Mom Runs 1,000 Miles for Charity

A year after seven San Clemente moms set out on Mother's Day 2011 to run 1,000 miles in 365 days, the group is doing more than that.

The moms, all of whom live in the Talega community, raised more than $15,000 for Acres of Love, a charity that rescues children orphaned by the AIDS pandemic in South Africa.

Their running group grew to nine women, eight of whom completed the 1,000 miles before a year was up. The other, who battled injuries, completed 850 miles Sunday, Mother's Day.

Four members of the group traveled to South Africa to visit Acres of Love and see the work being done with the kids. One of the visitors, Kim Campbell, is now looking at adopting a child from South Africa.

Campbell and Lisa Grace, who are neighbors in Talega, have been running together for five years and have been supporting Acres of Love since 2008.

We asked Campbell about a year of committed running:

Q: What's the hardest thing about running 1,000 miles?

Most of the miles were run together as a group. We would meet several times a week at 5:20 a.m. It was hard to get out there when husbands travel for work, when kids are sick, when we are sick, when it rains, when we had to nurse injuries.

Q: What were the shortest and longest lengths in a day?

A: Shortest length, maybe two miles. Longest length, 26.2 miles. Five of us ran the Long Beach Marathon in October.

How often did you run?

A: Usually four times a week.

Q: Did any of you visit South Africa?

A: Four of us traveled to South Africa to spend time with the children at Acres of Love in October. I also went back in January with my husband and three kids.

Q: What has this done for you personally?

A: This has been a great and challenging personal accomplishment that we would never have accomplished without the support and encouragement of each other. ... We will continue to run together several times a week and continue to support these children.

See more about the effort at 1000miles -365days.blogspot.com.