Joyce Marquette, Ann Marie Webster, Kim Vandertill, Margan Walsh, Carol Ann Wheeler, and Jen Wafalosky who all ran in the Rock N Roll Arizona Marathon to raise money for Flying Horse Farms

For several years now Cleveland-area supporter Kim Vandertill has been getting up at 5:30am to go running with a group of ladies. The friends prefer the early hour because it doesn’t interfere with their many other life responsibilities – children, homes, work, etc. For one hour each morning these women have shared lifes ups and downs and been a great support to one another.

This year they decided to lend their support to Flying Horse Farms. 2010 is the year the youngest of the group is turning 40, so they felt running a race to celebrate the milestone would be appropriate. They decided on running in the Rock N Roll Arizona Marathon and Half-marathon, a much warmer climate than Cleveland in January, and raised funds through Team Hole in the Wall.

Together the group raised $4,375 for Flying Horse Farms. One donor has indicated that they will match each donation dollar-for-dollar, which will bring their grand total to more than $8500.

“Raising money through the Team Hole in the Wall program was really easy,” said Kim. “Through their website we were able to set up our own web page and our supporters could make donations online. It was really very simple.”

If you’re considering participating in an event this year, think about raising money to support the camp. There are dozens of events listed on the Team Hole in the Wall website, and they are not limited to marathons. If you are a biker, swimmer, walker, rower, fisher, triathlete, whatever your endeavor, you can raise money for the camp as well. And if the event you’d like to participate in isn’t listed, you can still participate through your own Team Challenge.

For more information on how to participate in an event through Team Hole in the Wall, visit their website.

According to this article on the Psychology Today website, 50% of North American’s make New Year’s resolutions. By the end of one month, however, 40% have already given up their quest. And two of the most common reasons why? Unclear/vague goals and a failure to gauge progress.

Maybe your New Year’s Resolution for 2010 will be to increase your fitness or lose some weight. What better way to do that than by participating in a 5k/10k race, marathon, bike race or other athletic event? And if you’re going to participate in a race, why not do it for a good cause?

Team Hole in the Wall can help. Join Team Hole in the Wall and you’ll use your participation in a Team event to raise funds send a child to camp. In addition to raising money to give a child a magical experience, you will also get training tips, team apparel, your own web page to share progress with your supporters, and more.

Last year we followed Steve Topczewski, who raised more than $4300 running the Chicago Marathon, and Tommy Thompson, who raised over $1700 competing in his first-ever Ironman event. Both were members of Team Hole in the Wall.

Stay tuned for more stories of other individuals who will be keeping their resolutions with the Team’s help this year.

Well I can’t believe it’s over. 18 weeks of training and fund raising that led up to an incredible weekend in Chicago. The weather was pretty cold with the temperature at the start time around 34 degrees and only warming up to about 40. It was harder on the fans then the runners. The fans were awesome; you can’t believe how supportive Chicago is of the marathon. 1.5 million fans lining the streets cheering everyone on. My fan base included my wife, two daughters and yes, even our dog, as well as my mom and dad and a friend from Atlanta. I also didn’t hesitate to look to the sky a few times asking Emily, who was my inspiration from the start, for a little help when an unusual pain would pop up here or there and to help me finish strong. I was very pleased with my finish of 4:32:21.

It was amazing to see how many were out running for charitable causes. I want to thank the Team Hole in the Wall organization who were just awesome in supporting this effort. More than the run, it was extremely gratifying to have had so many financially support my effort in raising funds for Flying Horse Farms, and for that, I say thank you. The whole endeavor has been truly a life changing experience. (Not to mention that I lost almost 20 lbs)

In the end, I was able to raise over $4300 in the memory/honor of Emily Lewis and the Lewis Family. I look forward to continuing to work with Flying Horse Farms in other volunteering roles. This opportunity has made me realize how simple it is to help others and specifically the many kids who will benefit from camp.

If you want to learn more about Steve’s training, make a donation in his name, or learn how you could raise money for the camp through your own race, check out Steve’s Team Hole in the Wall page.

Good luck this weekend, Steve! We’ll be rooting for you.

Steve Shows His Support for Flying Horse Farms

Steve Topczewski is training for this year’s Chicago Marathon.  His motivation lies in his goal to raise money for Flying Horse Farms through Team Hole in the Wall.  Steve has decided to share his experiences as he trains over the next several months and raises money for what he considers a great cause that hits close to home.  This is his most recent update on his training:

Training, ups and downs…That’s the only way I can explain training for a marathon. There are many emotional and physical ups and downs. Some days it’s really easy and other days, you wonder if you can get through the first mile. That’s when I simply think about so many that have been dealing with serious illnesses and especially the inspiration I get from Emily Lewis whom we lost August 8th. I think of what so many have been through and are continuing to deal with and it allows me to say……I can do this, I can help, keep running.

So we are a little over a month away from the marathon and my training is on schedule. My long run was 16 miles this week and I finished with something left in the tank, so that was really encouraging. I am also pleased that I have now raised $3300, which will go to Flying Horse Farms in memory of Emily and in honor of her family. It was Emily’s dream to see this camp built and together, with my supporters, we are working to make it happen. Thanks for all the support and well wishes. See more information on my site at www.teamholeinthewall.org/stevesrun.
- Steve

Well, I did it. I completed the entire 70.3 miles and it was awesome. I not only completed it but I did not have to stop once. I am still grinning from ear to ear. A little sore, mind you, but still grinning.

After a long drive up to Michigan, the excitement began at the registration table. So many people and so many bikes; the reality of the event really sank in. I picked up my packet and got my number marked on my body – in less than 24 hours I would call myself a triathlete.

My alarm went off at 4:15, about 4 hours after I was finally able to fall asleep. I had a breakfast of oatmeal, coffee, and a lot of water and was off. I tried to stay focused on my training, making sure I had everything and picturing the race and my transitions.

I tried to think of everything, but even so, I did not leave myself enough time. The line for the rest rooms was really long, and because I didn’t know what I was doing, everything took me longer than I thought. None the less, I left the transition area on time and made the long trek down the beach where we would begin the swimming portion of the race.

The race started at 7am, but my wave did not leave the beach until 8:07, so I had time to walk, watch, and take it all in. There were so many people, about 2,500 racers. The weather was perfect for all the participants and for my first race I couldn’t have been more fortunate. The morning was cool and sunny and the high was predicted to be around 80 or so. I have been training in the heat of the day to prepare my body and 80 or so degrees would feel cool in comparison. Yea me!

The swim start for me was pretty calm. I chatted with another competitor before the start. We were both at the very back of the pack. I wanted to stay out of the way of the seasoned competitors. The water was pretty wavy and after only a few minutes, it hit me: “I am in Lake Michigan swimming a mile and then some!” I had to stop a lot to get my bearings, big swells made it challenging see the next buoy. Stopping often to look around slowed me down, but I was afraid of swimming off course even though there were a lot of safety personnel to keep me on course. I planned to finish in one hour, hoped for 45 minutes, and finished the swim in about 43 minutes. It was a great start and I was stoked about the rest of the race. My family was at the finish taking photos, cheering me on, and my brother, Chris, gave me a high five and a smack on my back to keep me going. It was great to see them in their Flying Horse Farms t-shirts.

My first transition was slow, but I planned for that. I figured it was a good idea to take my time, make sure I had everything. I did not want to forget my food or drink, especially the protein bars that my daughter, Allysyn, made for me to eat while I was on the bike. As I ran my bike out of the transition, there was Chris, running with me and cheering me on as I left to start the bike.

My training for the bike could not have been more perfect. The conditions I trained in were the same or even a little worse than the race route. It was on regular country roads with some hills and for the first 30 miles or so I was at a 20 mile per hour pace which was going to be great. Unfortunately, the fast downhill portion of the course was marred by a strong headwind that was difficult for me. I finished the bike portion in 3 hours 8 minutes, which was more than I hoped, but felt great, especially with the conditions.

At the last turn I saw my son, Jesse, looking out to tell the rest of the family that I was on my way. My wife, mom and brother were ready to take photos and cheer me on.

My run transition was about the same as the first. A pit-stop at the porta-john to reapply some body glide, change my shoes, and I was off. The run started off great and the time I lost on the bike I was able to make up. Again, the training that I did could not have been better – I ran a lot of hills and in the heat. By this time of the day, however, it had turned cloudy. The only mistake I made was eating a banana at the first aid station. I NEVER eat bananas on my run but I had misplaced my electrolyte drink and was hoping to make up for it. I struggled with my stomach for several miles but was able to work it out and maintain my pace for a while, still passing a lot of runners. There was one bigger hill that we had to climb twice and at the top was my family, rooting and cheering.

My new favorite thing is the wet sponge and ice, both of which were very helpful. I had plenty of gels to eat, but in the end, not having the electrolytes made the last couple of miles hard and may have led to the cramp in the end – several feet from the finish, I had a maddening calf cramp. There was no way I was going to go all this way to come up lame in the end so I ran on my heel to the finish line.

My family greeted me as I crossed the line. I raised my arms, heard my name called as a finisher, and as they handed me my medal, I was struck with my new title: TRIATHLETE. It was very emotional for me and my family and there were tears all around. In just over 2 months I had done what most said I could not complete. I finished the run in less than 2 hours and I completed the entire course in 5 hours 51 minutes, plus 17 minutes of transition We raised $1735 for Flying Horse Farms, I met some great people, and accomplished a physical feat that I couldn’t have imagined a few months ago.

Thank you to everyone who helped and donated money, but especially to my family. I could not have done any of this without them. I love you all. And yes dear, I will start that honey-do list you have let me ignore. Until next year….. thank you and good-bye.

Well this is it. The last entry before the big day. It has been a great journey and regardless of the results of the race, I have met some great people and feel great about my accomplishments. I am competitive and want to do well; I also have some personal goals for the outcome, but I will get to those later.

First off I want to thank a few people: my friend, Manav Raj, and his partners at Rieth, Antonelli and Raj made a generous donation. Also to my new friend, Robbie, at Stolzmead, worked closely with me to put together t-shirts and my race suit so I can proudly display Flying Horse Farms and my corporate sponsors. My brother, Chris, picked up the tab for the shirts. I have numerous donors who have helped me get closer to my fund raising goals. In addition to getting in great shape and raising money for an incredible camp, I have met some amazing people – folks who have come together for the sole purpose of helping me make this experience as fun and successful as possible.

My training has taught me a lot about what my body can and can‘t, or won’t, do. With just a few more days to go I am putting the finishing touches on my plan for fueling myself during the race. Training has taught me a lot about nutrition and I credit that for helping me feel better than ever – it’s one reason I can take on this task in the first place. Energy bars will be okay for me on the bike. I have even eaten
them on a run. I will also use natural electrolytes some power gels that I found through a bike shop that has been helping me. In short, good nutrition does not have to be for just athletes. There is so much
information out there for a regular person to take advantage of. And trust me, it will help whether you are exercising or doing the daily grind

I have had to endure a lot of ribbing over the years. It is not easy working construction where everyone has their fast food, and I have my turkey sandwich, almonds, low-fat yogurt, and water; carrot sticks and celery for a snack.

My wife affectionately calls me “Bunny Boy” and ribs me every time I eat a half a cookie or a few almond m&ms. Truth be told, Dawn has started running more and is hoping to run several 5Ks next year. I am looking forward to participating with her in running events. We did Emily’s run/walk and it was great. She has also adopted a lot of my eating habits that she used to tease me about. Although if you ask her she will say it had nothing to do with me. (I know honey, it was all your idea and I love you for it.) My wife is awesome.

I do have cheat, which is actually healthy, both mentally and physically. I already have my cheat meals picked out for after the race. It has been so long, but it has been worth it and it is going to taste sooooo good.

With all this training, my wife has been great, but I know that the “honey do” list has been piling up over the last several weeks. That is going to come due after the race, I am sure.

Finally, my goals and obstacles. First off, I work at night and this is going to be the toughest thing to change. I have taken this week off so I can change my body from night to day. I have to change my eating,
sleeping and most importantly my body “functions”. (Looking for a porta-john during the race is going to be less than desirable not to mention hot.)

I would love to tell you that this is all about the camp and leading up to race day, it mostly has been. But I also want to have a good finish. My goal is to finish the whole race in about 6 hours. 1 to swim, 3 to ride and 2 to run. I feel good about my chances.

Think of me this weekend and if you’d like to support me and Flying Horse Farms, there is still time to go to my web page and make a donation.

This year the Chicago Marathon is on my birthday, Oct 11th.  I thought, ok, if I am going to run another marathon (completed Chicago in 2006), I should do it this year as it falls on my 46th Birthday.  As I embarked on the training, I would often think of one of my co-worker’s daughter, Emily, and her family.  The strength and courage that she has displayed through her illness and seeing all that she has done to raise funds and bring awareness to childhood cancer and Flying Horse Farms, made me say……you have to do something more, you have to help make a difference.   Knowing that the continued development of Flying Horse Farms is her dream, I made the decision, if I am running then I need to be raising, raising funds and awareness for The Hole in the Wall Camps, Flying Horse Farms and the kids with serious illnesses.

My training is off to a good start and I made it through the 4th of July weekend without loosing much ground.  Did 12 miles on Saturday, then ate way too much at the barbeques.  I am also pleased to inform you that within less then two weeks I have raised over $1,100 dollars and looking for more.  My donations will go directly to Flying Horse Farms in honor of Emily and her family.  Hopefully we can raise enough to place the family name on a hitching post or bench.  Please take the opportunity to visit my site at www.teamholeinthewall.org//stevesrun

If I am running then I am raising…….make a difference.

Steve Topczewski

Tommy Thompson training with Bryan and Rick from Dynamic Fitness Group

Hello again and welcome to the third edition of WHAT WAS I THINKING. This has been a great several weeks of training but seriously, this is the hardest thing I have ever done. I have about 9 weeks to prepare for what is sure to be an incredible adrenaline rush but a challenge mentally and physically like I have never felt before. I have researched several 18-20 week programs but I have far less than that to prepare. So I decided to do what any half-crazy person would do, start at week 9 and go forward. Who needs those first few weeks any way, right? In the last 2 weeks I have put in 20+ hours of training which is right on pace for an intermediate athlete according to my research. I decided on an intermediate program based on my fitness level and ability to easily complete a beginner program. I may have to make some minor tweaks over the next several weeks to accommodate my schedule but so far so good.

Before I go any further let me thank our new donors. The owners of Nations Lending Corporation, where Dawn works, gave a generous donation and I thank them very much for their support. I want to thank Dawn’s co-worker, Frank, for his donation as well. When she asked him if he wanted to support me,he gave her what he had in his pocket. Every single dollar is appreciated and will get us closer to reaching our goal. Thank you to all my supporters.

Now back to the training:
As I go through these next several weeks please keep in mind that I have never run longer that a 5k. I have not swum since high school and I have not ridden a bike for distance since before I had my license. I am a very average person. I have been keeping physically fit for the last several years and improving on that every year but only on a casual basis. I have read that in order to keep up with age that you need to increase your goals on a yearly basis. I turned 42 this month and feel that I am in better shape than ever. For the triathlon training I bike 90 minutes on Monday and Wednesday. I swim 50 minutes and run 60 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday. A light swim and run on Saturday finish the week with Sunday as a recovery day. I add or subtract time depending on how my body is reacting, but I try to maintain the total time. I shoe-horn in 2 days of light resistance training as well. These times will increase every week till a week before the event. I have been happy with my swimming endurance, but need to increase speed so I do not find myself so far behind that I can not catch up or finish with a good time.

I looked up the finish times for the men in my age group and their times were crazy fast. I have an idea of how I want to finish and I will let you know in a few weeks as I determine whether it is realistic or not. I continue adding to my bike and making it race-ready and my runs have been consistent, strong and longer. My swim is the weakest and I feel that if I get the swim good that the rest will follow.

My weekly strength and conditioning leading up to my decision to enter in this event has been great, but the backbone of my success so far has been my commitment to good nutrition several years ago. It has given me the ability to get stronger and recover faster. In a recent session I was able to so several push-ups with Bryan from Dynamic Fitness Group on my back. Bryan weighs more than me and it was a real gauge of my strength. I did however have to stop short when he challenged me to do one with Rick. He is lineman size. I have done a lot of research and made a lifestyle change several years ago. I feel better than I ever have both mentally and physically. I am often teased about what I eat at work but it has been all worth while.

Lastly, can anyone tell me why worms by the thousands leave perfectly good grass on one side of the side walk only to burn up to get to other. The grass may be greener but is it worth it? I recently ran over thousands of dried up worms on a sunny day. Just curious.

Please check out my Team Hole on the Wall web page and thank you for supporting Flying Horse Farms.

Till next time, Tommy

Chris and Cathy Milowicki after successfully finishing the Boston Marathon, April 20, 2009.

We see from the Boston Marathon web site that Chris and Cathy Milowicki of Westlake successfully finished the race yesterday!  We’ll post photos courageous feat (pun intended) but wanted them to have our congratulations first! (photo now included – they don’t look a bit like they just ran 26.2 miles?!)

This was Chris’ first marathon (finished in just over 4 hours – amazing!) so we hope he’s feeling okay today…we know we feel pretty darn lucky to have them on our team.  The $10,400 they raised for Flying Horse Farms is greatly appreciated.   Congratulations Chris and Cathy!