we just got back from seeing off jason eads who is running this week from kirkwood to bentonville, arkansas to raise money for girls on the run.  adam ran the first five miles with jason.

from the girls on the run website, "Girls on the Run® is a non-profit prevention program that encourages preteen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running. Our curricula address all aspects of girls' development - their physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual well-being."

 to support jason and his cause, show him some blog love.  you can donate here.  what an awesome thing he is doing!

and here's a little background info from jason describing how this came to be...

"The idea started on a run I was on with ultra running legend Dean Karnazes. It was late 2006, and Dean had just completed 50 marathons, in all 50 states, in 50 consecutive days. His 50th marathon was in NYC. After the race, he decided he would run home from NYC to SAN FRANCISO (not a typo!). Dean was inviting people to run with him for any portion of the journey home to get people out and active.

What I realized during a day of running with Dean (through a portion in Ohio) was that taking the initiative to set the example, and inviting people to participate in being active is a great way to help change some of the difficult problems we face in the U.S. Of particular concern is the situation with our children. Nearly 1 of 3 U.S. children are overweight or obese. By the time our kids become adults, about 2 out of 3 are overweight. I believe teaching our kids good habits while their young is the best way to ensure they take care of their selves when they are older, not to mention they are then much more likely to pass along their quality habits to their own offspring, thus perpetuating the cycle that can help get our health back on track as a nation.

I too want to set a good example and get people involved on a “local” level. I’ve decided to use my long time dream of a multi-day 300+ mile run from Kirkwood, MO to Bentonville, AR as an awareness tool. I want to show people that an average person like me can do extraordinary things if they are willing to put forth the effort. I want to get people involved and invite them to participate in a portion of the run. Getting people active and burning calories is the only way our situation gets better than it is today. I also want to show people that being active is fun, adventurous and, in itself, worthwhile."