City Coach | Coach Cane's Blog

Run the Hamptons Marathon

City Coach's Deanna Culbreath has up to 15 spots for the Hamptons half and 15 spots for the Hamptons full marathon on September 24th (East Hamptons, NY). The Somaly Mam Foundation has a charity team and their goal is to raise $50,000 collectively with each runner aiming for $2500. You will NOT be held financially responsible for the difference if you do not reach $2500. You will also be paired with a little girl who has been rescued. You will be sent her picture and her personal story of survival. You will be raising money for the orgnaizaition and giving a little girl who has survived sexual slavery a voice, when before she was silenced. Deanna wants to fill all 30 spots, less about the monetary goal, and more for connection 30 little girls will make with you. It will help empower them to know that someone half a world away cares and knows their individual story. Contact Deanna if you're interested! She'll send you more info about the organization and race!

Brooklyn Kids are New Yorkers of the Week

There's a great story and video on NY1 about some 4th and 5th graders from PS 269 in Brooklyn who ran a mile to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. The event was sponsored by NYRR's Might Miler program, and had raised $5,000 so far.  And if one mile doesn't seem like a long distance, remember what a mile felt like when you were 9-11 years old.

Congratulations to the kids of PS 269 for the athletic and charitible efforts.

Congratulations Team SBH

On Sunday over 170 Brooklynites ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon to raise money for Sephardic Bikur Holim, a non profit mental health and social service agency dedicated to caring for people in need with compassion, discretion, and respect. 

I was approached by several City Coach athletes who were volunteering their time to act as mentors for the runners, most of whom had never run a race before. They planned to run Disney as a fundraiser. The idea was the brainchild of Joe Benun, himself an SBH volunteer. Joe first reached out to me a couple of years ago and said that he wanted to do an Ironman. Since he was only 16 at the time, I advised that he wait until he was 18. Joe listened, and did Ironman Lake Placid  in 11:57 just two days after his 18th birthday.

I met with the runners  - mostly teens, but ranging in from age 14-61 - at SBH before their training began and the week before the race, and designed a training program for them. On race day, they runners all did a great job, with many of them exceeding their goals. More importantly, many of the new runners have "caught the fever" and will be sticking with the sport. And even better than that, they each raised thousands of dollars for a worthy cause. I'm glad that I was able to be a part of it, and I congratulate all of the runners. 

Prospect Park Youth Running Club

Our friends at the Prospect Park Youth Running Club are looking for sponsors. They do some great stuff with 5-13 year old kids running track and cross-country. Please take a look at their sponsorship proposal and help if you can.

Race Across the Window 2010

Race Across The Window 2010 Part 1 from Matt Duelka on Vimeo.

At noon on Thursday, June 3, our team of eight riders will begin a simulated 3,000 miles ride on Computrainers in the store window of JackRabbit Sports' Union Square location. We'll ride 24/7 for a week or so, until we complete the task.

This year there are a few changes. First and foremost, the event will benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation. CAF does great work to help people with physical disabilities pursue an active lifestyle through physical fitness and competitive athletics. 

Please donate if you can. The process is simple and secure. 

Don't forget to follow our progress on Facebook and Twitter. We'll post updates on the ride as well as raffles, discounts for donors at JackRabbit, and other incentives.

Thanks to our sponsors - Nuun for portably electrolytehydration, WIN for sports detergent, Zensah for compression sleeves, Craft for clothing, Chomper Body for providing chamois cream and Kuota for supplying loaner bikes for guest riders.

Race Across the Window 2010 Roster

Plans for RATW 2.0 are progressing nicely. We're expecting some prominent guest riders and appearances on the second bike to help add to the excitement. But as before, the core of the event is the relay team of eight who will be riding 24/7 for over a week. After last year's success, I'm glad to report that seven of the eight riders from 2009 will be returning.  This year's roster includes Terry Moore, Raul Martinez Jr., Gary Berard, Scott Towle, Jon Miles, Jerry Speier, yours truly, and this years addition, Nicole Sin Quee.  And for those of you who are wondering about Shane's absence, he will still be manning the overnight shift and minding the store, so he is still very much part of the team.  Details on rider shifts, as well as bios will follow.  

The ride begins at noon on June 3 at JackRabbit Sports' Union Square location, and benefits the Challenged Athletes Foundation.  

Best. Photo. Ever.

Over the past two seasons we've done fundraising events for two great charities - Locks of Love and The Young Survival Coalition.   We're still working out the details of this year's event, but it will benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation, which raises money to help people with physical disabilities pursue an active lifestyle through physical fitness and athletic competition.

I'll fill you in on the details as they become available.  In the meantime, if you're wondering why we've chosen CAF, or if you just need a little inspiration for your workout, look no further than 5-year old Tim Houston, who is pictured here finishing his first triathlon.

More soon. 

RIP Randi Rosenberg

I'm sad to report the death of Randi Rosenberg, co-founder of the Young Survival Coalition, which continues to support women under the age 40 with cancer.   Randi is survived by her husband Matt (who introduced me to YSC and helped us arrange for the Race Across the Window to support the cause) and their daughter Alexandra.

To learn more about Randi, read this tribute at Livestrong.  And please continue to support the YSC's Tour de Pink and other events.

5k at Yankee Stadium

Not only is Yankee Stadium the home of the 27-time World Series Champion New York Yankees, but now it's also going to be the host of what promises to be a unique 5k for charity.  On Sunday, November 15, participants will run the stadium's concourses, ramps, and stairs and then finish with a lap around the warning track.  Spectators can watch from the bleachers.  The event benefits the Damon Runyon Foundation, and 100% of all donations are used to support their cutting edge cancer research.  (Low administrative and fundraising costs are paid by Damon Runyon Broadway Tickets and from their endowment.) 

For more info or to register, check out their website.

Here's a little more about the charity and why I like them so much. 

We support the rising stars of science, emerging leaders who have great potential to achieve breakthroughs in how we diagnose, treat and prevent cancer. The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation selects the most brilliant early career scientists and provides them with

Damon Runyon's goals as a cancer research fund are to:

-Identify the best and brightest early career scientists into cancer research
-Accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into new diagnostic tools and treatments
-Enable risk-taking on bold new ideas

Comedian Eddie Izzard Runs For Charity

I often grumble about people going for a leisurely walk in the name of charity and asking me for money.  Many of these ventures are done for fine organizations and I usually make a modest donation because it's a worthy cause.  The fact that someone is taking a walk or riding their bike for a few miles does not move me in the least, nor does it impact my donation.  And of course I have a particularly big burr in my saddle when folks ask for money when part of my donation is going to pay for their wetsuit or travel expenses to a marathon or tri (and they conveniently forget to mention that).  Well, here's a charity endeavour that's grumble proof even by my standards.

Eddie Izzard is my favorite cross-dressing comedian.  In fact, he may be my favorite comedian, period. Mr. Izzard, who is raising money for Comic Relief just finished his 43rd marathon in 51 days.  Izzard is not athletic, but he is dedicated.  What he did is truly inspirational and shows just how much someone can do if they put their mind to it.  Many of the marathons were done at a walking pace, but he has been getting faster as he has progressed.  And there's certainly no questioning his dedication to the cause.