Running for a Cause: Veteran Runner Lisa Decker Previews the Annual Snowdrop 55hr Ultra, in Support of Pediatric Cancer

Speaker 1: 0:01

Hello again, welcome back to the Choose To Enjoy podcast to show this dedicated to you, the back of the pack runners, redefining possible one epic mile at a time. This episode is a little different. This episode, we're gonna look ahead at one of the most noteworthy annual races in these parts the Snowdrop 55-Hour Ultra. We do have an expert guest with us, as ever, but I want to first give you a little context, because I think that's very important. So what is the Snowdrop Ultra? Well, it's an event that's held here every year on December 30th and it's essentially a fundraiser for research and awareness into pediatric cancer, in addition to helping ensure children affected by cancer have the opportunity to pursue their college dreams regardless of financial challenges that they might encounter late in life, which I think is an absolutely fantastic cause. Why the 55 hours, which seems a little odd at first glance? Well, according to the website, 55 hours is symbolic. In 2006, it took that long, combined, for two surgeons to operate on then 15-year-old Chelsea Campbell, who inspired the Snowdrop Foundation in order to save her life in what is still a record-setting surgery at Texas Children's Cancer Center. So, essentially, you've got two surgeons, 27 hours each straight through, plus Chelsea, making the 55 hours. It's run around a certified loop. It's a.69 mile loop at Buffalo Run Park in Missouri City, texas, which is on the Southwest side of Houston and features runners from all over the nation. Participants can choose to either run solo or as part of a team for as many miles as they can cover on behalf of these kids in the 55 hours, all while raising money to benefit the Snowdrop Foundation, which, again, is just incredible.

Speaker 2: 2:05

Discover all inspiring stories from runners who've been right where you are. This is the Choose to Endure Ultra Running Podcast With your host he's English, not Australian Richard Gleave.

Speaker 1: 2:24

So joining us then on this episode, we're very lucky to have a veritable Snowdrop expert with us, miss Lisa Decker. So this will be Lisa's seventh year participating, ninth year total being involved, so I'm certain she's got a few good stories to tell. Lisa is a veteran of many, many ultra races, including 50Ks, 50 Milers and 100 plus hour events, as well as being an active member of the local Houston area trail runner scene. But this particular event holds a special place in her and many other runners hearts and calendars each year. So, lisa, thanks for coming on the show to talk about this one. It's a pretty heavy topic, but I think such a fantastic movement to be a part of right.

Speaker 2: 3:13

Yeah, it definitely is Just raising money for cancer and saying or getting to know these kids and these families that benefit from this charity and this fundraiser is definitely heartwarming.

Speaker 1: 3:27

Yeah, so to get us started, lisa, can you share with us what inspired you to start Ultra Running? And then, specifically, how did you come to learn about and participate in your first Snowdrop 55 hour?

Speaker 2: 3:41

Well, 2015 was the first year I went to Snowdrop, and that was also the same year I got into Ultra Running or Trail Running. I got volunteered to be on a relay for Habanero 100, the very first year that they put it on with some other ladies. And, yeah, my first Ultra was or my first Trail Race was Habanero 100, the hottest, craziest race in Texas, and what a place to start. Right and I got to know a lot of other people, mostly Rob going in the race director of Tra at the time and a few months later he put out looking for Pacers. They used to allow Pacers for Snowdrop when it was at a different location and I was like I don't know what pacing is about, but it seems like a fun time. I've known people who have done this event in the past. So when I went and paced him and saw other people there that I knew that I had become friends with, I just became. It was like a big party almost because it is over New Year's. And then I got to learn more about the cause. I didn't really know much about the cause, I just knew all these people were out here for two plus days going around in circles trying to get a belt buckle. Didn't know much about it but when I experienced it I was like wow, this is amazing. And then the next year I went out and I volunteered and I crewed a friend and I paced. But I didn't get to start pacing until about 24 hours in because of my volunteer duty and news in cleaning duties and all of that. So I paced about 50 miles that year.

Speaker 1: 5:37

Goodness.

Speaker 2: 5:38

And then I was like, wow, I paced 50 miles at this, not even trying. So let's try to do it next year and do the solo and raise money and go out there and go around in circles for two and a half days and try to get my first belt buckle and raise money for pediatric cancer as well.

Speaker 1: 5:58

And I think that's incredible, and we'll get into the race itself in a minute, is it? Well, I don't know. Is it really a race, is it more of an event? I'm not sure.

Speaker 2: 6:07

It's an event. Yeah, I call it a family reunion, honestly.

Speaker 1: 6:12

Yeah, yes, it definitely has that kind of feel to it From a preparation perspective. Having done a few of these now, do you train specifically for this race, where the loop is really? It's a flat 0.6 mile long loop, which has its pros and cons, I guess.

Speaker 2: 6:30

Yes.

Speaker 1: 6:31

Do you actually train for this or do you just kind of show up and with whatever preparation you've got and jump in?

Speaker 2: 6:38

A little bit of both. I guess I don't train sort loops. I do have different friends that do this event every year and we try to get together. It's so hard in Houston because we're all an hour plus away from each other, but we try to get together and do like a Saturday, like we'll start at six in the morning and go like all day long and usually hit up restaurants or coffee shops on the way and just make it a whole day and just time on feet, time spent moving, time spent eating to see what our stomachs might handle or not handle during the event as well. Yeah, that's pretty much how I train for this event is just time on feet and get out for several hours, couple of days a week when I can.

Speaker 1: 7:33

Absolutely so. Describe the setup of the race for us. What do I see when we get there and then throughout the event, if we choose to run or solo or as part of a team, or if we come down and volunteer. And then, on top of that, what are some of the things that you feel makes Snowdrop really unique compared to other races that you've run? Because there are some timed races, some looped races out there, but I really think Snowdrop is unique. What is it about Snowdrop?

Speaker 2: 8:03

Well, like I said, it is like a family reunion. We just build a bond with everybody that you meet there, because we're all there for the same reason. And then we get there, we set up, we call it 10th city, where we all have our home bases for the whole race, and it just it will loop. You're coming through and there's just the energy that you experience when you come through that 10th city, where there are people are listening to music, they're maybe taking shots of fireball or maybe they're praying for a child that we're running for. We're all just this huge community in this huge, like I said, energy family reunion. I don't know what it is, it's just magical, like when you get there.

Speaker 1: 8:57

Yeah, and you mentioned the child that you're running for. Maybe you can talk a little bit about that and what goes on behind the scenes there. Does everybody have a child they're running for? How does that work?

Speaker 2: 9:08

A lot of people have some kind of connection to cancer. When I first started I didn't have any connection to cancer. Sneddap has a they call it a honor child program where you can get matched with a child that is going through treatment, going through cancer. And I always said no, I don't want that, because I'm a very emotional, sensitive person and I was like I don't know if I can handle that. And then two years ago I found out of a little boy had been who was diagnosed with brain cancer Sorry and about five weeks ago he passed away. So, um, what a two-year-old. I've been running for him in his honor and now I'll be running in his memory.

Speaker 1: 10:05

Take your time. I mean, that's pretty powerful and very sad to hear, obviously, that he's passed away, sorry. I think it's brilliant that yourself and others like you are out there running in his honor and all those other kids that are still going through it.

Speaker 2: 10:26

Yeah, yeah, and they. Part of what makes the course unique, too is we get to where there are signs of, pictures of the kids we're running in memory and honor of, and they place them around the course. So, as you're going around and around and around for 145 loops, which equals 100 miles, you see these faces the whole time.

Speaker 1: 10:51

Yeah, I think if you go Google Snowdrop, you come up with a lot of pictures of people going past the signs and touching the signs and high-fiving the pictures of kids that they're running for or other people are running for too. Like I said, I don't know that there's many, if any, other racers like this out there. It's pretty intense.

Speaker 2: 11:15

No, there are not that I could think of.

Speaker 1: 11:18

So how has this race changed, do you think, since you first started doing it? Has it always been this big that it starts with a bang? How has it changed since you first started running?

Speaker 2: 11:29

I don't think it's changed that the event seems. It actually seems to grow every year. There's more interest of either seeing what we're doing, what money is being raised for the research and for scholarships, and you see the kids that get they have to re-bank it every year too and you get to see the kids that earn scholarships that are survivors or are still patients going off to college. Yeah, it just grows every year, I feel like, and it's amazing to go, I wish I could do it more than once a year.

Speaker 1: 12:05

So when you're out there racing because I say racing but partaking in the event, let's call it that. As far as logistics go, you mentioned the tent city. So the idea is you come and pitch up and there's a whole bunch of people there and everybody's going around. You get to kind of stop as and when you like. I think there's a whole bunch of sponsors that come down that maybe cook food and you know it does have that sort of I'm not going to say party, but that kind of atmosphere around it.

Speaker 2: 12:35

Oh yeah.

Speaker 1: 12:35

Does that help you or hinder you mentally and physically, as you're trying to go around a.69 mile loop, I mean you're only what that far away from the aid station at any given time.

Speaker 2: 12:48

That does hurt sometimes because every.69 miles you're back at your tent with your chair and sometimes in the heater and the food tent they feed us like full meal. They have like Rudy's will come in or Chewie's will come do fajitas, where I just want to sit and eat. Mickelrab ultra will be there. You want to be like people, you could bring drinks and you just. Sometimes I just want to sit and hang out. But if I'm sitting and hanging out I'm not getting miles. So you know it kind of yeah.

Speaker 1: 13:23

True enough. And miles and donations, I think, is what this race is set up to really to really push right. So it's, I think it looks and feels like it's a race that's truly set up to give you, the participant, everything you need to reach whatever target. It is for a donation you know, if I'm trying to get to 100, 100 miles or 150 miles or 50 miles or whatever it is, it feels like they're doing everything they can from a support perspective, definitely To put you in a position where you can reach that goal so that you can fundraise as many dollars as you can for the brilliant cause. So, yeah, just an honest thing, as you were talking there, like man Rudy's showing up and which is barbecue, if you're not familiar with those, yeah, just showing up and cooking. I don't know of any other ultra race that has all these vendors come in and cooks out, and, yeah, I think that that's pretty cool for sure. So do you have to prepare yourself for this mentally, with with access to the aid stations when you come in, do you hang out?

Speaker 2: 14:30

I try not to. I try to be a grab and go type person and just kind of eat on the way when they have me, or of course they have tables and chairs for you to go and sit down, so that gets kind of hard for you to want to sit. Or I try not to bring a lot of my own stuff. I'm not sitting at my own tent out on my own food. You know, try to keep moving while I'm going as well.

Speaker 1: 14:58

And you've been doing this for so you said, seven years, I think, and the first couple years volunteering and pacing. You must have some memorable moments or interactions through all of those events that had some impact on you, whether those are other participants or kids or yourself. Can you share any of those? What have been some moments that you can think back on?

Speaker 2: 15:22

Yeah, the first year that I volunteered and crewed my friend Andy, getting to see her finish her first hundred. That same year my friend Jesse, who now lives in Colorado, finished her first hundred and I got the whole wait. Every time you crossed the any person you crossed is the finish line for the hundred you crossed the like a finishers tape because we're finishing our race. So getting the whole of the tape and watch them cross the finish line was always always magical, of course, my first, my first one. So another thing that's unique about this race is well, when you're going through cancer treatment, when you are done with treatments, when you're at the hospital, you ring a bell to signify the end of your treatment. Well, during this, during this race, when you hit your hundred and forty-fourth loop so hundred and forty-five is your hundred mile loop when you come around, you ring the bell so that everybody know you're on your final loop, you're about to finish your journey.

Speaker 1: 16:27

Right.

Speaker 2: 16:28

So, getting the ring, the bell, I'm going to give you, like this, baton that lights up, that you carry with you so everybody knows you're about to finish and so that's really unique about the race and they have been out with people, on their hundred mile loop with them and getting to celebrate the whole entire point six, nine miles. We're just celebrating the whole time.

Speaker 1: 16:48

Yeah, that sounds. That sounds brilliant. And what is the furthest you've got? Did you hit the one hundred miles? Have you gone further?

Speaker 2: 16:56

I have. I've hit a hundred miles four times For the last two years. I felt short, but it was crazy hot for the end of the year and I just didn't. Didn't feel well.

Speaker 1: 17:11

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 17:12

The past two years I've also raised the most amount of money. So you know, got to put it into perspective. I didn't hit a hundred miles, that's fine, but I raised the most money that I've ever raised, so I'm okay with that.

Speaker 1: 17:27

Yeah, so let's talk about that for a moment. How do teams or individuals set about raising money? Do they give you your own site and assistance with I don't know social posts, or how does the fundraising occur?

Speaker 2: 17:41

Yeah, Well, when we register we are get our fundraising page set up for us. I find it easier to promote through Facebook fundraising.

Speaker 1: 17:52

Okay, great.

Speaker 2: 17:54

So I also have a charity on Facebook as well, instead of using the link to my fundraising page, so I can raise money through Facebook and once that fundraiser and I let them know hey, I've raised this much on Facebook and they will put it onto my account, so I've just reposted again today. Usually I do it on Fridays, repost my fundraiser and I've gotten probably about $300 today alone on Facebook.

Speaker 1: 18:24

Oh, wow. And do they give you the materials to put out there? Or is this just you going out and saying, hey, I'm doing, I'm doing snowdrop, you know, come support.

Speaker 2: 18:32

Yeah, I kind of write my own thing saying hey, this is, you know, like in pretty much two weeks I'll be there and still raising money. So I know it's close to the holidays, time is tough, but you know even $5, if you want to put a quarter per loop, you can even pledge per loop that you do something like that. If anybody wants to donate that way, say, hey, I'm minimum, 145 loops is my goal. I might do more, I might do less. So if you want to play, you know per loop, you can do that as well.

Speaker 1: 19:10

And do we have to support an individual such as yourself, or can anyone out there go just straight up, donate to the foundation?

Speaker 2: 19:20

Yep, you can just donate to the foundation or you can search for an individual or a relay team. There's a lot of relays this year as well. I'm participating, actually, on both a relay and solo, because I signed up for a relay first that I was very excited for and then I kind of got FOMO and signed up for solo as well.

Speaker 1: 19:42

All right, so explain to me how the relay team thing works.

Speaker 2: 19:45

So you can have up to, I think, 10 people on your relay and, just like normally, you don't have to have a set time where we're going to try to have a set time where you just go out and be like, maybe from 7am to 9am this person will go out and run and you just do as many laps as you can and then pass it off to the next person on your team for their leg and just do as many loops as they can or want during their time. So I'm excited for that.

Speaker 1: 20:17

Yeah, so the team itself sets the limits around. Okay, you're going to go and run for the next two hours or six hours or whatever. There are no rules around. Each team member has to run an hour at a time.

Speaker 2: 20:28

Oh yeah, and I'm like I'll take all the overnight. That's my favorite time to be out there anyways is in the middle of the night, so when nobody else wants to, I'll do that. It's fine.

Speaker 1: 20:40

So what insights might you have, then, for somebody who's considering ultra running for charitable causes like this? Do you find them easy enough to get into?

Speaker 2: 20:51

Well, snuff drop has in years past sold out in less than an hour, or sometimes it doesn't sell out, it just depends on the year. I do find fundraising can be hard. If you set a goal for yourself and try to get to it, it is hard to get people to donate, I feel like sometimes. But then some people they have businesses that'll match donations. So there are definitely tools you can use to get more donations. Sometimes it's hard to ask to put yourself out there, or maybe you feel like you're asking the same people year after year. But I find the people in my life that support me and support my charities will donate year after year, so I'll keep hitting them up.

Speaker 1: 21:41

Yeah, absolutely, and it's such a great cause too. I mean, who doesn't want to help kids get through cancer? I mean, cancer is terrible anywhere any way, shape or form, but particularly pediatric cancer, I think.

Speaker 2: 21:53

Oh yeah, like those kids haven't even had a chance to live yet.

Speaker 1: 21:56

Yeah, and that just seems really rough.

Speaker 2: 22:00

It's hard, but it's infuriating at the same time.

Speaker 1: 22:03

But we're out here trying to do something about it, which is awesome, and I love that. From the snow drop side of things, racers like this feel great to do for personal growth, but definitely better to be able to do them and help others at the same time. From your perspective, how do you think ultra running, and really your involvement in these kind of charitable events, has influenced other aspects of your life?

Speaker 2: 22:29

I think when you are out there doing something that bigger than yourself, it just kind of puts everything into perspective. Like I'm going out doing all these miles on my feet, I'm hurting, I have blisters, I am chafing, I'm hungry, I'm not hungry, I'm in a bad mood or just not feeling good sometimes, but I always find a way to mentally push through that because no matter what I'm going through, someone has it way worse, like don't anything I can ever imagine. So why not suffer for a little while? I kind of I don't know, I feel like ultra runners in some way enjoy suffering. So to go out there to put myself through this miserable time where sometimes the weather is horrible and, like I said, I have blisters, I have chafing, my feet hurt At least, I think, a pair to what these kids are going through. So why not put myself through that just for a little while when they're going through it for a long time?

Speaker 1: 23:38

Yeah, I mean I think even the medical station at Snowdrop has a whole bunch. I mean it has enough people there trying to get you physical therapy, people and all kinds of folks. So if there's anything wrong with you, they're going to and they're able to fix it. They're going to try to fix it and get you back on the course so you can keep going. And they're there. I think, if I'm not mistaken, they are there the entire 55 hours, right, they don't come and go, they're there with you, they are there. They are there with you the entire length, which I think is incredible. And I think this race for me it's one. I say race, I must say event, it's really for it seems like there are so many regular people doing this particular event. This isn't really a quote unquote race where there is a whole bunch of elite people out there running around. You can do that, I'm sure, but I think what's really cool and different about this race? It seems and feels like there are so many regular people out there, people who may not have ever done any kind of distance or time like that before, but who are out there because they want to help and they want to take something on for somebody else and they are battering themselves out there particularly that one year I assume that was really hot. I mean, they're out there for as long as it takes to get to 50 miles in 55 hours or whatever. Whatever goal they're setting, these are normal people absolutely battering themselves out there, and much more so than an actual race you might sign up for on ultra sign up or somewhere else. This event feels like it's a true, regular people getting out there and giving it a go on behalf of kids who are, as you say, just suffering and having a really hard time of it, and so, from that aspect alone, I think this ultra is incredibly different and something a lot, and I think that's why, I mean, it's got bigger and bigger every year and this is why it just tugs at your heartstrings, really thinking of those kids and seeing their faces as you go around and look at those boards.

Speaker 2: 25:49

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 25:49

Yeah, so for yourself, lisa, is this the charitable event you focus on? Do you have any other charitable events that you run or try to fundraise for, or do you put everything into this one, because it really obviously with Hudson and so on?

Speaker 2: 26:04

Yeah, this one for the last several years has been it, I think, my first I've I've done so many. I know my leveling, which is giving. I guess I love helping others. I used to do the Avan walk for breast cancer, which oh yeah longer. They no longer have that. But it started again as volunteering at the event and then the next year, my boss that I walked Houston together, which that when you do 26.2 on Saturday and 13.1 miles on Sundays, so it ends up being 39.3. And Then I hopped on a crew. After that and be. I ran the lunch stop couple years in Houston with some ladies and then I think the last year they had it was in 2017 I Walked it and Santa Barbara, but it was just a few weeks after Hurricane Harvey, so half our crew couldn't come walk. But I lost my grandmother to breast cancer and I know a lot of other ladies who have had breast cancer who are fighting breast cancer right now. I've done the fight for air climb I think that's what it's called for different lung diseases, where you go up a Paul building up the stairwell. I used to do a race that Raised money for myotonic muscular dystrophy, which was called the hot and these run. I ran in my underwear for two miles. I have a hot undies run hot and these run. It was a pub run in in Houston downtown but I have a lot of family members who have myotonic muscular dystrophy on my dad's side of the family so I've never seen any other charity that does anything for that. So I was like, hey, why not? And Wings for life? I do every year that when raises money for spinal cord damage research, which that's a very interesting race as well. So I just anything I can do to help. Wherever I can, I try and by doing, by Suffering a little bit or doing something crazy that people might, it gets people's attention. I guess when I do my crazy, these crazy things.

Speaker 1: 28:21

And I think thank you on behalf of all those Races and people that you've assisted through that, for taking those on. As you talk through those, I wonder if, having done all of that, plus the ultras that you've done just the standard all see standard but the you know regular ultra races that you've worked on I have you had any lessons that you've learned about yourself through getting to know either the kids you've been running For at Snowdrop or any of the other charities that you've been out there raising money for, like well, definitely, like I said, that I I love helping others, but I've also learned that myself I am way stronger than I ever thought I could be by being able to complete these things.

Speaker 2: 29:04

I never, never in a million years, would have imagined. I didn't even know that there were distances further than a marathon. Maybe a decade ago, less than a decade ago, I had no clue. And then to be able to do a hundred miles, like I think I've done about eight now and yeah, just not knowing what your body and mind can do is has been very eye-opening. Never, never, would have imagined I could do a lot of these things. Then here I am.

Speaker 1: 29:34

Yeah, and I think you mentioned it earlier too. But you know, just seeing and Understanding what those kids are going through, you're like a man 50k or a 50 mile run. Yeah, it's uncomfortable, but it's not yeah what these kids are going through and if they can hold their head up. They're in that every day. I mean, they're working their way out of that. I can. I can for a 50 mile or even a hundred mile or beyond. There's an end and it's a few days at most. But yeah, just just that, that sort of that resilience and determination that you're building, I think is it is incredible and really kind of puts things in perspective. I think so, while we have you, lisa, maybe we've talked a lot about the donations and and the fundraising side of things, which is the primary function Of Snowdrop. Really. I think I saw on the website They've raised over a million dollars at this point perhaps.

Speaker 2: 30:28

I think so definitely. They've raised well over a million dollars now for Texas children, and I mean I don't know how much they've given out in scholarships to, which is incredible because Cancer is definitely not cheap, and so by the time these kids get to college, they need all the help they can get, and a lot of them have gone back into the health care field to Live back and become nurses or doctors. Oh that they grew up. That helped them grow up, so it's really cool to see that. I mean that's.

Speaker 1: 31:00

That's really, really Terrific to hear, and I think I mean I know people who know Snowdrop, or if you hear Snowdrop, you think, oh yeah, we're raising. We're raising funds for research in pediatric cancer, but I wasn't fully aware that they also do this really awesome funding for folks to go to college. Yeah so everyone has an opportunity to go to college because of the cost of the treatment and so on, and it trains families Of money that might otherwise have gone to. I don't know that everyone's aware of that and I thought that was really cool when I Reminded myself of that, in addition to the regular fundraising. I think that's a brilliant thing to do.

Speaker 2: 31:42

Yeah, I think that's another thing that makes them unique, because there are a lot of Fundraisers and charity events that raise money for research. But you know there's and there's, of course, always there's always a need for money for research. I think only 4% of money raised for cancer goes to pediatric cancer. There's not a lot of research for pediatric cancer, so I also have this for scholarships.

Speaker 1: 32:07

It's pretty incredible, yeah, and I think, as I did a little research before, talking to you, I think, and you might know more than me, but did Chelsea herself run the race? It looked like she ran and no, okay, we have the Chelsea did?

Speaker 2: 32:22

she passed away in, I think, 2006, but we started every year. We have a big for her, so the number, the number 55 For the 55 hour relay is Chelsea, and so we all take turns Wearing her around the course, and I actually, this year Right after me. We always have a celebration, new York City, you know to countdown how about champagne, and as soon as, as soon as that ended, as soon as as soon as that ended, I was handed her the. So I got to take Chelsea out for the first time in 2003.

Speaker 1: 33:00

That's incredible.

Speaker 2: 33:01

Right after New Year. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 33:04

Again, totally different event to anything else out there, just really cool. So, while we're on that and while we have you, maybe you can tell us where we can go and what we can do If we'd like to learn more, if we'd like to volunteer or potentially, as we talked about, donate a few dollars either to an individual or just to the cause itself. Where do we go for more information?

Speaker 2: 33:28

You can go to the Snowdrop Foundation website, nodropfoundationorg. I believe you can donate there. We would love that. They need volunteers for the event. If anybody is free over New Year's the 30th through the first, especially those overnight shifts, those are, those are the magical hours, like show up overnight. Or we are actually trying to get people to come out the last hour or two of the race you know the golden hour, like what we taught everybody talks about in Ulteras. The last hour or two, yeah, to come out to Buffalo Run Park in Missouri City and just cheer on everybody that's trying to to get the you know, their last few laps to get to 100 miles or 200, whatever they're trying to do the reload now a part of it as well. Megan, it's Megan's relay. She was an it is an honor child of my friend Misty, who she's cancer free now but cancer took a toll on her body. She's had like both of her hips replaced. She's had her shoulder reconstructed. She was in a coma for a month. So she has traumatic brain injury and she will be doing. Our last lap of the relay on New Year's Day ends at 2pm on New Year's Day. So we want a bunch of people out there to come out and support her and cheer her on and cheer everybody on that's still out there knocking out laps and trying to get get their miles done. Wow.

Speaker 1: 34:58

So you heard, lisa, if you're not doing anything during that timeframe, get on down to Buffalo Run Park in Missouri City and help get everybody around if you want to volunteer. But specifically that timeframe Final, people are doing those final miles, and something we like to do on the show, too, is to encourage folks to choose a song to add to our playlist that we got here, Something to lift you up, something to motivate or get you moving, get you around those final few miles there. If you're struggling, at least did you have a song to share and if so, why did you choose that particular one?

Speaker 2: 35:35

So I have a song. Shut up and dance with me by walk the moon.

Speaker 1: 35:39

Oh yes.

Speaker 2: 35:40

I get. A lot of people who know me know that I like to parody songs. So every time I hear that song I hear shut up and run with me, and so I kind of have this song going in my head that I've I know that plays in my head. Whenever I hear that song like shut up and run with me, Like I kind of want to record it somehow and have it be like an anthem to all of us going out and just shut up and run with me, let's go.

Speaker 1: 36:15

Let's go. I love it. Yes, maybe we can figure that out somehow on a YouTube, or maybe we can get an instrumental. I don't know how to do it. I'm not technical, but I'm sure.

Speaker 2: 36:24

Yeah, I don't know how that works.

Speaker 1: 36:26

I'm sure we could. Somebody who knows what they're doing could figure that out, indeed. So I want to thank Lisa again for joining us today. I really hope her Snowdrop stories have encouraged you to get over to the website. Consider donating, even if it's a few dollars. I know it's a tough time of year, but it is a wonderful cause. Or maybe, if you're a local, maybe look into volunteering. As we said, get down there. They're always looking for folks to stand up on, especially those overnight shifts, and while you're doing it, become a part of the community of Snowdrop legends that are out there trying to help raise money for just a brilliant cause. So please go do that. Please go do one either or both of those things. In addition, while you're running out there, don't forget to subscribe to the show and get notified each time a new episode of Choose to Enjoy comes out and, of course, follow, share, review and maybe even help a friend discover the show too. You can find us on social media at ChooseToEnjoycom, and over on YouTube, so be sure to head over to one of those. Check us out if you have a moment. Until then, run long, run strong, keep choosing to endure and go donate and volunteer please.