Race Recap: Baltimore Half Maraton: When Training Isn't Adding Up

"It takes a lifetime to prepare for life's greatest moments."
-Meb Keflezighi

View from the Central Park Reservoir during a recent training run

After my June races I ran an additional three races: Bronx 10 miler, Baltimore Half Marathon, and the Race to Deliver 4 Miler.  I was originally supposed to run the Baltimore Marathon, but about 6 weeks prior to the race I decided to scale it back to the half.  At the time I was working full time and nannying at night and on weekends frequently.  I hadn't made it past 14 miles in a training run and while I figured I could make it up to 20 miles before race day I was hesitant to push it.  I've never had that "hitting the wall" moment during any of my previous half marathons and I didn't want to during my first marathon.

My Brother and I after the Baltimore Half

Once I scaled back the race I also ended up scaling back my training.  Not only had I run previous halves I had run more than a half in training so I knew the distance wouldn't be a big deal.  Once the weather started to get colder and work picked up I stopped worrying about keeping up with my usually structured training plan.  While the race still went well, I was a little slow coming in a little over 1:56.

Starting Line

Even though the race was harder than I expected I loved every minute of it...maybe not every minute, but almost.  I had heard Baltimore was hilly, but I didn't realize it was almost all uphill.  I'd estimate it was about 11 miles uphill and 2 miles flat.  Outside of the hills it was a great race.  The weather was perfect- sunny and cool.  The crowd was phenomenal- tons of locals lining the streets.  My favorite sign of the race was "Run Faster- Omar Coming."  

My parents got up with me at 5:30 am and rode the light rail to Baltimore with me to be there at the starting line.  At the finish line my parents, brother, and sister-in-law were waiting for me.  We also received a crab shaped medal, and the crab claw works as a bottle opener.  All participants received an under armour shirt as well.  Since I am doing the NYC Full this year I won't be able to do the Baltimore Full this year either, but I'm hoping to do the half again.  

It's been months since the race so I don't remember a lot of the course outside of the hills.  Somewhere around 7 or 8 miles there is a flat stretch where you run around a lake.  To me I felt like this was almost the most challenging part of the race.  After going uphill for so long flatness didn't seem like much of a break.  There were several times we would get to what was seemingly the top of the hill and there would be an option to turn one way and go down hill and turn the other and continue up hill-- we always went the uphill direction.  While I was running around the lake I had to continuously tell myself not to start walking.  My legs were tired from all the climbing they'd already done, and I knew there was much more to come.  It was at this time that I realized I hadn't trained- and I was eternally grateful I hadn't gone for the full.  

My parents and I at the finish

I hadn't prepared for the hills, I hadn't pushed myself to improve my speed, and I barely strength trained.  With a fresh year and race calendar I am excited to return to training as opposed to working out.  Below I've listed some elements that should be included in a "workout" to make it a training session.

Night Speed Work in Central Park

1. Take care of your tissues- start with foam rolling, yoga balls, or massage sticks.  This helps release trigger points, improve tissue quality, and maximize blood flow.  I recently took a class that used yoga balls to help loosen muscles that are under the most strain from running.  My hamstrings have never felt better and my mobility improved tremendously.  
2. Warm up well- Aim for dynamic movements as opposed to static stretching- toe walks, inchworm, butt kicks, etc.  This helps get the blood flowing and prepares the body for movement.
3. Turn on your core- Placing moves like planks and bridges at the beginning of the workout as opposed to the end activates the core and helps improve posture throughout the workout, protecting your back and improving your workout.
4. Use multi-joint movements- You rarely move just one joint at a time in life, so don't do it for your workout.  Dumbbell rows work both shoulders and elbows as opposed to biceps curls with just work elbows.
5. Use multiple planes of movements- Working in one plane creates imbalances.  Try incorporating moves like skater shuffles, crab walks, lateral lunges, etc into workouts.
6. Pull more than push- We spend the majority of our life working the front of our bodies, so when it comes to our workouts we need to spend more time working our backs.
7. Alternate heavy, medium, and light- Aim to vary your workouts.  This applies both to lifting and cardio.  Recovery is important and should be built in to workouts.
8. STRETCH!

Cycle for Survival Kickoff is in 12 days- Click here to donate NOW!

New Year, New Fundraiser, Same Blog

“I may have cancer, but cancer doesn't have me.”

-Jen Goodman

Happy New Year!!  Can you believe it’s 2015?!  Judging by the fact that my last blog post was in June 2014 I definitely cannot.  In the beginning of 2014 I was faced with some major decisions as I left my job as a personal trainer in NYC and had to decide whether to pursue training in Connecticut or accept a job more in line with my academic pursuits in the city.  I was quickly offered, and accepted, the job in the city, however, the path through human resources took much longer.  Finally, in June, I began as a Research Assistant on a fitness and nutrition study for pregnant women.  Overall I am extremely happy with my decision, even when I spend days running around the hospital trying to find patients’ placentas (don’t ask) and my phone is going off at 3 a.m. from women in labor.

So I started my job in June and my last blog post was in June, crazy coincidence right?  In one of my last blog posts I spoke about my goals for the blog and my own personal fitness goals as I began my new job. Beginning a new job at a study that was in the process of moving between organizations and office spaces led to a lag in blog posts for obvious reasons.  However, I was also unmotivated and uninspired.  Whenever I sat down to write a blog post I felt like the topics I chose were only interesting to me and no one would want to read them.  I ended up meeting my goals of qualifying for automatic entry for both the NYC Half in March 2015 and the NYC Marathon (ahh!) in November of 2015 by running the remaining NYRR races I needed to qualify in August, September, and November.  I also ran the Baltimore Half Marathon in October.  However, even though I ran those races I was becoming lax with my own personal goals.  I finished the races and I still worked out nearly everyday, but I stopped training.  While I was still getting daily activity I had no set goals to work towards.  As a trainer and someone who has managed to lose and keep off almost 50 pounds I know the importance of training over simply working out, and I let myself fall short.  Without a focused regimen anything I tried to blog about was stale and uninteresting.  Even more disappointing, I stopped seeing results from my workouts.  

After the Baltimore Half Marathon with my brother, David

When I first started thinking about a blog post for New Years I was going to use an article I found on five study proven tips for successful New Years Resolutions.  As I reread the article and began thinking about how to write the post it again felt stale.  Many of the tips were things I had already shared last year when I spoke about setting goals and the studies were not all that interesting either.  However, I realized the five tips-  have a specific goal, be realistic, get social, smile, and if you commit, you won’t quit (find a way to hold yourself accountable)- were things that had all worked for me in the past, and I was no longer utilizing them effectively.  

I realized how effective fundraising for Livestrong and blogging about my training experiences for the 2014 NYC Half Marathon were as training tools.  It kept me focused and invested on my goals, and held me accountable.  Even though I was safe in my goals for my half marathon time, fundraising for Livestrong kept me so invested in my training I beat my goal time, under 2 hours, by almost 15 minutes.  My commitment to fundraising for Livestrong and sharing that experience through this blog gave me a powerful tool for training because every run or cross training workout meant something.  When I felt burnt out from the training I was able to think about friends, family, and even acquaintances that have battled cancer and how the money I was raising might help either end their suffering or save others from experiencing that type of suffering.  

My commitment for this first part of 2015 is to be a Cycle for Survival participant.  Since I have automatic entry for the 2015 Half Marathon I decided not to fund raise for this race, although I still plan to run it, and participate in a different event I have wanted to experience.  Cycle for Survival was started by a former Equinox member to fund raise for money for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, a NYC hospital focused solely on cancer research and treatment.  Jennifer Goodman had a rare type of cancer known as sarcoma.  Together rare cancers make up 50% of cancer patients, however, they are drastically underfunded when it comes to research when compared to more well known cancers like breast cancer.  All proceeds from Cycle for Survival go directly to researching rare cancers.  

I’ve been wanting to participate in this event for years for several reasons.  Over the years I’ve personally learned the impact MSKCC has on patients with cancer and am in awe of the work they do.  I also love indoor cycling and am excited to participate in an event that uses it in such a powerful way.  Even better Cycle for Survival incorporates the social aspect of sticking to your goals, and I am thrilled to be participating with one of my best friends.  Finally, with the passing of Stuart Scott yesterday I can think of no better way to sum up the purpose of cycle for survival than Stuart’s own words, “You beat cancer by HOW you live, WHY you live, and the manner in which you live.”  Please watch the video below to learn a little more about Cycle for Survival, and let’s all make a promise in 2015 to beat cancer- whatever that means to you.  Click here if you would like to donate to my Cycle for Survival team.        

Question: What goals are you working towards in 2015?  

June Races Recap: Oakley Women's 10K, Queens 10K, and Pride Run 5 Miler

"Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises."

-Demosthenes

June was a packed month, which after almost 5 months of not working a full time job was extremely welcomed, but unfortunately sidetracked me from blogging. I started my new full time job as a Research Assistant with the Lifestyle Intervention for Two (LIFT) Pregnancy Study- hit me up if you're pregnant and looking to stay in shape :) - as well as a weekend nannying job. I was also signed up for 3 races in June!! Unfortunately I couldn't do the last one because I was out of town nannying, but my good friend CeCe was able to run it for me so I still got credit for 9+1. 

The first race was the Oakley Women's 10K on June 14th.  This all female race takes place in Central Park every June, and is one of my favorites. This race begins in Columbus Circle- right down the street from my new job! I'm still enthralled by the fact I work in midtown... - and takes you up Central Park West until around 90th street where you enter the park and complete the Central Park loop. 

My daily lunch view- with a few more runners than usual!

I'm so familiar with this running route I started out going a little too fast until my lungs reminded me I hadn't run Harlem Hill (the most infamous hill in the park) since the NYC Half in March. I ended up finishing with a 53:44, which was slightly slower than last year, but I was greeted at the finish line with water,  snacks, a pink medal, and flower so I felt ok. I was signed up for another 10K the following weekend so I decided not to let my slower time get to me. 

Post 2014 Oakley Women's 10K

The following weekend I got up at 5:30 am Sunday after doing some sunset yoga in Times Square for summer solstice and took the subway out to Queens for the third race in the NYRR 5 Borough series. 

Times Square Summer Solstice Yoga

The Queens 10K is infamous for being on the hottest day of the year, however, this year they decided to give runners a break and move it from July to June 22 so the weather wasn't bad. This was my first time running Queens, and I loved the course. The entire race is in Corona Park near Citifield, and it's extremely flat and fast paced. I finished in 49:45, about an 8:01/mile pace. I was absolutely thrilled after my disappointing finish the weekend before, and because I've been trying to do a 10K in under 50 minutes. Maybe I should do yoga the night before all my races?  Or maybe all courses should be this flat...

Post 2014 Queens 10K

The following weekend I was signed up for the NYRR Pride Run, but had to go out of town to babysit.  My friend CeCe was nice enough to run it in my place- even after she accidentally forgot the date and was still in bed when I texted her to take pictures.  Late start and all she still beat my butt and paced 7:36 miles so now I'm going to look faster than I actually am on my bibs.  Go CeCe!!

CeCe and her colorful outfit for the 2014 Pride Run!

Race Update: I've completed 6 out of my 9 required races for automatic entry into the 2015 NYC Marathon.  I've completed 3 out of the 5 NYC boroughs- Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens- which will give me automatic entry into the 2015 NYC Half Marathon.  

Only 2 boroughs to go!

And now for the exciting news- I will be running my first full marathon this October in Baltimore!!  More updates- and training, fitness, and nutrition tips- to come on the blog!

2014 Baltimore Marathon bound!

Top 10 Things You're Missing If You Only Run Indoors

"A marathon is like life with its ups and downs, but once you've done it, you feel you can do anything."

-Anonymous 

          

If you had asked me to run a marathon prior to college I would have laughed in your face and then gotten really worried when I realized you were serious.  "The mile," the portion of the physical fitness test when you were asked to run for an entire mile, was my least favorite part of school growing up.  I was much better at grammar than I was at fitness in those days.  Even when I got to college I struggled to make the transition to outdoor running.  I could run for an entire hour straight on the treadmill, but once I was outside I had to take walking breaks frequently.  However, once I fully committed to running outside there was no turning back.  Here are the top 10 adventures of an outdoor runner you're missing out on- the good, the bad, and the ugly!

1. Beautiful Sights: Some gyms are beautiful, but nothing compares to being outside. There is no better feeling than running by the ocean or in a fun part of town.  

My favorite path in Central Park- Reservoir Loops

2. Exploring- New Cities & Your Own: Throughout my training runs I've discovered parts of NYC I never would have if I wasn't a runner.  And no matter how many times I run Central Park I always find something new.  When I travel I'm able to explore new cities as well.

Views from my beach run in Charleston this month

3. The ability to surprise yourself: When I run on the treadmill there is one thing I always know- exactly how fast I will be running.  Prior to running outside I liked that I knew exactly how fast I was running, but I was essentially setting a ceiling for myself.  It wasn't until I started running outside that I realized how fast I actually was and how much faster I could become.  I'm also more likely to surprise myself and run further outside than when I'm on a treadmill.

4. Racing: There are no (or at least not many) treadmill races.  You can run 3.1, 6.2, 13.1, or 26.2 miles on a treadmill, but you won't get that same feeling you get from running in an official race. 

Oakley Women's 10K 2013

5. Run Groups: You can always run with a friend on the treadmill, but running groups can provide you with so much more.  There are hundreds in the city and most of them are free.  Running groups not only provide you with a great social experience, but they are great for helping you to set and achieve new goals for yourself.  And you don't have to plan out your training because they will plan the runs for you!  Nike Running Club helped me train for my first half and I loved it!

6. Braving the elements: Sometimes this is a negative to running outside- this winter it definitely was- but running through the snow or rain will make you feel like you can accomplish anything.

7. Supportive Strangers: The running community is incredibly supportive.  I love running through Central Park and seeing the other runners.  Whenever I'm not really feeling a run there always seems to be a runner that smiles or gives me a thumbs up.  The picture below is the famous Raven, he runs at the same time every night welcoming whoever wants to run with him.  

8. Wildlife: This is another one that may not seem appealing at first, but can help liven up your run.  Just like exploring new locations can be fun so can seeing the wildlife of different areas.  And even though getting bit by a dog is never fun it always makes for a good story!

9. Real live hills: Hill may not seem like fun, but they are great for training.  And while you can replicate hills on a treadmill nothing compares to getting out there on a hill where you have no choice but to push yourself up to the finish.  Plus if you are serious about doing a race you're going to need to tackle the hills eventually.

10. Getting lost [in the run]: You can definitely get lost which can suck, but at least you'll log a few extra miles!  But more importantly running outside allows for plenty of distractions that can help you get through those long runs without the monotony of CNN reports.

Happy Running!

Race Recap: Brooklyn Half Marathon

"I run because long after my footprints fade away, maybe I will have inspired a few to reject the easy path, hit the trails, put one foot in front of the other, and come to the same conclusion I did: I run because it always takes me where I want to go."

-Dean Karnazes, Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner

Brooklyn Half finish line on the Coney Island Boardwalk

Saturday I ran the Brooklyn Half Marathon marking both my third half marathon and my third race to qualify for 9+1 entry to the 2015 NYC Marathon.  Packet pick up was Friday in Brooklyn along the East River.  Unfortunately the weather was not so great so most of the entertainment was canceled.  CeCe and I took advantage of the bad weather and were able to eat the famous Grimaldi's Pizza under the Brooklyn Bridge without even waiting for a table (usually the wait is upwards of two hours).

Bib Pick-Up

Best Pizza in NYC

Unlike Friday, Saturday was perfect weather- a first in my marathoning career.  This made getting out of bed at 3:30 am much easier.  Although I was still running leading up to this race I didn't really train for it like I have for my other two half marathons.  I did no speed work and only a couple long runs so I was most impressed by my timeliness for this race.  I was in Brooklyn, had my bag checked, and already used the restroom by 6:10 am giving me plenty of time to stretch in front of the Brooklyn Museum. 

Brooklyn Museum at sunrise

The Brooklyn Half course begins in front of the Brooklyn Museum takes you through Prospect Park and then down to Coney Island finishing along the beach.  

Brooklyn Half Course

The nice part of this course is all the hills are in the beginning.  The bad part is the second half is pretty monotonous down the highway.  This was the first time I really struggled during a race.  Around mile 9 I really wanted to stop, probably because I hadn't done many long runs leading up to this race.  However, that just made finishing feel even better.  And what's better than a marathon that finishes along the beach?

The spectators were also amazing and really helped push me along.  There were some great signs, my two favorites were, "Run like you're in an elevator with Solange" and "MTA are you taking notes on how to run?!"

Despite feeling fatigue during the race I had no problems recovering.  I was a little tired after the race, but had no soreness (yay!).  Over the next few months I have several shorter distance races so my plan is to focus on strength training and speed work until the end of July when I will start training for the Staten Island Half Marathon and the Baltimore Marathon- my first full marathon.  More posts to come!

2 boroughs down- 3 to go!

3 races down- 6 more until guaranteed entry to 2015 NYC Marathon!

 

Conquering the Hills

"Like the marathon, life can sometimes be difficult, challenging, and present obstacles, however if you believe in your dreams and never ever give up, things will turn out for the best."
-Meb Keflezighi
Olympic Silver Medalist (2004), NYC Marathon Champion (2009), Boston Marathon Champion (2014)

Source

Monday afternoon I watched Meb Keflezighi run the final 2.5 miles of the Boston Marathon.  On a day that was emotional for so many it was like a story book ending for an American to win the marathon for the first time in over 3 decades.  Emotions aside, watching the way Meb powered through those final miles with two runners narrowly behind him was inspiring, and made me want to be out there racing again.

This time last year I was studying for my last biochem quiz of the year (thank goodness!) and nervously anticipating my first half marathon.  Since I was in the middle of a busy semester and still new to distance running I was incredibly nervous I hadn't trained properly.  

 

I use the Nike+ app to track my distance and paces when I run.  The first screen shot I took a year ago today, and the bottom one I took this morning.   Clearly I've upped my training frequency and mileage.  Even though my average pace hasn't gone down much I've gotten a lot faster on my shorter runs.  Despite my sparse training in my first half marathon attempt there was one aspect of the Nashville I was ready for even though I hadn't thought about it much- the hills.

Since I began running outdoors in Miami, when I moved to the Northeast I had no idea how to approach running uphill.  For the first several months I used to walk everytime I got to a hill, which didn't help me get better at all.  It wasn't until I started training in Central Park that I was forced to learn to run the hills- partly because there are so many of them and partly because I was training with Nike Run Club and they made us do hill workouts.  As much as hill workouts suck they have tremendous benefits, especially when you are combining them with strength training.  

In honor of my two cousins that will be running this years Nashville Half Marathon--Go Kendall and Kinsley!!-- I thought today would be the perfect day to talk about tips for running hills and incorporating hills into your training.  These are all things that people have suggested to me over the years and I've found to helpful, but you have to find what works best for you. 

Tips for Running Hills

• Treat hills like speed work- pace yourself as you start the climb and then once you get a little over half way up the hill steadily start to increase your speed
• Use short strides- this helps reduce the effort you're exerting so that you're able to make it to the top of the hill
• Focus on your breath- your heart rate starts to increase quickly when you're running uphill and you tend to start going anaerobic; focusing on your breath will make sure you're getting the oxygen you need
• Focus on your form- a lot of people have a tendency to look down at their feet while they're running uphill which reduces the amount of oxygen you're getting and forces the hamstrings to work harder instead of utilizing the entire core.  Maintain your tall posture and eyes forward.
• Mentally break it up- try not to let the size of the hill daunt you; instead look for signs or landmarks throughout the hill and focus on getting to those points and then the next one, sometimes I count backwards from 60 over and over to distract myself.

Tips for Preparing for Hills while Training:

• Hill Repeats: Pick a hill that is a decent size and set a time for yourself (10, 20, 30... minutes); practice running up the hill as fast as you can and then run back to your starting position at a recovery pace--count how many times you're able to run in the hill in your designated time.  Strawberry fields in Central Park has a great hill for this, New Yorkers.
• Practice makes perfect: ideally you should include some hilly terrain in your runs at least 3 times a week; if you're training for a particularly hilly course try to mimic the course terrain at least once a week
• Get creative: if you live in a particularly flat area (like Miami...) find ways to incorporate climbs into your training like running stadium steps or overpasses.  If all else fails incorporate a treadmill hill workout into your routine once a week.
• Focus on power and core: Don't forget your strength training- the more power you have in your quads, hamstrings, and glutes the better you'll be able to power yourself up those hills.  Incorporate lunges, squats, box jumps, and planks into your strength workouts.

 

My favorite sign from Nashville

Good luck to Kendall and Kinsley!!!  Here's hoping your race is more of a run than a swim this year!

Click here to donate to Kasey's Team Livestrong

 

One Year Later: Boston Strong

Therefore, since we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us
-Hebrews 12:1

Source

Like many, I won't forget where I was on Marathon Monday 2013.  April 15th, 2013 I was sitting in Clinical Nutrition.  I started receiving texts from friends asking if the marathon I was training for was today and if I was OK.  Confused, I finally opened my computer and started reading about the bombing of the Boston Marathon.  4 hours 9 minutes and 34 seconds after the first runner crossed the starting line at the Boston Marathon, a bomb exploded near the finish line followed shortly by a second.

Marathon Monday is held the third Monday every April, Patriots' Day.  The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and has been run every year since 1897.  Due to the high standards for qualifying, running the Boston Marathon is a lofty aspiration for even serious marathoners.  This year, males 18-34 years old needed to run a 3:05 marathon (5:46/mile), and females 18-34 years old needed to run a 3:35 marathon (6:43/mile) in order to qualify.  

I quickly responded to texts, telling my friends I wasn't in Boston, my race wasn't for a couple more weeks.  I thought about how hard everyone had worked to get to Boston, the miles of training.  Many runners have to run several marathons before they reach a qualifying time.  There are several runners who run the race for charity, raising thousands of dollars to support those in need.  I thought about how excited all of the runners had been, each of them with their own story and running for their own reasons.  

A day that celebrates triumph had been reduced to tragedy.  However, amidst the heartbreaking images of destruction were images of strength and kindness.  We watched a 76 year old man who was knocked to the ground by the blows pulled himself up.  Strangers ran towards the bombs to help move victims to safety.  People began bringing clothes, food, and water from their homes out to the runners who were forced to stop before they reached the finish line.  One man brought out the drawers from his dresser, offering whatever he could.  Runners gave their hard earned medals to the families of other runners.  Citizens of Boston opened up there homes and offered rides to people in need.    

Source

I've been fortunate that my training has served me well during both my half marathons.  I've never hit "the wall" or been in pain during either of my runs.  The worst part for me is always right after.  Once I cross the finish line, the adrenaline goes away, I stop moving, and my body temperature drops quickly- if you know me, you know how often I am cold.  I couldn't imagine what it must have felt like to be within a mile of the finish line, cold, scared, and confused.  A small act of kindness- offering a sweatshirt or some orange juice- but on that day they were heroes to the runners in need.     

Boston has forever changed how a race.  I still get nervous about how I will perform, and I still want to get faster.  However, on race day I run without a watch and I rarely pay attention to the clocks.  I put in my work and focus on pace while I'm training.  But when it comes to race day I am overcome with an amazing sense of gratitude, and I use each mile to soak it all up.  I am even more grateful for my ability to run after seeing what so many have gone through- relearning how to walk, coping with pain, and dealing with the drastic changes in their own lives.  

I am eternally grateful for the spectators and volunteers.  Many of the victims that were injured severely were not running the race, rather they were there to support runners whether they were loved ones or strangers.  Spectators make the marathon experience.  They are there no matter what the conditions- rain, wind, snow, you name it.  As I ran my first half marathon I couldn't help think of the 8 year old boy  that died Marathon Monday, and his sister, who lost her leg.  In Nashville, there were children all along the course- holding signs boasting how amazing their parents were for running, singing cheers, and high-fiving runners- despite the pouring rain.  I take note of all the volunteers from baggage check to water stations to medal distribution, and thank everyone I make contact with.     

In the spirit of Boston I encourage everyone to take the time to be grateful for what they are capable of doing.  Next time your alarm goes off, instead of being unhappy about getting up for an early workout count it as a blessing.  Also in the spirit of Boston, don't forget how far a small act of kindness goes.  On Marathon Monday we learned love and kindness are stronger than hate and violence.  A smile to a stranger, offering your seat to someone on the subway, holding the door- these are the simplest ways to pay to tribute to those we lost, because even if you're not running 26.2 miles, we could all use a little encouragement.

Good luck to those running the Boston Marathon on Monday- you are all rockstars!!

Click here to donate to Kasey's Team Livestrong