We 3 did the 5K run for Celiac in Victoria, Minnesota, this morning. When we realized it was an hour drive early on Saturday morning we wondered what we were thinking. That's why it is good to mail in the pre-registration!
When we caught sight of the tents, the registration area, the people, the kids, the tots in stollers, we knew we were in the right place.
Donations were directed to the University of Maryland Baltimore Center for Celiac Research.
The 5K registration was $15. The walk was free... And walk they did... adults and kids of all ages, including many in strollers.
Dozens of young people in green volunteer shirts were stationed along the course to cheer and to direct.
Hot dogs for celiacs? Well, yes, but on a stick, not in a white wheat bun. That's a pig roaster in the back, used today for cooking up hot dogs.
Product vendors, local stores, and celiac support groups were represented, some in the tents and many more inside the building: lots and lots of free samples of gluten-free food and snacks.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder. Gluten is a protein in wheat, barley and rye that some people have difficulty digesting. This sets off a reaction that damages the small intestine. This can result in many conditions including malnutrition, cancer and even death.
Probably 1 in every 130 people .. or perhaps as many as 1 in 100 in the US are reactive to gluten.
There are indications that myeloma (blood cancer) is an extreme form of celiac.
Gluten-intolerance tests are not particularly accurate.
When the US government's food pyramid was invented, some say the food industry had a hand in designating bread/cereal as a food group, separate from the fruit and vegetable carbohydrates. In fact replacing some bread/cereal with fruits and vegetables can lead to more normal weight!
For information about Making Tracks races around the country:
Making Tracks for Celiacs
See also: Make It a Masterpiece
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Making Tracks For Celiacs
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7 comments:
Wow, I've never seen a run for Celiac and I didn't know there was a connection to Myleoma. We have a friend with celiac - he is suffering from osteoporosis as a result. Thanks for all the good info!
Thank you for the information! I had been wondering about gluten. I figured it must have something to do with wheat. An hour isn't too far to go for a good cause.
I know a lot of people with gluten intolerance as well as my mom. Awesome thing to support and I'm glad there was lots of gluten free stuff there!
We both did 5ks for charity groups this weekend. Fun time! As for your info on the food pyramid, Don and I were looking at this website recently that gave "recommendations" for what ratios to eat, and I couldn't help notice that it was "recommended" that crackers be a good choice for bread or grain. I just couldn't agree with that at all! To me a cracker is a snack, not a necessary food. Hope you enjoyed your race.
OH thanks for the comment about crackers..
Don, with multiple myeloma, is "eating for his life" !!
He says he doesn't want to put anything in his mouth that is not beneficial to his health. We think that pretty well rules out crackers .. all other refined grains.
Thanks foir the information, Sunshine. I always enjoy your contributions.
I ran a half-marathon Sunday morning. I did pretty well!
When I went out to the Jeep at 4:45 AM Sunday, the neighborhood birds were all waking up. It made for a cacophony of natural sounds! We do have some very loud bluejays in the neighborhood now.
The half was run in the vicinity of the Denver Zoo! Many of the peacocks there were greeting the runners loudly as walked by on our raod to the Start line!
As one of those 130 or 100, I thank you for the public service message on celiac disease. And thanks for the cute photos.
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