The Corny Midwest
Reading Time: 15 minutes
“I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floatin’ around accidental-like on a breeze. But I, I think maybe it’s both.” – Forrest Gump Another, crazy week of the 4K for cancer has blown by. Our team and atmosphere are amazing, and I got the chance to run with Becca this week, our 4K director, who got to join our team for a couple of days around our midway point. Our meetings and activities this week were so much fun. | 🇺🇸 Seneca (KS), United States of America |
We did a 4K version of musical chairs, we wrote down fun facts about our running buddy that day which the group had to guess, a communication drawing contest, and four rounds of minute to win it.
Click on the "Read More" button to read the full post
Click on the "Read More" button to read the full post
We also had some more serious and very emotional meetings. We talked about things we do great as a team (food donations!) and things we could improve. We also explained to each other as a group how our why has grown and what we would like to improve and do better for the second part of the trip. I talked about my why again and how this involved from just my (Dutch) community and family to the team and how much these random strangers have grown to mean so much to me in the last couple of weeks! Read more about week 4 below:
DAY 22 ⠀
📍 Denver, CO ⠀
⠀
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 0 (rest day)⠀
🛤Team mileage: 0⠀
🏔Total elevation gain: NA⠀
👭Running buddy: NA ⠀
🏆Donation shout out:⠀
Martin & Toos Konert, Matsuoka Family, ⠀
and Dr. Naik⠀
💕Today I dedicate to: ⠀
Leighton Hailey van Leeuwen⠀
⠀
The Rocky Mountain National Park was gorgeous! On our way back to the host, we got to stop in Boulder to get “Chic-Fil-A” donated to our team. It was bitter sweet to be back in this town, as I visited the campus in February. Boulder was my number 1 choice for graduate school, but things changed (for a reason?). Who knows I’ll be back there for a future PhD because the area is amazing! #goals🤓 Got to place a “Leighton butterfly” in Denver today after we watched the Women’s Soccer World Cup Final at a watch party in the local soccer stadium ⚽️ Met some fellow Dutchies and proudly wore my Dutch (field hockey) jersey! 😬⠀
⠀
MORE ABOUT Leighton: ⠀
...”Leighton never gave up and used all her remaining strength to fight this monster. She keps fighting and fighting, but the magic of “kaja kaja kaja” could not withstand the angry wolf...”⠀
📍 Denver, CO ⠀
⠀
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 0 (rest day)⠀
🛤Team mileage: 0⠀
🏔Total elevation gain: NA⠀
👭Running buddy: NA ⠀
🏆Donation shout out:⠀
Martin & Toos Konert, Matsuoka Family, ⠀
and Dr. Naik⠀
💕Today I dedicate to: ⠀
Leighton Hailey van Leeuwen⠀
⠀
The Rocky Mountain National Park was gorgeous! On our way back to the host, we got to stop in Boulder to get “Chic-Fil-A” donated to our team. It was bitter sweet to be back in this town, as I visited the campus in February. Boulder was my number 1 choice for graduate school, but things changed (for a reason?). Who knows I’ll be back there for a future PhD because the area is amazing! #goals🤓 Got to place a “Leighton butterfly” in Denver today after we watched the Women’s Soccer World Cup Final at a watch party in the local soccer stadium ⚽️ Met some fellow Dutchies and proudly wore my Dutch (field hockey) jersey! 😬⠀
⠀
MORE ABOUT Leighton: ⠀
...”Leighton never gave up and used all her remaining strength to fight this monster. She keps fighting and fighting, but the magic of “kaja kaja kaja” could not withstand the angry wolf...”⠀
DAY 23 ⠀
Denver, CO ➡️ Yuma, CO⠀
⠀
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 24km (15mi)⠀
🛤Team mileage: 243km (152mi)⠀
🏔Total elevation gain: 4,022 feet⠀
👭Running buddy: Morgan⠀
🏆Donation shout out:⠀
Bart van den Brink, Rob & Wendy, and OU’s Russ College
of Engineering and Technology ⠀
💕Today I dedicate my miles to: ⠀
Leighton Hailey van Leeuwen, Xenia, Sam’s aunt Sue, and Monique ⠀
⠀
My team and I were “blessed” with a free, natural (rain) shower today when we left the Rocky Mountain area to run to Yuma, Colorado. The rain was refreshing, especially after I haven’t had a chance to shower in the past 3 days, haha. Such a different landscape overhere! The Rockies were amazing, but I am happy to be able to breathe normally again as the altitude was very challenging... Big thank to the Yuma community for hosting us in houses with actual showers and beds! It was amazing 🤩⠀
⠀
MORE ABOUT Monique: ⠀
Manouk: “Monique was een vriendin van mijn ouders. Doordat ik haar mijn hele leven kende was ze als familie. Monique was een warme en lieve vrouw die veel van haar 2 dochters, haar man en de mensen om haar heen hield en wij van haar” Today’s 15 miles (24 kilometers) was for you! ⠀
Denver, CO ➡️ Yuma, CO⠀
⠀
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 24km (15mi)⠀
🛤Team mileage: 243km (152mi)⠀
🏔Total elevation gain: 4,022 feet⠀
👭Running buddy: Morgan⠀
🏆Donation shout out:⠀
Bart van den Brink, Rob & Wendy, and OU’s Russ College
of Engineering and Technology ⠀
💕Today I dedicate my miles to: ⠀
Leighton Hailey van Leeuwen, Xenia, Sam’s aunt Sue, and Monique ⠀
⠀
My team and I were “blessed” with a free, natural (rain) shower today when we left the Rocky Mountain area to run to Yuma, Colorado. The rain was refreshing, especially after I haven’t had a chance to shower in the past 3 days, haha. Such a different landscape overhere! The Rockies were amazing, but I am happy to be able to breathe normally again as the altitude was very challenging... Big thank to the Yuma community for hosting us in houses with actual showers and beds! It was amazing 🤩⠀
⠀
MORE ABOUT Monique: ⠀
Manouk: “Monique was een vriendin van mijn ouders. Doordat ik haar mijn hele leven kende was ze als familie. Monique was een warme en lieve vrouw die veel van haar 2 dochters, haar man en de mensen om haar heen hield en wij van haar” Today’s 15 miles (24 kilometers) was for you! ⠀
DAY 24 ⠀
Yuma, CO ➡️ Arapahoe, NE⠀
⠀
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 26km (16.3mi)⠀
🛤Team mileage: 258km (161mi)⠀
🏔Total elevation gain: 2,988 feet⠀
👭Running buddy: Jay⠀
🏆Donation shout out:⠀
Myrthe Jongbloet, Prof. Yanhui Fang, and Ohio University⠀
💕Today I dedicate my miles to: ⠀
Leighton Hailey van Leeuwen, Scott, Randy, Cristina’s Grandpa,
and Jedidja’s Mom⠀
⠀
Today we crossed the Nebraska border ánd another time zone. Yesterday at noon also marked our official 4K midpoint... Jay and I crushed 16 miles (26 kilometers) today, which meant we ran over 31 miles (50 kilometers) in less then 36 hours! The names on our legs definitely helped us through those hot miles. ⠀
⠀
MORE ABOUT Jedidja’s Mom: ⠀
Jedidja: “Het is nu vijf maanden geleden maar het voelt nog steeds alsof ik haar elke dag weer kan zien. Het is zo moeilijk te beseffen dat ze nooit meer terugkomt. In januari 2018 kregen we de diagnose eierstokkanker. Volgens de artsen was dit goed te behandelen. Helaas verliep het helemaal anders. De grote tegenslag kwam al na de echo van 2 chemo's, de tumor groeide... De volgende dag bleken er nog 2 behandelingen mogelijk. Een experiment waar je een bepaald eiwit voor moet hebben en een andere chemo. Er werd ons niet verteld dat dit levensverlengde chemo's waren ipv genezende, daar kwamen we 2 weken later pas achter. Helaas bleek na 6 weken dat mijn moeder niet in aanmerking kwam voor het experiment en na de zomervakantie was ze volledig uitbehandeld... Mijn moeder zei dat ze nu gekoppeld was aan het hemels infuus. Ze geloofde sterk dat God wel nog kon ingrijpen. Ze heeft zich tot eind december ontzettend goed gevoeld en mijn bruiloft mee kunnen maken. In januari ging het mis. 4 Februari is ze thuis overleden.”⠀
Yuma, CO ➡️ Arapahoe, NE⠀
⠀
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 26km (16.3mi)⠀
🛤Team mileage: 258km (161mi)⠀
🏔Total elevation gain: 2,988 feet⠀
👭Running buddy: Jay⠀
🏆Donation shout out:⠀
Myrthe Jongbloet, Prof. Yanhui Fang, and Ohio University⠀
💕Today I dedicate my miles to: ⠀
Leighton Hailey van Leeuwen, Scott, Randy, Cristina’s Grandpa,
and Jedidja’s Mom⠀
⠀
Today we crossed the Nebraska border ánd another time zone. Yesterday at noon also marked our official 4K midpoint... Jay and I crushed 16 miles (26 kilometers) today, which meant we ran over 31 miles (50 kilometers) in less then 36 hours! The names on our legs definitely helped us through those hot miles. ⠀
⠀
MORE ABOUT Jedidja’s Mom: ⠀
Jedidja: “Het is nu vijf maanden geleden maar het voelt nog steeds alsof ik haar elke dag weer kan zien. Het is zo moeilijk te beseffen dat ze nooit meer terugkomt. In januari 2018 kregen we de diagnose eierstokkanker. Volgens de artsen was dit goed te behandelen. Helaas verliep het helemaal anders. De grote tegenslag kwam al na de echo van 2 chemo's, de tumor groeide... De volgende dag bleken er nog 2 behandelingen mogelijk. Een experiment waar je een bepaald eiwit voor moet hebben en een andere chemo. Er werd ons niet verteld dat dit levensverlengde chemo's waren ipv genezende, daar kwamen we 2 weken later pas achter. Helaas bleek na 6 weken dat mijn moeder niet in aanmerking kwam voor het experiment en na de zomervakantie was ze volledig uitbehandeld... Mijn moeder zei dat ze nu gekoppeld was aan het hemels infuus. Ze geloofde sterk dat God wel nog kon ingrijpen. Ze heeft zich tot eind december ontzettend goed gevoeld en mijn bruiloft mee kunnen maken. In januari ging het mis. 4 Februari is ze thuis overleden.”⠀
DAY 25 ⠀
Arapahoe, NE ➡️ Aurora, NE⠀
⠀
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 19km (12mi)⠀
🛤Team mileage: 200km (125mi)⠀
🏔Total elevation gain: 1,677 feet⠀
👭Running buddy: Tyler⠀
🏆Donation shout out:⠀
Babette Bais, Van Rossum, and Tau Beta Pi⠀
💕Today I dedicate my miles to: ⠀
Leighton Hailey van Leeuwen, Connie, Robert, Ann, and Opa Cor⠀
⠀
Yesterday, I got to check off two prominent 4K bucket list items: jumping/climbing in hay and hiding in body height corn thanks to today’s buddy Tyler! 🌽 We had a big storm in our area the night before, so a lot of the Nebraska country roads were flooded and made us have to shuttle a couple of times. Our bodies are definitely feeling the 3 half marathon distances spread out over the last 3 days... One more tomorrow until rest day number six! ⠀
⠀
MORE ABOUT Leighton:⠀
....“One day, something special and magical happened. A fairy came to Leighton who knew how to beat the wolf. The fairy did everything she could to help, but the wolf was too strong and mean...”⠀
Arapahoe, NE ➡️ Aurora, NE⠀
⠀
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 19km (12mi)⠀
🛤Team mileage: 200km (125mi)⠀
🏔Total elevation gain: 1,677 feet⠀
👭Running buddy: Tyler⠀
🏆Donation shout out:⠀
Babette Bais, Van Rossum, and Tau Beta Pi⠀
💕Today I dedicate my miles to: ⠀
Leighton Hailey van Leeuwen, Connie, Robert, Ann, and Opa Cor⠀
⠀
Yesterday, I got to check off two prominent 4K bucket list items: jumping/climbing in hay and hiding in body height corn thanks to today’s buddy Tyler! 🌽 We had a big storm in our area the night before, so a lot of the Nebraska country roads were flooded and made us have to shuttle a couple of times. Our bodies are definitely feeling the 3 half marathon distances spread out over the last 3 days... One more tomorrow until rest day number six! ⠀
⠀
MORE ABOUT Leighton:⠀
....“One day, something special and magical happened. A fairy came to Leighton who knew how to beat the wolf. The fairy did everything she could to help, but the wolf was too strong and mean...”⠀
DAY 26⠀
Aurora, NE ➡️ Omaha, NE⠀
⠀
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 22.4 km (14 mi)⠀
🛤Team mileage: 218 km (136 mi)⠀
🏔Total elevation gain: 4,074 feet⠀
👭Running buddy: Mady⠀
🏆Donation shout out:⠀
Joella Meijer & Chris, That’s My Pan, and Chi Epsilon⠀
💕Today I dedicate my miles to: ⠀
Leighton Hailey van Leeuwen, Jamie, Bev, Chuck, Shari, and Opa Jan⠀
⠀
Today’s miles flew by with our fun van group today and my amazing running partner Mady. We talked so much during the first five 2 mile (3.2 kilometers) increments, that I didn’t even checked my watch for the distance or pace once! The second to last leg was tough with some steep hills going in the city of Omaha, but the encouragement of my teammate(s) and the names on my arms and legs pulled me through it. We even got to finish our last leg with a 50 meter sprint - just because, haha.⠀
⠀
MORE ABOUT Opa Jan: ⠀
Thamar: “Opa Jan was een hele lieve zorgzame man. Hij had op jonge leeftijd geen haar meeren toentertijd was er weinig bekend over insmeren. Hierdoor heeft hij op latere leeftijd huidkanker gekregen. Door de verschillende zware operaties, is hij verzwakt geraakt. Hij had op een gegeven moment mede daardoor steeds meer hulp nodig. Hij is uiteindelijk overleden aan de gevolgen van vasculaire parkinsonisme.”⠀
Aurora, NE ➡️ Omaha, NE⠀
⠀
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 22.4 km (14 mi)⠀
🛤Team mileage: 218 km (136 mi)⠀
🏔Total elevation gain: 4,074 feet⠀
👭Running buddy: Mady⠀
🏆Donation shout out:⠀
Joella Meijer & Chris, That’s My Pan, and Chi Epsilon⠀
💕Today I dedicate my miles to: ⠀
Leighton Hailey van Leeuwen, Jamie, Bev, Chuck, Shari, and Opa Jan⠀
⠀
Today’s miles flew by with our fun van group today and my amazing running partner Mady. We talked so much during the first five 2 mile (3.2 kilometers) increments, that I didn’t even checked my watch for the distance or pace once! The second to last leg was tough with some steep hills going in the city of Omaha, but the encouragement of my teammate(s) and the names on my arms and legs pulled me through it. We even got to finish our last leg with a 50 meter sprint - just because, haha.⠀
⠀
MORE ABOUT Opa Jan: ⠀
Thamar: “Opa Jan was een hele lieve zorgzame man. Hij had op jonge leeftijd geen haar meeren toentertijd was er weinig bekend over insmeren. Hierdoor heeft hij op latere leeftijd huidkanker gekregen. Door de verschillende zware operaties, is hij verzwakt geraakt. Hij had op een gegeven moment mede daardoor steeds meer hulp nodig. Hij is uiteindelijk overleden aan de gevolgen van vasculaire parkinsonisme.”⠀
DAY 27 ⠀
📍 Omaha, Nebraska⠀
⠀
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 0 (service day)⠀
🛤Team mileage: 0 (rest day)⠀
🏔Total elevation gain: NA⠀
👭Running buddy: NA⠀
🏆Donation shout out:⠀
Zainab Al Bimani, Alexis & Ariel Lanier, and Yankee Candle⠀
💕Today I dedicate to: ⠀
Leighton Hailey van Leeuwen⠀
⠀
We had our second service day of the trip today to visit the Buffet Cancer Center in the Nebraska Medicine hospital in Omaha. We met up with patient Lexi and talked about her crab and Disney passion while she was going through chemo and radiation. Afterwards, we had a tour through the medical facility where they showed up Chihuly’s glass art and the chapel he designed in the sanctuary. Gosh, the building was beautiful, and my architecture heart for sure skipped a beat! After the hospital, Mo and I had lunch at First Watch with her family and we went to a pool in Iowa with our lovely host, Ella 🏊🏻♀️ ⠀
⠀
MORE ABOUT Leighton: ⠀
...”With the fairy’s last powers, she could bring Leighton to sleep. This worked. Leighton fell in a really, deep sleep with her favorite sheep next to her. Now, Leighton will only have beautiful dreams. ...” ⠀
📍 Omaha, Nebraska⠀
⠀
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 0 (service day)⠀
🛤Team mileage: 0 (rest day)⠀
🏔Total elevation gain: NA⠀
👭Running buddy: NA⠀
🏆Donation shout out:⠀
Zainab Al Bimani, Alexis & Ariel Lanier, and Yankee Candle⠀
💕Today I dedicate to: ⠀
Leighton Hailey van Leeuwen⠀
⠀
We had our second service day of the trip today to visit the Buffet Cancer Center in the Nebraska Medicine hospital in Omaha. We met up with patient Lexi and talked about her crab and Disney passion while she was going through chemo and radiation. Afterwards, we had a tour through the medical facility where they showed up Chihuly’s glass art and the chapel he designed in the sanctuary. Gosh, the building was beautiful, and my architecture heart for sure skipped a beat! After the hospital, Mo and I had lunch at First Watch with her family and we went to a pool in Iowa with our lovely host, Ella 🏊🏻♀️ ⠀
⠀
MORE ABOUT Leighton: ⠀
...”With the fairy’s last powers, she could bring Leighton to sleep. This worked. Leighton fell in a really, deep sleep with her favorite sheep next to her. Now, Leighton will only have beautiful dreams. ...” ⠀
DAY 28 ⠀
Omaha, NE ➡️ Seneca, KS⠀
⠀
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 19.6km (12.3mi)⠀
🛤Team mileage: 182km (114mi)⠀
🏔Total elevation gain: 4,617 feet⠀
👭Running buddy: Juliana⠀
🏆Donation shout out:⠀
Tessa Ezendam, Prof. Sang Soo Kim, and Ney⠀
💕Today I dedicate my miles to: ⠀
Leighton Hailey van Leeuwen, Hunter’s Cousin, Fred, Mary, Lexi
and Julie Sampat⠀
⠀
Today’s 12 miles (19.2 km) with VT buddy Juliana (aka Jvoss) flew by because of our inspiring (Virginia Tech) conversations. The fact that we slept on real mattresses the past 2 nights probably helped a lot with our recovery process too: we crushed the rolling hills from Omaha to Seneca! Shout out to our amazing host family the Easton’s who hosted us and Morgan. Crossed another state line to Kansas with more corn and farms in sight 🌽 😬⠀
⠀
MORE ABOUT Julie Sampat:⠀
Kedar: “My sister Julie Sampat lives in Mumbai, India and has been in remission since last year in March! The cancer diagnosis was completely unexpected though, since there's no family history. But right from diagnosis through the chemo and radiation treatments, she kept a very positive attitude. She was brave and handled the treatment and its side effects. The family, especially our parents and her husband were instrumental in supporting her in every possible way.”⠀
Omaha, NE ➡️ Seneca, KS⠀
⠀
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 19.6km (12.3mi)⠀
🛤Team mileage: 182km (114mi)⠀
🏔Total elevation gain: 4,617 feet⠀
👭Running buddy: Juliana⠀
🏆Donation shout out:⠀
Tessa Ezendam, Prof. Sang Soo Kim, and Ney⠀
💕Today I dedicate my miles to: ⠀
Leighton Hailey van Leeuwen, Hunter’s Cousin, Fred, Mary, Lexi
and Julie Sampat⠀
⠀
Today’s 12 miles (19.2 km) with VT buddy Juliana (aka Jvoss) flew by because of our inspiring (Virginia Tech) conversations. The fact that we slept on real mattresses the past 2 nights probably helped a lot with our recovery process too: we crushed the rolling hills from Omaha to Seneca! Shout out to our amazing host family the Easton’s who hosted us and Morgan. Crossed another state line to Kansas with more corn and farms in sight 🌽 😬⠀
⠀
MORE ABOUT Julie Sampat:⠀
Kedar: “My sister Julie Sampat lives in Mumbai, India and has been in remission since last year in March! The cancer diagnosis was completely unexpected though, since there's no family history. But right from diagnosis through the chemo and radiation treatments, she kept a very positive attitude. She was brave and handled the treatment and its side effects. The family, especially our parents and her husband were instrumental in supporting her in every possible way.”⠀
Total Stats for Week 4:
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 111.4 kilometers (69.6 miles)
🛤Team mileage: 430 kilometers (688 miles)
🏔Total elevation gain: 5,297 meters (17,378 feet)
Total Stats after 4 Weeks:
🏃🏽♀️Total Personal Distance: 366.4 kilometers (229 miles)
🛤Total Team Distance: 4,036 kilometers (2,522 miles)
🏃🏽♀️Personal mileage: 111.4 kilometers (69.6 miles)
🛤Team mileage: 430 kilometers (688 miles)
🏔Total elevation gain: 5,297 meters (17,378 feet)
Total Stats after 4 Weeks:
🏃🏽♀️Total Personal Distance: 366.4 kilometers (229 miles)
🛤Total Team Distance: 4,036 kilometers (2,522 miles)
Upcoming Route for Week 5:
Sunday (July 7th): Seneca, KS – Topeka, KS
Monday (July 8th): Topeka, KS – Kansas City, KS
Tuesday (July 9th): Service Day in Kansas City
Wednesday (July 10th): Kansas City, KS – Columbia, MO
Thursday (July 11th): Columbia, MO – St. Louis, MO
Friday (July 12th): St. Louis, MO – Springfield, IL
Saturday (July 13th): Springfield, IL – Salem, IL
Getting closer and closer to Ohio! I am excited to show my team Columbus and to meet our hosts. Last year that was the day that my Theta Tau brother Sara and I went down to Columbus to surprise the team. The hosts invited us to stay for dinner and ever since I kept in touch with them. I am also very excited for my team to meet my boyfriend and I cannot wait to see him again after 2 months!
Love, Illona.
Sunday (July 7th): Seneca, KS – Topeka, KS
Monday (July 8th): Topeka, KS – Kansas City, KS
Tuesday (July 9th): Service Day in Kansas City
Wednesday (July 10th): Kansas City, KS – Columbia, MO
Thursday (July 11th): Columbia, MO – St. Louis, MO
Friday (July 12th): St. Louis, MO – Springfield, IL
Saturday (July 13th): Springfield, IL – Salem, IL
Getting closer and closer to Ohio! I am excited to show my team Columbus and to meet our hosts. Last year that was the day that my Theta Tau brother Sara and I went down to Columbus to surprise the team. The hosts invited us to stay for dinner and ever since I kept in touch with them. I am also very excited for my team to meet my boyfriend and I cannot wait to see him again after 2 months!
Love, Illona.