New URL for this blog

In order for this blog to interact more smoothly with the RunningNuns website, we have moved it. The new blog can be found here.  Or, please simply go to RunningNuns.com and our blog is easily found on the menu.

In about 6 weeks I will be back in New Hampshire for good, and then the original purpose for the blog--to give people an inside glimpse at St. Charles and our running program--will be able to happen much more easily.  So please don't hesitate to join us!

Photos: 14th Annual St. Charles Children's Home 5k

There's nothing like being prompt and getting things done in a timely manner.  I planned to have the photos up from last year's race by the middle of September.  Sigh.  Here they are now nearly 1000 of them!  I have to say, there is one good thing about being so late with this.  Picasa changed during the ensuing months, and instead of uploading only 5 at a time I was able to upload the entire DVD in one sitting.  My goal was to have my photographers capture as many runners as possible.  Hopefully most people who ran the race can find themselves somewhere in here.  Here is the link to the photo album:  Enjoy!

Absentee Blogger--With an "Excuse"

Ok, I have only written one post since September, and I just had to delete it because the link to the video I posted was broken.  My excuse?  Graduate school.  Above is a picture of my day of triumph in receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Entrepreneurial Business from John Paul the Great Catholic University.  I arrived back at school a couple of weeks after graduation ready to pursue my MBA.  At least I thought I was ready.  I never dreamed how all-consuming graduate level study would be!  So, my posts will probably be fewer and farther between until I finish the MBA in June, but I don't plan on giving up the blog.  At the end of June I will travel back to New Hampshire and will be able to write about what this blog really is supposed to be all about--Our Sisters running with the kids.  Stay tuned...

Thank You to Everyone Who Came Out to the St. Charles 5k

For me, yesterday's race was the best and most beautiful ever!  The weather was perfect and we had a great turnout.  I am now back in San Diego to take my finals in college so I can graduate on Saturday(!)  I want to use this post to give some important messages to runners who may be looking for more information.  

To see the official results on Cool Running, follow this link to the race results.  

Seacoast online published two articles on our race here and here.  

I had a few photographers at the race.  Once they have submitted their photos and I have uploaded them, I will share those links.  If any runners took photos or videos that you would like to share, please email the link to srmaryagnes11@aol.com and I will be happy to get them up.

Many runners left the race early and did not pick up their awards.  If you see in the results on Cool Running that you won an award but did not receive it, please feel free to stop by St. Charles Children's Home to pick it up, or email me and I will be happy to mail it to you.

Also, there are always some runners who sign up but are not able to come on race day.  Traditionally that means they forfeit their T shirt.  If you registered and were not able to come, please feel free to stop by St. Charles to pick up you race bag and T shirt.  Or, I can mail it to you, but I would ask $5 to cover the cost of shipping.  Just email or send a check and I will get the shirt out to you.  I am in San Diego until September 14, and I will do any requested mailing then.

Please give us your comments and feedback about the race!  We are always trying to find ways to make our race better, and we want our runners to be involved in that process.  Again, thank you for coming out yesterday!

You can still register for the St. Charles 5k on Race morning!

Online registration at Active.com is now closed, but people can still register for the race on race morning.  In fact, many runners prefer to do that.  Just plan to come sometime between 7:30 and 8:45.  We will be glad to have you join us!  Registration fees on Labor Day are $20 per runner.  The Fun Run for kids 7 and under is free.  There are still plenty of T shirts and lots of food for everyone.  Don't miss this race!

Perfect Weather for the St. Charles 5k

The sisters at St. Charles pray about many things, and as Labor Day approaches each summer we ask the Lord for nice weather for the day of our big road race.  He has not disappointed us yet!  We have things cooling off by Monday, and the temperature should still be in the 60s when the gun goes off at 9 AM.  I cannot ask for a nicer forecast.  

Some runners have told me they like our new website, but they miss the thermometer showing the number of runners who have registered!  I am still in the process of learning how to navigate the back end of our website, so maybe by next year I will have figured out a way to put our thermometer back.  But in case anyone is wondering, we have 711 runners pre-registered as I write this blog.  Online registration continues until 11 PM tonight, so that number may go up.  I am excited to say we have already surpassed last year's record of pre-registered runners, which was 689.  As anyone familiar with my former home made website knows, our goal is to reach 1000 runners.  So call your friends and bring them along!  Walkers are welcome too.  We have great food and a really big raffle.  In another post I intend to highlight some of our bigger raffle prizes this year.  

Several months ago, someone suggested to me that I give up the road race and find more efficient ways to raise money for St. Charles.  I was deeply distressed at even thinking about not having our race!  But the question helped me to reflect about how much this race really does mean to me.  It has been the highlight of every year for me since it began in 1997.  There is just something so special for me when I see so many people gathered to support our work with the children at St. Charles.  I love it when the gun goes off and I watch the runners all start:  the energy and enthusiasm are amazing.  Another special moment is when we call all of our children up at awards time so everyone can recognize the St. Charles Eagles.  This year, most of our children have just begun living at St. Charles a few weeks ago.  This will be their very first race.  Each of them will be a winner, because when they cross the finish line they will have set their first "personal record" and will be able to receive our unique "PR Awards" during the awards ceremony.  Some of them are eagerly anticipating the race, and ask me about it every time they see me.  I can't wait to see their response on race day.

Thank you to all the runners who come each year and make this such a wonderful event.

The Saint Charles Children's Home 5K--a video from last year

I happened to find this video that someone captured from our race last year and put together, and thought I would share it on the blog.  Last's year's race was wonderful and we hope for another great race just 8 days from today on Labor Day!

Just a reminder that if anyone wishes to run our 5k but can't be with us on Labor Day for whatever reason, please consider running our Virtual 5k wherever you are, whenever you want.