My name is Eric. Whether out of boredom, spontaneity, or insanity, I registered for the Baltimore Marathon and am now chaotically training for 26.2 miles of hopefully non-stop running.

For the marathon-- which will be held Saturday, October 13 in Baltimore-- I am asking friends, family, and beyond to join me.

But how can we join?
Excellent question! You can join me by doing one of two things:

1. Join me for one of my training runs leading up to the marathon.
2. Donate to my cause, Playworks (http://www.playworks.org) a national nonprofit that offers students at low-income, urban schools the opportunity to go out and play in safe and innovative spaces.

But how can we run with you?
Starting in June, I began an official marathon training schedule (http://www.erichschulman.com/uploads/1/1/1/6/11162949/9568133.jpg?355).

To join me on a run, it's as simple as picking a date and lacing up your running sneaks. I promise I won't run too fast, though there's a chance people will stare at us because I tend to run funny (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSkXnyuYNJQ).

If you really don't want to join me for a run, that's cool, you can still join Team Eric by donating to Team Playworks. It's an excellent cause and donating even the smallest of amounts really will make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged kids.

Directly from the Playworks site, here are a few stats which support the importance of productive play:

• 98 percent of school administrators reported an increase in the number of students that are physically active during recess
• 86 percent reported a decrease in incidents of bullying
• 87 percent reported a decrease in disciplinary referrals
• 88 percent reported a decrease in the number of conflicts originating on the playground and spilling over to class
• 85 percent reported a reduction in the amount of time transitioning from recess to classroom instruction
• 89 percent reported an increase in students' abilities to focus on class activities
• In addition, these educators reported reclaiming an average of eight minutes per day, or more than 24 hours of class time annually, of teaching time formerly lost to resolving conflicts from the playground.

In conclusion, recess is not only super fun, it is also really beneficial.

So join me, whether by running or donating!

Playfully,

Eric