Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

I'm training to participate in the San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon May 2009 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!

P.S. Those that give at least $50 will be entered into a hat for Team In Training gear including bags, duffels, beach towels, sport bottles, and coolers.

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

Marathon weekend is here!!!!

May 29

So the big day is finally here and I feel I am ready to go. My physical therapists have totally kicked butt in getting my knee in gear for me to run this marathon.

I have alot of faith in finishing this marathon without any pain but of course the normal aching discomfort.

My mother, sister, brother in law, and niece are flying out from MA to come and see me run and enjoy the weekend in San Diego with me. It will be a great 4 days.

Thank you so much to all of you who have donated and supported me in my fundraising efforts and training the past few months. It hasn't been easy but man what a great experience.

It will feel great to cross the finish line with arms up and a big smile on my face. I can't wait to have that high and then have my free beers!! Haha.

Team In Training has been such a wonderful group to be part of and I certainly will remember this group for a long time. What a great opportunity to raise money for a great cause, train for a marathon, and meet some very generous and like minded people.

Thanks again for all of your support. Your notes and emails have been very uplifting. Peace and Love:) - Mary

4 Weeks To Go!!!!!!!

May 2

I can't believe it is already May! We have just 4 more weeks of training for the marathon and I am getting very excited. As many of my messages have said I have been doing lots of aqua jogging for my long runs. I hope it is as good a workout as our runs or Im in trouble. It is actually encouraged to do if you are even slightly injured.

Now that I have started going to Physical Therapy the past 2 weeks I have started doing a bit more running on the treadmill and I can feel the improvements already. The therapy is very painful but its all for painfree later, right? Haha. They use this treatment called ASTYM which is like a tissue scraping. It is supposed to help damaged tissue and help the regrowth of that abnormal tissue. I am unfortunately the 1/15 that bruise so it looks like I was beaten with a bat on my left thigh. I have however been able to run for 45 minutes twice this week with no pain. So bring on the scraping!

This week we have 14 miles and next week its the big 20! Then its recuperating weeks until the BIG DAY!

I will be saying lots of prayers and really doing my work the next month so that I can finish this marathon with minimal pain. I am so proud of myself for what I have accomplished so far and for raising so much money for a great cause. Determination and positivity can do wonders in a lifetime! Peace and Love:) -Mary

UPDATE!! 8 WEEKS TO GO

April 10

Im on vacation!! Im home on the Cape but still keeping up with my midweek training. This past Sunday I joined my teammate Sabine for 2.5hrs in the pool for some aqua jogging. I had to do some double time leg pumping since I didnt have a waist belt so I used a kickboard to alleviate a little bit of arm pain. I was a bit sore afterwards but its all good. I dont think I have ever been in a body of water for that long. Haha

Now that I am home and I have insurance I was able to do a few great things. The most important was seeing a Sports Doctor about my IT Band pain/ ACL strength. He said I was doing all the right things and that I should start PT when I return to CA which of course I will. He also gave me a cordizone shot to my left knee where my IT Band pain has been occurring. If it does work I can get another shot in a month. I did my hour of running Tuesday and today I played basketball 2on2 for an hour as my workout. And yes I still got skillz!!! Haha.

My plan is to attempt to run a lil bit for my Sunday long run of 10 miles and see how it goes. I dont think I know of a pool around the Cape so Ill take it easy and see how my pain is.

I am so pleased with my fundraising progress and encourage those of you who haven't donated to seriously think about just $5. I hope everyone has a Happy Easter and lots of yummy chocolates! Peace:)

April 1

This week I enjoyed another week off my feet. Im really trying to take care of my knee and rehab it so that I won't be in pain for the Marathon. I used the elliptical all week for my mid week runs. Luckily college basketball was on so that kept me entertained for the 45-hr sessions. I continue to play Dodgeball on Tuesdays so I count that as my cross training day. Dodging, throwing, quick sprints and pummelling has to count for something right?! Haha.

Sunday for our 12 mile run my friend Lori and did 1.5 hrs in the pool and 1hr running in Santa Monica. We ran down Pico towards Santa Monica Beach, then back up Ocean Park Blvd. We managed to even do some hill work unintentionally. I felt pretty good and no pain in my knee. Im really working on getting this pain to go away on my longer runs. I will have to see about this weekend's 14 mile run. I leave for my 2 week school vacation Sunday night!! Back to the East SIIIIDE. Thanks again for your support! 9 weeks til the BIG DAY:)

March 21

Spring is here! Spring is here! I had a great inspiritaional dance Friday so just imagine lots of arm waving and ballet jumps. I am a little sore today from my run. We only did 7 miles today because last week was our longest run yet of 10 miles. I did really well. So well that I bumped myself up to group 4. I was able to run 8 miles and then my discomfort in my knee became piercing pain. This week I went aqua jogging 2 times and used the elliptical once. Today I decided along with my teammate Lori to skip the hill run and go aqua jogging instead. Man I am still sore. Its definitely a workout and Im getting used to the fact that this is just as good as running on pavement. Lots of ice, ibuprofen, and rest again this week.

It is definitely more fun to go with people to the pool. I am able to show off my vocal talents with tv show theme songs, humdingers, and an occasional water dance. Although today I swallowed a bit of water showing my Spring dance to my friends.

Next week we bump up to 12 miles so I will have to see how my knee feels. I might have to aqua jog for that run too. I am still enjoying the process and although my Baja Fresh fundraiser wasnt a huge success because I am new to the area and couldnt get the word out, I am still focused on reaching my goal.

I always look forward to our runs on Sundays because breakfast always concludes the morning. Today I had french toast and homefries from Cafe 50's. its a cool old school joint with fountain shakes and rocking oldies. Wish me luck on my midweek workouts. Another update next week! Peace and love- Mary Mac

March 13

Top O'The Mornin To Ya! Happy St Pattys weekend to all you Irish and pretend Irish lads and lassies. Hope everybody has some beahs!

So this week was a great training week. Our run on Sunday was in Marina Del Rey , which is a bit south of Santa Monica. We ran 8 miles along the beach/bike trail. I was so pleased that I was able to run with discomfort in my knee but not pain. I made it the whole way without needing to walk! Yahoo:) We went out for breakfast afterwards and I was so hungry that after eating every last bite of my meal I kept staring at my friends food, but didnt want to seem desperate. Haha. Next time though she said I could have some. Thanks Sabine!

It is the last time our group will do 2-1 Intervals. This Sunday we move up to 4-1 and we are back in Santa Monica.

It was the last week of our strength and conditioning. Next Wed. we start hill training at the airport. Im a lil nervous about that one. Its all good for me though so IM IN!

I am 39% to my fundraiser goal and Im psyched about that. I have a Baja Fresh fundraiser next Saturday so keep your fingers crossed on that one.

Thanks for reading and check back again for another update. Keep smiling and thanks for the donations!

Peace and Love:) - Mary