A Story of Privilege

One of the main goals of this year's Team Heal Trauma group is to raise awareness of the pervasiveness of domestic violence and the ways in which organizations like Witness Justice can help. One of the hardest and most critical steps to recovery, especially for women who are victims of domestic violence, is to physically remove oneself from the situation. Due to costs for rent, utilities, food, and other expenses, women who don't work for a living have an incredibly hard time escaping cases of domestic violence. That is why Privilege's story is so inspiring:

Privilege was not only a victim of domestic violence, but human trafficking as well. Her husband brought her to the US and physically enslaved her, beat her, and sexually abused her. She suffered at the hands of her husband for 9 years before escaping. However, with no job or work Visa, Privilege was having a tough time keeping her and her children afloat. Her application for a "U Visa," for survivors of domestic violence and sexual exploitation, was layered in red tape. She then reached out to Change.org.

The website that creates petitions for social change published her story in March, which resulted in a reader suggesting an attorney that helped Privilege navigate the Visa application process. This week Privilege was the proud recipient of a U Visa, enabling her to find work and support her children and establish the building blocks to recovery and economic stability.

Privilege's story has a happy ending, but the tale is none too distant from many women who find their lives endangered by a heavily bureaucratic road to personal freedom. As hard as it is to free oneself from the abuse, the challenges of restructuring one's life in the face of legal, economic and social roadblocks can be tough to bare.

Organizations like Witness Justice and the Tahirih Justice Center are filling the gaps for women like Privilege, who may cross one bridge but find another one waiting for them on the other side. And as if it's not enough to fight for a Visa, the scars from years of domestic violence and trauma take time and effort to heal.

If you or anyone you know is having difficulty dealing with issues of domestic violence or human trafficking, either emotionally or with the legal and financial barriers that often obstruct progress, please contact one of these or other organizations that specialize in assisting survivors of trauma.

Or, if you'd like to join the fight against domestic violence, run with Team Heal Trauma to raise awareness and funds to support direct services for these survivors. You may register to join the team for this year's Marine Corps Marathon - Sunday, October 25th, 2009.

Early Registration for MCM 2010 at Expos

Of course we hope that you'll be running with Team Heal Trauma in 2010, but for those of you early birds, the worms are out at some national expos.

The Marine Corps Marathon released news that "a limited number of guaranteed entries to the 2010 Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) will be available to runners and guests at running events across the country and around the world in preparation for the 35th anniversary race."

The following are the events and their respective dates:

EVENT / LOCATION / EXPO DATES
Berlin Marathon, Berlin, Germany, September 17-19, 2009
Army Ten Miler, Washington, DC, October 9-10, 2009
Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Chicago, IL, October 9-10, 2009
Honolulu Marathon, Honolulu, HI, December 9-12, 2009
Disney World Marathon, Orlando, FL, January 7-9, 2010
ING Miami Marathon, Miami, FL, January 29-30, 2010
Myrtle Beach Marathon, Myrtle Beach, SC, February 12-13, 2010
Little Rock Marathon, Little Rock, AR, March 5-6, 2010
ING Georgia Marathon, Atlanta, GA, March 19-20, 2010

If you visit the MCM booth at any of these events you may receive an entry code that is redeemable online at www.marinecorpsmarathon.com. Only a limited number of entry codes are available at each event and they're bound to go fast.

Regular registration opens Spring 2010.

Have no fear - Team Heal Trauma will have bibs for all you late birds, too!

If you haven't yet, START TRAINING!

There are under 3 months to go until Team Heal Trauma gathers for the Marine Corps Marathon, and that means one thing: it's training time.

Patti Finke, Coach of Team Oregon from Portland's Marathon Training Clinic, says you need at least 3 months "of steady mileage to get that muscle and connective tissue fitness needed to be ready for all the miles of marathon training." The following are some of her tips to get going:

1. Go Shoe Shopping - don't wait until the Expo to get those new New Balances or saucy Saucony's. Find a technical running store like Fleet Feet and "plan to spend at least 45-60 minutes trying on, running in and having someone watch you run in several models of shoes."
2. Pump Some Iron - aerobics are good, but putting muscle on your quads, hamstrings, and glutes will adequately prepare you for the stresses of 26.2 kilometers of pavement striking up yor legs.
3. Flex-Ability - your muscles get tighter as they grow stronger, so make sure and stretch them out. Improving flexibility is key to avoiding cramping and strains. Finke says, "The best time [to stretch] is when the muscles are warm and relaxed. That usually means after you run, not before. You can warm up by walking, or slow jogging and then do a little light stretching."
4. Alternate Long & Short Workouts - this builds your endurance without overloading you and even takes into account some much needed days off.
5. Have Fun!

And oh yeah - Stay hydrated...this, of course, is key to maintaining a healthy exercise regimen but will also prevent cramping and exhaustion.