Monday, February 14, 2011

Boston Marathon Entry Winners!!

I’ll start by saying I’m not my usual shawty farty self today. My heart is breaking for how quickly life can take a turn.

We got a call last night that my son’s favorite teacher, Mr. Cribby, was in the hospital in critical condition with a  bacterial infection. He had been at school last week, but not feeling so well. Today I learned that they had to amputate his arm to save his life. Mr. Cribby is not just any teacher. He is one of those rare souls who sees the best in everyone and takes genuine interest in those around him. He loves all things nature and science and his passion is contagious. I don’t think anyone was more excited to hear that Sam was going to Costa Rica than Mr. Cribby. He just has a way about him that is all at once comforting, embracing and educating. I believe he is 47 years old.

You just never know what can happen. Life turns on a dime. Live it. Eat it up. Love it. Take no thing and no one for granted. Realize it’s all so fragile.

The good part of my day is being able to hand out these two Boston Marathon entries. I’m going to pull a line from the Bachelor and say, “This was a very hard decision. Everyone was amazing.” There were about 90 entries in total. I enlisted a panel of nine people to help me out. I narrowed down the 90 to the top ten and the panel decided from there. The top ten were a mix of BQ’ers who weren’t able to register, people who thought they might never be able to BQ, and runners who simply loved the allure and spirit of the Boston.

If you are a winner, contact me immediately at shutuprun@gmail.com. Salonpas needs to know the winners TODAY. If I don’t hear from you, I will pick a runner up.  The winners are:

1. Stephanie from It’s All Happening.

stephanie

2. Charlyn from Pain is Nothing.

charlyn

I think it’s obvious from the depth and spirit of these entries why they won. Truly, though, all of the essays were incredible and inspiring. Wish Salonpas had given me 90 entries.

Off to love up my family,

SUAR

47 comments:

  1. Life turns on a dime. Take no thing and no one for granted. Those are pearls of wisdom, SUAR. Just so true. Sending my very best to Mr. Cribby and all who love and know and support him :)

    And.... CONGRATS TO THE WINNERS!!!

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  2. Congrats to the winners - great choices!!

    How awful and scary for Mr. Cribby - I hope he recovers. Sounds like quite a guy.

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  4. Excellent choice. Wait for them to respond, please.

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  5. Congratulations to Stephanie and Xaarlin!

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  6. Excellent choices on the winners! They both gave me goosebumps and I wish them all the best!

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  7. So very sorry to hear about Mr Cribby. Prayers for his recovery, and for those who are hurting for his situation.

    Congrats to the winners-excellent choices! And so happy that Xaarlin will get a chance to run with dad!!

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  8. Sounds like great winners! The true Spirit of the Marathon!

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  9. Most excellent choices...and now we get to read about their lead up & races!

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  10. Congrats to the winners. I am so excited for you two and cannot wait to read you're posts and stories of your training and racing.

    I am so sorry to read about the teacher. That is terrible news and should reinforce to everybody that tomorrow is not guaranteed so set yourself up for success today then cherish, embrace and love today.

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  11. Congrats to the winners! Both great choices. So sorry to hear about Mr. Cribby. Love being sent his way.

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  12. Such sad news about Mr. Cribby. I'll say a prayer for him and his family.

    congrats to your winners--they sound like great choices!

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  13. Very sad news about Mr Cribby. Positive thoughts are being sent his way.

    Thank you a million times over for choosing me. The toughest part isn't the additional miles for the next 9 weeks, but keeping this a secret from my dad. He thinks I am going to Boston just to cheer him and my best friend on..

    I'm so excited! I cant wait to share his reaction in 60 days :)

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  14. Aww - I was glad to read these two entries after reading about Mr.Cribby. Why do these things happen to such wonderful people? It sounds like he is passionate and positive enough to perservere.

    Congrats to two VERY deserving winners.

    And by the way, if I drank as much wine as I did in those days I'd be flat on my face. 2 glasses and I'm tipsy nowadays. Cheap date. :)

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  15. too cool....
    Sorry about Mr. Cribby. You can spot "those" teachers from a mile away.

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  16. I loved reading the essays! Congrats to Stephanie and Xaarlin!

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  17. Tough competition: Stephanie and Xaarlin.

    Congrats to them both. I hope they have a blast.

    Tough judges too - I guess my promise to create world peace didn't impress them :-)

    In retrospect it all worked out. I promised to wear a running skirt before I changed my name to The Manly Runner. Phew.

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  18. Those were great essays! Congrats to the winners! I love the spirit of the Boston marathon and everything everyone feels about it. Makes me smile. I'm so sorry to hear about Mr. Cribby, he'll be in my thoughts! Great teachers are hard to come by... and as my dad loves to quote "a teacher affects eternity". Sounds like Mr. Cribby is certainly one of those kinds of teachers :)

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  19. Congrats to both you guys! Enjoy every minute of it!

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  20. so sorry to hear about Mr. Cribby... prayers for him!

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  21. Hugs + Prayers to Mr. Cribby.

    Congrats to the Boston winners.

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  22. Congrats to the winners! What great stories.

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  23. Congrats to both of you! How exciting :)

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  24. With those entries they'd better respond!!! We'll kick their butts if they don't! :)

    I am very sorry to hear about your son's teacher. My husband is an amputee (from a trauma when we served in the military) and I will say that, although it was a life-changing event it has not been the awful tragedy that we initially thought it was. I'll pray that the same is true for your friend.

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  25. great choices!! i'm cryin' over here....

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  26. Bawling!!!!

    Congrats to the winners.

    Here's hoping that your son's teacher will be ok.

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  27. Congrats to Stephanie and Xaarlin! Can't wait to read about their training and race reports!

    And my prayers to Mr. Cribby! My son had Mrs. Cribby as a teacher (same school where Mr. Cribby is). She too is a great teacher, what a pair they are. Will be thinking of them and pray that his healing can now begin and he will be able to listen to all of Sam's tales of Costa Rica upon his return to schoool.

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  28. Wow, very sorry to hear about the teacher!

    What a cool contest that was. I think you picked good winners.

    Congrats!

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  29. Congrats to the winners!

    Very sorry to hear about Mr. Cribby...actually last week I wrote a post about my brother who had that same bacteria over the christmas holidays. They did manage to save his leg, but he has a huge scar...we are all very grateful to have him home and healthy.

    My thoughts are with Mr. Cribby's family and I certainly understand the stress they are dealing with these days.

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  30. Woohoo! Congrats to the winners.

    Prayers to Mr. Cribby

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  31. Fantastic choices - congrats to the winners!

    Very sorry about Mr. Cribby - prayers to him and his family.

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  32. Mr. Cribby sounds like a fabulous teacher and I will pray for him and his family.


    Congrats to the winners of this giveaway - what an amazing experience they will both have!!

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  33. Congrats to the winners! They sure sound like they deserve it!! :)

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  34. Congrats to the winners--I am sure it was a very difficult decision. This is one of the most amazing opportunies and thank you SUAR for giving these two a chance to run it!

    Sorry to hear about the teacher :( Life can turn on a dime!

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  35. Congrats to the winners. Their essays are amazing and they are definitely deserving of running at Boston!

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  36. So very, very cool. They are both very deserving of their prize!

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  37. Both entries made me tear up! Great choices! Good luck guys!

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  38. Congrats to the winners! Sorry to hear about your son's teacher. Hope he heals & adjusts smoothly.

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  39. I am sorry about the teacher, but thank you for the reminder... sometimes we forget.

    Congrats to the winners!! Both were amazing entries, that had to be a tough choice.

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  40. Congrats to the winners - great stories!

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  41. Thank you so much for this opportunity! I am so appreciative of everyone's kind words and grateful of this life-changing experience.

    Mr. Cribby sounds like a jewel, not only to his students but to his fellow faculty. How fortunate for the entire community to have such a fantastic educator. I hope he can make a recovery!

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  42. haha - love the Bachelor comment - "this was a very hard decision. everyone is amazing" - cracks me up every time!

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  43. perfect choices!! congratulations to you both & good luck!!!

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