This is my third Sharsheret charity mission. I chose to run a marathon. That was pretty dumb. It might even have been a mistake. I hate running. I hated running before I started running. Now, only a few weeks into my training I've confirmed I definitely hate running. It's hard. It's monotonous. Actually, I'll just say what I mean, it's boring.
Yes, I know many people love it, and I'm aware that our species has depended on it. It's how humans hunted, how we escaped from being hunted, how we stayed healthy, how we played (I'll get back to this shortly), it's how we chase after children running too close to the street, and for some reason, when my friends and I first drank alcohol together it's what we did through the streets of Englewood. We ran.
But not all running is the same of course. Running is probably the most important part of playing soccer (shoutout Geezer FC), and basketball (Ball Is Life), and football, and frisbee, and manhunt, and all of the other things I LOVE to do. But I don't love running. Maybe it's running for running's sake that I don't like.
Thankfully that's not what this is. This is running for a reason. In 2016 I embarked on a project I called Rollin for a Reason. There my dad and I circumnavigated Lake Michigan on road bikes in ten days. That meant that we pedaled about a hundred miles a day, for ten days straight, and spent the evenings in random campgrounds with my Mom and Sister. They were keeping us company in the family RV and giving my pet basset hound Archie a way to join us while being air-conditioned. We, my community, raised about eight thousand dollars for Sharsheret.
In 2018 it was time for part two. After leaving Chicago and looking forward to beginning law school I filled my time by spending my savings training for a mountaineering adventure in the Himalayas. Together with my friend Jake Lefkowitz, under the tutelage of the great Willie Bonegas, one-half of the Bonegas Brothers, we summitted and skiied Mt. Superior in Utah (one of the classic American ski descents), trekked to Mt. Everest Base Camp, sharpened our ice tool skills in the Khumbu Ice Fall, and summitted Lobuche East, a mountain about twenty thousand feet tall. We, my community, raised about four thousand dollars for Sharsheret.
Why do this stuff? My connection to Sharsheret is through my Mom. She was diagnosed with breast cancer very early during my freshman year of college. As the oldest sibling, away from the house for the first time, I found myself feeling helpless. That was frustrating. Through my community my family found Sharsheret, and through Sharsheret my Mom found support. That's what community is and that's why I do this stuff, to support Sharsheret. Because I'm grateful that they were there to support my family.
Since I climbed in Nepal I've gotten engaged, began the part of my career where I get to practice law, and grown our family by adding another four-legged roommate named Cooper. My life has grown immeasurably. This year I'll be running the marathon with my future father-in-law, two of my future brothers-in-law, and someone I consider a brother-in-law already. There's something poetic about that for me, I would not and could not run (run!) without their support. That's what family is.
So that's it, that's why I do this stuff. Community. Family. I'm only 31, but I do have a couple of grey hairs. So I'll share this bit of wisdom I've leaned on as I question why I'm running this stupid race in this stupid heat: suffering outside + with the people you love = is never a mistake.
Thank you, for your support and for affirming my beliefs. Thank you, Sharsheret, for doing what you do.
Honor Roll
Amy albalah
Dec 25, 2022
New Jersey, US
“Run run run”
Joshua Block
Nov 5, 2022
New Jersey, US
“YAAAY!!!! 26.2!!! great training for Mt. Marcy! Have fun!! - Amanda & Moti”
Amanda Edwards
Nov 4, 2022
New Jersey, US
Mark Silberberg
Oct 1, 2022
New York, US
“Have a great run, Michael. Sounds awesome.”
Faye Lewis
Sep 6, 2022
New York, US
ronald strobel
Sep 4, 2022
New Jersey, US
“go mike!!”
Jordan Davis
Sep 1, 2022
New York, US
Michele Frankel
Aug 31, 2022
New Jersey, US
“You got this Mike! -Av and Daniel”
Daniel Stern
Aug 31, 2022
New York, US
“:)”
Joshua Eisman
Aug 31, 2022
New York, US
“<3”
Jon Rave
Aug 30, 2022
New Jersey, US
“Good luck Michael!”
Kevin Casey
Aug 28, 2022
New York, US
debra rave
Aug 28, 2022
New Jersey, US
Lorraine Kipel
Aug 25, 2022
New Jersey, US
Christine Stecura
Aug 24, 2022
New York, US
gabriele manca
Aug 24, 2022
New York, US
Anonymous
Aug 23, 2022
New York, US
“run on”
Arlene Albalah
Aug 23, 2022
New Jersey, US
“double life times ten, cause you are my life - love shlomo chen and ben chen”
Ben Chen
Aug 22, 2022
New Jersey, US
“Cancer has touched my family in many ways so I thank you for doing this not only for your mother, but also for others. Julia Davis”
julia Davis
Aug 22, 2022
New York, US
Anonymous
Aug 22, 2022
New Jersey, US
“go mitzvah mike!”
Elisha Mlotek
Aug 22, 2022
New York, US
“Run with the wind!”
David FROELICH
Aug 22, 2022
New York, US
“tizku l’mitzvot! go michael!”
Janet Hod
Aug 21, 2022
New Jersey, US
Stephanie Schwartz
Aug 20, 2022
New York, US
“We are so proud of all you do for your community, your family, your friends and your mom through Sharsheret! GO Team MICHAEL!”
Sherry Frank
Aug 20, 2022
New Jersey, US
Anonymous
Aug 19, 2022
New Jersey, US
“This is a great thing to do, Michael. All the best to you and your family. My mom got this diagnosis when I was 15 years old, so I support you in this. Joan”
Joan Salzman
Aug 19, 2022
New York, US
“Great cause Michael! Good luck!!”
Mitchell & Tina Lieberman
Aug 19, 2022
New Jersey, US
“As a breast cancer survivor, I thank you for doing this. Stay strong. Kara Miller”
Kara Miller
Aug 19, 2022
New York, US
MICHELLE SCHWARTZ
Aug 19, 2022
New Jersey, US
“good luck!”
Charles Wollman
Aug 19, 2022
New Jersey, US
Alice Heffner
Aug 18, 2022
New Jersey, US
“Run Michael run!!!”
Diane Albalah
Aug 18, 2022
New Jersey, US
“Best of luck - Tori , Michael, Nathan and Max”
Victoria wagman
Aug 18, 2022
Maryland, US
“run Forrest run, Forrest is now Jewish”
Barry Albalah
Aug 18, 2022
New York, US
Anonymous
Aug 18, 2022
New York, US
“Thanks for doing this, Michael”
Arthur Mandel
Aug 18, 2022
New York, US
dan cohen
Aug 17, 2022
New York, US
“woohooo!”
Luke Sperduto
Aug 17, 2022
Illinois, US
Anonymous
Aug 17, 2022
New York, US
Anonymous
Aug 17, 2022
New York, US
Alon Slutzky
Aug 17, 2022
New York, US
steve fallek
Aug 17, 2022
New York, US
Anonymous
Aug 17, 2022
New York, US
“good luck Michael. i hope the training doesn’t interfere woth soccer too much.”
James Shapiro
Aug 17, 2022
New York, US
“great cause Michael. thank you for doing this”
Andrew Bloom
Aug 17, 2022
New York, US
Brett Walsdorf
Aug 17, 2022
New York, US
Jeffrey Kole
Aug 16, 2022
New Jersey, US
Avital Schweitzer
Aug 16, 2022
Pennsylvania, US
Marshall Trabout
Aug 16, 2022
New York, US
Ivan J. Wolpert
Aug 16, 2022
New York, US
Jeremy Levinson
Aug 15, 2022
New York, US
“hitcholayups”
Ben Strulowitz
Aug 15, 2022
New York, US
Anonymous
Mar 31, 2022
New York, US
$5,002.20
$3,600.00
New York, United States
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