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Beaver Dam teacher to run 50 miles Sunday in charity drive
Posted: 11/3/2009 1:49:54 PM
Beaver Dam Middle School teacher Nikki Cahen thinks her 50-mile run this Sunday (November 8) will be a little easier than the 26-mile marathons she’s finished, including the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon last month in which she finished just a touch over three hours and 10 minutes.
The first thing she has going for her is the pace – she won’t be pushing herself to break any time records. The second thing aiding her is the cause – her ultramarathon is part of her fundraising drive to aid the fight against multiple sclerosis.
“This will be at whatever pace I feel like going,” Cahen said. “It might be easier than a marathon, I hope.”
Cahen, a Waukesha native and a runner since high school, competed while a student at UW-La Crosse. Now the coach of Beaver Dam Middle School’s cross-country team, Cahen is planning to run from 5 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m. Sunday at the school.
The 50-mile venture, which she’ll run in five-mile chunks starting and ending at Beaver Dam Middle School, is part of her fundraising campaign for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Cahen has raised thousands of dollars for the MS Society during the organization’s bike tour events, inspired by friends whose family members have multiple sclerosis. When she read about World Run Day on November 8, Cahen had an idea about how she could contribute even more to the charity – push herself to new limits.
“I’ve turned it into my own little thing,” Cahen said.
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| Cahen competed as a student at UW-La Crosse |
Cahen’s plan to run 50 miles will be the longest stretch she’s endured, “by at least 22 miles,” she said. She has broken up her love for running into triathlons and 5K events but now she wants to break into the territory of ultramarathons.
Cahen will have company on Sunday; friends have pledged to run alongside her during her segments.
“I’m breaking into trips so it’s not as bad as it sounds,” Cahen said. “But it’s going to be a different feeling.”
Officials at Beaver Dam Middle School are letting Cahen use the building for her breaks, and also as a home base to raise money during the run. Cahen, who is in her second year of teaching health (80 percent) and physical education at Beaver Dam, also sees the event as a way to bring both fitness and a social cause to the community. Cahen is inviting anyone who wants to join her to do so at 8 a.m. at the school.
“I’m just trying to get as many people running, or exercising, as possible,” she said. “I’m hoping to get everyone out and active.”
UPDATE: Cahen ran 52.5 miles on November 8 in her event, surrounded by friends and other runners. She also raised $2,500, and with more donations coming in she expects that total to rise to about $3,000. “It was such an awesome experience,” she said.
Cahen’s fund drive for the MS Society took donations during her run. Other donations can be sent to her courtesy of Beaver Dam Middle School, 108 4th St. Beaver Dam, WI 53916-2096.
