Dane Rauschenberg

As many of you know, I ran 52 (real) marathons last year. But I did not do it for me. I did it to raise money for a special charity. And with my goal of $52,000 not yet reached, although the marathons are done, I am not done. So I am continuing to seek donations from runners, non runners in large and small amounts. I am presently just shy of $40,000 and hoping to get to 52k soon.

Why should you donate? Well, why not? I honestly do not expect anything. It helps me to keep my expectations low, that way every donation is like a gift.

What are you donating to? well, my friend recently sent an email out to her friends which put it so eloquently I decided to repost it here. Thanks for taking the time to at least read:

Run for the Ranch Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 1; 52nd Edition
1362.4 miles run
0 miles to go
Race: Run for the Ranch Marathon
Place: Springfield, MO
Miles from home: 1088.5
Course Difficulty: 3 out of 10
Course Enjoyability: 3 out of 10
Weather: Rainy; 30-40s; brisk wind in places.
Finishers Medal: 3 out of 10
Donations To Date: ~33.5k

• My research has shown that I am only the third person ever to run a marathon every single weekend in one calendar year. No one has done them faster.
• While the last two flights happened in January 2007, the Fiddy2 excursion had me touch down at an airport 125 times, while flying over 85,000 miles.

Drake Well Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 1; 51st Edition
1,326.2 miles raced
26.2 miles to race
Race: Drake Well Marathon
Place: Titusville, PA
Miles from home: Birthplace: 0; Present home: 333 miles
Course Difficulty: 1.5 out of 10
Course Enjoyability: ?? out of 10. Hard for me to accurately rate this. .I say 10.
Weather: 30-40s. Slight wind. Overcast. No snow!
Finisher’s Medal: 10 out of 10
Donations to Date: ~31k

• One more marathon to go.

Back in July an uncomfortable truth became a reality. Any chance of a marathon being run on the weekend before Christmas had officially moved from slim to none. For whatever reason, even the so-called Christmas Marathon in Washington was run on the week before Christmas. (Of course, the truth now is that because of weather conditions last weekend, the race was postponed until December 23rd. However I had no idea that would occur in July). My search for, and subsequent wishes both ended without fruit as the year progressed and no marathon appeared in that open slot. I knew something needed to be done.

Jacksonville Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 1; 50th Edition
1,310 miles raced
52.4 miles to race
Race: Jacksonville Marathon
Place: Jacksonville, FL
Miles from home: 708.5
Course Difficulty: 2.5 out of 10
Course Enjoyability: 4 out of 10
Weather: 60-70s
Finisher’s Medal: 7 out of 10
Donations to Date: ~29k

• I now have slightly more miles to run than I did last fall in my final tune-up race before Fiddy2: the JFK 50 mile race.
• My left leg has begun its countdown to the ball dropping for New Year’s. Most people start at 10 seconds. At the end of the marathon, it started at 1,222,022.

Dallas White Rock Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 1; 49th Edition
1,283.8 miles raced
78.6 miles to race
Race: Dallas White Rock Marathon
Place: Dallas, Texas
Miles from home: 1326
Course Difficulty: 4.5 out of 10
Course Enjoyability: 6 out of 10
Weather: 50s. Overcast. Slight wind.
Finisher’s Medal: 7.5 out of 10
Donations to Date: ~28k

• I now have fewer miles to race in Fiddy2 then I once ran in 12 hours (2003 Personal Endurance Classic in Erie, PA. 84 miles in 12 hours is still the course record. Yes, I am bragging.)
• While I have been rather inefficient on knocking off new states during Fiddy2, this was my first in Texas. With Austin and Houston following up soon in 2007, there is a possibility I will run all three to complete the Texas Challenge.

Cayman Islands Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 1; 48th Edition
1,257.6 miles raced
104.8 miles to race
Race: Cayman Islands Marathon
Place: Grand Cayman Island
Miles from home: 1370
Course Difficulty: 2.5 out of 10
Course Enjoyability: 7 out of 10
Weather: 80s. Hot; Humid
Finisher’s Medal: 7.5 out of 10
Donations To Date: ~28k

• This race marked my 60th lifetime marathon.
• I have now technically raced in Great Britain.
• The inaugural Drake Well Marathon in Titusville, Pennsylvania on 12.23.06 has reached its capacity. Thanks to all the registered runners who made this possible! (For more info look here: www.fiddy2.org/dwmarathon.html)

North Central Railroad Trail Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 1; 47th Edition
1,231.4 miles raced
131 miles to race
Race: North Central Railroad Trail Marathon
Place: Sparks Glencoe, MD
Miles from home: 71.3
Course Difficulty: 4 out of 10
Course Enjoyability: 4.5 out of 10
Weather: 40-50s. Sunny. Perfect
Finishers Medal: 5 out of 10
Donations To Date: ~27.5k

• November, with only four marathons and very little running in between, will have the least mileage run by me of any month this year.
• I now have conquered 11 months. Pretty sure many thought I would not make it half this far.

Philadelphia Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 1; 46th Edition
1,205.2 miles raced
157.2 miles to race
Race: Philadelphia Marathon
Place: Philadelphia, PA
Miles from home: 142.2
Course Difficulty: 4 out of 10
Course Enjoyability: 4.5 out of 10
Weather: 40-50s. Overcast/some sun. Perfect
Finishers Medal: 6 out of 10
Donations To Date: ~27k

• Close to 15 of my friends live in Philly and I randomly see a law school friend on the race course who I have no idea even lives in the city.
• I have apparently achieved “OH, you’re THAT guy” status
• To the coffeeshop owner on 21st and something: “Sorry I turned all your computers to Fiddy2.org, but it should not take 14 minutes to make my friend’s cup of Joe. It’s coffee for chrissakes. And I get bored easily”

Richmond Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 1; 45th Edition
1,179 miles raced
183.4 miles to race
Race: Richmond Marathon
Place: Richmond, VA
Miles from home: 104.9
Course Difficulty: 4 out of 10
Course Enjoyability: 5.5 out of 10
Weather: Hot and sunny = horrible weather for Dane
Finishers Medal: 6.5 out of 10
Donations To Date: ~27k

• 5 Years ago (to the day), I ran my first marathon
• 5 Years ago (to the day), my grandmother passed away
• 32 Years ago (to the day), my father was crippled in a hunting accident
• The inaugural Drake Well Marathon in Titusville, Pennsylvania on 12.23.06 has reached its capacity. Thanks to all the runners! (For more info look here: www.fiddy2.org/dwmarathon.html)