Whenever I sign on Facebook, I tend to ignore the multiple requests or trivial invitations that are sent out.  Earlier this week, I received an email notification that I could not ignore.  The charity event I have been waiting for has finally been organized…Burrito Mile 2011!

To enter the event, you buy a burrito for 10 dollars and entrance into the event of your choice, and all proceeds go straight to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  It’s every runner’s dream and possibly every eater’s nightmare.  Consume a burrito as fast as possible and then run a mile.  Winner gets immortalized.

Seriously though, this event is so much fun.  Last year, I paid money to do a solo relay where I had to eat 4 burritos and, after consuming each burrito, had to run a half mile.  The event is made for 4 people teams, but they allow 2 person teams and even the solo event for those that are braindead enough to attempt it.  In my case, I was peer pressured into it when my friend told the entire stadium that I was going to do it…and I could not get away from 350 runners.  Ugh…what I do for charity.

The point is that this is an amazing charity event, hosted and put on by the local high school track athletes in the area.  They do such a great job and come up with the greatest chants and ways to peer pressure you into doing ridiculous things and making you feel invincible.  If you are the slightest bit crazy or have always wanted to do something flat out stupid, what better place than eating a burrito and running a mile with an audience that will cheer you on the faster you go, go absolutely wild if you regurgitate and will boo you for nibbling your way through the burrito and putzing around the track?

You will not find a more fun event than this.  Yes, it’s predominantly a high school event, but I hold their WR for the solo relay and they not only find me to be an inspiration for completing this, but will murder me if I do not show to defend my title.  In fact, don’t tell them, but I may do the event again because I am convinced I can beat my time.  The cheers, the atmosphere and the sweet adrenaline of tortillas, rice beans and meat, if you choose meat is intoxicating…in more than one way depending on what time during the event you are.

Come out.  Donate to help a lot of good people and eat a burrito.  Run if you like, but please support these kids as they are doing a fantastic thing for charity…and join them as they pace me around the track for my final half mile towards an even better world record!

I’ll see you on February 26^th at Walter Johnson High School.  Now go to Qdoba, or Chipotle, and GET TRAINING =)

Bright Beginnings 5K
Date: Saturday, May 14, 2011 @ 8:00 AM
Address: Hains Point DC
Fees: 30.00
Registration Closing Date: Monday, May 09, 2011 @ 8:59 PM

Brief Description:
Bright Beginnings is a fully accredited child and family development
center dedicated to homeless families with young children in
Washington, DC. The center provides free, full day, year-round
developmental care for preschoolers whose families live in shelters or
transitional housing. Kids have the opportunity for a solid
educational foundation and their parents have the opportunity to gain
self-sufficiency. Please help us reach out to the homeless children of
DC by supporting this year's race!

Info and how to sign up (for all you runners and people who can walk 3 miles!)
http://www.active.com/running/washington-dc/bright-beginnings-5k-race-2011


My friend’s personal fund raising page (for everyone who can’t be in the DC area to run the race)
http://www.active.com/donate/2011BB5K/NatalieHardy

I'm behind with posting up the blogs that I have been typing because the text formatter at work is not as functional as it is on my home computer.  Not sure why, but that’s how it is.  Had a solid gym workout though and am nearly at the point where I will be ready to max out a couple more machines come January, and be lifting with proper technique come February.  Today, however, is my company’s holiday/Christmas party where, apparently, they even made jell-o shots last year.  The best part about not drinking is that I get to laugh at everyone who is drinking.  Jell-o shots should provide for even more entertainment than usual, haha!

Happy Holidays everybody and I will be getting those blog posts up by Friday, and most likely on Friday since I am off work.  Hope everyone is doing well and no new news on the literary agent front, which hopefully means they are strongly considering!  More to come, but for now…FOOD!

…I’m going to feel so far after this meal, haha!  Expect plenty of workout tips come the new year as well!

I am sitting here, editing and piecing together the details that this last agent that I have found wants in my submission file.  Even with the submissions rejections I have received, everything has been positive.  I have not received one bit of negative criticism yet.  After this submission is out, I’ll get back o searching and find the next round of agents to send it to.  Like I said, I am so confident and proud in what I have put together.  One of these agents will help me sell this book and get me the exposure I need to sell it the way it deserves to be sold.  I’m going to impact people’s lives.  People are seeing it an acknowledging me for it.  The right fit will come along.  I just have to remain confident in myself and keep finding people to send it to.  It’s gonna happen!  I’ll keep you posted.

I received a few rejection letters right away.  One of the agencies I found was not the right fit categorically.  They read it with interest, but told me that they weren’t the right agency for me.  At least they were intrigued with what I had written to them.  That lets me know that I’m on the right track!

Then…I receive an email response from another agent who told me how remarkable and inspirational I am.  She said that she was booked with clients currently, which I expected could happen given it is the end of the year, but hearing such positive words voluntarily from an agent has given me all the more confidence that this book will get sold.

I mean, if the Jersey Shore cast can get a book published, there is no reason why I shouldn’t be able to get published.  I just have to keep reinforcing these positives and remember how long of a process it has been to get me here where I am.  So many people have acknowledged this transformation I have made.  It’s touched them.  It’s only a matter of time before I touch everyone else.