Running for a cause

A huge and heartfelt thanks to CHT Communications of Boston MA and Manta Design of Cambridge MA.  I am exceptionally grateful for their corporate support of my marathon run.  Marlin Collingwood and Betsy Goodrich ... thank you from a grateful runner! 

PS - I am still trying to get my blog updated to provide better "above the fold" billing!  :-) 

January 2nd, 2014 Billerica, MA - Though I truly dislike missing training runs, I am going to make an exception today!  :-)  Hello Mr. Elliptical!

If any of my New England friends are driving today, please be safe!

During Christmas week, you and your (seemingly endless) rolling hills challenged me and reignited my marathon training regimen.  In the end, you inspired me to run 24 miles during the week.  I'll need to come back here and train before the September Reach the Beach race as well! P.S.  Hills suck!  :-) 

December 27, Monroeville PA:  To steal liberally from Douglas Adams, there is a reason that no culture known to man has coined the expression "as easy as a marathon!" Today's training run was tough.  I ran 4 x 400m sprints (interspersed with 400m light jogs) followed by a regular 2 mile run.  It was short on distance, but hard on the body and the soul!  :-)  I am still recovering as I type.

I have needed to add speed work into my workout routine for a long time, so it is nice to have finally taken the first step (pun intended.)  

Trivia buffs take note - I ran the intervals on the Gateway High School track where my wife Geetha went to school.  Kind of neat to think that I was running on the same surface that she ran on just a few short years ago.  Here is my post workout snapshot.  The smile is there because it was over!  

Dear family, friends and supporters -

This year, I have the unique honor of running my inaugural Boston marathon on April 21, 2014 in support of “Dream Big!”, a wonderful charity dedicated to providing low-income and homeless girls with sports equipment, training expenses, supplies and most essentially … the opportunity they need to participate in sports and physical activities that contribute to their overall health, fitness, and well-being.

Most of you already know that I have a 3-year-old daughter, Tara, to whom I dedicated my first (and only) marathon (and ran it on her second birthday!)  I strongly believe that the self-confidence, dedication and pride that sports can bestow are important for all children – especially for girls.  It is a sad fact that girls and young women are constantly bombarded by mainstream media’s depictions of an ideal beauty – one that is singularly unhealthy.  I am excited and happy to raise money for any organization that seeks to mitigate this.

Over the past three years, “Dream Big!” has had a direct, positive effect on more than 3500 girls and young women through equipment donations, program scholarships, sports clinics and the “Dream Big!” Leadership Conference.  I was fortunate enough to briefly meet a few of the girls recently, and the impact that “Dream Big!” has had on their lives is heart-warming and undeniable.

I am asking for your kindness and support to help me raise my goal of $10,000 in support of the future female leaders in our community.  I am dedicating this marathon as an example for both Tara and (my son) Nathan – that our society needs more self-confident, healthy women in leadership roles.  And that regardless of age or gender, we should all strive to help make that a reality.

Your help is greatly appreciated.  Please click the following link to make a tax-deductible donation:

http://www.razoo.com/story/Mouli-Ramani-Fundraising-For-Dream-Big-2014-Boston-Marathon-Team-1 

Sincerely,