy some pics.

Even if you are not on Facebook, you can see all of them at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=430600&id=677140191&l=d9d9a28d71

Thanks again to the NCKA members who helped this cause out with a donation...your support is very much appreciated!!

Sincerely,

Jim

More pics

The end is near and post-race ice-bath!!

Wow Jim, that's crazy. My feet would have never let me run that far. Wish I had known, I'd a pitched in a little somthing.

No worries Porky...I'll let you know next time we are fundraising for some cause!!

Sincerely,

Jim

Very Strong work there Big Jim....

  You got Big Heart Too.....   

Just thought I wold share that Margie came out to San Francisco for a wedding and she and her husband (my good buddy Rich) made the drive down to Watsonville and to get together with the fellas for a Team Margie Reunion!

 

Margie is doing EXCELLENT after her kidney transplant, is back to teaching Zumba, and is happier than ever!  She has to take an incredible amount of expensive post-transplant meds, but she is alive and making the most out of every day!!

Here is the money shot of our reunion at a local bar and Margie's description of the picture:

These amazing men helped raised money for my transplant last year. May God always bless you! You made a huge difference in my life and I was happy to meet you and thank you personally

SO COOL to see her doing so well!!

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Jim, your story of Team Margie is so inspiring    So glad you were able to play a part in helping her and her family with the much needed donations to get her transplant.  But beyond that, your dedication to this cause was unwavering.  Your an inspiration to us all, and im just proud to be able to call you my friend.    Thanks for sharing the pics and story again... 

Amazing Jim!! I am in awe of you right now. You are the man!!!

-FF

You are a great man Jim!  When are we going to take those dudes fishing on the PB?

Rey

I agree Jim.....you are both superhuman and a super human. 

nice coverage of your adventure Jim. Very, very cool.

Your amazing Jim! I am proud to call you my FREIND!

Jim, you and your entire team are great human beings; God bless y'all!! I am blessed to have you as my brother, and I'm happy to hear that Margie is doing well too

My hat's off to you and your team, rock on !!!