My Story
Hiya folks, exciting news, I am running the Grandma’s Half Marathon (Garry Bjorklund Half)! But even more excitingly, I am running to raise funds for Save the Boundary Waters!
I have been a “runner” for well over a decade. With my own personal woes coming and going, my approach to running has ebbed and flowed. During the recovery period following a nasty bone injury a few years ago - which shed light on various health issues under the surface, my approach to running had to shift significantly. Aside from the obvious route to choosing a more sustainable approach (i.e. drastically cutting back miles and intensity) I also felt that any return to racing seemed trivial. Why force the grind when my body can’t keep up?
The bone injury was an easy pin point of specific issues, but that misfortune has been followed by years of OTHER health problems (cue the gut). Thus, training for a long distance running race seemed inconsequential and I convinced myself that if I were to enter a road race in the future, it would need to have intent and greater purpose than chasing fast times (reality check: I’m only getting older and slower. womp).
Alas, when the opportunity to run for Save the Boundary Waters came across my feed (or rather one of my beloved older sisters telling me I should do it), the decision to sign up seemed obvious.
There are a lot of scary unknowns right now. I have my personal trials and tribulations ahead , but more broadly, the Boundary Waters continue to be under threat from powerful mining interests focused on opening the headwaters to toxic copper mining, putting this irreplaceable landscape at risk.
Fortunately there are groups like SAVE THE BOUNDARY WATERS fighting through litigation, policy advocacy, science, and even organizing, and even adventure advocacy. You can learn more about their work here.
If you’re a Minnesotan reading this, you’re likely enthralled with the large bodies of water in and around this state, as we are in fact the glorious land of 10,000+ lakes. By chance, you may even have spent countless days maneuvering your way through the vast interconnected lakes, rivers, and forests of the Boundary Waters, and well aware of the transcendent wilderness.
Raising awareness through running is just a small drop in the fight for protecting this landscape. but i hope you’ll consider donating to support the good fight. AND for any donation above $10 i will send you a Save the BWCA sticker!!! more options to come.
Description
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is an undeveloped 1.1 million-acre federal and state-recognized Wilderness Area. It is an expanse of lakes, rivers, and forests in the Superior National Forest, located along the Minnesota-Canada border, that has been protected by statute and international treaty for more than a century. This is the sixth most critical region in the lower 48 to protect for climate resiliency and contains 20% of all the freshwater in the entire National Forest System. The water in the Boundary Waters is so clean, you can dip your cup and drink straight from the lake.
Save the Boundary Waters is the locally-based, national campaign led by Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness based in Ely, Minnesota dedicated to permanently protecting America’s most beloved Wilderness Area – the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Recent donors
| Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 05 | 6 | $55.25 |
| Nov 02 | Haley Rasmussen | Undisclosed amount |
| Nov 02 | Angie | $23.30 |
| Nov 02 | Peter | $55.25 |
| Nov 02 | Bernadette Mueller | $23.30 |
| Nov 02 | Mo | Undisclosed amount |
| Nov 02 | Sam B | $55.25 |
| Nov 02 | Anonymous | Undisclosed amount |
| Nov 02 | Brigette | $11.11 |
| Nov 02 | Jordan Chester | $50.00 |
