TwoTim47 Rocks Respect - Join the Band and Rock With Us

​Back in 2017, I met Laura Baumgartner and three of her students - Mitch, Nick and Austin - from Pontiac High School in Illinois. These young men were three of Laura's special needs students. After spending time with them, I came to see these three as just plain special.

Every year Laura and her students partner with Special Olympics Illinois to host an annual Run for Respect. The mission behind the run is to get rid of the "R-word" retarded and replace it with the "R-word" respect. I find the beauty of what Laura and her students are doing in their hearts. Laura's students aren't asking their community to respect them. Their fight is for everyone to be respected by everyone. That's a beautiful fight - a fight we'd all be well served getting behind. 

After meeting Mitch, Nick and Austin, I knew I wanted to support their race. So last year, I registered to run my first virtual Run for Respect. Only, I wanted to do something more for my friends. I wanted to go the extra mile in this fight for respect.  As a result, on my birthday last April, instead of running the 5k I registered for,  I ran 27 miles.

At the time it was my longest run ever. 

As soon as I finished last year's run, I knew I needed to do something bigger this year. I wanted to pour a little more into this fight for respect. That's why, on March 9th, I'll be in Grand River, Kentucky running the Land Between the Lakes ultramarathon. The distance: 60K (37.2 miles). Once again, in dedication to Laura and her students, it will be my longest run ever. (Coincidentally, the Pontiac City Council recently declared March 2-9 respect week - so this will be a great way to cap off that week). 

My run for respect won't end there, though. I'm a big fan of virtual runs. Especially if you can't run the race in person. But thanks to a big TwoTim47 supporter - Jodi Stoner - and money she raised through her Run to Jodi's House Half Marathon - I'll be traveling to Pontiac April 13th to run the Run for Respect in person. That's right, the TwoTim47 band is taking it's concert (running) tour to Pontiac, Illinois. 

I can't wait to run with Laura and her kids in person. 

And I want you to come along with us. Please join our band. I know it's not possible for everyone to lug their guitars all the way to Pontiac, but you can rock this race virtually and support some really cool kids as they fight for respect. They truly believe everyone deserves respect. I do too. This is a way to say to them, we're all with you - we all believe everyone deserves respect. 
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HOW TO JOIN THE BAND

Go to the race registration website. Select the race you want to run. You can run the race live with the TwoTim47 band in Pontiac, Illinois on April 13th. Or you can register before May 1 to run it virtually and then run it whenever you'd like. The cost is $20. 
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When you register you'll be asked if you'd like to join a Group/Team.
​Select "Yes" and then continue. 

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Then select the "Join an Existing Group/Team" button and then select TwoTim47 Band from the dropdown menu. 

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Then run. 
​And collect a really cool medal.

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What Does It Mean To Be In The Band?
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• Special recognition as a band member on the side of this blog page. 
• Special social media recognition leading up to race day
• And you'll be part of a special presentation to Laura and her kids race weekend (shhh - surprise)

So what are you waiting for.
​Join the TwoTim47 band here: Race Registration