Adventures in Running: Team Challenge Series Part 1

I originally intended to do this in one post, but there was just too much to talk about. I’m going to attempt a series of posts around my experience and adventures with Team Challenge.

What is Team Challenge? Team Challenge is an endurance training and fundraising program. All funds raised go towards the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s mission in improving the quality of lives for those with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Team Challenge has a summer and winter season that end with a half-marathon. Summer Season ends with the Napa-to-Sonoma Half-Marathon and Winter Season ends with the New Orleans Rock n Roll Half Marathon (it used to be the Las Vegas Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon).

I was never athletic. I loathed PE back in school, it was torture. Getting sick didn’t help, but let’s be honest, if I didn’t have Crohn’s Disease, I still wouldn’t be athletic. Completing a half-marathon was never on my list of possibilities or goals. The only marathon I did was TV. Spoiler alert: I ended up completing three half-marathons and numerous 5Ks with Team Challenge. So if I can do it, anyone can.

I first heard of Team Challenge on twitter back in 2011. I had just undergone my third surgery, my first colostomy was reversed, albeit still a major surgery. I was doing well physically and also had recently become involved with the IBD online community, mostly through Twitter. SemiColon Girl was born in the summer of 2011 when I was anxious about my upcoming colostomy reversal.

During event weekend in December 2011, I was following a few tweeps who were completing the Vegas Rock ‘n Roll Half-Marathon. Two people in particular who are now friends and both of whom have Crohn’s Disease, Lauren from Chicago (pictured below) and Jon from Long Island. They both tweeted their way to the finish line and followed up on their blogs. I was so inspired by what they had accomplished I couldn’t wait to join Team Challenge.

I signed up for the first information session I could get to, which was the following month. I met Rachel, the South Florida Team Challenge Manager, and Coach Bob. Every team has a manager and a coach to help get you to the finish line. You have a fundraising goal and a training schedule and all the tools to help you.

Every Saturday morning we would meet, bright and early, really early. Even though I’m not a runner, I would walk fast and do intervals of jogging, I really enjoyed our weekly meets. After the run, we would have some snacks and Gatorade and Coach Bob would go over important information for us new runners, like nutrition and stretching. It was always a great start to my weekend because I felt amazing after.

Each participant is assigned a Team Challenge Mentor. A mentor is another participant who has already completed at least one season successfully and is there to give you advice and encouragement. They volunteer their extra time to spend with you and help you in any way possible. There is support coming at you from every angle.

Throughout the season you are encouraged to have fundraising events. You can do one on your own or with a few other participants. The best example is to have a happy hour fundraiser. You reach out to a local bar/restaurant and ask them to donate drinks and appetizers. You charge people $20 and they get a drink and a raffle ticket. You also reach out to certain businesses for prize donations, gift cards are always the best. You can reach higher and try and get hotel stays donated and have a silent auction to help bring in more money. Many bars are open to this, you are bringing in customers who are more than likely going to purchase more than just the one drink.

Social media posts are the easiest way to reach out for donations. Nowadays it’s super easy to schedule a bunch of posts and sit back. People who know you may have a personal interest in making a donation. I’m never annoyed by people on my Facebook news feed who ask for donations, I may not always be able to give, but I wouldn’t unfollow someone for posting a lot about a worthy cause. My advice is to post all the time with constant updates. Your training updates and hard work can motivate people to donate, especially when they see how dedicated you are to the cause. I always linked donors in a “Thank You” post, this would encourage others to donate as well.

Pictured above is just a sampling of some of my social media posts. Can you tell I was a fan of Pic Stitch? Post run selfies were always justified and a good way to keep reminding people what you are doing. Trust me it works.

Over the several seasons I participated in, I raised almost $15,000. It was such a great part of my life, it felt like I had some control again, even after Crohn’s Disease has taken it away from time to time. I have served as a Team Challenge Mentor and even sat on the National Team Challenge Alumni Committee for two years. I’m happy to answer any questions about the program you may have.

I plan to do several posts in a Team Challenge series, stay tuned because there is more to come.