Awareness

Currently, nearly 10,000 walkers, joggers, and runners are training to participate in the California International Marathon. Of that, nearly 500 will be wearing a Be Change Running Shirt in solidarity of a child who is in desperate need.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What can I do to make a difference?
Your willingness to get involved brings a high level of awareness. Each year, more people talk about what is happening with Equal Start and it's Be Change Initiative. Participating is easy. Registering helps us reach our goal. Each time you are running, training, or racing, represent for us and the kids. Your apparel choice is a billboard campaign. As for Awareness Simply wear the gear...

Do I have to raise funding?
Actually you are only asked to tell people you are running in the California International Marathon. Tell your friends, family, neighbors, and associates that you are running for a reason; an inner-city child. Tell them they don't have to run, you. Tell them they don't have to get up and go. You will. More times that not, they will say, "how can I be a part?" You can direct them to sponsor you a dollar a mile? Its simple. We tell people of our goals. You tell them your goal and then everyone wins. Fundraising is a small part of this journey that makes a huge impact...just tell others you run for a reason. So to answer with empathy and compassion, you get to raise funding with no pressure!

Are you held responsible for your goal in fundraising?
No. We believe in you and your passion for this project. We give you the letters, the videos, the materials that tell your story. You will go the distance because they gave a dollar. That is all we ask.

We celebrate the person that raises $12 dollars total with the exact same gratitude as the person who raises $1200. Everyone does their part and we win together. We are confident that everyone wants to do their best. That matters!

I don't walk, jog, or run in races. How can I be a part?
You can tell the story just like those training. Your time, talent, and treasures can be applied for a cause. We have people who procure goods and services. We have people who mentor on campus during the school day.

We have men who arrange meetings for me to make presentations. We have women who make calls to gather donated supplies. We have people who organize and administrate volunteer 3-5 hours per week along side our team. From phone calls to food gathering, from creating a clothes line to distributing basic needs, there is a place for you. Stay tuned for the upcoming Equal Start/Be Change Volunteer and Service Expo.

You are needed.

Don't ask when, just ask where to help.

Planning on running? Run with us. Run with a reason...

CLICK HERE Register now
I am thankful for you.

Jason Harper
facebook.com/bechange
twitter.com/bechange

Until It Sleeps, I Will Run

Since 2005, I have had a love hate relationship with running. At times,running soothes me. Other times it strangles me. There are days it makes me better and days it makes me bitter...

Recently, a conversation challenged my passion for running, even for a reason, as unhealthy and illogical. In that, I sought an answer. Not for them, but for me. My wife's take is that I have a deep quest for an internal "off" switch; meaning at what point of any given run will I find a place I am comfortable and even justified in quitting prior to the prescribed distance...In that I wrestle.

I have discovered that whenever I can wrestle with the things I despise, I am made stronger. I am made more stable. Oddly, I like the pain. When it burns and courses through my veins, it is a rare moment when I can actually attribute a physical sensation with the intrinsic pain that lives within.

Often the internal corruption and pain demands an outlet and rarely finds one that will suffice. But running will give it a battle. Running refuses to backdown to internal pain's voice of manipulation. Running usually shows up ready to fight. Their battle is a paradox.

"It grips me, so hold me."

When my quads are fried and screaming, I can justify the pain; my internal maze finds clarity. When my lungs are burning with a deep rooted sting and lactic acid holds me hostage, I feel at home. Pain produces purpose. Pain produces promise.

That paradox is a child who is put to bed but refuses to relax. It tosses and turn through the night and screams for someone to hold it. Others look at long distance runners or Ultra runners as illogically wired or as people gripped by insanity. Not really.

Some have asked how long will I run. The simplest answer is "Until It Sleeps."

Until It Sleeps

Where do I take this pain of mine?
I run but it stays right by my side

So tear me open and pour me out
There's things inside that scream and shout
And the pain still hates me
So hold me until it sleeps

Just like the curse, just like a stray
You feed it once and now it stays
Now it stays



So tear me open but beware
There's things inside without a care
And the dirt still stains me
So wash me until I'm clean
It grips you so hold me
It stains you so hold me
It hates you so hold me
It holds you so hold me

Until it sleeps

So tell me why you've chosen me
Don't want your grip
Don't want your greed
Don't want it

I'll tear me open, make you gone
No longer will you hurt anyone
And the fear still shakes me
So hold me

until it sleeps

It grips you so hold me
It stains you so hold me
It hates you so hold me
It holds you, holds you
Holds you until it sleeps
Until it sleeps
Until it sleeps

I don't want it
I don't want it, want it, want it
Want it, want it, no

So tear me open but beware
There's things inside without a care
And the dirt still stains me
So wash me 'til I'm clean
I'll tear thee open, make you gone
No longer will you hurt anyone

And the hate still shapes me
So hold me until it sleeps
Until it sleeps
**

Until it sleeps, I will run.

www.bechange.cc


*Thanks SB for passing on the compass that finally gave me the words to find the Summit.

Find Your Least, Then Love.

Have you ever heard something that moved you but paused as to whether or not you would embrace the message because of your disdain for the messenger. It seems truth hurts more when you dont like the sound melody come out the speakers.

Regardless, truth is truth.

#Lyric of the day.

Be smart. Look. Listen. Lead.

"Wherever a hungry dude's watchin a baby cry
Wherever there's a fire in the blood and a hatred in the air
Look for me ma, I'll be there



"Wherever somebody's strugglin for a place to stand
For a decent job or a helpin hand
Wherever somebody's strugglin to be free
Look in their eyes ma, you'll see me"

-Z De La Ro

"The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the
Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
-Jesus

Find the broken, voiceless, marginalized, isolated and forgotten.
Get near them and find a way to meet their needs. For a moment, lay
aside how they got there, how they look, or how you think they should
be living, and love. For a moment offer love, despite that fact that
you don't have all the details. For a moment, treat a stranger like they
are family. They might be.

"Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!"
-Paul

Z De La, Jesus, and Paul didnt have the same perspective or vantage point. But their common thread is a belief that love works.

Love wins.

JHARP

Frigid Inside

Its a paradox forsure. After long runs (18-20 Miles or more) I have grown accustomed to Ice Baths. Essential recovery tools help eliminate 'next-day' soreness, lessen fatigue, and minimize swelling. Of course the remedy in being submerged in 60-80 lbs of ice in a bath tub.

The reality is that I would rather run 50k and be pounding the pavement for 6 hours than have to suffer in waste deep ice for 6 min. Seriously. I'm ok with pain. I just HATE being frigid inside.



Sitting there, trembling and shaking for the first 2 min is ruthless. Minutes 3-6ish, a calm, tranquil, peace settles. No shaking, not even shivering. Stillness. NUMB.

After the 6 minute mark, or when the shakes come back, thats when its time to get out. The second round of Shaking & Shivering hits and danger is near. The body begins to survive by trying to generate heat. Thats the shivering. Its also the doorbell to the soul, saying, "Hey Idiot, get me warm."

More miles to go.
jas

Lyric of the Day #1: #LOTD

It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
It's a beautiful day

Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case

See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light
And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out

It was a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
Beautiful day