RunningBrooke Grants $30,000 to Vital Alexandria Charities!

Dear Friends, Family and Neighbors,

with friends at Child and Family Network Centers

The last few weeks have been especially rewarding as I’ve granted, in total, $30,000.00 to five vital Alexandria-based charities serving our at-risk neighbors.  Drumroll please:

• $7,500.00 to Child and Family Network Centers; sending impoverished kids to preschool and providing associated services for families.

• $10,000.00 to Community Lodgings; reopening the Teen Center, providing guidance towards a successful future with High School Graduation and financial management planning.

• $2,500.00 to The Reading Connection, fostering the love of books by supporting The Book Club, sending free, new books by mail to families on a monthly basis.

• $5,000.00 to Girls on the Run, NoVA, giving 33 Alexandria girls scholarships to Learn, Dream, Live and Run towards a healthier future.

• $5,000.00 to ACTion Alexandria (ACT for Alexandria), matching 10 (up to $500.00) on-line ‘calls of action’ for specific community needs like healthful after-school snacks and milk for kids in shelters.

at Girls on the Run

after school with Community Lodgings

choosing books at The Reading Connection

Off to run Little Rock, AR this weekend... State #22 and Marathon #31.  Cheers!

The New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon, Bawdy and Tawdry!

Dear Friends, Family and Neighbors-

Just back from New Orleans and the Mardi Gras Marathon.  Being Bawdy, Tawdry, and historic, it made, to say the least, for an interesting visit.  Favorite Daughter #1 and I had a great time and we both got our eyes full, and saw some unexpected things on Bourbon Street!  "And that's all I got to say about that."  Forrest Gump...

New Orleans, founded in 1718, was initially a small trading camp on a curve of the Mississippi River.  Later, the city was organized into a rectangular community known as the French Quarter.  As the city grew, it followed the curve in the river and because of its shape, became known as the Crescent City.  Because New Orleans was surrounded by swamps and marshes -- sea level (some places below sea level) to approximately 6 feet, and because of the annual flooding of the Mississippi River and water surges from hurricanes, levees and canals were built to block and drain the excess water.  Interesting to learn however, that long-term and ongoing destruction of surrounding wetlands and the building of levees and canals meant to remedy the problem, actually exacerbated the flooding and elevated the potential destructive effect.  *Katrina exhibit at the Louisiana State Museum

*Factoid #1:   New Orleans has more miles of canals (above and below ground) than Venice, Italy.

St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square

*Factoid #2: New Orleans has over 35,000 structures on the National Register of Historic Places.  That's 15,000 more than Washington, DC.

New Orleans marks marathon # 30 and state # 20 in my quest to run a marathon on every continent, in each of the 50 states and the 5 marathon majors -- a marathon a month -- in order to raise awareness and raise money for vital charities serving Alexandria's at-risk.  London, the 5th and final major is in April, and my 6th continent, Antarctica, is scheduled for March of 2012.  Before I jump into the recap, there's a lot of exciting RunningBrooke news to report.

RunningBrooke News

• First, I've made my grants for 2010.  Thanks to SO many of you for wanting to make Alexandria a better place and making all this possible!  Drumroll please:  $7,500 to Child and Family Network Centers, $10,000 to Community Lodgings, $2,500 to The Reading Connection, $5,000 to Girls on the Run (Northern VA) and $5,000 to ACT for Alexandria (details below).  *links to the specific beneficiaries can be found in email signature or through the RunningBrooke website

• Second, ACTion Alexandria -- part of ACT for Alexandria -- a RunningBrooke beneficiary, kicked off its first featured action benefitting the Carpenter's Shelter.  It was a huge success!  In an online forum,  We raised $995, almost double our original goal of $500!  And with a $500 match from The RunningBrooke Fund, that's a total of $1495 or almost 3 months' worth of milk and after-school snacks for the children living at the shelter.

• Third, I'd like to give a special 'shout out' to the 25, and counting,  RunningBrooke Racers who have signed up to run either the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler (April) or The National 1/2 or Full Marathon (March) and raise money for The RunningBrooke Cause.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate their help and how they are inspiring me to push harder.  So... I'll run with them and add DC to my list of completed marathons.  *there are a few spots left for the National event, email me if you want to 'lace up your shoes' too!

• Fourth, I'd like to thank and welcome the latest RunningBrooke Sponsors: ASAP Printing and Graphics in Del Ray and The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon.  Check out their sites!

           * see the benefits and become a Sponsor too.  Full details at RunningBrooke.com

And now, without further ado:

The Good

pre-race with Favorite Daughter #1

• The Marathon.  I got to run the first 6 miles with Favorite Daughter #1 before the 1/2 and full marathon courses split.  Thumbs up to the race director for weaving us through historic and beautiful sections of the city.

Remember 'music belt' Ken from Jackson, MS?  He and I met up at at mile 8 and 'rocked on' playing 'name the artist/song/year/album.'   See you in Little Rock!

• Bourbon Street and the carnival-like craziness and the raucous and sometimes-ridiculous behavior of those on it.

Bourbon Street at Dusk

does holding this sign make me look ridiculous?

a performer along the Mississippi

• The Food and The Music.  We ate are way through the French Quarter -- jazz and blues music pouring out onto the sidewalks --  with Crawfish and Crab Etouffee, Red Beans and Rice and Jambalaya.  Finished it all off with warm Pralines.

*Factoid #3: 40% of all the seafood consumed in the US comes from Louisiana

The Bad

• The Marathon.  I ran with a painfully annoyingly side cramp for 25 miles.   AND I cavalierly ignored one of the main tenets of long-distance running.  Never, ever, under any circumstance, use/wear something new and not broken in.

• Things left undone.  We walked (and walked) the city but missed some local highlights due to time constraints: Riverboat tour on the steamboat Natchez, Katrina Tour to see areas devastated by the hurricane, Road to Freedom and Plantation Tour and Airboat Adventure through swamps.  Next time.

and The Unexplained

• The Voodoo thing...  just don't get it

Voodoo Youdoo

That's it.  The Louisiana chapter is closed!  Next up, Little Rock, AR. on March 6.  A race I registered for solely for the finishers medal.  It's the size of a platter; shallow of me, I know...  Cheers and Run Strong (literally or figuratively).

-Brooke

Additional NOLA pictures below.

partial shot of painted door panels of Jazz Club

Crawfish Etouffee, Cornbread and Collard Greens

Gorgeous Wrought Ironwork

Run the National 1/2 with the RunningBrooke Team!

Dear Friends, Family and Neighbors,

As many of you know, I'm a lululemon athletica Clarendon run ambassador who helped the gang start up the great Team Lemon Run Club.  But my main role, and mission in the community, is to raise awareness and money for the struggling children and families in our community of Arlington and Alexandria.

After years for running only for myself, to reach a time goal, then another and another, my running, ironically, meant less and less to me.

One day early in 2009, as I was driving through a poor section of town for the umpteenth time,  I had an epiphany of sorts.  Shocked by my own past apathy for my struggling neighbors, I decided that I had to do something.  And so I did.  I committed to running a marathon on every continent, in each of the 50 states and the 5 marathon majors -- a marathon a month.  By engaging in such an audacious plan, I felt like I could ask my friends, family and neighbors + businesses for donations.  Just so you know, I pay for all of my own travel and related expenses, every dollar I raise goes to those who need it most.

In 2009, I raised over $20,000, sending 36 kids to an accredited preschool (in their own neighborhood of Arlandria).  This meant that 36 kids got a great head start to their education and their families received free ESL classes, job training and social services (hearing/vision screening + a social worker to help navigate their new world).  In 2010, I raised $32,000.  I will grant to the preschool again (Child and Family Network Centers), but will also assist Community Lodgings (homelessness to self-sufficiency), Girls on the Run NoVA (self-esteem, healthy living and a 5K event), The Reading Connection (free books with story time in shelters) and ACT for Alexandria (community giving catalyst).  In 2011?  My goal is $50,000.

I've been a one-man show so far and I'd love to get some help!  I'm using the National 1/2 Marathon as a fundraising platform and paired with lululemon for a fantastic time. Sign up (special discount codes) and help out.  Seldom are we able to make a real and lasting difference to the life of a child.  But today you can!  

Besides knowing you are working to support those in need right here in your own community, there will be loads of great things that will help you along the way (ie: extra support, a training program, and surprises from lululemon). Check out the information attached and stop in store or email me with any questions!

Thanks, friends!  Use these Special Discount Codes:  11rbhalf (half marathon) and 11rbfull (marathon)

Brooke

Brooke.Sydnor.Curran@gmail.com
www.runningbrooke.com

National_Flyer_-_lulu_version_-_print.pdf 91K   View   Download

Mississippi Blues and First Light Marathons, a one-weekend recap!

First Class upgrade, sweeeeet.

Dear Friends, Family and Neighbors-

Successfully made it through my first double-marathon weekend!  Two marathons, two states, two days.  I'm grateful that it all worked out.  It seemed like a fairly reasonable idea since I'd already run a 50 miler (JFK50, 11/09), and I thought that if my body could handle that, it could handle two marathons in two days.  Only 2.4 additional miles, right?  It was a mental game of perseverance -- a 'just do it' attitude -- and putting one foot in front of the other.  Not over-thinking, just starting...  The hardest and most stressful part of the weekend though, was navigating back through the Atlanta airport before the big storm hit on Sunday.  Made it home by hustling, riding standby (3 times), and a whole bunch of luck.


Before I start with the recap, some Housekeeping:

1. December's Washingtonian article, did you see it?
2. End-of-Year donations are just about in and it looks like... $32,500+.  Thanks to ALL for supporting The RunningBrooke effort and making a real and lasting difference.  More to come as I start making my grants!
3. National 1/2 Marathon and The RunningBrooke Fund (in association with Lululemon).  An exciting opportunity to challenge yourself and change a life.  Train (I'll help you), raise some money for The RunningBrooke Fund, and run a half-marathon through downtown DC.  What's in it for you -- besides health and satisfaction of helping your neighbor?  Great Lululemon team-gear, a training plan,  race-day Pace Runners, a Lululemon after-party and more!  Register HERE using these special discount codes:  11rbhalf (half-marathon) and 11rbfull (marathon).

So without further ado...

Part 1: Jackson, MS and the 4th annual Mississippi Blues Marathon 1/8/11.  A small marathon -- 665 finishers -- with a big marathon feel.  A very friendly place where onlookers yelled "thanks for running in Jackson!"  My goal was to take it easy and finish strongly, with enough left in the legs to run again on Sunday.  Fairly pleased to finish 146th overall, 8th in my division with a 3:46.  Especially with the relentless hills...  Big thanks to Ken from Celebration, FL for providing the tunes -- ipod/speaker attached to his belt.  He and I ran from mile 6 on, and played 'name the song/artist/band/album...'  Highly entertaining.  See you in New Orleans, Ken!

Jackson, MS elevation chart

New Capital - 1903

Jackson, located on the Pearl River, is the State Capital and the largest city in Mississippi, with the slogan: City with Soul.  And it has that.  In and around Jackson are known for its greats: Elvis Presley (race day was his birthday),  Muddy Waters, Charley Patton, BB King, Bo Diddley, just to name a few.  This unique Mississippi art form has long been recognized as the foundation for much of today's music.  It's tangible, a way of life.

Terry "Harmonica" Bean

Since the mid-60's, Jackson has undergone a series of dramatic changes and growth.  Much of its downtown has been replaced by modern-ish buildings that little resemble a city with history.

Named after President and General Andrew Jackson, in recognition for his victory in the Battle of New Orleans, Jackson in the 1960's became a site for civil rights activism.  A place of sit-ins, merchant boycotts, Freedom Rides and the murder of Medgar Evans.  Evans, a prominent civil rights activist and leader of the Mississippi chapter of the NAACP, was murdered by Byron De La Beckwith.  Thousands marched in his funeral procession to protest the killing.

MS state flag outside Jackson's Governor's mansion

** Factoid:

In 2001, citizens of Mississippi voted overwhelmingly (65%) to keep their original Rebel Flag as part of their state flag.

Part Two: Mississippi to Mobile, Alabama, and the 10th annual First Light Marathon 1/9/11

In my Lululemon

After some finish-line red beans and rice (with Andouille sausage) -- I know this will surprise some of you -- I drove 200 miles from Jackson, MS to Mobile, AL, in my hot-rod, rental car.

Fun to drive, and pleased that I didn't get lost OR get a ticket (8 hours of recent driving school left an impression).

Mobile (pronounced / mou'bi:l / moe-BEEL)  Finally got the pronunciation right just as I was leaving.  I kept wanting to say Mobil, as in Mobil oil.

Mobile is the third most populous city in Alabama,  and sits at the junction of the Mobile River, Mobile Bay and the northern Gulf of Mexico.  That's a lot of water!  But it is the state's only seaport.  Mobile felt like a less-amplified New Orleans, more Old Town less Georgetown.

** Factoid: Mobile is known for having the oldest organized Carnival celebrations in the United States, dating to the 18th century and its early colonial period.

And I'd go back there in a heartbeat.  For everything Jackson has lost in its old-style architecture and sense of 'walking back through time,' Mobile has retained.  Huge trees, converging limbs, and large concentration of historic architecture.

Sunday's course was much flatter (thankfully) and was run to support the L'Arche Mobile organization, an international group that help those with intellectual disabilities lead fulfilling and independent lives.  Unbelievably, I felt pretty good -- the hardest part, motivating to the start line.  Finished 3rd in my age group with a 3:55, 95th out of 471 finishers.  Thanks to Paula -- Lobsterman from Maine -- for her entertaining stories and descriptions about her life as a lobster-boat captain.  Made for a very quick 20 miles.

L'Arche Mobile resident who gave me my hand-made, by him, finishers medal

**Factoid:  This marathon was not chip-timed.  We ran into chutes and tore off the bottom portion of our bib to record our finish place.

Home along a tree-lined street

Like Jackson, Mobile struggled with social justice and race relations.  By 1840, it was the second only to New Orleans in cotton exports for the nation.  As we all know, Mobile was part of a Confederate state and we know the history.   Starting at the turn of the 20th century, segregation ordinances and Jim Crow laws were passed, legislating what had been the informal segregation practices.  After WW II, according to some accounts, Mobile became more tolerant and racially accommodating -- compared to other cities in the South.  Its police force and Spring Hill College were integrated in the 1950's and bus and lunch counters were voluntarily desegregated by the early 1960's.

The Good

 

• Running two marathons (#28 and #29), in two states in two days.  And, it wasn't that hard.
• Reuniting with running-pal Jerry. Jerry has completed marathons in all of the continents and is on his way to finishing the states.  Way ahead of me!  Jerry and I compare marathon notes, okay, it's usually him giving me loads of practical advice and me following his instruction to the letter.  He and I have now run simultaneous marathons in Easter Island, The Outback, Omaha, Hartford and now Jackson.
• Hearing awesome Blues at The Mississippi Blues marathon expo and getting a good sense of what Blues is all about.

The Bad/The Ugly

• The Atlanta Airport.  Just the thought of being stuck there.

That's it.  You made it to the end.  Next month's marathon New Orleans Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon.  See you there!

Assorted Pictures

Me and Terry "Harmonica" Bean

met back up with Dane at the Mississippi Blues expo.  We last saw each other in Kiawah Island, SC.  Dane ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks after losing a bet...

Governor's Mansion, Jackson, MS

Me and Paula (Lobsterman)
Mobile, AL

Mobile, AL

                                                           her hoop and hat were so large that this was a close as I could get...

Weekend Finisher Medals

Going the Distance - Washingtonian, Dec. 2010 edition

One Alexandria woman is running hard—all in the name of charity

By Robert Fulton

Brooke Curran at the May 2010 Great Wall Marathon.

Brooke Curran ran her first marathon in October 2004. Twenty-five marathons later, she’s still running.

But now she doesn’t do it just for sport. Last year, Curran combined two of her passions: running and giving back to her Alexandria community.

Running to raise money isn’t an original idea, but the scope of Curran’s ambition might be: She plans to complete a fundraising marathon in every US state and on each continent, including the five major marathons—Boston, Chicago, London, New York, and Berlin.

“I wanted more out of my running,” she says. “What can I do to make it more worthwhile and to have an impact on the community?”

Curran, 42, runs a marathon a month and pays for all travel expenses and fees. She’s up to 17 states, four of the five majors, and five continents, with Antarctica and Africa still on the to-do list. Her highlights include running along the Great Wall of China and coming face to face with a moose in Anchorage. She’s scheduled for South Carolina’s Kiawah Island on December 11 and is registered for Antarctica in 2012.

Curran, who grew up in Richmond and got a degree in studio art from James Madison University, is a stay-at-home mother of three teenage daughters; her husband, Chris, is an attorney in DC. Her current goal is to raise $50,000—she’s more than halfway there—to benefit a handful of charities. Helping children is her focus. In February, Curran gave $20,000 to the Alexandria-based Child & Family Network Centers, which provides free preschool education to some 200 at-risk children in Northern Virginia.

“I believe that making a great adult starts with making a great kid,” she says.

Curran raises money from area businesses, through donations, and by holding events at her Alexandria home. She publicizes her efforts and accepts donations primarily through her Web site,runningbrooke.com. ACT for Alexandria, a community foundation, handles all the donations.

“I didn’t realize what impact I could have on others until I took this on,” says Curran, who so far has seen her fundraising used to help keep open two Child & Family Network Centers classrooms that serve 36 students. “I feel like I’m doing something really great.”

This article first appeared in the December 2010 issue of the Washingtonian. 

Kiawah Island (SC) Marathon Report

Dear Friends, Family and Neighbors-

Thirteen marathons run in 2010, one-a-month, with two in May!  To recap, this year I've raced in Florida (Goofy Challenge -- half, then full marathon), Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, China, Minnesota, Australia, Alaska, Nebraska, Connecticut, North Carolina and South Carolina.  I've racked up over 95,000 flight-miles and together, we've raised over $26,500.00 for Alexandria's kids and families!

2011 takes me to Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, London (5th and final major - a category closer!), West Virginia, California, Wyoming, South Dakota, Utah, New Hampshire, Indiana, and either Alabama or Hawaii...

I'd like to say 'thank you' and send hugs to all of my supporters. Your support of me is giving support to Alexandrians in need.  It's giving a family a safe place to call home.  It's providing preschool classrooms for a jump start in life.  It's providing books to homeless children and after-school tutors for homework and extra help.  Your donations are putting food on tables and giving stability to where none was.

I'd like to bring special attention to my Sponsors:  Bonitt Builders, Pacers Events, a division of Pacers Running Stores, McLaughlin/Ryder Investments, TJ Fannon & Sons, MacNair Travel Management, Mark G. Anderson Consultants, Sean McEnearney and McEnearney Associates and McGinn Investment Management, INC.  These are local businesses who have laced up their shoes to donate $1K a year over the next 5 years to The RunningBrooke Fund.  And neighbors, as your checks keep pouring in, I am inspired by your giving, and my heart warms with the encouraging notes.
*There is still time to make a difference in 2010!  Please consider making an online donation through ACT for Alexandria's website.  Remember to designate RunningBrooke in the Comment Box.  Always 100% tax deductible and always, 100% goes to those in need.

Goldie Hawn and me

*A final note before the Kawah Island marathon report...
Earlier in the month, we had a terrific time hosting an event at the house for Goldie Hawn.  Visit The Hawn Foundation to learn more about her work with children!






So, without further ado:

about the only trees without Spanish Moss...

Kiawah Island, in South Carolina's low country was calm and beautiful.  Spanish moss hung low from most every limb, and even though it was cold and windy (and rainy), you could imagine a hot and sultry afternoon, dappled sunlight filtering through the dense canopy.

* Factoid.  England 'purchased' Kiawah Island from the Kiawah Indians on March 10, 1675.  Purchase price: cloth, hatchets, beads plus other manufactured goods...

Dane and me at marathon expo

I've known of Dane, and followed his blog for years, and it was good to finally meet him.  Dane lost a bet.  The result?  Him running 52 marathons in 52 weekends.  Love it!  To learn more, check out his website: See Dane Run.

heading over to the race

Favorite husband was with me -- he celebrated a big-number birthday, but you'd never know it...

Can't say that he was thrilled about the half-marathon distance -- he'd probably have preferred a 10K -- but he finished well.  I had a lot of fun being and running the first 8 miles with him!  Half-marathon today, marathon tomorrow, because if you can run a half -- with little training -- you can run a full -- with some training -- for sure!





This was a terrific weekend.  The marathon was a beautiful loop, run twice.  There was no Bad and certainly, no Ugly.  So I've had to deviate from my normal Good/Bad/Ugly format...  Sorry fans.  As you'll see from my pictures below, I was fascinated by the interaction of light and color, by the reflections in a winter-beach landscape, by the birds foraging for food and by all things washed up on the shore.

I wish you all Happy Holidays and Peace in the New Year.

-Brooke


Sunsets

sunset approaching

lone figure

Water and sky

water

and sky...

and more sky...

Birds

birds

birds

and another...

Washed-up things

one of hundeds

horseshoe crabs

animated sea twig

beautiful symmetry

in my Lululemon

That's it.  The End.