Monday, May 2, 2011

Let's Do This!! 10k Mud Run!!

So with less than a week to go this will probably be my last blog post. I am happy to say I am probably 98% healthy and about as ready as I can be for this mud run. The strain on my pelvic muscle really hampered my training but I am not offering any excuses. Doing any type of running, jumping or core workouts were pretty much out for four weeks but I feel good.

I have been running and biking regularly for the last three weeks and only once in a while when I turn a certain way or jump a certain way do I still feel minor pain. I don't think I will ever fully heal until I actually just do nothing for like four weeks but that just doesn't seem likely right now.

Last year when I ran this race I did it alone and it was a great experience, and one of the hardest things I ever did. My folks were there last year to cheer me on and support me and this year they will be there again. I have also managed to recruit a number of my friends to do this race and I am excited that there will be some familiar faces out there. You know the old saying...misery loves company, ha ha!

My mom said it best when she sent an email out to her friends and family:
"If a cure is found for one auto immune disease all maybe cured"

This includes my mom's Crohn's and my sister-in-law's EDS.

Thank you everyone for your help and support and if you can spare just $5 to donate I would appreciate it because there are a lot of people out there that suffer from MS and related diseases that have a hard time just getting up in the morning.

Your donation does make a difference!!

See you May 7!!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Getting Down and Dirty for Charity!!!

As I write the most recent blog entry for my 10k Mud Run I write it on Easter Sunday and after of course, my most recent workout. I was debating on if I should go for a run today or not, but I had so much on my mind and had such a bad nights worth of sleep I felt I needed to go for a run. Sometimes a long run helps to clear my mind, in fact sports and athletics has always been my escape.

When I play soccer, softball, volleyball or just go running and biking I tend to let my mind escape and for that time I am free from all the doubt, worry and stress in my life.

Easter is a time of second chances. Jesus has risen from the dead to forgive our sins and on this day I am reminded that no matter how bad I have it, how bad life gets me down and how bad I might screw up, I have always been given a second chance. In some cases third, fourth and fifth chances!! I thank God every day for the life I have and that he has blessed me with my health, a job, a place to live, food to eat and a car to drive. I have a loving family, two great nephews and a somewhat sane horse!!

Today I ran for five miles and as I ran I tried to think of all the good things I have in my life but I still couldn't help but to think of all the bad things that have happened to me. No matter what happened to me though, someone was always there to pick me up, lend a shoulder or a helping hand. It wasn't always the same people, and sometimes it was someone I least expected.

The conclusion I came to at the end of my run was that I have been blessed in this life. This is why I should run, this is why I should play soccer, this why I should play sports and stay active...not because I am trying to escape my problems. I do all of this because I can, because I have been given the gift of health and fitness. Many people out there can't do what I can do, some just chose not too.

This Lent and Easter season I tried to take a good long hard look at what I am doing with my life. My focus and attention has not always been where it should be. Some people are running in this 10k Mud Run for various reasons. It could be for fun, it could be for personal athletic goals, it could be because they know someone affected my MS.

I'm running to change my outlook, to change my focus on life because I am tired of using my athleticism as an escape from my problems. I want to use it because I can and I have been blessed. Thank you everyone who has ever been a part of my life. Happy Easter!!!

To help me out out and donate to MS Society please visit http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/nickbarrale

Tuesday, January 11, 2011


It's been about one full year since I last posted on my blog, I figure with 2011 here now is as good a time as any to get back to blogging. With that in mind I figure I would start where I left off in 2010, with Master the Met!

In 2010 I ran up the Met and I was able to raise close to $200 while finishing with a time of 8:56. Out of 1,244 people that participated I finished 231...I guess that is good. This year I hope to improve on both....Please help out!! Looks good on taxes!!

What is Master the Met you ask? Well the Met is the Metropolitan Square Building in downtown St. Louis and consists of 42 floors. Mastering the Met is running/walking up all 42 floors.

To donate go to my donation page.

Thanks for your help and support and I will see you on the 42 floor of the Met on March 19!!