Donor Acknowledgement - Chris Jeans

Many thanks to Chris Jeans for supporting Periclean Scholars in honor of my marathon accomplishment. Mandy and I are lucky to have caring neighbors like you that show genuine interest in how we are doing outside of puppy play time. Your contribution to the PSAA will have many positive impacts on campus, in the community, and in the global arena.

Thank you, Chris.

Thank You

Before I say anything about my marathon experience, I must first thank everyone who helped me to get there:

• Thank you to the Periclean Scholars, partners, and mentors, including Tom and Steve, for being a constant source of inspiration along my training runs and during the marathon. I am proud of all you have done and will continue to do for our communities and for the world.
• Thank you to everyone who came out to the race to support me, including my entire family, Elyse, Jason's family, and more friends, family, and coworkers whom I did not see on the course, including my cousins Kristen and Kerianne.
• Thank you to everyone who donated to Periclean Scholars and everyone who will donate now that I have accomplished this goal.
• Thank you to so many of my coworkers and friends for showing interest in my running and asking me for running/workout advice.
• Thank you to Kate from the Arlington Road Runners for pacing with me for so much of today's marathon.
• Thank you to Jason to introducing me to the Arlington Road Runners, for running with me during training, and for being a constant source of strength and inspiration.
• Thank you to all of the Arlington Road Runners for support on many long runs.
• Thank you to Alex at the FAA for being an inspiration back in February to run this marathon.
• Thank you to all of my friends who posted on my blog and offered advice, such as Steve, Sarah, CJ, Megan, and more.
• Thank you to God and Jesus, through whom this marathon was possible and without whom nothing is possible.

When I have the energy, I will detail today's marathon experience, but for now, the essentials:

• I finished in 4:13:34, which was enough to beat Drew Carey (at 4:37:10). 
• I hit some sort of wall HARD around mile 15. Everything got tight, breathing got a little harder, and I had to suck down Powerade at a more rapid rate. At the half marathon point, my splits were good and I felt pretty good, but as I continued on, my only goal was to finish without walking. I am glad to say I accomplished that goal.
• The signs were hilarious, the crowd support was strong, and I could not have imagined a better marathon experience.

Exemplary Global Citizens: Glocalization

Today's post in the exemplary global citizens series addresses the synergy between the global and the local:

Seven, an exemplary global citizen appreciates and understands the tension between a global citizen and a local citizen, and plays both roles in a synergistic fashion. The local is always related to the global, and vice versa. A global citizen takes seriously the words of Dr. Paul Farmer, co-founder of Partners in Health, who said, “Humanity is the only true nation.”

We hear it all the time now - the world is getting flatter, smaller, and more competitive. What we do at home no longer impacts those just in our community; we need to think about the impacts and influences from partners and competitors all across the world.

The combination of global and local has created the hybrid word "glocalization". By its definition, a glocal citizen thinks globally and acts locally. This citizen takes perspectives and potential consequences from around the world and integrates them into his/her decision making.

Indeed, one can be global in his/her day-to-day activities, especially when consciously internalizing and learning from past experiences with different cultures. Many believe that they are not not “global” unless all they do is fly to different places. However, whenever you go somewhere or hear a new perspective, you internalize it and make it a part of your own. You make the global relevant to the part of the world where you are at the given moment.

When I think of glocalization, I think of the traffic situation display that air traffic controllers view. You see planes from all over flying out and coming in, with various points as hubs. This video gives a good idea of the concept, for the entire world:

Imagine that you are a dot on the map, right where you are now. I will pretend I am a dot in Washington, DC. Right now, my central focus point is in DC - all planes go to me and come out from me at that point in DC. I can carry influences from all over, but my impact is in DC. Now, let's pretend that you physically take a flight on a plane to a different point in the world, such as to Lusaka, Zambia. Suddenly, the point that is "local" for you changes. To act locally, you would be acting in Lusaka and no longer in DC. You would still bring influences from all over, but a place you once thought of as global would become the local.

The Periclean program changes the focus point for students and makes the global local through service that creates broader perspectives. Through the program, I have found that yes, you can have a greater global impact by engaging in the world through service in many different areas. However, you can have a different (and in many cases, equivalent) impact by bringing perspectives from all over into your local community. When we made our countries of focus our "local" for a period of time, it enabled us to bring stronger multicultural perspectives to our homes - places that are local for us year-round.

How do we work to spread glocalization? Not everyone can go on a Periclean trip, but everyone can speak up and work locally. Challenge those who think that their little world, their own activities do not impact everyone else. Help those around you to see the bigger picture and the necessity of becoming glocal - in a way that makes sense to them.

Chitenge Day

I know that many of you had been eagerly anticipating the day I would wear a chitenge to work. (The chitenge is the traditional Zambian dress, and I wore one each day while serving in the country.) Well, that day happened... today! Since I had not made my goal, I didn't wear the red, white, and blue chitenge; I wore the red and orange one.

Welcome to the FAA!

Wearing the chitenge to work so close to the race helped to put me in the right state of mind. Every person I spoke to about Periclean Scholars as a result of wearing this chitenge made me believe I had done the right thing in choosing it as my beneficiary. Even on my very last work day before the marathon, awareness of the program and its benefits to the global community rose significantly. I believe that I am running for the right group, and I believe that people will continue to support me this close to the marathon.

Here are a couple of extra items from work that I thought you, the readers, would enjoy - and would not require a security clearance for you to view:

The stop sign at my desk - used in emergency evacuations, it is a "Start" sign the rest of the time.

My MCM countdown that I started 100 days out. We only have two more days left!

Federal employees are very giving. They take part in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) at the end of each year.

Very true!

My chitenge day reminded me, once again, of just how powerful the influence of those around me has been. My family and friends donated to get me to wear the chitenge to work, which inspired me to write strong posts about the Periclean program for their education. My coworkers asked me about my race and about how to get in better shape, which inspired me to be a model marathoner-in-training for their benefit. These words of encouragement cement my place as a global citizen who uses running as a tool to better not only herself, but the organizations and people she cares most about.

Thank you for the inspiration to wear the chitenge to work, and for challenging me each and every day to live up to and exceed expectations for myself as a human being, runner, and global citizen.

MCM Expo 2011

Today, I went to the first day of the Marine Corps Marathon 2011 Expo at the DC Armory. I figured it would be best to go tonight, while I am not conscious of how much time I spend on my feet and while other runners are still getting into town.

The first stop was to pick up my race bib - mandatory for all runners. At this point, there is no turning back! See how good the bib looks on my tank for the race? It almost looks like the Marine Corps and I were color coordinated on purpose.

Bib pickup was pretty confusing for those who arrived clueless. It was in tents outside across the street from the armory. Luckily, Jason had arrived earlier than me and texted me the location of bib pickup. Otherwise, I would have been like many unlucky runners that I was in line with to get into the armory. They were turned around at the door.

Once inside, I headed to the very back to pick up my long-sleeved MCM participants' tee, and then I continued on to enjoy the expo.

Here are some of the things I did while there:

Signed a waiver to have my running gait analyzed

Ran on the treadmill so they could analyze my gait.
I did this in my flats from work; I should have worn running shoes!

The staff analyzed my gait.
I have good form but need arch support on my insoles, as indicated by the angles of my feet. Luckily, I have better form when I run with my New Balance shoes! 

Met the MCM Mascots, Miles and Molly

Checked out some junk marketed to marathoners

Watched people get their teeth whitened (?...why??)

Pretended I was finishing the Athens Marathon

Received a demonstration of "the stick".
I have wanted one for months and decided to splurge on this item. My body will thank me after the marathon.
(Note: I got the devil ears at the booth next door.)

Other things that I did while there included getting a back massage, having my body mass and bone density measured and analyzed, demonstrating a stretching tool, eating a variety of Clif bars, sampling Nuun beverages, browsing witty t-shirts, and more.

For runners going to the expo on Friday and Saturday, I would recommend: 1) Get your bib and packet; 2) Get your MCM Participant tee; 3) Complete the activities first (such as the massage and the body mass/bone density measurements); 4) Visit the vendors. This is in order of urgency and importance. Following this order should minimize your stress while at the expo with hundreds or thousands of others.

Before the expo, I had this anxious energy like children do when they are about to go trick-or-treating. The preparation of creating and wearing that costume, or in my case of transforming myself into a long-distance runner, is becoming a reality. The expo makes the marathon real. In contrast to Halloween night, the expo leads up to a much more exhausting and fulfilling adventure. Yes, Halloween might be the night when American kids get the most exercise they have all year from running house to house, but I don't think they get in 26.2 miles worth of house sprinting. Plus, their reward is the candy. I might have gotten my bag treats tonight, but the true reward will come in two and a half days when I become inducted as a marathoner.

Occupy 26.2

I am in the 99.9%... of Americans who have not run a marathon.
Soon, that is about to change, and I will become part of the 0.1%.

On Sunday, I will:
OCCUPY 26.2

In all seriousness, I wouldn't mind if the fitness wealth in this country were redistributed. I'd love to have more fellow Americans on the road to joining this elite club.

Maybe this blog can be an inspiration for the fitness wealth and drive to complete a marathon to trickle down...

Exemplary Global Citizens: Free Will

The next entry in the exemplary global citizens series addresses item number six: free will.

Number six, an exemplary global citizen knows that human agency exists, that we have free will, and that human history will unfold as directed by all of our actions. It is not cuberous to assume having control over one’s destiny, just the opposite: it is the sine qua non of one who knows that we can change the world with our visionary works. An exemplary global citizen is thus the embodiment of the admonishment that comes from Mohandas K. Gandhi, namely, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.

Free will among mankind means that we have a responsibility and obligation to one another, if our aim is progress. It will not come from denial or laziness. The acceptance of responsibility is linked to success. Similarly, the acceptance of sustained responsibility is linked to long-term success. It is this knowledge that makes the success of Periclean projects so sweet; the long-term successes are directly tied to a deep sense of obligation to our partners. The change that has come from our projects is linked to our free will to live out these obligations.

As I perused the latest Periclean newsletter, I found an article about the Class of 2010’s new successes in Ghana that would not have been possible without a sustained commitment to being the change they wish to see in the world. The class has farmed exemplary global citizens who continue to act on behalf of their partners. Below I share the article, for your education and enjoyment.

Building lasting community partnership in Ghana: 2010s follow a project to an unanticipated turn, bringing healthcare to thousands of Ghanaians for years to come
Written by Carly Tustin, Class of 2010

“What the Kpoeta Community Clinic in the Volta region of Ghana is developing into is beyond anyone’s wildest dreams when the Ghana Class of Periclean Scholars was inducted in the spring of 2007.

“At the project’s beginning, those living in rural isolated Kpoeta who were in need of medical attention walked or were carried by others for seven miles to reach Kpedze, the only health facility for miles. During the region’s rainy season, the unpaved road leading to the Kpedze clinic became impassible and, in effect, the 10,000 people of Kpoeta were annually losing access to health care for months at a time.

“In a joint effort with the people of Kpoeta, Elon University’s Periclean Scholars Ghana Class established and opened the Kpoeta Community Clinic in January 2009. Its inception initiated a more stable source of medical care and before most of the class graduated in May 2010, plans were instated to launch a drug store and to obtain additional staff for the clinic.

“Although 29 of the original Ghana Periclean members have graduated from Elon and dispersed across the United States and the world, they have kept the global development initiative a dynamic part of their lives. Over the past three years, six students from the classes of 2012 and 2013 have become Ghana Periclean Scholars and joined Dr. Heidi G. Frontani, faculty advisor to the Ghana Pericleans, to support what was started by the 29 members of the 2010 class and sustain the partnership with the Kpoeta community. The younger members meet every other week and at their September 7, 2011 meeting, they became aware of news from the clinic in Ghana that took the group’s previous sustainability initiatives to a new level.

“Ghana’s Ministry of Health had announced plans to upgrade the Kpoeta Community Clinic to a Community Health Planning Services Center, allowing the facility to add both a community nurse and a National Youth Employment worker to the existing staff, the ability to accept Ghana’s Health Insurance Card, and receive stocks of drugs from the Ghana Health Services for the facility’s drug store. The upgrade will be completed by December 2011. In the meantime, additional on-site housing for the new staff will be constructed and is expected to be completed by early 2012.

“The upgrade to the clinic was celebrated with an official government ceremony and fundraiser (durbar) in Kpoeta on September 8, 2011. Congratulations to all who have been involved with this amazing project and thank you to those who have donated.”

Exemplary Global Citizens: Courage of their Convictions

Today’s reflection on Dr. Arcaro’s address on exemplary global citizenship addresses item number five:

Five, an exemplary global citizen has the courage of their convictions, and knows that what is right is not always what is popular or easy. Indeed, as observed by George Bernard Shaw, “All evolution in thought and conduct must at first appear as heresy and misconduct.”

When we think of people who embody this point, many think of a woman whose work was not heresy in the eyes of the faith community, but rather in the minds of human possibility. We think of Mother Teresa’s gift of her life to India’s poorest. Those she served had been deemed untouchable, as less than worthy of treatment as human beings. Yet, Mother Teresa’s love shone through by remaining courageous and not giving in to all sorts of pressure. She feared God more than she feared humans, and that moral compass never led her astray. Those she served were finally treated as humans in her presence. We hold her in high esteem for pursuing what was seen as misconduct in the eyes of peers and elites. She is popular now for going against what was extremely unpopular.

As we admire Mother Teresa, the Periclean program supports its “African Mother Teresa”, Anita Isaacs, a Namibian who dedicates her life to those living with HIV/AIDS. She herself became HIV positive after contracting it from the man who was her husband and had abused her. There is no doubt that in Namibia, contracting HIV sentenced you to silence and a certain death. Yet, as Anita went through the stages of grief, she came to a very different conclusion. It would be her responsibility to live a new life, a life that would bring hope and awareness to a group considered untouchable.

As Anita said, “When you are diagnosed HIV positive, that is the start of your life. That is when you start planning your future, when you put your goals into place and become conscious that you don't live forever. Despite being HIV positive, you can still be the best you can be. You can still grow to be old and wise.” Empathy and compassion for others with HIV began Anita’s life anew. Her past plans, her past life meant nothing without acknowledging the suffering of those around her. Speaking out against the suffering and the poor treatment has made her into a hero of many.

In the present day, from the other side, we would like to think that we would do the same thing. However, given the tide against coming out as HIV positive, I believe that few of us would have come out in favor of “untouchables” if it meant we would be labeled as a heretic. We would act myopically and preserve personal pride instead of the larger good. Therefore, we must acknowledge Anita’s accomplishments as nothing less than extraordinary - with the desire to soon make them ordinary. Compassion should be the norm in all instances. I believe that some day it will.

The Periclean program holds up high our partners who stand by their convictions. We aim to model their courage in our daily undertakings. By seeking out and working with exemplary global citizens who consistently do what is right, even when it might conflict with what is popular, we grow in moral character and in service potential to our local and global communities.

Donor Acknowledgement - Frances Ourada

My most sincere gratitude goes to Frances Ourada for supporting the Periclean Scholars a week before my marathon. Frances, when I saw your contribution, it gave me that extra kick to finish strong on my final long run this morning. No matter your motivation to give, know that your donation could not have come at a better time for the Periclean program and for my motivation in finishing my marathon training.

Thank you, Frances.

Spectators' Guide to MCM

The race is only 11 days out! For my many supporters, here is a guide to help you be the best spectators you can be!

If you will be attending the race:

• Review the information provided by Marine Corps Marathon officials. Click here for the official Spectators' Guide.
• Prior to race day, if your runner is running for a cause, donate to the cause. Click here to donate to Periclean Scholars!
• Tell your runner where on the course they should expect to see you.
• Visit the Spectator Pacing Calculator and the Course Map to determine when you should arrive. If you are supporting me, I am shooting for a 9 minute mile - look in the gold column labeled "9".
• Arrive to your designated location early, as the popular locations will be packed!
• Sign up for runner tracking via text message. Click here for the site. To track me, enter bib number 12501.
• Dress for cold weather, and wear something easily distinguished on race day. It's the day before Halloween, so why not wear a costume? Tell your runner what you will be wearing beforehand.
• Provide goodies to give out to the runners. This is a great way to get involved and something to boost the runners' motivation! I suggest easily digestible candy or carbs (like Swedish fish or Fig Newtons) that are NOT packaged or that are easily opened.
• Bring food for yourself while you wait. Watching a marathon can be exhausting!
• Cheer out people's names. Many runners will have their names written across their t-shirts. It is such a rush to hear your name called in a race!
• Take pictures on the course and share them with your runner after the race.
• Know what your runner is wearing so that you can spot him/her easily. I will be wearing a red tank over a teal long sleeve top, black ear warmers and gloves, and black tights. My red tank will have this logo on it, designed by my dad: 

If you are unable to attend the race:

• Send your runner words of encouragement via e-mail, text, phone call, snail mail, etc. in the week leading up to the marathon.
• If your runner is running for a cause, donate to the cause. Click here to donate to Periclean Scholars!
• Follow your runner on social media. Click here for more info.
• Sign up for runner tracking via text message. Click here for the site. To track me, enter bib number 12501.

Thank you to all of you for your continued support and for sharing this journey with me!

Please feel free to share this spectator guide with friends and family who know me and/or other runners participating in the Marine Corps Marathon.

12 Mile Run - Sunday 10/16

Greetings from Raynham, MA! I moved Saturday's long run to today, for the chance to run in a new environment. We took a short drive to Massasoit State Park to run on trails and not have to run on the side of the road. As I am in taper time, it's important to enjoy each moment of the end of this journey. Getting closer to nature and further from the day-to-day helped me to achieve this goal.

The run began near the park's information center and continued along its trails. I decided that we should just go straight to get the lay of the land. However, once we kept on going, we would arrive at forks in the road that would get increasingly more gravelly and filled with puddles. Since I did not feel like turning back, we forged on. After a couple of miles, though, we exited the park - and ended up in some neighborhood. Instead of turning around, like rational people might do, we decided to continue exploration. After enough left turns, we would eventually arrive at the start of the camp. If we didn't get there, we had a cell phone and could call family in Raynham.

Yes, we did eventually get back to the state park, but it took about 7 or 8 miles to do so. It did take a bunch of left turns - in fact, I do not remember turning right once - but it certainly took much longer than I had anticipated. The roads did provide quality entertainment for the run that we would not have seen while in the park alone.

After realizing that it would take a while to get back to the car, we passed a graveyard. I thought about the cow game and how I would have lost all my cows (if we had passed any cows). Then, we saw three people waiting near an open grave and noticed some more cars waiting on the side of the road. Since this was our first contact with civilization, Jason stopped to ask one of the people in the car waiting for the funeral if we were anywhere near the park (while I ran up and down in circles - I hate to stop!). The man in the car said it was a little while up, so Jason asked how far. He said, "About a mile", to which Jason said, "Well, we're running 8 more!" He instructed us to turn on Southworth Street, and that would bring us closer to the park entrance.

We passed some ponds along Southworth Street and also ran past a golf course. We heard a club make contact with a ball, and then we heard a man scream "Fore!" At this point, there was still no sign of the park, so Jason asked another gentleman pulled over to watch the golf. He said a mile up on the left. It seemed like the default distance in the Raynham area for "a long while away" was one mile. Unfortunately, it did not seem accurate.

As we continued along, we saw more beautiful Massachusetts houses. I commented how everyone we have seen with a baseball cap on had been wearing a Red Sox hat, and I wondered if all of the houses were painted red in honor of the Red Sox. I doubt it, but it's fun to think about. (Speaking of the Red Sox - thank goodness they are out of the playoffs, because I might have gotten stabbed with any mention of the Yankees. At least, that was my fear for the rest of my lifetime - hence, why this is my first trip to Boston.)

We were getting warmer and didn't even realize it. I was quite uptight about being lost, but I tried to take my mind off of it. As my eyes wandered, I saw a golden retriever farm! At least it looked like a golden retriever farm, and that is what it will remain in my mind. There were countless beautiful golden retrievers running in the backyard, and it did look like a farm. Also along the run I discovered a house with a display window on the side. This window showcased a yellow jacket that looked like it belonged on Paddington Bear. Interestingly enough, they had a large wood carving of a bear on their front porch.

We passed over a bridge built in 2000 (as stated in the bridge's carving) and realized that it had, indeed, been less than a mile. Perhaps the guy near the golf course was right. Then, a short while up, we found victory! The park entrance! Even though we still had a good chunk of the run to go, we already felt victorious in that we had gotten out of that pickle.

The run finished up along the trails. Some of the trails were intended for horses. Good thing for us that the horses had good manners and kept their droppings to the side of the road! We continued the run up some of the park's gentle hills and finished up for a relaxing 12 miles.

Only one more "long" run to go - an 8 miler - equivalent to one of my weekly runs during peak training! In two weeks, I'll be there. All of this hard work is soon to pay off. I can't wait!

The Elephant in the Room

Congratulations to the Periclean Class of 2011 on the release of their new documentary! Click here to view it.

"The Elephant in the Room is a documentary feature about three American college students traveling to Sri Lanka to ask questions about environmental issues -- not just in the island country but around the world.

"Shot during three weeks in January 2011, the film brings together interviews with leaders in Sri Lanka in the fight for a healthier planet.

"The film is a project of the Periclean Scholars Class of 2011 at Elon University in North Carolina."

Exemplary Global Citizens: Inclusion and Ecocentrism

Today's posting will combine parts three and four of Dr. Arcaro's thesis into one entry.

Three, an exemplary global citizen is inclusive and works toward the goal of creating a more just world for everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, tribe, clan, or nation. To me, this means working especially hard for the rights of women and children. To paraphrase the activist Bono, “Neither distance nor difference determine who is and who is not your brother or sister.”

In one of my first blog entries, I addressed the concept of excluding people from consideration as fellow human beings, with all of the same rights, and how to go about removing the concept of "the other". Click here to read this post. This post will serve as my commentary for part three of Dr. Arcaro's thesis.

Four, critically, an exemplary global citizen realizes that we are one species among many, and that we must be keenly aware of our relationship to the environment. We cannot ignore, for example, global climate change. We must replace our egocentrism with ecocentrism.

I also touched on our relationship to the environment in a prior post, this one as part of the Millennium Development Goals series. MDG 7 is to ensure environmental sustainability. Click here to read this post.

To add to this post, I have a fantastic analogy (in my opinion). Imagine that you just used the restroom and left a mess in the toilet. Now, you have the choice to flush and to be courteous to whoever comes next, or you can choose to be prideful, think that your mess does not stink, and walk away without flushing. If we are to see the toilet as our planet, and flushing as reducing our carbon footprint and respecting our environment, we are refusing to flush. Our messes are starting to pile up, and they are becoming toxic for those who come after us - our children, their children, and so on. We should stop being so egocentric as to think that our messes do not stink. They, in fact, do, especially when we make an active effort not to clean up our act.

Inclusion and ecocentrism are tied together in an indelible connection. Exemplary global citizens see all of our fellow citizens as entitled to fair treatment - just the same as we would expect from them. We also see the environment we live in as worthy of being treated well. We are on this earth to be stewards of our environment, not to trash it, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Therefore, we must look after our fellow citizens, and those who come after us, by keeping ecocentric attitudes and making an extra effort to leave them with a better world.

Exemplary Global Citizens: A Profound Sense of Urgency

Today's post in the Exemplary Global Citizens series addresses part two of Dr. Arcaro's thesis of who can be considered an "exemplary global citizen":

Two, an exemplary global citizen has a profound sense of urgency. According to UNICEF, nearly 30,000 children under the age of five die every day from causes directly related to poverty - and that number is certainly higher just now with the famine crisis in the Horn of Africa. There is no time to waste. Engaged citizens must act now in response to chilling facts such as these.

What makes a sense of urgency? With any product of events, there are causes that get us there. Just as we bake a cake, there are ingredients and a process in creating the final outcome. Here are some of the ingredients that make the sense of urgency that characterize an exemplary global citizen.

Knowledge and awareness of issues: Before we feel the urge to act on an issue, we must know that it exists. We must consume global media from a variety of sources to get a broad base of knowledge, beyond that which the mainstream media feeds to us. How often do we hear about rape and war in the DRC and in Sierra Leone in the mainstream media? Unfortunately, not enough. Yet, if we look to international development news, we will understand how much of a crisis it is.

Belief that we can do something about issues: What good is this knowledge if we do not feel empowered to act? In learning about issues, global citizens seek out ways to help. They research NGOs and international organizations that mobilize effective groundwork. They are compelled to believe that their knowledge of the issues can mean something, because they can channel this energy in a positive fashion.

Acceptance that the world is not perfect: So many of us are content with our lives as they are. We follow the path of least resistance, because we can. We will not starve or be killed if we do differently. We are sheltered day to day from these issues of global significance. Yet, this is not how most of the world lives. We need to accept that our lives of contentment are ones of privilege, and that we do have a role to play in bringing contentment to others.

Know the consequences of inaction: If I do not write my Congressperson, or support the right organizations, or speak out and tell a friend about an issue, what will happen? When we know these facts, the urgency in action becomes much more real. If I can write the letter that helps convince my Congressperson to support development aid in the Horn of Africa, millions of lives can be saved. Why would I help those lives to die by leaving my pen idle?

Feeling that success is possible, through past accomplishments and current vision: Urgency is fostered when we have the means to the end. If there is a proven blueprint for success, we want to be a part of that vision than something that has no plan. We act urgently to support the idea with the plan and demand more of ideas that do not have plans.

Out of urgency, we can get a response. From the exemplary global citizen, this is a response of compassion and love. We have a role to play, and we must play it now - for our global neighbors. We are interdependent and must be ready to act when called. Well, here's your call. Don't hesitate to act on issues of global significance.

Exemplary Global Citizens: Seeing the Long View, Making a Better Life for Our Children

This first post in the Exemplary Global Citizens series addresses part one of Dr. Arcaro's thesis of who can be considered an "exemplary global citizen":

First and foremost, an exemplary global citizen always sees the long view and works toward the goal of making a better life for our children, their children, and their children, on to many generations. To quote the document written by the indigenous people we must “Look and listen for the welfare of the whole people and have always in view not only the present but also the coming generations, even those whose faces are yet beneath the surface of the ground - the unborn of the future nation.”

In this first description of an exemplary global citizen, we have two items to explore. The first is how we express our vision of the long view, and the second is how we make a better life for our children.

The long view is a fairly simple concept to explain. Rather than doing business in a day-to-day fashion, each day must have be linked to a long-term strategic plan. What is the purpose for each action? How will it make life better tomorrow, a year from now, or fifty years from now? I believe that seeing the long view is the great success of development aid groups. Rather than working only on what will relieve pain on a day-to-day basis, they are strategically focused to address root causes. Acting in this manner is akin to attacking the roots of the weed - the deeper part that we cannot yet see - instead of just the flower or stem - the part that has already come into fruition, but by no means the whole. This requires a great deal of patience and faith; we can only see one day at a time, so we have to trust that our actions in development aid will pay off in the end. As when a child is in kindergarten, we must trust that each small bit of education will foster fully educated, global citizens. I know that my kindergarten teacher cannot see who I have become today, but I have no doubt that by implementing the best teaching techniques, she saw the long view. She planted the right educational roots to grow the right educational fruit.

The second concept, the one of making a better life for our children, is a bit more complicated. I will break it down by two interpretations: thinking beyond the WIIFM philosophy ("what's in it for me"), and looking to the wisdom of experts to attain the best lives for our children.

The major tenet of adult philosophy today is WIIFM. We show people how they can personally benefit from our presence and ideas for just about everything, from getting a job to starting a relationship to buying a product. At its base, this idea is selfish and prideful, which means that it can be overcome. If we are to put others first, including our own children, then we must overcome it. Unfortunately, what's best for me may not be best for you, as in the delivery and misplacement of some forms of humanitarian aid. Creating a better life for others (and for our children - those who will live beyond us) asks us not to follow the golden rule of "do unto others as you would have done unto you", but rather the platinum rule of "do unto others as they would have done unto them".

Fighting the tenet of WIIFM is easier for those who care for other forms of human life - their children or their students - than for others who live alone or who are self-centered in most of their actions. The second part of making a better life for our children, however, is particularly difficult for all, no matter your status as parent or caregiver. The thought that we must listen to the experts on how to improve the world, and not always go by our own concepts - even in the way we want to raise our children! - is paramount to the creation of an exemplary global citizen.

There are as many ideas for creating a better world for our children as there are human beings. The lines of "How can you leave that for our children?" and "I'm doing what's best for our children" are often quoted by politicians. Failing to leave behind a world that is acceptable for our children is a button that hits home. Unfortunately, it is often misused and abused by those who want to get others to do what they want and not necessarily what is best for the coming generations. Many parents produce many children, and they all think they are doing what is best for their families and for the world as a whole. We must remember that terrorists have children; even they take the time to instill their own hopes, dreams, and desires into their offspring. Yet, these hopes and dreams are destructive to society.

So, how do we leave a better world for those who come after us, without destroying the world? The Periclean way states that it is best to listen to the wisdom of our experts. We, as individual humans, do not always have enough inside of us to determine what will be best for the coming generations. We are not God. We must show reverence toward the bodies of experts that live among us and those who have dedicated their lives to the betterment of this world. Unfortunately, this may not always mean listening to our elders. Those we see as elders might have lived a life of self-fulfillment and know nothing about serving their fellow human beings. Consider this: would you listen to advice on how to help our children from Robert Mugabe? Wisdom comes in many forms, and it is this search for wisdom that will yield us the greatest results in bettering our world. Just because a person has children does not make him or her qualified to determine humanity's path.

Seeking wisdom from our experts means that we must not ignore their calls for help, the calls from those who know what they are doing and have a clear mission to get us there. In Zambia, we had ideas and did research on underlying issues in rural Zambian development. We could be considered experts, in that we had studied the culture for a matter of years in a scholarly sense. Regardless, we had to listen to our partners on the ground to produce fruitful works. Without Charity's and Voster's unique insight and expertise, those houses would not have been built. They understood the dynamics of the community and what worked and why. When they spoke, we listened. When they asked us to jump, we asked how high. Even when some requests might have seemed outlandish, such as placing bricks in the water to help our bus move the day after, they had the vision.

This dynamic between Periclean Scholars and our partners would do well to play out on a grander scale. That being said, we must ensure that we are not following blindly - that we do listen to our internal compass on all matters. The advice of experts must always be seen in the eye of the long view. In this sense, they go hand in hand. This is the first way that we can become exemplary global citizens.

18.52 Mile Run - Saturday 10/8

This morning's long run was unlike any other run I have had this year. The main reason for this is that I had to map my run after running it, thanks to one of the biggest catastrophes that can happen in the running world. I aimed for 18, and I ended up going for exactly 18.52 miles. Regardless of not knowing how far I was going, it was one of the strongest runs I had, and my body feels great.

Last weekend, I purchased some of the final pieces of my running outfit for marathon day: a long-sleeve shirt and running tights from the Under Armour factory outlet. It was my goal to complete at least one long run in this attire before race day, or else I would not attempt to wear it. Because today's weather matched so perfectly the predicted weather for race day, I threw on my new clothes. To complete the outfit, I wore some gloves and an ear warmer.

On Thursday, I received the best early birthday present a runner could ask for: the Garmin Forerunner 405. (Thanks, Jason! ☺) This fancy piece of equipment gives runners everything they need to venture out on their long runs. It tells you how far and how long you have run and the change in elevation of your run. It allows you to set a pace beforehand (gives you a "virtual partner") and tells you how far in front or behind the pace you are. If you want, you can wear the heart rate monitor included around your chest, and it will tell you how hard your heart is working. Needless to say, this is every runner's dream tool, and it eliminated my need to map my run beforehand. I even took the map that I carried in my water bottle from last week's run and left it home.

For a few reasons, I pushed a good pace - about 30 to 45 seconds per mile faster than my normal long run. In fact, it was about on pace with a 5 or 6 miler that I would run during the week. I think this was because I could see exactly how well I was doing thanks to my new Garmin. Also, the thought that this would be one of the final times crossing the streets of Arlington and DC before race day gave me a little extra surge of energy.

After crossing the 14th Street Bridge, I rounded the Tidal Basin and wanted to go into the MLK Memorial. On the sign, it said something along the lines of "No Bikes, No Smoking, No Pets, No Running." Good thing I caught the "No Running" part of that sign! As soon as I saw that, I backtracked out of there and continued along my way west toward the Potomac River.

Even though my GPS watch gave me free reign, I stuck to trails that I knew were safe and would not make me stop because of traffic. I suppose this is because I knew what my pace was, and I didn't want that to suffer. After going past the MLK Memorial, I hopped onto the Rock Creek Park trails and up north toward the Georgetown Marina. I did my normal run up 31st Street, NW, and onto M Street. While on M Street, there were not too many people out - a huge surprise, because it was such a gorgeous morning. Two items of note on M Street: first, it is not pleasant to run along a trail in relatively cold weather and see a man power washing large windows. I might as well have run into a waterfall. Luckily, I caught sight of this ahead of time and ran off the sidewalk for about ten seconds. Second, men can be pigs. I am running and, with nobody else in sight, some dude whistles at me. I am not sure what he was trying to accomplish, because I certainly didn't look attractive while running and was not going to stop to make out with him, so the futility of this action kind of made me laugh. I crossed the Key Bridge into Rosslyn and saw some of the Arlington Road Runners at their base camp. They were doing 10 miles starting around 7 a.m., so it was no surprise to see some of them back at camp.

My thoughts drifted, and I lost some time, and then, as I was running south along the Mount Vernon Trail, I thought about how it had been a while since I heard a beep from my watch. I looked down, and the unthinkable had happened. My watch had run out of power. I felt like I was going to throw up. I quickly scrambled to see if it had just been idle; I tried every way I could to turn it back on, but nothing would work. Then, I tried to remember the last thing that the watch had said when I saw it. I thought it said 7 miles in Georgetown (turns out I was right), but I had no idea how far I had run since then. I saw a lady running a little ahead of me, and she had a watch on. I caught up to her, asked her what time it was, and she told me 9:08. At this point, I was nearing the 14th Street Bridge again. I thought, what better time to run Hains Point than when I feel completely detached from my running lifelines? This would give me great practice for the marathon. With a little calculation, I figured that running Hains Point and coming back home could hit me at the right distance, and should hit me at about 10:30 a.m.

Hains Point is normally pretty lonely - less so when it's prime season and runners are training there. I am guessing that a lot of people's fall races were this weekend (such as the Chicago Marathon), because it was pretty empty today. As I was nearing the southern tip of the point, I noticed a runner guy and girl coming at me. The runner girl was smiling, and as she approached me, she did more than just the normal wave. She stuck her hand out, so I high-fived her! That provided a little bit of a rush in an otherwise barren land.

One more exciting thing did happen as I was heading north along Hains Point. Along the Waterfront across the Anacostia, I heard an unmistakable blaring: a public exercise class was going on. A guy was on a microphone, and he was giving upbeat orders: Step up! Go down! Two more! Work it! etc., etc. There's something you don't hear on every run.

Pretty soon, I was out of Hains Point. I wanted to try and find someone with a watch. Thankfully, as I was rounding the Jefferson Memorial, I found 3 runners and asked them what time it was. They said 9:55. Looks like I had timed it perfectly, because I know that from the DC side of the George Mason Bridge back to my apartment is about 3.2 miles. I didn't need to run any more around DC; I would cross the bridge and go home.

I continued to think about how this would be one of my final runs on these DC trails, the trails that had seen me through many, many miles of my training. I was filled with a spirit of gratitude for making it this far, and for the trails being (mostly) forgiving on me. I thought about my friend Sarah, whose wedding day is today, and how she told me that my training for a marathon is very similar to the engagement period before a wedding. Today very much seemed like my dress rehearsal, which could explain why I had a bit more energy today.

As soon as I got home, I began to map my run. Then, I went with some friends to get lunch, and I finished up mapping my run - still feeling great. As it turns out, I was right about Georgetown, and I hit everything pretty well. I aimed to hit 18.2 miles, and I went over by 0.32. At least that's better than being under by a lot! I'd like to say that my pace had a little to do with being over by this much, because I definitely felt faster today - and I felt strong. It was a good run all around, aside from not knowing how far I went until after it was done.

Now that this run is down, today commences taper time! The taper is the period before a big race - about 3 weeks out -  when running is cut down significantly to allow the body to rest and repair itself, and to allow carbs to be stored in the muscles in preparation for the big day.

Oftentimes, running is a metaphor for other parts of life (such as the engagement mentioned above), but sometimes running is a metaphor for running. My lesson from today is that, even if I have the best equipment, my success will be unpredictable if the equipment isn't charged. Today, I saw that with my watch, but in taper time, I need to remember that my success on marathon day will determine on how much sleep and rest I allow my body to have. This is the way that I will be successful. All of the hard training is under my belt, and now it is time to (properly) rest and relax.

Exemplary Global Citizens

One of my goals of the marathon journey for Periclean Scholars is to recapture the spirit that I gained while in the program: the spirit of growing in virtue and service as a global citizen. By reflecting on my experiences in the program and thinking critically about how to apply my knowledge to everyday life, I believe I have done this. By maintaining this blog, I have shared my lessons with family, friends, and followers, thereby raising our level of both education and good citizenship.

As it gets down to crunch time (a mere 24 1/2 days until the race!), I want my posts' focus to be on the core of the Periclean mission. This will allow me to reflect on the program's mission, vision, goals, and accomplishments properly before the race and continue to share the beauty of them with the world.

What better place to go for guidance and inspiration on the Periclean way than Dr. Arcaro? The subject of his speech below will be my new post series. Watch the video, or click through for the transcript, for Dr. Arcaro's guidance on what it means to be an exemplary global citizen.

Why Are Acts of Charity So Difficult?

Yesterday, I caught the last portion of the Amazing Race on CBS. The racers were in Indonesia. For the first time ever, there would be a double elimination, so abiding by all of the race rules was particularly important. One of the final challenges that teams had a choice between was called “Ticket Taker”. They were instructed to park motorcycles at a mall until they raised 15,000 rupiah. To receive the next clue, they had go to an Indonesian orphanage to deliver their money. A sign at the orphanage instructed them to give not only the money they collected from parking the bikes, but ALL of their money on hand. Only three out of the eleven teams in the race did this. The first three teams got knocked out of their top spots, and the fourth place team jumped into first.

This episode made me wonder, why is it so hard for us to give of ourselves when we are asked? This is not the first time I have seen people balk at giving when asked. I have seen it with friends and family while fundraising for the PSAA; I see it when people pass the homeless on the street; I have seen it in church; and I have seen it in countless other places. I am not immune here; I say no to people, too. So why do we do it?

The hesitancy to give back could be seen as very primitive thinking. Early humans, distrustful of others, see giving back and getting ahead as opposites. What’s in it for me is the opposite of what is in it for you. There is not a lot of thinking of community and a lot of polarizing, of creating the “other”. I believe this to be lower-level thinking, where charity, along with love, is a higher order virtue.

I also feel that it can be due to how often we are asked to give. A lot of the messaging related to giving makes us feel guilty about not giving, instead of being appreciative of what is given - even if just a promise to tell a friend. This dynamic can desensitize us to calls to give over time and make us feel less guilty about our inaction. Therefore, this messaging accomplishes exactly the opposite of what was intended.

Yet, the fear of the guilt dynamic and the knowledge of this resistance should not stop us who ask from asking people to give, or from giving. It might be about changing our messaging or showing more appreciation for what is given.

The difficulty in obtaining donations highlights how the hard or unpopular path is very often the right one. The hardest things in life often have the greatest payoffs, and the path of least resistance often bears no fruit. Examples abound, such as childbirth, asking someone out, saying no to or quitting drugs, leaving a toxic relationship, or starting a business. What if our ancestors never chose to have children? We would not be alive. What happens when a battered spouse lacks the courage to leave? She could get killed. Yet, this is the path of least resistance, so we often stick to it. I believe that the path of encouraging my fellow human beings to give charitably is not one to be abandoned, but one to be traveled fearlessly.

Let’s soften our hearts and not be afraid to give when asked. The payoff might not be immediately in sight, or even a short while behind - as was the case for our Amazing Racers. The payoff may be many years later, or even in another generation. Still, each act of giving does have value, as it helps society as a whole to get ahead.

While I am at it, would you consider a donation to Periclean Scholars? Even the smallest amount will make that difference. I thank you for considering an act of charity on behalf of your fellow human beings.

What do you think? Why do you think we are so hesitant to give - even when the stakes for giving more are high, such as with our Amazing Racers?

21 Mile Run - Saturday 10/1

I decided to make this weekend's 20 miler into a 21 miler, pending how I would feel toward the end of the run. I ran 31 miles during the week, so I figured, why not have another 52 mile week to boost my confidence going into race day? I repeated my 20 mile course from two weeks ago, and then I threw in a one-mile loop near my apartment complex to complete the run. I am glad to report that I accomplished my goal at my training pace and without any desire to stop.

Prior to running, I took my dog on a brief walk to check the temperature. It was a little chilly, so I threw on some long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and a light jacket. After her walk, I checked the forecast. It said that we would get rain starting at 1 p.m., but I kept the jacket on as a preventative measure.

When I walked outside with my gear on, I saw one of my dog's friends and his owner. She is also a runner. She told me, "You know that it's raining, right?" I pointed to my jacket and waterproof sweatpants and said, "I'm as ready as I'll ever be!"

Because of the change in weather, this morning's run truly became a run to test the equipment. I would see if my attire would hold up through the rain, and I would see if I was under- or over-dressed. I also brought along some Clif Shot Blocks, to see how they would hold up on an even longer run.

More than anything else, though, the main equipment that was tested was my drive and willpower. From the morning chat with my dog owner friend, to each rain drop that landed in my eye, to the long distance itself, I had to put mind over matter throughout the entire run and not let anything stop me from getting it done.

It was on this run that I was incredibly thankful that I had chosen the Periclean Scholars as my organization to support, because the group got me through the mental part of this run. I recalled the days of building Rosemary's house, of getting up at the crack of dawn in the rainy season to begin work. I would get up after a night of restless sleep, because we had a leaky roof in the visitor house (hence, why no Zambians occupied it). We were in the village of Kawama for a set amount of time, and each moment was valuable. There was no possibility of staying inside out of the rain in a climate-controlled environment. We were there to get work done. My scrubs were drenched at the end of each workday, and if there was no sun out, we would not get a hot shower from our solar showers.

I do have many fond memories from Zambia, and these are most of what I have shared with you. My mentor, Steve, said during the rainy workdays that at the end of all of this, we would look back fondly on our experience and wish we could have it back. This is mostly true; I would love to relive the smiling Zambian faces, the beautiful church service, the delicious nshima and vitumbuas, Victoria Falls, and the safari. However, the memories of the difficult parts - the instances of character building - are what are truly getting me through the toughest spots in marathon training. Each brick I lifted, each rainstorm I endured, each vitamin C tablet I had to take, each of these things and more provided so much inspiration on today's run.

In spite of the rain, there continued to be an abundance of runners on the trails. Many had their team t-shirts on. I saw a lot of runners from the Team to End Aids today. Most of the runners were dressed for the weather, but my mouth almost dropped when I saw a runner with nothing but shorts and sneakers on. How he could do that was beyond me.

Hains Point continued to be a popular destination for racers. This morning, I saw a large group of people with t-shirts with the acronyms FUM/LAC on them. While running, a group of three women that ran near me asked one of the FUM/LAC folks what they were running for. One of them said, "Cancer!" The girls cheered out, "Great cause!" and continued on their run. I tried to look FUM/LAC up (even with the key word cancer), but I was not successful in discovering what it meant.

I continued up the Rock Creek Park trails and saw that the participants in the Solar Decathlon had cleaned up their act. In fact, they had built a walkway to an information tent on the south side of the park. It finally looked like a complex that could be sustainable!

As I continued onto the mall, tourists were everywhere with their massive umbrellas. Those who wanted to visit the Washington Monument were out of luck, because it was closed to the public. The entrance was taped off, and nobody was on the grassy area by the monument. I did look up and I noticed some dark spots near the tip; I wonder if that was the area where they were doing the repairs.

Until my turnaround point past the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, the only exciting thing that happened was that I got more raindrops in my eye. As I headed back west, I noticed seven martial artists on the mall by 7th and Constitution. Each of them wore a white robe, and they each had a different colored belt. They shouted out some choppy chants in unison with each movement, and then ended with what sounded to me like "Hai!"

Georgetown provided a different sort of challenge today. Because the walkways are mostly brick, I was careful not to slip with each step. I did not have to worry so much about people clogging up the walkways, as it seemed they mostly decided to stay home instead of go out in the rain.

As I headed across the Key Bridge, I felt the strongest crosswinds I believe I have felt throughout training. I held onto my water bottle, for if it had blown over the bridge, I would have lost my keys, Clif Shot Blocks, Pepto, band-aids and run map. (My water bottle pocket sure does store a lot!) Luckily, I made it across in one piece - a little chillier, I might add, but a little more dry, as well.

Heading south along the trail, I saw the usual groups of runners, the occasional cyclist, and a novelty: three long boats for crew in the water. During this time, I think my mind sort of shut off. I recalled Lori in the Spirit of the Marathon saying that at times, her mind would just shut off during the course of a run and she would lose miles; she would be running, but not focused or present in it. After returning to thinking about running, she would discover that she had logged a couple of extra miles. I am glad to be aware that I have this talent, too.

As I returned home, I felt good, so I completed the one-mile loop in my neighborhood to make today's run into a solid 21 mile effort. I thought about the emotions I would feel at the end of the marathon, and how, even though today's run did require a little extra willpower, it was all worth it.

Over the course of my run, I popped two of my Clif Shot Blocks. About 20 minutes or so after each of them, I felt the urge to go to the bathroom. Thankfully, the Imodium I took beforehand worked, and the urge quickly passed. Yes, each of them did give me some extra energy, but I am not sure if that reward will be worth the risk of a bathroom stop during the marathon. I might bring two along just in case things change, but I am not certain that I will use them during the race after today's experience.

The rest of my equipment help up just fine. I ran well in my pants, although for the marathon I might invest in a pair of compression pants. My jacket was drenched, but that was what I expected after three and a half hours of running. The water bottle, my undergarments, my hairties, and my watch all performed as expected. My two-week-old pair of running shoes held up and did not give me any blisters.

After months of training, the marathon is now less than a month away. This is the longest run I will complete before it, although I will not consider next week to be my "taper". I think I will try for between 16 and 18 miles next Saturday; this upcoming week is a filler week, so I can make it up as I go. I want to step back a little bit, but not so much that my body feels like it's on a taper yet. Stay tuned for next Saturday's entry as I get one step closer to running the MCM.