I’m tired.  I’m sore, but I’m happy! Earlier today I finished Grandma’s Marathon in 4:11 (80 degrees of brutal heat), and now the kids in JiaYou get their new school ! As of today, $6,500 has been pledged! Take a look below to see me during my run, and post race (with my wife who beat me by 1/2 hour!)
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However, my Run for China’s Children is only the start of the story … This September, I will trek into the mountains of southern China and personally deliver books to JiaYou’s new school. After all, a new building is nothing but an empty shell without teachers and books! Thus take a look at the photos at the end of this post …

If you want to help me out with my book delivery, send a pledge to rhoeg@comcast.net. In lieu of new cash donations, you are welcome to send books in English or Mandarin which are educationally appropriate for pre-school through the 3rd grade to:

• Richard Hoeg
• 3924 Wisconsin Avenue North
• New Hope, Minnesota  55427  U.S.A.

Used books in excellent condition are welcome.
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It’s less than 48 hours till my Run for China’s Children. See yesterday’s post for an update. My local television station featured me on the news this evening. Take a look!

• Beyond the finish line!

We’ve made it … now it’s up to me … and you! (let’s add a library!)

Saturday is Grandma’s Marathon, and my Run for China’s Children.

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Results as of Wednesday, June 13 – 3 days till the Run for China (read more) …

• Total Money Pledged: $6,200 !!!

Note: $6k rebuilds the JiaYou Primary School in rural China. Money raised above $6k will purchase books for the JiaYou library. This September, I will trek into the mountains of southern China and personally deliver the books to JiaYou. After all, a school building is nothing but an empty shell without teachers and books!

In lieu of new cash donations, you are welcome to send books in English or Mandarin which are educationally appropriate for pre-school through the 3rd grade to:

• Richard Hoeg
• 3924 Wisconsin Avenue North
• New Hope, Minnesota  55427  U.S.A.

Used books in excellent condition are welcome.

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The last few weeks have been fun. I’ve received lots of nice media attention.  Over the past few days I’ve been interviewed by multiple newspapers, and will "run for the TV cameras" this afternoon!  With all the attention, I need to constantly remind myself this effort is not about me. It’s about the children and the fine work that the China Tomorrow Education Foundation is doing. I’ll post this weekend after the big race, but the effort never truly ends …
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Two weeks from today I will run Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota. As I enter my final training period, for inspiration I’m reading John Wood’s book, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World. Mr. Wood was a senior level Microsoft executive who left his company to bring books to the children of Nepal.

• PBS Podcast Interview with John Wood (his organization)
• National Geographic Podcast Interview with John Wood

My marathon effort will re-build a rural school in China. Although I may not have the connections of a gentleman like John Wood, my effort will make a difference to 35 children in JiaYou. Please consider a pledge to help the children. I will be contributing both money and sweat to this effort. eMail your pledge to me, Rich Hoeg, at rhoeg@comcast.net.
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Perhaps I should have given the classic title to this post: The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner! Those of you who are regular readers of this blog know that I’m training for Grandma’s Marathon. It’s now four weeks away.

Yesterday evening I completed my last loooooonnnng training run (21 miles). The weather conditions were sunny, windy, and 88 degrees F (hot). Over the course of the run I lost 8 pounds.  Considering I’m thin, and normally weigh in at 180 pounds (6′ 2"), that’s 4.4% of my body weight! I’m still re-hydrating some 16 hours later. You may virtually experience in under four minutes last week’s run in Northern Minnesota. It took me longer!

• Northstar Nerd’s 21.3 Marathon Training Run
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I’m now in the official taper period.  Next Saturday’s run will only be 15 miles! Finally, you may watch a Google Maps Tutorial that I created around this particular run.