Palos Expo Raffle Winners Are…

Yesterday was the Palos Area Chamber Expo and Health Fair and packet pick up for almost 2000 runners of the First Midwest Bank Southwest Half Marathon and we had a table there to raise awareness for Neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that affects over 2 million people.

Let me start with a brief history. I decided to run the Chicago Marathon again this October and I wanted to run for a charity, because I realized that through my running I could make a difference in the lives of others. It really puts a purpose to my running. I chose Neurofibromatosis for two reasons. 1.) I know someone who has had Neurofibromatosis since birth and 2.) Neurofibromatosis is a charity that is not well known. It does not have a big name spokesperson or a big budget. I then decided to go far beyond the extra mile to raise awareness for Neurofibromatosis; in fact, I am running an additional 157.2 miles to raise awareness for Neurofibromatosis. I am running 12 half marathons, in 12 states in 2012, or as I like to call it 2012Run12.

Now if we were just standing at a table at the Palos Area Chamber Expo and Health Fair passersby might not even stop. So I called on a few friends and strangers and got some really great donations. First came the raffle prizes:

Running for Kicks – Palos Heights, IL

$50 Gift Certificate

New Day Spa Salon – Oak Lawn, IL

Gift Certificate for a Sports Massage with Liz

Coach Kennihan Personal Trainer & Run Coach

30 min. Run Specific Strength Training Session

The executive planning committee (meaning my wife) decided we still needed more to get strangers to listen for a brief moment. So she called a friend at the Walmart in Hodgkins, Illinois and got some candy. Then my wife contacted someone who works for Gordon Flesch Co, one of the largest independent providers of office equipment solutions and they donated handouts to put into the runners packets. This would give the First Midwest Bank Southwest Half Marathon runners a chance to make donations online and still be entered into the drawing. We did our best to make our table stand out in the room. I could go on and on about our attempts to sell a $1 raffle ticket to attendees at the Palos Area Chamber Expo and Health Fair and offering them a chance to win a great prize and to benefit a charity. It’s actually shocking to think that with almost 2,000 runners of the First Midwest Bank Southwest Half Marathon and only 80 people cared enough to contribute.

So to all of you, who purchased a raffle ticket, from the bottom of our hearts thank you. All proceeds from the raffle go to Neurofibromatosis Midwest. Neurofibromatosis Midwest offers support to families who are affected by Neurofibromatosis.

So here are the winning tickets.

Click to Enlarge Tickets 857148, 857058, 857059

Great Prizes for Donations Received thru May 5, 2012

The Palos Area Chamber Expo and Health Fair is this Saturday, May 5th. The Palos Area Chamber Expo and Health Fair is a free community event, and it will be held at the Moraine Valley Church at 6300 West 127th Street in Palos Heights, IL. Hours for the fair are from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Thanks to the following businesses, the Neurofibromatosis table has got some great raffle prizes!

Running for Kicks – Palos Heights, IL
$50 Gift Certificate

New Day Spa Salon – Oak Lawn, IL

Gift Certificate for a Sports Massage with Liz

Coach Kennihan Personal Trainer & Run Coach

30 min. Run Specific Strength Training Session

You’re probably wondering, “Wow! Those are some great prizes. How can I get in on this?” and the answer is quite simple. We will be selling raffle tickets for $1 at the Neurofibromatosis table at the Palos Area Chamber Expo and Health Fair on Saturday May 5th or you can donate through the following link to be entered into the drawing:

www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/michaelblaha/nf-midwest-run4nf

All donations collected at the Palos Area Chamber Expo and Health Fair and thru www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/michaelblaha/nf-midwest-run4nf will benefit Neurofibromatosis Midwest, a 501 (c)3 non-profit, which supports families affected by Neurofibromatosis. Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder that affects more than 2 million people. Donations to Neurofibromatosis are tax deductable to the amount allowable by law. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to win some great prizes!

If you are wondering how I became involved with Neurofibromatosis, earlier this year, I made the decision to run the Chicago Marathon. This will be my second Chicago Marathon, but for me this will be different than last year. I was reading about the many charities that can benefit from my running. There are many to choose from. Then my wife sent me the NF Midwest newsletter which had an article that NF Midwest was looking for runners to run the Chicago Marathon to raise awareness for Neurofibromatosis. NF does not have a big name spokesperson or a big budget. And I know someone with Neurofibromatosis. This year I am running the Chicago Marathon for John who is a former student of mine who has had Neurofibromatosis since birth. His success and determination in overcoming everyday challenges have inspired me.  As I run, I think of many things and lately, every step I am focused on achieving a new goal to raise awareness for Neurofibromatosis.

Thank you in advance for your support and generosity. Together our efforts will make a difference to someone who has Neurofibromatosis.

Palos Area Chamber Expo and Health Fair

Stop by and see us at the Palos Area Chamber Expo and Health Fair on Saturday, May 5, 2012!  This free community event will be held at the Moraine Valley Church at 6300 West 127^th Street in Palos Heights, IL.  Hours for the fair are from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.  The Palos Area Chamber Expo and Health Fair will feature fitness experts, injury prevention advice, health screenings and more.  Kids are welcome to come and enjoy the magician that will be wandering thru the fair.  The fair is open to the public and is the packet pickup for runners of the First Midwest Bank Southwest Half Marathon.  We will be there raising awareness for Neurofibromatosis.  Look for us; we will be at table 48.  We will also be collection donations for Neurofibromatosis and all monetary donations received before midnight on May 5^th, 2012 will be entered into a drawing to win one of three great prizes!  They are:

Running for Kicks – Palos Heights, IL

$50 Gift Certificate

New Day Spa Salon – Oak Lawn, IL

Gift Certificate for a Sports Massage

Coach Kennihan Personal Trainer & Run Coach

30 min. Run Specific Strength Training Session

 On Sunday, May 6^th, I will be running the First Midwest Bank Southwest Half Marathon as part of my 2012Run12 campaign to raise awareness for Neurofibromatosis.  It is my 5^th half marathon this year! I feel fortunate that I can run and there are many people in this world that are unable to run because of physical limitations like Neurofibromatosis.  I used to be unaware of the genetic disorder until about a year ago.  I found out that a former student of mine has had Neurofibromatosis since birth.  He has overcome many of life’s challenges that are often taken for granted.  He is my inspiration.

All donations collected at the Palos Area Chamber Expo and Health Fair and thru www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/michaelblaha/nf-midwest-run4nf will benefit Neurofibromatosis Midwest, a 501 (c)3 non-profit, which supports families affected by Neurofibromatosis.  Donations are tax deductable to the amount allowable by law. 

The Palos Area Chamber Expo and Health Fair is going to be a great event.  We are looking forward to seeing you there!

I would like to thank Neurofibromatosis Midwest for their constant support and guidance, Running for Kicks, New Day Spa Salon and Coach Kennihan for their generous donations and John and his family for inspiring me.

ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 REVIEW

Today, I ran the Turtlehead Lake 10.5 mile loop in my new ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 that I purchased from Mel at Running for Kicks in Palos Heights. Partly sunny and cool, great conditions for a run. I thought it was a good idea to write an ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 review.

In my ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 review I should mention this is my first pair of ASICS. The shoes are comfortable, smooth, and light. The shoes seem to provide control for my pronation as well as excellent cushioning. For me the most noticeable difference over the New Balance 856 that I have been running in for years is the ASICS seem to have better shock absorption which is a major factor as I prepare for my Chicago Marathon training, which begins in June. The shoes better shock absorption will be a great benefit for the Chicago Marathon as my feet pound the pavement on the streets of Chicago.

The Turtlehead Lake trail is asphalt which provided a good trial run for the shoe. I was conscious of the new shoes for the first three miles or so and noticed the ample cushioning, but after that it was like I didn't even know I had them on, happy feet for the entire Turtle Lake 10.5 mile loop. I will use the ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 for a few more trial runs on hard surfaces. Then as begin my Chicago Marathon training I will use them exclusively for the marathon training long runs on the Chicago lakefront, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and 9 half marathons through the months of April through December from opposite corners of the US from Alaska to Florida. I will be running a total of 12 half marathons, in 12 states in 2012. I am hoping with to raise awareness for Neurofibromatosis Midwest.

In my ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 review, the shoe has many features that include an external Heel Clutching System and stretch mesh upper for greater comfort, in addition to the Dynamic DuoMax Support System and lightweight AHAR outsole which provides a lightweight shoe, and stablility control.

I hope you found my ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 review helpful. Special thanks to Mel from Running for Kicks in his diligence in fitting me with a pair of ASICS GEL-Kayano 18. If you need a new pair of running shoes and not sure how to pick just the right pair of shoes from the hundreds of running shoes available, I strongly recommend going to Running for Kicks. Ask for Mel or any of the other knowledgeable runners that work at Running for Kicks. At Running for Kicks they are the running shoe experts!

Find a great pair of shoes and Just RUN!

RUNNING FOR KICKS WINS MY BUSINESS!

For twenty years, I have been running with New Balance Shoes. Every time I would find a new model, I would just keep buying it until it was discontinued. I was getting close to my miles and I needed a new pair of shoes and again my current model was discontinued. I wanted to make sure I had a new pair before I begin my marathon training, so we decided to head over to Running for Kicks in Palos Heights, Illinois. Running for Kicks is one of the sponsors for the First Midwest Southwest Half Marathon on May 6, 2012.

When we walked into Running for Kicks we were greeted by all the staff. We walked over to the men’s shoes and found Mel Diab, the owner standing there as if he was waiting for us. We began talking about shoes, running, and marathon training. First Mel had me take off my shoes. He asked me to walk a few feet so he could observe the pattern of my feet. His expertise was obvious. He said I was an overpronater and my ankles rolled inward. He then examined my shoes to confirm his observation. Then he measured both of my feet. Within moments he had three pair of shoes by different manufacturers in front of me.

The first pair was Brooks. He helped me put them on and we went outside for a test run. Then it was back inside to try the next pair, which was New Balance. Out the door I went again for another run. Then back in for the third pair which was Asics. If I had known I was going to do this much running, I would have wore my Garmin! After running with the Asics, Mel let me try two different shoes at once. I ended up determining that the ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 seemed the most comfortable.

Mel and I talked about the various marathons he has run and I told him I used Hal Higdon’s marathon training. Running for Kicks also has group runs on Monday evenings and as the Chicago Marathon gets closer they will have marathon training runs.

Running for Kicks exceeded my expectations and I look forward to being a long time customer. Thank you Mel and the staff at Running for Kicks!

Running for Kicks is located at 7158 W. 127th Street (corner of Harlem and 127th) Palos Heights, IL 60463. Visit their website http://runningforkicks.com/