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#PrayForBoston

by Nellie April 16, 2013

It’s hard to believe this foolishness keeps happening.

Heavy heart. Heavy mind.

I can’t say that I understand how hard marathoners work to get to that place but I admire it tremendously. 26.2 is a long long way to go. It is art, a masterpiece really. Tragedies have no place in such events.

Yet, tragedies have no place in towers holding thousands of people. Or in a Connecticut classroom. Or in a movie theater. Or many other places that don’t get news coverage.

I volunteered for the ING marathon years ago, I was nothing short of inspired. Where i was stationed On mile 13 there were those whose stride would not be stopped, those who were begging for a medic, or water, or both. I saw first hand what determination looked like in human form. I was excited to play my small and very insignificant role in their race.

It was art. It was a masterpiece.

As a person who has run many races and aspire to be a better runner, I hope the spirit is not broken forever.

#prayforboston today.

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NaBloPoMo news

Your Vote Matters. Your Influence Matters More.

by Nellie November 6, 2012

Vote!

I think I know my readers well enough to know that you all are amazing and incredibly intelligent.

So I don’t need to tell you to vote today, you already know that.

Most of you have already early voted, you guys are just awesome like that!

What I want to urge you to do today is not for yourself but rather it is for someone else.

Talk to a young person that may not yet quite understand how important his or her vote is.

Those of you in swing states such as New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and Colorado, urge the young (or old) to go vote. Although every vote is important swing state votes have so much power! (That’s why candidates call you non stop and drive you crazy!)

Talk to someone that has fallen upon hard times and no longer believes in the system, convince them to vote.

I don’t need to tell you how critical this election is (especially for women)—again you guys are smart enough to know what is at stake here.

I just want to encourage you to encourage someone else.

You guys already know who I am voting for. Take the time today to make sure all of your family members have voted, if they haven’t, take them.

We have the responsibility as informed adults to do everything we can to make sure all voices are heard.

Have you encouraged others to vote?

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NaBloPoMo news nyc rants running volunteering

Why The Mayor HAD to Cancel the ING NYC Marathon

by Nellie November 3, 2012

via

As we enter into day 5 of the recovery from Sandy, I am actually realizing that next to 9/11 this is actually one of the worst things my city has ever been through…in some ways almost worse than 9/11.

I, like most, am glued to my TV watching Sandy coverage. My poor husband is sick of it.

I am watching story after story, people who are cold without heat and power, people who have lost everything and are hungry…

There was one story of people going through a huge dumpster looking for SOME kind of food any kind of food…

And I can barely type this without having tears in my eyes…but I keep watching about the woman who lost her two young boys 2 & 4, who were ripped out of her arms, while trying to get away from the surge.

The stories are endless and heartbreaking.

This is our Katrina.

People still need to be rescued. People need to be fed.

POWER needs to be restored. Immediately.

Homes…million dollar homes…and modest homes are destroyed.

Basements…finished.

A member of my church family’s daughter was electrocuted when she stepped into the water outside her home…

Do I need to rest my case?

I heard a reporter say today that “There is a thin line between sensitivity and resilience”

I love the marathon, every November I curl up in my bed and watch the coverage ALL day and marvel at how amazing these runners are.

A few years ago, I volunteered for the event, witnessing first hand how hard it was for people at mile 16, handing out water and guiding ailing runners to medics.

Right now however, we have a different focus.

I understand that people have plans, I understand people have trained, I understand that there is a lot of money that comes into the city because of this race.

I understand.

No one know more about resilience than New Yorkers…its our middle name.

It’s simply too soon.

Someone even suggested postponing, (which would be great) or running it on Sunday in Central Park only (which is even better) but running through Staten Island, where they are still recovering bodies…?

No.

He made the right move.

Do you guys think the Marathon should happen?

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