Shamrock Run '07 For North Korean Refugees

I dedicate my run in the March, 2007 Shamrock Marathon to increasing awareness for North Korean refugees and raising funds for Helping Hands Korea (HHK). Based in Seoul, HHK aids North Koreans living in China. HHK’s mission is to (1) alleviate suffering from malnutrition (2) shelter North Korean refugees during their perilous existence in China, and (3) assist refugees along the ‘underground railroad’ while preventing refugees’ repatriation to their home country.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Monday and Tuesday's Training

Monday I had off from work for Presidents Day (albeit, as a contractor I worked from home..) so I didn't have the regular gym routine to turn to. As mentioned in my last post I was planning on doing speed work on the treadmill at Fort Meyer. I did just that with an exercise I found in runners world. I did twenty 400 meter repeats at "10K pace" which actually turned out to be a little faster--about 9.7 mph pace. I gave myself just 30 seconds to recover between each repeat, so I was feelin' it good! I ran My last one "full out," as recommended, and had the pace all the way to 12 mph towards the end. My hamstrings are still a little sore from that performance ;)

Today, Tuesday, I was planning on going to the climbing gym with a bunch of people I met at a party over the weekend.. However, I got to work--and consequently left work--a little too late for that. So I jumped on the elliptical again for 32 min and "1000 calories". I still think that thing has to be off on the cals, but it's motivating to think I may have had that good a workout!

Tomorrow I'm planning on an actual outdoor run! It's been a while, with the crappy weather and all!

The Mission

Who Are We?

Run for Refugees is a group running the Shamrock Marathon to raise money and awareness for Helping Hands Korea, a charity which helps North Korean refugees escape persecution and poverty via an Underground Railroad.

Why Are We Running?

Which is worse: living in a country where the vast majority of citizens will die a slow, painful death from famine or torture, or trying to escape via a perilous journey where the slightest misstep can result in imprisonment, torture, sexual exploitation, and constant terror. Every North Korean faces just this dilemma. Escape is exceptionally difficult. The Chinese government, in violation of all international treaties, aggressively seeks out North Korean refugees and punishes them severely. Private citizens often blackmail North Korean refugees and exploit and degrade them. For the few who manage to survive this ordeal, life is still far from easy. Most were forced to leave family members behind, and will never hear news about their welfare again. Most face discrimination in their new countries and have difficulty beginning a new life.

How does Helping Hands Korea Help?

Helping Hands Korea aids refugees by:

Providing secret shelters for North Korean refugees in China and surrounding countries
Helping North Korean refugees make their way to safety along the so-called 'underground railroad'
Sending food to hungry orphans and schoolchildren inside North Korea

How Can You Help?

Click on the "Donate" button to sponsor Ethan in the Shamrock Marathon.
Forward this blog to your friends.

Want to Learn More?

Please visit www.helpinghandskorea.org for more information. We'll be posting updates on Ethan's progress throughout his training/our fundraising effort. Please check back daily!