Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Great Quote and the Keys 100!!!

This Sat. May 16th I will step to the starting line of the Keys 100 with my wonderful friend Sister Marybeth Lloyd, who for her 60th Birthday said she would like to run 100 miles:) Running with us will also be 3 other 1st time 100 milers. Heather Wilcox, Jean Okley and Brit Radford..whom all all running to raise money for Aids Orphans Rising. Please take a moment this weekend to think about us all as we will think about you:) This is going to be such a joy for me to take these steps with these amazing women and finish on the beach! I am so proud of all of them for the hard work, dedication to the training and for running with a great purpose.
Below is a wonderful quote that was sent to me today from our friend Terry Madl...it is so fitting for so many things in life...
It comes from the book:

The title is: Keep Going, the Art of Perseverance, by Joseph M. Marshall III




"Being strong means taking one more step toward the top of the hill, no matter how weary you may be. It means letting the tears flow through the grief. It means to keep looking for the answer, though the darkness of despair is all around you. Being strong means to cling to hope for one more heartbeat, one more sunrise. Each step, no matter how difficult, is one more step closer to the top of the hill. To keep hope alive for one more heartbeat at a time leads to the light of the next sunrise, and the promise of a new day."












PRESS RELEASE!!!

IN HABIT & RUNNING SHOES, SISTER MARY BETH LLOYD TO RACE 100 MILES FROM KEY LARGO TO KEY WEST

Vatican “Path to Peace” Award Winner to Run
Second Annual KEYS100 Prostate Cancer Benefit Race on May 16-17


Fort Lauderdale, FL—April 29, 2009: UltraSports, LLC, a mission-driven running event production company, announced today the identity of a very special competitor in this year’s KEYS100 Ultramarathon. Running from Key Largo to Key West, dressed in her requisite nun’s habit and a pair of running shoes, Sister Mary Beth Lloyd of the Catholic Order, Religious Teachers Filippini, will be participating in her first 100-mile individual ultra-marathon race.

“From May 16th at 6:00 AM when the race begins, through Sunday morning, May 17th, when she reaches the finish line, Keys residents may want to keep an eye on Overseas Highway for a glimpse of this truly extraordinary person,” says KEYS100 Race Director, Bob Becker. “Sister Mary Beth running down the road beats a solar eclipse any day!”

May 16-17, 2009 are the dates for the second annual KEYS100—Prostate Cancer Benefit Races. The event includes individual races of 100 miles and 50 miles, and a 100 mile, 6 person team relay. “The KEYS100 will include 300 competitors from all over the country and abroad, but none will be as special as this very inspiring person,” said Becker. “I last saw Sister Mary Beth over Labor Day. She was 59 at the time, and completed a very difficult 50 mile trail race in the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming. A month before, she was pacing her friend, elite ultra-runner Lisa Smith Batchen, during Lisa’s ground-breaking 302-mile run from Las Vegas to Badwater, CA, then through Death Valley to the top of Mt. Whitney. Sister paced Lisa for nearly 100 of those miles in temperatures in excess of 125 degrees—in her black nun’s habit! Truly amazing.”

Called by some the “New Age Sister Theresa”, Sister Mary Beth in June 2008 received the “Servitor Pacis Award” from the Vatican’s Mission to the United Nations for her work with AIDS orphans. The “Path to Peace Award” is given annually to the one person in the world who most exemplifies the work of those who have dedicated their lives to helping the neediest among us.

The KEYS100 raises money to fight prostate cancer, the disease that affects one in six American men. The Cancer Foundation of the Florida Keys is a recipient charity. Money is used to provide free prostate cancer screenings and educational outreach in Monroe County. While the charitable focus of this race is prostate cancer, Sister Mary Beth Lloyd brings a universal message of service and, for those who run races, doing so for a cause. In addition to running the 100-mile race on the 17th, Sister Mary Beth Lloyd will present an inspiring 20-minute message at Friday night’s pre-race meeting for competitors and crew, one that has been life changing for many in the past. For further information about the KEYS100 or Sister Mary Beth Lloyd, please contact Race Director Bob Becker, at 954-439-2800, or bob@ultrasportsllc.com.

11 comments:

jenhirr said...

Love that quote.

Good luck. You gals are awesome.

Jennica

Dan Sears said...

This will be an inspirational run for a great cause. Have a wonderful time. You're both going to rock it!

LauraK said...

Great quote, Lisa! My thoughts and prayers will be with you and Sister Mary Beth this weekend. You both are inspiring many people to service. I hope to meet Sister Mary Beth one day. She is so inspiring!

Lisa Smith-Batchen said...

I am so sorry I forogt to metnion and THANK all the amazing people coming to crew for the 5 women.
Sister Marybeths 89 year old father!!! Helene and Todd Millbert,
Anthony and Jonathan Portera, Ashley Wilcox, Ashley Okley and Stephaine Walters..It would not be possible for us to even consider doing this 100 miles without the love and support of this crew. Thank you, thank you.
Lisa!

Unknown said...

My prayers and thoughts will be with all of you this weekend. Godspeed and God bless everyone!
Love,
Tess

runsforbeer said...

I will be honored to share the course with such an inspiration this weekend. Thinking about 100 miles in a long black habit will make everything seem much cooler. Best of luck!

Anonymous said...

Women, this is a great thing you are doing. I hope the race will have live updates or someone will post information on the blog.
Take care of the good Sister, I know you will all be successful.

Mel

Unknown said...

Good luck to you both!

SteveQ said...

Running in the full nun's garb could become a habit (sorry, I couldn't resist). I know some running monks, but they don't wear the robe when exercizing. 100 miles, in wool, at age 60... wow.

Best of luck to all.

Lisa B said...

How wonderful! I wish all the best to you and Sister Marybeth. What a wonderful adventure for a worth cause.

Meredith said...

good luck to you and the Sister. :)