Your help IS appreciated!

I have dedicated this site and my efforts to honor my father in-law Roger Myers, who in the beginning of January was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Thank you for stopping by my TNT site.

I am looking forward to sharing my TNT running and fund-raising endeavor with you. Thank you for your help in trying to find a cure for blood cancers and supporting families struck by this awful disease. Any dollar amount, no matter how small is greatly appreciated!

~~~~~~~~~~

Getting ready...

4/22/09

It has been quite a while since I have written. Things have been a bit busy but I'll try to catch up on the blog right now.

With your help I raised OVER $3000! Thank you to everyone that helped out with that. Since writing in the blog last I have run a 12 miler, a bunch of short runs and 9 miler. Everything went very well. The 12 miler gave me the mental confidence I needed. I am ready!

Race day is approaching quickly; only 10 days to go! Last night we had our last TNT meeting, got our racing shirts and instructions for the big day. I can't wait to try it out tonight in a short run.

Last Monday I ran 3 miles and had some major pains in my calve muscles, both of them. They were pretty tight and even though I massaged them over the last few days they are still achy. I am a bit worried that they are both inflamed and will take Ibuprofen for the next few days and take it easy tonight.

The other reason why I want to run tonight is because I got new shoes. My old shoes had over 400 miles on them and showed significant wear on the inside and outside. I am wondering if that might have had an influence on my calf muscles.

I went to Frontrunner and they examined my old shoes and had me try on a few different ones. I ended up with an Asics pair. They seem to have decent room in the toe box and also grab my heel a bit better than my current pair.

Back in 2005 I was very excited to run this race and drove everyone nuts because it was my first one. This time the hype is not as bad. It is just another race, BUT on the other hand it isn't. I will be in purple, running for those that are in search of a cure!!!

As one of the coaches said in the TNT meeting last night:

You run the first 5 miles with your legs

Your training will get you through the next 5

And the last 3.1 will be run with your heart!

Next weekend has a 6 miler listed, then it's just a 4 milers and 3 miler during the week, and race day will be upon us.

I am ready!

~~~

School is back in session

4/2/09

This quarter (school) is going to be a tough one; 3 classes *sigh*. But this is my running blog, not my "here I go again, complaining" blog ! ;)

My stomach has been giving me trouble, so I (finally) had a CT scan on Tuesday. But it doesn't show anything *sigh*. I guess that's a good thing, however I would like to know why I have pains on my left side.

Perhaps my gastroenterologist will be able to answer that for me on the 23rd, when I have my next medical procedure.

I ran 10 miles on Saturday. It went well. Again slower than I have been in the past, but, like always, I got it done. I was very sore afterwards though, specially my left leg. (All my on and off pains are on the left side in my stomach as well), so I didn't run on Monday. I did jump on the stationary bike at home and peddled 13 miles.

On Tuesday I had the CT scan. The stuff they made me drink messed my stomach up really bad (or perhaps it was the IV, I don't know). I was in no shape to run, other than the bathroom. *sigh*

I planned on running three at lunch on Tuesday, but my leg hurt, so I jumped on the elliptical rider for 30 minutes (3.14 miles) and stretched some afterwards.

Tonight my goal is to run 6 miles on the treadmill. We'll have to see how that goes. As of right now I don't have any leg pain.

My father in-law had his sixth chemo on Monday. He is now officially halfway through his treatment! They still hit him pretty hard, but I think it helps to know there is a routine to it.

With your help I have raised $2800 so far. THANK YOU EVERYONE! I am hoping that I can hit $3000 by the time I am running the 1/2. Wouldn't that be awesome? That would be twice the amount of money I thought I couldn't raise! ;)

~~~

3 + 6 + 9 + 3

3/24/09

Apparently it's been a while since I posted. The first three are interval training. Boy, let me tell you...that kicked my butt. But I plan on doing it again this Wednesday. It HAS to make a difference in my overall pace. (or so I hope)

The 6 I did at home on the treadmill (the original plan was to go 3, but I have this co-worker that's training for the 1/2 as well, and HE was running 6 that evening! lol). It wasn't easy, because I had nothing good to watch. Well, what I wanted to watch didn't work out (on my iPhone). Eventually I found something, and the last 2 miles weren't too bad. It just takes me 4 good miles to warm up and get into the groove of things.

My longest run so far this year is now 9 miles. It was a good run. A bit slower than I had hoped, but I was tickled pink that I was wearing the right type of clothes for that day. It is such a gamble at this time of year.

I was tired at the end, but not dead. I tried rollerskating later on in the day, but my legs felt pretty wobbly. lol

The 3 miler was again on the dreadmill. I was gonna go 4 (maybe), but at 2.5 I had to go to the bathroom pretty bad. I knew that once I got of the treadmill I would not return back on it, so I struck it out for the full 3 and called it a day.

~~~

3.1 plus 8

3/15/09

I don't remember much of the 3.1, because it's been a few days, but the 8 is still fresh.

The first half mile was good, which surprised me, because usually I am struggling until I get warm. The next 2 miles where not fun. First I started with shin splint pain in my right leg. Well...that's something new.

That started to go away after mile one, but in the mean time I developed side stiches. At mile 1.5 I was having a not so nice conversation with the powers that be, but something told me to just shut up and suck up.

After all, I am able to go out there and run. I should be able to handle some discomfort. That's nothing compared to what some people have to go through. So I grit my teeth and continued, and eventually the run did become more fun.

I loved mile 3 to 4 and 5 to 6. They are both downhill, and I feel very strong during those miles.

I ran a negative split. I am not sure by how much, but I am pretty sure by a minute at least. That's always good.

Overall it was a slow run, but I am sure that next week I'll be faster and stronger. :)

I want to take the time and thank everyone for their donations so far. Some of the notes I have gotten with the donations have touched mine and Roger's heart. Thank you sooo much!

We had dinner with Roger last night. He was 'complaining' about the hat he was wearing (because his noggin is always cold, specially now that he has no hair. Well, he didn't have much to begin with, but... ;) ) The complaint was it looked goofy. I told him to cover more of his forehead and it would look much better!

Dinner was nice, and it's so good to see him in good spirits. As I am typing this he's receiving, what seems like his 3,282nd chemo treatment! Go Roger Go!

~~~

Pretty Duck

3/14/09

Following is a conversation the hubby and I had after seeing a runner moving gracefully down the road.

Hubby: Look, there goes a runner.

Me: I wish I was that graceful.

Hubby: What do you mean?

Me: I don't run like that. I run like a duck out of water.

Hubby: Yeah, but you are a pretty duck!

Me: Quack!

Awww! Supportive, isn't he!

~~~

Some lifting and 4

3/10/09

I rode the elliptical rider for 20 minutes on Monday and then lifted some weights...upper body. I am pretty sore today even though I didn't really push it.

The weatherforcast was 71 degrees and raining. When I stepped ouside, in shorts and t-shirt it was 49 and overcast. At first I thought it would be too cold, but turns out it was actually really nice. My hands were a bit chilled, but it was not bad.

I planned on doing 3, but felt good and did another loop. I think running on the treadmill is helping me keep my pace. I did have a few walking breaks, but my overall pace was 10:35, which I am happy with, considering I have not run outside in almost 2 weeks. I need to have a sub 10:30 pace to beat my 1/2 marathon PR...I think that's possible. Starting next week I plan on incorporating interval training again.

4 plus 7 on the treadmill

3/8/09

I ran 4 on Thursday (3/5/09) on the treadmill.

The 7 miler long run I planned on doing outside. But it appears that I am no longer immune to rain (haha) and decided that I should run the 7 on the treadmill instead of taking the chance to melt in the intermittened rain we had going on outside. I popped in "The Transformer" DVD and off I went. The mileage went surprisingly fast.

I am working on increasing my incline (because the world is not flat), eventually I would like to run consistently at 3% at least. The 7 miler was run at a 2% incline, which is up .5 from my previous runs. It didn't seem to bother me too bad.

Update on my FIL: He was starting to loose weight and simply not feeling well for a week and a half straight. So the doctor decided to do a CAT scan to see if the treatment was working. If that was the case he would lessen the aggressiveness of the treatment and move the chemo from every two weeks to every three.

The treatment is working so far!!!! The doctor was pleased and now Roger goes every three weeks, to give his body time to recover between each chemo treatment. Right now however he's suffering from a cold, which he thinks turned into a sinus infection. :(

Correction: My FIL is still receiving chemo every two weeks.

~~~

4.5 and an "oops"

3/4/09

In the past I have dreaded running on the treamill, but lately that seems to be my favorite past time. Last night I planned on doing 4 miles, but got so involved in the movie "The Kingdom" that I had to run another 1/2 mile, because I wanted to watch it to the end. lol

The "oops" came this morning when I realized, on the way to work, that I forgot to pack my gym bag. I have a second set of clothes in the gym, but not no pants. :( And I am not running without those! lol

Instead of running outside today I'll just put my mileage in on the treadmill. Hopefully I can find a good movie that will keep my interest.

5k and 6

3/2/09

I ran 3.1 on the treadmill on Friday, took the day off on Saturday and ran 6 outside on Sunday.

The hubby peddled beside me on Friday. We watched a movie while we worked out. That was kind of nice having him there. I am hoping to be able to drag him down there with me twice a week!

On Sunday I was going to run with the group, but got a text from my friend Annaliesa just as I was heading out saying she couldn't make it, so I decided to save 2 hours of driving time and just run at home.

The first 3 miles were into the wind. Urgh! That's not fun. The only thing that kept me going was knowing that I would have that wind in my back on the return route. The run was not nearly as much fun nor as fast as the one two weeks ago. However, I am glad I got it done.

~~~

Little here and there

2/26/09

After the 6 miles on the 15th I did not run for almost a week. The cold that I had gotten kicked my butt and there was no desire to run.

On the 20th we bought a treadmill and even though I wasn't feeling too well I managed 3 on the 21st and 4 on the 22nd. I took the 23rd off to give my still recovering body a rest.

On Tuesday I ran 3, and yesterday 4. I am not very fast on the treadmill. Actually my pace is much slower then my outside pace, but I am working on that. I think it is because I am intimidated by the fact that I have to go the speed of the treadmill, and can't just slow down or walk without having to hit a few buttons first. Like I said, I am working on that.

I am still not 100% and actually think I have a sinus infection, but just haven't taken the time to schlepp to the doctor. Next week! lol

It is great though just to be able to go downstairs whenever I want to and put my mileage in and not have to worry about the weather.

~~~

6 and a cold

2/19/09

I ran 6 miles on 2/15/09, which felt really great. I ran the second 3 miles 2 minutes faster than the first 3!

A lot of people crossed my mind during this run....from my father in law, to people at work, to online running buddies. All of those carried me through those 6 miles with ease. I am very blessed to be surrounded by such inspiring individuals!

The fundraiser on Saturday was a flop...we sold ONE 50/50 raffle ticket. We ended up giving the guy who had bought it a Valentines teddy bear instead. We did manage to sell quite a few teddy bears after we dropped the price from $10 to $5. Overall we got $96 (divide by 3) in donations, and made $100 each by selling bears, which we had also been selling them at work over the least two weeks.

On Tuesday my throat started getting sore and I have this dry cough, which is still with me. Yesterday I felt like I got hit by a truck. Today I feel better, but still not 100%, more like 70%. On a good note, my stomach is getting a bit better...wo-hoo!

I am hoping that tomorrow I'll be able to do an easy 3 miles followed up by my long run (7 miles) on Saturday.

~~~

4 and a 1/4 mile side trip

2/12/09

Well, I ran in shorts today, which was, how do I say, a bit under dressed (40 degrees and very strong winds)...at least at the beginning. Once my leg became numb is was no longer an issue and I actually felt pretty good. It helped that I was wearing a jacket over my short sleeve shirt.

About a mile into the run my stomach 'flopped' on me and the urge to use the bathroom became great. This doesn't happen to me too often, so I thought that I could stick it out and just run three instead of four. At 1.5 miles however it became urgent and I made my way towards Giant Eagle.

Upon leaving Giant Eagle I felt so much better and was able to finish my full four mile run with a 1/4 mile bonus at a 10:24 pace. That was a nice surprise because I had to walk a lot prior to my side trip.

I am hoping that my stomach will settle down by tomorrow. Annaliesa and I are running 4.

~~~

4 in shorts

2/10/09

Annaliesa and I, with Ettore hanging around for a while and at the end did 4 today. Annaliesa forgot her kneebrace, but managed to run all 4 strong.

I enjoyed the company. Ettore ran with us for the first and last mile. It was great to run in a group. Because of Ettore we ran a little faster than we would have, but we are ok with that. An occasional push like that is great.

My stomach issues have returned. So far they have not interferred with my running, but I am not sure what the road will be like ahead.

I called a new gastraologist, one recommended by my primary physician, and I hope this one won't have the personality of a doorknob and then move his practice after the first visit. lol Unfortunatly this appointment is not until the end of March.

Perhaps with the right diet I can get this under control again.

We are having dinner with my FIL tonight. I am curious to find out if he had Chemo yesterday. I sure hope he did and that he feels alright today.

~~~

5 and 6

2/8/09

Ran with Annaliesa on Saturday morning at Sharon Woods. Part of the run was a challenge, there was quite a bit of ice still on the trail. We managed the 3.8 mile loop without having to carry the other one back and tacked on another 1.2, to make it 5.

We had a good time and many laughs as we were manuvering our way over the frozen path.

Sunday: 10? No, 8? Nah...6. I had the intentions on running 10 on Sunday, but then decided that it might be better for my body if I ran only 8. Why? Come Sunday morning I still had a ton of homework for my classes to do and knew that if I ran 8 I would be not much good the rest of the day...so 6 it was.

It was a good 6, slow, but I got it done. Ended up with a blister on top of my right 'index' toe. On top??? Hmmm, that's a first. Today marked my first run in months without a jacket...is spring on its way?

We had dinner with my FIL on Saturday evening. He was in rare form, almost like his good ole self. Even drove him an my MIL there. Seeing him like that was like finding the golden wrapper. He was actually so full of it that we joked that he needed his Chemo (which he's suppose to get on Monday) to knock him down a couple notches.

~~~

Strong 4

2/5/09

It was not nearly as cold outside today as yesterday. 8 degrees and sunny. Summer is on its way!!!

The run was good and solid; I felt strong and the end time showed it. I hadn't run that fast since the beginning of January. Perhaps less is better. Who knows.

We had our TNT event at work today. It looks like it all went really well. We made a ton of money in the morning and perhaps 1/2 that much in the afternoon.

FIL update: If his blood count is good (which he's having done tomorrow) he'll be receiving his 3rd round of chemo next Monday *crossing fingers*

~~~

Lights, camera, action...

2/2/09

After almost taking a week of from running (weather related, and no desire to be out in the cold) I finally went out on Monday. I did 3 and they felt good. My body was telling me it was time to go run!

Our employer has taken up our cause! Wo-hoo! We are having 2 lobby events (mind you we have about 2000 people working in our building) coming up. They decided to tape us running and walking on the treadmill and then show that on the big screen in the lobby during our lobby events. The goal of the taping was to have about 5 minutes worth of footage of all of us.

Even though there are 11 AEP employees in the Columbus area participating, only 6 made it to the taping. It worked out well though. We have 3 treadmills in the Wellness Center and three runners and three walkers. The walkers were up first. They ended up walking over 1/2 an hour...my goodness!

Next were the three runners. Knowing how long it took the walkers to be taped, we all took it slow running! How quickly times flies when you are having fun, but the last 10 minutes of the run went rather slow. lol There was no walking or slowing down, no slouching or any other form of making it an easier run. You had to look good 30 minutes straight...*sigh*. But we all managed and were very glad when that was over. I am sooo curious to see what footage they will use.

I ran 5.6 miles that day and was pretty sore the next! lol

~~~

Chilly 8

1/25/09

Wohoo! I managed to run 6 days this week, I think that's an all time record for me. What's nice is that my body does not feel beat up! The 8 today were easier than I thought they would be. But I did them fairly slow (11 min/mile pace), however, I am happy that I was able to do it, no matter what speed.

It was cold outside though and that being cold feeling never really left me. At mile 6 I was glad that I only had 2 miles to go; everything was cold. The strange thing is though I have run in -1 degree weather and haven't felt that cold. The hubby even agreed today was a "omg it's cold outside day."

To update everyone on my 1000 miles in 2009! I am almost 50 miles in, currently sporting a 2.8 miles per day average to 1k miles. OMG only 340 days left!!*chuckle*

~~~

3.1 again

1-21-09

It was colder than yesterday and misery loves company. My running buddy and I went out around 10am. We had the proper clothing on, so all went well. Parts of the sidewalks are still snowed over, but we are becoming pros at not twisting our ankles. With a windchill factor of -1 it was a bit chilly, but you know, when you think about what you are running for it doesn't make it make you shut up and not complain.

My FIL wasn't able to receive his second dose of Chemo on Monday because his blood count was too low. He's had some really rough days last week, but was doing better towards the end. Hopefully that will continue for him.

~~~

3.1

1-20-09

I could feel today that I didn't stretch very well after yesterday's run. Everything felt tight. I made a point to stretch after today's run. Did 3.1 on sometimes snow packed sidewalks; what a challenge for the ankles! It was just about as cold today as yesterday.

~~~

4 in the cold

1-19-09

I didn't make it out over the weekend. I could use the weather as an excuses "too cold, too slippery, snowing; the list goes on and on. But to be honest, I just didn't feel like running.

I ran 4 today and let me tell you my lungs did not appreciate the first mile. They kept saying "go home, we want to be warmer, this air is too cold', but like so many times I just ignored those voices and trekked on.

The run was nice and I am glad I went out even though it was only 11 degrees with a wind chill of 5. I enjoyed the run and I am hoping I will be able to run 3 tomorrow at lunch time with my running buddy.

~~~

Not so fun, then again, Yes it is

1-14-09

Yesterday's 4 miler was not fun.

The sleet into the face for the first mile was very discouraging, but the feeling after getting the run on the books made it worth it. The sidewalks were a challenge at times, but I took it slow.

Today: It's been snowing since 9:30am this morning and still hasn't let off. Around 11:30 my running buddy, who also works were I work, trekked out. With the wind chill factor it was 1 degree out. But for some reason neither the cold air, nor the falling snow stopped either one of us running 3.1 miles. We decided to just take it slow and have fun. I think it was one of the funnest (is there such a word?) runs for me in a long time. We decided to take her cell phone along and take pictures of our endeavors.

~~~

Still Running

1-12-09

I managed a 5 miler, 4 miler, some elliptical and bike workout, another 4 miler, and a 7 miler since posting last, so I am still running. It just seems right now I don�"t have the time to post.

Perhaps now, after the holidays things slowly will get back into the normal grove.

In order to keep up with my goal of 1k in 2009 I will need to increase my mileage a bit. I need to run just under 3 miles every day to keep that goal, but with the long runs on the weekend I could take a day off during the week. This will be interesting.

The eating goal is not going well, but a friend just recruited me to a weight loss team, so last night instead of diving into the bag of potato chips I grabbed bottles of water instead. One day at a time!

My father in law was finally diagnosed! He has Hodgkin Lymphoma. We were told that�"s the best kind to have. He started Chemo last Monday. He has good days and bad. We can only hope that it will destroy the cancer and give us back the man he used to be. I would love for him to be around when his youngest grandchild (our daughter) graduates High School in (hopefully) 10 years. That�"s my selfish little secret.

I have raised $969 out of the $1,500. Getting there!

~~~

3, 3, 5, and 4

12-30-08

With the craziness of Christmas and shuffling kids from here to there I have been too busy to post. I have however done as much running as I could. Since the 20th I have run 4 times: 3.1, 3.1, 5, and today I did 4.

My running is not what it was a few months ago, but I am happy that I am out there getting a few miles in here and there. The mileage will be picking up shortly once the training programs gets into the thick of things.

My new found running buddy is having issues with her knee and after resting it for over a week she�"s giving in and calling the doctor to get it looked at.

My father in-law is in the hospital again. We still don�"t have the results of what kind of Lymphoma his has (the Dr. thinks the tests results are delayed because of the holidays), but while he�"s in the hospital (his calcium level is really high) the doctor is putting a port in. This way the FIL is ready to receive the treatment once they know the specifics.

It breaks my heart to hear our 8 year old saying �SI worry about Grandma and Grandpa, but I worry about Grandpa more� (the MIL pulled a hamstring yesterday after miss-stepping on some stairs!). I try to be as honest as I can with our daughter, and it really helps to know that the odds of beating Lymphoma are pretty high.

~~~

My Running Goal for 2009:

I ran 749 miles in 08. That is quite an improvement over the 500ish miles I ran in ��07, which included my marathon training. I am going to break the 1,000 miles in 2009 and train for a full marathon.

To improve my training and running I plan on eating better starting after New Year. I have been dipping into the chocolate (I just love Dove milk chocolate!!!) and potato chips again and the weight is starting to go back up.

The limiting myself on junk food will be harder for me than running over 1000 miles in ��09.

As they say in Germany �SIch wuensche Euch allen einen guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr!�

I wish you all a good slide into the New Year!

~~~

Did we just do 4?

12-20-08

The TNT group run was at Sharon Woods today. I�"d say about 20 people showed up, which is about the norm. A and I stretched a bit and were off. Going by our time on Wednesday (12:44 min/mile) I would have assumed we�"d be doing a 12 min mile or so pace, but after the first mile is was evident that we would be going faster. I kept trying to run just a little behind A, so she could determine the pace. She was like a loaded pistol. We covered the first mile in 10:44. The second mile was a little slower because she needed to tie her shoe. The third and fourth mile put us at an average of 10:59, a much faster pace than 12:44!

The loop was only 3.8 long, but I talked her into finishing out the 4 miles, which she did!

I am enjoying having a running partner and have decided to run the marathon with her instead of trying to PR. I feel the need to enjoy the race more than the desire to finish it. �SA� mentioned today that all goes well she would like to train for the full marathon in October. Can you say �Shooked� lol

Our fundraiser at a bar last night netted us $83.25 each (there were 4 of us). Not bad for 4 hours worth of work and a ton of fun!

The fundraiser at the running store wrapping presents for donation this afternoon netted us $2 each! haha, less than the $4 I made last week; granted though the girls before us made $53 each. I guess it was just bad timing on our part.

With my ��donut�" money (bringing donuts to work for donations every Wednesday and donating the money for the donuts as well) I am just about 1/2 way to my obligatory $1500. Wo-hoo!

~~~

!!!It Hits Home!!!

12-19-08

When I first signed up to run for Team in Training I did it because I thought it would give me a sense of accomplishment when crossing the finish line, knowing that I just tackled 13.1 miles and help raise money for a very worthy cause. I never really thought that it would become very personal for me.

Today, this morning, my father in-law, whom I adore, respect, and admire (I am unable to convey to you with words how much I really like that guy!), was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Here is a man, who has always been on the go, be it hiking the Appalachian trails, going quadding with us, working on things around the house, or horsing around on the floor with his grandkids, now always tired and just not able to do the things he once enjoyed, and not because age.

The result of the biopsy was just a preliminary one. We do not know what kind of Lymphoma he is tackling, but we are all glad that we now know what is wrong and that a battle plan is in the works to get rid of his cancer. We do know that Lymphoma has a high �Scure�" rate and we keep that in mind when our thoughts drift.

It is a strange coincidence that I am training with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society�"s Team In Training this season, but now I am fully able to appreciate them.

I posted this not to solicit money, but rather to use it a bit as an outlet, because I do worry about him very much. Thank you.

~~~

Dreadmill v. 3.5

12-19-08

It was pouring like crazy this morning (I am not complaining, it could have been rain, like in the North) so I hopped on the treadmill instead.

I managed to run 3.5 miles before I got really sick of being there. 3.5 is better than skipping the run all together.

The Lodge Bar fundraiser is tonight, tomorrow is a group run, and also more fund raising by offering wrapping of Christmas presents at the running store. Let�"s hope we make more than last week! lol

~~~

Running 3 w/A

12-18-08

My running buddy A and I headed out this morning for a nice run. We are trying to get together once a week to get some of the mileage under our belts. It was great having someone to chat with.

She ran the whole 3 miles without stopping. Very impressive. The pace was good, she was able to hold a conversation and run at the same time.

~~~

Aching 3

12-15-08

Checked my Garmin last night after charging it again. It was staying on, battery was charged, and it was good to go. So, as I step out of the building at work to go running I realized I left that puppy in the gym bag. It is a hassle to go back in the building (through the front lobby, etc), so I decided that going for another run without it won�"t hurt anything!

I planned on going 4, but soon realized that 3 will have to do. We went quadding yesterday for over 2 hours and my whole body is sore, including my legs. My calve muscles were really sore and ached for the first mile, even after stretching them.

It was a slow going three, with a few walk breaks in between, not because I had to catch my breath, but simply because my legs just didn�"t want to run anymore. I got back to work and stretched for a while. It felt good, but yet they are still aching just sitting here at my computer.

~~~

Just 6

12-14-08

This Garmin, thing, I just don�"t know! I strapped it around my wrist turned it on and it turned back off!!! Well! So I took a cheap stopwatch with me. Back to the basics I guess. I stuck the Garmin on the charger again, hopefully it will charge right the next time.

I decided on 6 miles. The hubby had errands to run so I needed to be back quickly. The nice thing with running 6 is that I don�"t need to carry a fuel belt. It feels so much natural to run like that.

The run was good. Even though it was VERY cold outside. 15 degrees; I dressed in layers and I was quite comfortable.

I attended a fundraiser for 2 hours after the run, wrapping presents for people at a running store in Columbus. The TNT group set up the volunteers by twos and at the end of the hour we were to split the money we made via donations.

Well, the first hour netted me $1 and the second $3 dollars, but I met some very nice ladies each hour that I got paired with, so it was not a total loss. As a matter of fact I am going to try my luck again next week for two hours, hopefully some desperate husbands will be making some purchases that they will need wrapped as well.

~~~

Good Feelin' 4

12-12-08

Well, once again I forgot my Garmin! lol But then that�"s not what it is all about, right? I had a really good, strong feeling run today. It was cold, but that�"s nothing new nowadays.

I got side stitches again after a mile (left side) and then again 1 and a half mile in (right side). They are like unwelcomed in-laws, they come when they want to and leave when they are good and ready, but never anytime soon. If this keeps up I�"ll have to come up with names for the two sides.

Aside from the stitches, this was one of the better feeling runs I have had in a while. Tomorrow I�"ll be running 6 or 8 (depending on how I feel) and in the afternoon I�"ll be going to Frontrunner for 2 hours to wrap purchases/gifts for donations. Hopefully I�"ll make enough to cover the cost of the wrapping paper, etc.! haha

After the run today I immediately went to the potluck our floor was having and ate pretty good until I eyed the 7-layer Chocolate cake!!! OMG!!! Yep, I had a nice slice. Yep, it was good! That�"s why I run, right, to have goodies like that without feeling too guilty.

~~~

3 among friends

12/10/08

Met up with Annaliesa and Etorre, both Team in Training runners, in the gym at work. "A "has just started running, "E" on the other hand has done a mini triathlon before.

We walked a little bit and then started running. It was slow, granted, but it was nice chatting with them.

We ran out a mile and turned around. I was expecting A stop after that but she kept right on trucking. I tried giving her some encouraging words, but I am not really good that that. At about mile 1.75 she noticeably slowed down, but did not walk. I was clearly impressed with the running progress she has made over the last month. They headed back towards work and I put another mile in just because I felt good. It was nice running with people and I am hoping with can make that a weekly thing.

~~~

Snow covered 4

12/8/08

The first mile to the park was cleared of snow. Only in a few places was there some snow/ice left on the sidewalks. But, the loop around the park was another story. Oh, the exercise my ankles got this morning had to be the most they have gotten in a long time. But, to make a long story short, I did not trip nor fall the 2 miles I covered on snow. I win!

I got side stitches again, this time about mile in on the left side, then another mile later it switched to the right side. I tried to concentrate on my breathing pattern, but my brain was much more turned into the music from John Mayer then paying attention to my body. Another 1/2 mile or so the side stitches became much better.

At the end of the run I was feeling really good and I am glad I went outside even though it was pretty cold out.

~~~

Jingle Bell Run 5k

12/6/08

The drive to Columbus and back home was more exhausting then the race itself. I saw, over the course of my travel up and back, one car turn upside down, one in the concrete median and many cars in the ditch or stopped by the highway divider (metal strings) from crossing over to the other lane. At one point I was asking myself why I was even attempting this. Because I had people give me money to run, that�"s why. After all this was for a good cause.

I only collected $80, unlike the $400+ last year, but I hate pushing myself on people too much, and with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fund raising going on I don�"t want to wear out my welcome.

The race itself wasn�"t nearly as exciting as the car ride, but it was just as slippery in spots. Unlike the Turkey run, I lined up a bit closer to the front. It also helped that they had the runners line up on High Street and the walkers on Nationwide Blvd.

I battled side stitches again, but not nearly as bad as during the Turkey run. My goal was to run under 10 minutes per mile and I did that. I came in at 29:53, a 9:38 min/mile pace. Yesssss!!!

~~~

4 mo'

12-4-08

Yesterday health wise was not a good day. I woke up with an upset stomach and decided, after dropping the youngest at the sitter that it was a good day to stay home. In the �SLost and Found� department in our household it was however a good day. I found my iPod (between the passenger seat and the door in the car), my TNT running shirt (amidst the daughter�"s clothes), and my older Gamin, which I was going to lend to someone (just where it suppose to be, in the cupboard, just a tad to the right though). During the afternoon my stomach settled down.

Today I woke up feeling much better. I went to Front Runner to pick up my running packet for Saturday�"s Jingle Bell run and picked up a new running jacket while there. Wo-hoo! I love my (4+ year) old Brooks jacket, but the tab that you pull the zipper up and down with disappeared a year or so ago and with this yucky weather it was time to get a newer one.

During the run today I had side stitches again, first on the left, then on the right, after about 2 miles they went away.

My pace is slowing down. I won�"t become concerned until I run 10:30 or slower though. I do need to start watching what I am eating; I think that had ALOT to do with it. *sigh*

~~~

Another cold 4

12-2-08

Forgetting the iPod, be it the Shuffle or the Nano, is becoming a habit. To forget about the cold I brought my cell phone with me in the meantime to listen to my book. That worked out pretty well.

The side stitches started around mile 1.5. I am not sure what�"s up with that. They latest about a mile. I wasn�"t pushing myself, so I have no idea why they appeared.

I am looking forward to 40 to 50 degree weather. This 20 to 30 is just a bit too cold for me.

~~~

Thankful 8

11-29-08

After Thursday�"s disappointing race I decided to run 8 for my weekend long run, just to see if I could still do it. It�"s been quite a while since I have gone that distance. The side stitches that have been accompanying me in just about every run subsided after about mile 2.

I remember in the past, after about 4 to 5 miles my feet would start to hurt, and lately they don�"t ache like that anymore.

My iPod Nano seemed to have enough of me and has disappeared. I am glad that my old iPod shuffle (512MB memory!) is still around and was happy to take that on the run with me listening to David Balducci�"s �SDevine Justice�. It wasn�"t charged very well, so about a mile from home it died, but that was ok, it gave me the chance to listen to the world around me.

It wasn�"t a fast run, but I enjoyed it and I am thankful I can go out there like that and run it.

~~~

Flying Feather 4 Miler race

11-27-08

Let me start off with the lessons I learned:

Do not expect to run a fast race when you have walkers walking up three to four people wide everywhere.

Do not expect to have the endurance to run a fast race when you get there 1.5 hours early and freeze, because it is only 20 degrees outside (we got shuttled to the starting area, so going back to the car just didn�"t seem like the thing to do.) I must have run at least 2 miles just to keep warm! lol

So, with that said, I did not run as fast as I had hoped and I am not sure if I�"ll be running it again next year. It takes me over an hour to get there. I did PR by over 5 and a half minutes, but my goal to run a sub 40 race just didn�"t happen. I knew that the first mile in, but was still very disappointed when I crossed that finish line.

I don�"t remember having that many problems with the crowd last year, but then I ran more than a mile per minute slower, that could be the reason why.

I am glad I went, and proud of the fact that I went there by myself. The bottle of wine I received after finishing went down really smooth with my Thanksgiving dinner that evening.

~~~

Balmy 4

11-26-08

Well, not really, but a friend of mine told me to �Senjoy the balmy weather� when I told her I was going out to run! Lol

Again, ran without an iPod today, the whole dang thing, including headphones are at home. Good thing my head is attached!

The run was good. I tried going slow, it didn�"t work too well. I ended up with side stitches. *sigh*

Tomorrow I am running in the Flying Feather Four Miler. This will require me to get up at the crack of dawn, drive for over an hour, then run, drive home, make the turkey and etc.. Someone needs to remind me why I put myself in positions like that. Oh yeah, for the �Sbling� I almost forgot!

Picked up my running packet today. It included a technical long sleeve shirt, a wool hat, and throw away gloves. What I have never seen before is the timing chip, which is currently attached like duct tape to the bib, and to be removed before the race and attached to the shoe. A throw away time chip, interesting!

~~~

Dripping 4

11-24-08

Saturday was cold, today was wet. I am not sure which one I prefer.

Ran without an iPod today, forgot the headphones at home⬦oops. The run was good, felt a bit slower than usual, but I did not push it. The payoff was no side stitches. That was nice.

I did a bunch of stretching afterwards, to keep after my goal of stretching 4 times a week for at least 10 minutes. One down 3 to go.

I have raised $449.75 out of the required $1500 so far. I should be satisfied with that, but for some reason I feel the need to meet the goal next week. Talk about putting unnecessary pressure on myself.

I count my blessings to have some very generous co-workers!

The fundraiser at the bar is on the 19th instead of the 12th. The date is not the best, but we will work with what we have. In case you would like to stop by it is from 5 to 9pm at the LodgeBar. Hope to see you there!

~~~

Tempo run

11-20-08

I am certainly not a fan of tempo runs, but I do realize that they are very helpful in regards to performance improvement. It was cold out again today, but 12 degrees warmer then yesterday. When I stepped outside I was worried that perhaps I had overdressed, but once I started running down the path the wind was blowing quite a bit.

Had our Team in Training Kickoff meeting yesterday. Several speeches were given, including that by a blood cancer survivor and a doctor that treats blood cancer patients. We learned about our Hero, a 13 year old girl that was diagnosed with Leukemia in '06 and after some radical treatment is now in remission. It was all very touching and makes me realize how lucky I am.

~~~

It's cold outside

11-19-08

It's not snowing, but it is cold. I ran 4 today after taking yesterday off to run some errands at lunch.

The 4 today went well, my lungs are still getting adjusted to the cold air and I have not run in a jacket it quite a while. But today was the day. Equipped with thermo gloves and a headband to cover up my ears I went out.

For those that wonder, I run to Goodale Park, which is just over a mile away. Depending on how far I plan on going I either circle the park once or twice. It is about a mile per circle.

Not sure what I am going to do tomorrow. I am thinking a tempo 3 miler, but I really hate those!

I am up to $205 in donations overall.

THANK YOU! I am excited about that. Annalisa Mason and I are planning some fundraising events. That should be fun.

~~~

Strength Training

11-17-08

SNOW!!!! It was snowing out this morning. Oh my! Pushed some weights around in the gym, but not because it was snowing, but rather because it was "strength day". It felt pretty good. Tried to do some different exercises. I think I'll be sore tomorrow.

I am up to $160 dollars. Over 10% accomplished for my required goal. Wo-hoo!

For a more detailed workout CLICK HERE.

~~~

6 at home

11-15-08

My oh my, the rain...it would have been so much nicer to roll back over at 7am and sleep some more, but out the door I went at 8am.

I enjoy running without a fuel belt (a belt you wear that holds bottles of water, etc) so I don't dare go further than 6 miles without it. The rain wasn't too bad. Indeed I was soaked by the time I got back in the door just an hour later, but the feeling of getting it done was well worth it.

I am looking forward to running a group run with the TNT peeps next weekend!

Thank you for your donations. They are a great motivation to get me out there and run no matter what kind of weather.

-Penny

~~~

Biking and Lifting

11-13-08

I am excited to be doing something that I enjoy (running) and mix that with something humble (trying to help others)! I'll try to update this website as often as possible with my workouts, and little tid-bits here and there.

I rode the stationary bike for 20 minutes and lifted weights for another 30. I am looking forward to running again tomorrow. For more detailed information on my workout go HERE.

As of right now my donations are at $0.

It would be great if you were the first one to get it moving towards my goal. Thank you!!!

- Penny

~~~

Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

I'm training to participate in an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training.

All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line � a cure!

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!