Running 48 Miles for Charity
On March 3-5, Katie and I completed our 4th annual 4x4x48 Challenge to raise awareness and funds for Warrior Canine Connection.
What is the 4x4x48 Challenge?
The grueling event involves running 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours.
That's 48 miles, which puts it well into ultramarathon territory.
But there is a twist!
Instead of doing all the miles consecutively, the Challenge is broken into 12 four-hour chunks. This means your body doesn't recover, and sleep becomes limited.
So you may be asking...WHY are we running so much?
Retired Navy SEAL, David Goggins, started this annual event for two reasons:
#1) It is an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone and push the limits of your mind and body.
#2) It is also an opportunity to raise funds and awareness for important causes.
This year we were honored to support Warrior Canine Connection.
Meet Warrior Canine Connection (WCC)
This nonprofit enlists recovering Warriors in a therapeutic mission of learning to train service dogs for their fellow Veterans. As a Veteran, who has seen first-hand the impact of animal-assisted interactions, I can assure you this organization has a tremendous impact.
Warrior Helping Warriors
Warrior Canine Connection utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to help Warriors recovering from the stress of combat reconnect with their families, communities, and life.
This means that one dog helps, on average more than 60 veterans!
By interacting with the dogs as they move from puppyhood to training to adult service dogs, Warrior Trainers benefit from a physiological and psychological animal-human connection. As a result of their efforts, Veterans with disabilities receive the finest in trained service dogs.
All Donations
Your contribution helps Warrior Canine Connection breed, train, and provide highly skilled assistance dogs to wounded Veterans and Military Families at no charge.
Facts about WCC
1. Each dog is named after a service member.
One of the unique ways Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) honors Veterans is through its namesake program. All future service dogs are named after Service Members and Veterans who have significantly contributed to our nation.
2. One dog impacts 60 veterans!
The PTSD problem is too great to pair one dog with one veteran at a time. Therefore, the most significant outcome of this program is that every service dog can provide service to 60-70 veterans.
Some vets are apprehensive about applying for their own service dogs because they think someone else needs the dog more, so WCC starts by asking them to help train a dog for another vet, and it's a 'no-fail mission'.
Through that training, those veterans immediately start getting better because of the dogs. When a vet receives a dog that was trained by another vet, there's trust, and the impact is substantial!
3. They have LIVE puppy cameras
Do you love puppy content? Then, you're going to want to drop everything you're doing and check out WCC's LIVE puppy cameras for an instant mood booster!
Watch this 2-Minute Video
The way we remember our service members is by telling their stories. Watch this memorable tribute reveal how service dog in-training, Forester, received his namesake.
Shoutout to our Top Donors
We wanted to extend a special thank you to those who contributed more than $500:
Chris G. (anonymous)
Fit Vine Wine
Pupford
Kimberly Kistler
Anne Charnley
Spot & Tango
Cherstin Spiridigloizzi
Julius K9
Michelle Hertzke
Ulrike Guigui
M.S.M (anonymous)
It was a challenging event, but the donations, words of encouragement, and your support gave us all the motivation we needed.
12 Leg Updates
HERE WE GO! We kicked off our fundraiser with a run around the National Mall in DC. It's rainy and windy, but you can't beat the view!
Ellie was a special guest on this leg and CRUSHED it in the cold, wind, and rain. She was excited by the ducks along the route and made us run a minute faster pace than we wanted to, so we'll have to slow it down next time. #slowandsteadywinstherace
Another rainy, cooler run but the water and nightlife around Navy Yard made the leg go by quickly.
We had sweet friends join us for our midnight run! Good news, this run came with warmer weather and NO RAIN!
Yes, getting out of bed for this one is tough. BUT we are definitely n thankful for the peaceful vibes around the beautiful, iconic monuments. DC is a great city for running!
We officially made it HALF WAY! This is the stretch that gets the most challenging, where fatigue sets in. We got about 3 hours of sleep last night and are starting to feel the sore muscles. The amount of donors that have shown up is astonishing and is what keeps us going!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! DC has gorgeous blue skies this morning during our run around the White House and National Mall.
Ellie crushed another leg with us! Off to pick up Chipotle for lunch :-)
Met up with a friend from college (Go Marquette) for a trail run. We continue to be blown away with how many people are donating and supporting us and Warrior Canine Connection. This fundraiser has been more successful than we ever could have imagined. Thank YOU!!
Just finished our 9th leg and 36th mile and.....WE REACHED OUR GOAL!!!! We are absolutely pumped. Your donations will have a tremendous impact on Warrior Canine Connection and the Veterans they serve. We're going to go crush the last 3 legs because of all of you!
Team No Sleep checking in here at 1:00 am after hitting the 40-mile marker. We had a friend join us on the 8pm and midnight run which made the time go by faster. We will try and catch 2 hours of sleep then hit the last 2 legs of this challenge.
This is the final countdown. Ellie and Emma visit us at the door when we return from each leg, and I can tell they're wondering, where do you keep going??
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! 48 miles in 48 hours. Less than 5 and a half hours of sleep, 8800 calories burned, 643 donors, and most importantly, over $32,000 raised for Warrior Canine Connection. Thank you to all who have donated and all those who continue to donate. You truly inspire us.
Thank You for Cheering Us On!
In the News
We were happy to join FOX 5 Good Day DC to discuss our fundraiser for Warrior Canine Connection.
Check out our LIVE interview with Ellie here!
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