Guest Post - Questions for You

Happy Thursday!

I hope you are having a fantastic week, or at least a dry one! Mine was not... Water found its way into our basement on Sunday, but thanks to a wonderful neighbor and some hydraulic cement, the leak is sealed and the only damage is a small hole in the wall where I tore out some sheet rock! I know some people were not as lucky as me, and I hope they are able to get things fixed and back to ‘normal’ as soon as possible!

Today, I’d like to YOU some questions. The race is a little more than a month away, I’m getting SOOOO excited! Nervous too, but I’ll get over that. I’d like to know the answers to three simple questions leading up to the race itself.

1. What routine do you use leading up to a race? Do you start a week before? 2 weeks? I know some people would say, “Joel, it’s ONLY a 5K, chill out!” Maybe to YOU it is, but I’ve never run for distance, plus I’m a 350 pound (for now) man, who tires easily :) Any advice on this would be great (eating, training,sleeping, etc.)!

2. Do you prefer to listen to music while you run, or, if you’re running with a group, is it rude to listen to music instead? Music helps me a lot, and it’s part of my routine. Should I just stick to it?

3. Most importantly: Where is everyone going afterward to celebrate!?!?!? :)

Thanks for helping this first-timer out! As far as my training goes, I’m still running a couple times a week, plus playing basketball and softball. I’m really looking forward to hearing people’s responses, and actually running in September!

Take care, happy running!
Joel
Follow my training on DailyMile: http://www.dailymile.com/people/leojsomar

PS: I saw that Heather, from Power 93.9’s morning show will be the emcee for the event and also be running. Heather is an awesome person! I used to see her when she volunteered at Youthville. She always had a smile on her face and was very involved with the children. She’s a rock star!

Guest Post: Why do you run? (Week 2)

We will have guest posts throughout July, August, and September from Joel Ramos, a fellow Wichitan who is running for the cause! Get to know him and cheer him on as he trains for the Race for Freedom 5k! You can also ask questions and learn from his training. We hope you enjoy as you train! ~Race for Freedom Team

Hope everyone had an awesome week! It was pretty uneventful for me last week, but it wasn’t because I wanted it to be. My weekly ‘work-out’ routine starts with open-gym, 5 on 5 basketball on Mondays for a couple hours. After that, I try and make Wednesday a running day. Thursday nights are for league softball with my church. Another run on one or two days of the weekend caps off the week.

I was invited to play with my little brother’s rec-league basketball team last Thursday. They needed a ringer, and since none of the WSU basketball players were available, they asked me! :-) I also had two softball games that evening, so it was going to be a very busy night for me. Close to the end of the basketball game, I went diving for a loose ball. As I was getting up, an opposing player, who was also getting up, accidentally (I hope) hit me in calf with his knee. O.U.C.H.!!!!!!!!! I tried to get up and walk it off, but I could not. Call it what you want, cramp, charlie horse, contusion, muscle bruise, it HURT!!!! I was unable to play softball that night or do any type of running/walking all weekend. Today is the best it’s felt, so I hope to ease back in, hopefully without re-injuring myself. Lots of heat, ice and stretching is what I’ve been doing and continue to do until it’s back to normal.

I also got my new pair of running shoes on Friday. The shoes I chose were Mizuno Alchemy Wave 12’s. I have moderate pronation, plus flat and wide feet, so those were the shoes recommended for my feet. I have yet to use them, but I have worn them around the house. They feel pretty good, and I can’t wait to try them out in the neighborhood this week. I was wearing Nike Free’s, and they felt good, but I was starting to wear them out on the outside toes, and also on the bottom, inside portion of the shoe. Hopefully the new shoes will help with comfort and keeping my feet more controlled when I run.

I’ll report back next week about the shoes, hopefully the calf holds up! Have a great week everyone! Happy running!

Guest Post: Why do you run?

joelfamily

Let’s start with the basics. My name is Joel Ramos. I’ve been married for 4 years to my bride, Amber. We have 2 great kids, Armando (3) and Izabel (8 mo.). I am originally from Greeley, CO and moved to Wichita in 1998. Am a graduate of Wichita South, Butler Community College, and Friends University.

I’ve always been a ‘bigger’ guy. In high school I weighed between 280-300 pounds. Even though I was big, I still was in pretty good shape. I played sports, both in school and recreationally. Weight was not a problem then. College turned me into a lazy slob and in a matter of 3 years, I gained almost 100 pounds! I’ve maintained at my heavy weight for several years, basically telling myself that everything was fine. I finally opened my eyes this year to the fact that I was basically killing myself, so I decided then and there to make a change.

I started working out, thinking it was just like riding a bike, right? WRONG! I struggled and wanted to give up. I tried several things, but got bored with them easily. One day I decided I’d go for a walk on the track. That walked turned in to a jog and I haven’t looked back since! I’m down almost 40 pounds, and am consistently running/walking 2-3 miles. I love the looks on people’s faces when they see a 350+ pound guy running either at the gym or in my neighborhood! I used to be nervous about it, but I say ‘Look all you want!’

I decided that a great goal for me would be to run a 5k (my first one ever!) and the Race for Freedom was the perfect choice. The money goes to great organizations to help prevent human trafficking, something I think most people don’t even know exists, much less, think it is a problem. I’d like to thank the Race for Freedom for allowing me to share my running progress up to the race; any helpful tips from readers would surely be appreciated. I’ll try to update on a weekly basis, good or bad. I also have a personal blog with a bit more about myself and my challenge to live a healthier lifestyle. You can find that at http://timeforjoeltogetfit.blogspot.com/

Have a great week everyone, happy running!
Joel

Win an iPad Mini This Summer!

BREAKING NEWS: Win an iPad Mini This Summer!

We are holding a drawing for an iPad mini! How do you get your name in the bucket? Be caught wearing your 2012 Race for Freedom t-shirt around Wichita!!!*

Be Caught Wearing the 2012 Race for Freedom Shirt Around Wichita

We have 15 R4F board members (pictured below) who will hand out a golden ticket to each person they see reppin' the R4F!! You can win up to one golden ticket per day! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get a heads up of where the board members will be so you can be prepared!

*Visit Race4Freedom.com for rules and details.

Where you can find us this weekend:

The Kindness Moves Me 5K this Saturday morning! We will have a Race for Freedom booth. If you stop by and say "Hi" and are wearing your 2012 Race for Freedom shirt, you can pick up your first golden ticket!

Click here to register!

Thank you for your interest in Race for Freedom - to stop human trafficking in Wichita.

Want your company name on our shirt? Click here to download the sponsorship packet!

Have a wonderful week!
-Your friends at the Race for Freedom Team!

Would you like leadership experience?

Would you like to boost your resume? Join the Race For Freedom 2013 planning team and help with a great cause while you’re at it!

You do NOT need to be a runner or even have attended a race before. No matter how much time you have to invest, we have areas where you can help to make this race spectacular! Below are the needed positions as well as skill sets and approximate time considerations.

Race Day Volunteer Coordinator
This is a key position on the Race committee. This volunteer will be the main communication line to all the volunteers on race day. You will work directly with the Event Organizer and Race Director and send emails on crucial days to remind the volunteers of their duties and who they report to. For the volunteers who don’t request a special area, you will be assigning them to an area and communicating to the race day leaders the names of volunteers in their area. You will keep an excel database of all volunteers’ information and emails as well as shirt sizes for ordering. You will follow up with all the volunteers post-race as a thank you.

This is one of the most crucial positions on race day (and the week leading up to it). You will receive support from our leaders throughout the process if you have any needs or questions.
Skills needed: Prior work organizing or leading large groups of people is a must! Organization, ability to organize a lot of communication and email to the people who need it. Outgoing and friendly demeanor. Willing to be flexible to help volunteers get plugged into the correct areas. Detail oriented, making sure all volunteers receive the information they need pre-race day so they can be the most effective and feel empowered to do their work!
Time Needed: Attend Monthly Leadership Meeting, August: 2 hours per week, Race Week: 15-20 hours, Prior to August - just emails here and there.

Communications & Marketing Coordinator
We need a volunteer who is social media saavy who can take charge of the marketing and communications concerning the race. It would be an added bonus to blog occasionally on the race website about upcoming news. This position is one that will build excitement in the time before the race and manage our online image. This coordinator will work to promote the Race for Freedom by connecting with various businesses and displaying creative advertising in public places.
Skills needed: Comfortable working with Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, DailyMile and other social media outlets. Ability to manage online image and integrity. Fun and outgoing person who can build excitement online.
Time Needed: Attend Monthly Leadership Meeting, July/August: 1-2 hours per week, Race Week: 5 hours.

Race Administrator
The Race Administrator is a crucial position of filtering incoming emails, writing needed emails, composing and mailing letters, assisting the race leadership with help they may need, and making sure we stay on target with our goals and time lines. This person will be very helpful the month prior to the race as well as the weeks after the race, as there are several follow up customer service emails to send in the week or two after the race.
Skills Needed: Attention to detail, ability to communicate effectively through email and letters, friendly and willingness to help. Familiarity with Google email is a plus.
Time Needed: Attend Monthly Leadership Meeting, Approx 5-10 hours per month during July and August, Race Week: 10-15 hours. Prior to August: a few emails here and there and a few letters.

Race Sponsorship Coordinator
--Not a Fundraising Position--
Volunteer needed to manage our current and possible sponsors, following up with them, getting in-kind donations picked up and writing and mailing thank you letters post-race. Coordinating and communicating crucial information about dates and deadlines.
Skills Needed: Friendly and outgoing, customer-service mentality. Attention to detail.
Time Needed: Attend Monthly Leadership Meeting, Approx 2-3 hours per month for communication.

Race Decor Leader
This position will be in charge of designing and creating all physical signage and decorations on race day. We had some awesome decorations last year, and we can use those ideas as well as any other creative ideas you have!
Skills Needed: Ability to decorate large on a small budget, eye for design and decor, creative ideas and enthusiasm! Ability to recruit and coordinate a team of people who can help decorate on race day.
Time Needed: Attend Monthly Leadership Meetings, Race week: 15-20 hours, Race Day at 5am, and research and planning in July and August as needed.

Race Graphic Arts Volunteer
We need a volunteer who has Photoshop and can quickly design and edit our current graphics for posters, handouts, and social media. Extensive Photoshop training is not necessary, basic PS skills are just fine.
Skills needed: Ability to create and design basic content in Photoshop. Eye for design and detail. Access to email and Dropbox (free account).
Time Needed: Attend Monthly Leadership Meeting, Possibly 2 hours per month.

Entertainment & Prizes
The Entertainment Committee Leader is in charge of keeping the energy up on race day and searching out cool and unique prizes and awards in the weeks and months prior to the race. On race day, there will be a stage, an MC, music (pre-recorded), and an awards ceremony. This committee will secure and gather prizes from sponsors and donors, and finisher medals for each participant. We will also have drawings for door prizes - so the more this leader can get donated to the race - the better the door prizes will be!
Skills needed: Outgoing and friendly person who loves to network and make connections. Someone who can talk up the race and is creative to think of great awards that will not cost and arm and a leg!
Time Needed: Attend Monthly Leadership Meeting, Possibly 2-3 hours per month.

Existing Committees to be a part of:
Below is a list and a brief overview of each existing committee, if you decide to be a part of the committee, we have additional resources and goals to help you along the way.

Fundraising (Liz & Jennifer & Board)This committee is the face of the Race for Freedom 5K as well as the face for ICT S.O.S. You represent this organization and this race. Word of mouth is the most powerful motivator to get participation and sponsorship, so it is key to have exceptional encounters with everyone we meet. This committee needs people who are fun and outgoing and love to network and help sponsors and donors see the benefits of donating to our cause!

Course & Logistics (Adam Monaghen & Clark Ensz - Race Director) The Course & Logistics committee will be in charge of making sure the race runs smoothly. The course is well planned, and all race-day volunteers are aware of their duties and when to be where. All participants need to have a clear understanding of where to turn and how the course is run.

Food & Hospitality (including Emergency Medical) (Natalie) The Hospitality Committee will be in charge of organizing and instructing volunteers on race day, keeping water stations stocked and informed, and coordinating medical assistance from our medical volunteers, if needed, to keep all participants safe.

Prayer (Danielle)The prayer committee stays in communication with local churches and people in order to pray over the Race for Freedom in general, as well as the specific needs that we have at the time throughout the planning process.

Contact Liz with questions at: Liz@Race4Freedom.com

Medals and Bibs!

We are so excited! We are 9 days away from the race! Our custom race bibs are in:

We will also offer medals for the top finalists as well as over 80 age-group awards!

Don't forget - group rates end this Saturday! Make sure and get your group registrations in to a GoRun location before the end of the day Saturday!

Thank you so much for supporting our cause!
~Liz

Family Fun Updates!

We're so sorry we've been missing from the blogosphere for so long! But not to worry - it's only because we're so hard at work making the Race For Freedom such an amazing event! Here are the most recent developments:

First, we'd like to recognize a significant sponsor and partner in the movement to end human trafficking in Wichita. The wonderful staff at KMUW, your local source for National Public Radio, has teamed up with Race For Freedom and ICT S.O.S. to promote the race, and even has a team of ten participating!

Second, we've added fun family activities to the day! I can't tell you everything, but I can see face painting, balloon animals, and other fun things headed their way! It's never too late to sign up for the Family Fun Run - a gentle, relaxing way to support our cause and enjoy exercise with the whole family.

Not to worry - we won't be gone as long this time. There's just too much to share!!

Starting To Run

A finish, of sorts

Today I finished my C25K program! While I still have weeks to go before the Race 4 Freedom I did, indeed, finish my 9 week course. While it's certainly not the end of preparation for the Race nor the end of my running in general - it is gratifying to me to have finished something like this. I'm pretty sure the last time I finished a complete workout program was in high school. I plan on incrementally increasing my intervals over the upcoming weeks, my program finished with having me run for 30 minutes straight. I need to find a personal balance between running harder and running longer - I'm sure it will reveal itself through trial and error. I also plan on running the actual route for the 5K very soon - not only because it's extremely close to my house (because it is) but also to test myself actually running a full 5K.

I am really looking forward to experiencing my first actual race as well as seeing all the community support for ICTSOS and the great cause that it is championing. I know that personally all of my prep for this race and writing this blog has been intrinsically focused - I sometimes lose sight of the real reasons as to why this race and organization exist. If you need a refresher, take a look at this recent post. I never want to keep the reason that this race exists to far from my mind.

Walker Schwartz

This is How We Help - And You Can, Too.

We have a very exciting, timely way to show exactly what the Race4Freedom will benefit, and the awesome things that can happen when people get involved.

Yesterday afternoon, a young woman in Oklahoma was rescued from her trafficker by organizations working together - people working together - first to minister to her on the street, and then to come to her aid when she called for help to leave "The Life". She and her two-year-old son have been rescued and brought to an undisclosed location right here in Kansas. They have nothing but the clothing they were wearing at the time.

This is an amazing success - each young woman, man, and child rescued from slavery is awesome. But there's still more to do. By visiting ICT S.O.S., you can see the needs of this particular family, and links to donate if you are moved to do so. Also, you can see the tremendous effort taking place right here in Wichita to end human trafficking.

And by reading, running, walking, and volunteering - you're all making a difference. Register for the Race4Freedom today!

Small Business Sponsorship!

Attention small business owners!!! We at Race For Freedom know that booth prices can sometimes keep you from sponsoring local races. But not anymore!!

For $30, your small business, organization, or nonprofit can "rent" a very special "booth" at the Race For Freedom! You will have one Port-A-Potty (yes, we said Port-A-Potty) to decorate as you choose - we're not holding you back! Past "booths" have had a butler with hand sanitizer, fresh towels, and mints. Some have handed out samples of their tasty treats. One booth even had a red carpet leading to the entrance.

For $30, a little work, and a lot of creativity, you could have the undivided attention of one person at a time - quite the opportunity to make an impression!For more information, or to request booth space, click on this link: Port-A-Potty Sponsorship, or contact us directly! And please, share this opportunity with friends and colleagues!