Fueled By Water: How C2C’s Runner Jonathan Eustache Stays Hydrated

Fueled By Water:  How C2C’s Runner Jonathan Eustache Stays Hydrated

by Lindsay Muscato

In this series, we’re writing about Haitian-American Jonathan Eustache, who’s running to raise $13,624 for C2C in the ING New York City Marathon in November.

For runner and C2C volunteer Jonathan Eustache, regular Mondays don’t exist anymore. Instead, he laces up his running shoes and runs 18 miles up and down the Belt Parkway -- a lot of exertion on what’s supposed to be a day “off” from his job. But Jonathan is squeezing in as much training as possible before the big race. Throughout the rest of the week, he’ll fit in another twelve miles or so, bringing his weekly total up to 30.

Jonathan’s energy and dedication mirrors our drive to bring vital resources to Haïti. Water is especially crucial, and every time C2C visits Haïti, we’re reminded again of our luxury here in the U.S. As Elona Dotson wrote in her earlier blog, “Every day the people in Haïti walk miles, with 5 gallon buckets in hand, sometimes up and around mountains, to get to the nearest water source and once they fill their buckets with water, they then have to walk the long way back from where they came.”

Because water and proper nutrition are a necessity for a successful marathon runner, we asked Jonathan how he does it (even in this summer’s record-breaking heat).

C2C: How much water are you drinking each day to train for this race?

JE: I try to drink at least a gallon of water a day. Try to. Lately I’ve actually been juicing fruits.

C2C: Do you have any favorite juices or smoothes?

JE: I love blackberries. There’s a blackberry protein shake that I make. Blackberries; protein powder (it's like a French vanilla cream flavor); some bananas; oranges and milk. And just a tad of brown sugar and some ice. That's it. Sometimes that's my meal for the day.

C2C: When you’re running those 18 miles, do you carry water with you?

JE: I try to have as little on me as possible. The water's in my car waiting for me. I'm waiting for the prize.

Lindsay Muscato is a writer for Community2Community (C2C).

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Learn more:

Juice fuels the world’s top athletes, too. The New York Times writes about how beetroot and cherry juices may improve performance.

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for hydration, says Runner’s World. Check out the magazine’s recommendations for designing your own strategies to stay cool.

Wed, August 22^nd - Team C2C Run04Haiti New York City Marathon Run04Haiti

Kick-off  - 6pm @ Copia NYC, 307 East 53rd Street, NY, NY

Team C2C ING New York City Marathon RUN04HAÏTI

Team C2C 

ING New York City Marathon 

Run04Haiti

By Lindsay Muscato

On your marks, get set...launch!

Announcing Community2Community (C2C)’s Run04Haiti

Here at C2C, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our next event: the Team C2C ING New York City Marathon Run04Haiti, a fundraising campaign supporting C2C volunteer Jonathan Eustache, a Haitian-American runner who will be taking on the ING New York City Marathon on November 4th, 2012.

TEAM C2C is Jonathan’s cheerleaders and support team – he is the real engine behind our  RUN04HAÏTI campaign to raise funds for the C2C Haïti Restoration and Transformation Pilot Project (HRTPP) and we would love your help.

Who is Jonathan Eustache? Why is he running for C2C?

At first, Jonathan -- a 911 dispatcher raised in Brooklyn -- was no marathoner. He was just an interested Haitian-American, contacting C2C CEO+FireStarter Marie-Yolaine Eusebe about volunteering after reading about her in the Daily News. But soon a campaign evolved to merge help for Haïti with Jonathan’s newest passion, running. In 2008, Jonathan began running after doctors gave him two options for solving his back problems: lose weight or have surgery. By the time he had lost 36 pounds, he had begun to seriously improve his stamina and endurance. He had never tried to run a marathon before. But if it could raise money for Haïti, Jonathan was willing to try. He had lost a cousin and a close friend in the 2010 earthquake. By aligning with C2C, Jonathan thought his 26.2 miles could really make a difference.

3 Ways You Can Help Jonathan and Team C2C:

1. Come celebrate with us and pledge your support!  Show your support by coming to the launch event and making a pledge to sponsor Jonathan’s 26.2 mile run. The first 100 people to pledge $2.62 per mile will be entered a drawing to receive dinner for two at New York's hottest Haitian restaurants.  The launch kicks off on Wednesday, August 22nd at 6pm; at Copia NYC; 307 East 53rd Street in New York.
2. Come shout with us!  We will be on hand at each of Jonathan’s runs to cheer him on. E-mail events@community2community.info to find out details of where we are meeting. 
3. Spread the word.  Fan us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @C2CHaïti and #Run04Haiti and retweet our announcements about the launch and the run.

Look out for future blog posts on Jonathan’s upcoming practice runs; get great tips on diet, training and gear; and -- as always -- learn new ways to support our vital mission.

All proceeds from Jonathan's run will go to C2C for continued funding of the C2C Haïti Restoration and Transformation Pilot Project (HRTPP). The Run04Haiti is one in a series of events and fundraisers during 2012 designed to bring individuals and institutions together in a collective effort to pool resources in support of C2C’s Haïti Restoration and Transformation Pilot Project and the completion of its first initiative, a water treatment system bringing clean, potable water to over 16,000 people. C2C hopes to raise $13,624 in support of Jonathan’s marathon run.

Lindsay Muscato is a writer for Community2Community (C2C).