I've decided to start the new year off with a challenge. I'll be running my first marathon on January 23, 2011, and will do so in the beautiful setting of Maui.

I invite you all to use this as an excuse for a vacation and join me for the week. If you are unable to be there, you can support me through a donation to a charity that Jalyn and I have close to our hearts, Young Women in Enterprise.

TechnoServe Kenya's Young Women in Enterprise program was a major source of our time and effort while living in Kenya, and a cause Jalyn and I both feel strongly about supporting. They've made a difference in hundreds of disadvantaged young women's lives through teaching them entrepreneurship and employability skills. Jalyn worked with the group exclusively and I had the opportunity to help them recruit women into the program and participate as a judge in the business plan competitions. During program recruitment, I went door-to-door with some of the team in one of the largest slums in Nairobi, explaining the program to young women. With my beard and clearly awesome physique, a group of young children decided I must be Chuck Norris, and the nickname has stuck. For more information on the Chuck Norris story, check out our blog (Click Here) and for more information on YWE, check out the TechnoServe website (Click Here)

Although a marathon in Maui may seem like a glorified reason for a vacation, 26.2 miles of Maui coastline will be training hard over the next 4 months for its encounter with Chuck Norris.

If you plan to join us in Maui, I have some great suggestions for any budget, including $5/person camping on the beach!

Hope to see you all at the Maui Oceanfront Marathon on January 23, 2011.

Thank you for your support!