Racing to Save Lives

A special thank you to those who have already so generously contributed to my efforts!

Since 8/12/09 - I have run a total of 165.83 miles ....

Welcome to my Team In Training page.

Its official and I'm in training ... Training for what - you might wonder ... well, on January 17th, 2010 I'm running 26.2 miles to help eradicate blood cancers. Yes, that's right and you can say you saw it on the web! - I'm training for the PF Chang's Rock N Roll Marathon (Phoenix, AZ) as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training.

COMING SOON: In the organizational stage of putting together a drawing of various donated items. Working on Patriot's tickets, King Richard's Faire tickets, jewelry, and much more. These items will be available on my site (www.tamaralatorre.com/tnt)

If you have any items you would like to donate or if you would like to receive notification when the drawing begins, please send me an email @ tamara.latorre@mac.com.

My upcoming long run schedule - 8/22 - 2 miles; 8/29 - 3 miles; 9/5 - 4 miles; 9/12 - 5 miles; 9/19 - 6 miles; 9/26 - 8 - miles; 10/3 - 9 miles; 10/10 - 10 miles; 10/17 - 11 miles; 10/24 - 12 miles; 10/31 - 8 miles; 11/7 - 14 miles; 11/14 - 10 miles; 11/21 - 16 miles; 11/28 - 12 miles; 12/5 - 18 miles; 12/12 - 10 miles; 12/19 - 20 miles; 12/25 - 10 miles; 1/2 - 12 miles; 1/9 - 6 miles; 1/16 - off - AZ!; 1/17 - 26.2 miles!

My Progress - (continued at the bottom of the page!)

10/14/09 - 94 days to go - Spin class this morning (1 hour) and 6 mile ride to meet friends then to the park for night ride on trails.

10/13/09 - 95 days to go - Ran first half marathon on Saturday - Hartford, CT (ING) and had a great time! Finished in 2:52 (13mm). Can't wait until next one - likely this weekend in Newport, RI. Will run again on Thursday - after resting and recovering - and make decision. Worked out at the gym this afternoon and felt really good. Spin class tomorrow morning.

9/23/09 - 115 days to go - 6 mile mountain bike ride

9/22/09 - 116 days to go - ran 3.5 miles (11mm) - slow run but a little easier than 2 days ago - quad is still pretty sore - getting a massage this afternoon and hope that helps with loosening up. Plan to stick to 3-4 miles for a while until not so sore - which better happen soon!

9/20/09 - 118 days to go - ran 3.5 miles - changed back to my old shoes and felt much better - have to find another of the same kind. Signed up for Hartford Half Marathon for Oct. 10th.

9/18/09 - 120 days to go - ran 4 miles - slow & slightly fatigued from yesterday - feet hurt today - tried new shoes - will go back to old ones to see if that was the cause.

9/17/09 - 121 days to go - had a good run this morning - ran 6.5 miles (11mm) and felt more like my old self - legs felt good and rested and didn't hurt to breath - had been fighting a cold and running was torture and was feeling so discouraged and worried I'd be getting too behind in my training schedule. Hot tub tonight!

9/16/09 - 122 days to go - took today off trying to fight this cold - right now it feels like the cold is winning and I am feeling quite discouraged because I couldn't run.

9/15/09 - 123 days to go - ran 2 miles - fighting a cold and breathing was painful so I cut it short.

9/14/09 - 124 days to go - 3.5 miles (11 mm) - was planning to do a long run today but am fighting a cold and feeling achy everywhere so cut the run short. Feeling real discouraged right now because everything hurts and was really looking forward to getting in my long run but it will just have to wait until I beat this cold!

9/11/09 - 127 days to go - 2 miles (10mm) - was going to take today off but just felt the need to get a little run in and stretch.

9/10/09 - 128 days to go - 3.5 miles this morning with Anthony - still a little sore but after the first mile I loosened up a bit and felt much better - long run tomorrow or Monday - its up in the air depending on how I feel. Also looks like my son may run the Jan marathon with me!!

9/8/09 - 130 days to go - 3 miles this morning (11mm) and feeling really beat up from last week - it was the most painful 3 miles I remember in a while but looking over my run history - my times are improving which must mean I am getting stronger even if I feel like crap. My son came out and ran with me today - Paul has inspired him and he wants to do an Ironman - so looks like I may have a new running partner and I'm excited about that!

9/7/09 - 131 days to go - day of rest.

9/6/09 - 132 days to go - spent all day at Plymouth Triathlon - no running but logged in many miles walking.

9/5/09 - 133 days to go - ran 7 miles today - my longest yet! Averaged 11mm and was pleased. Worked at the Ren faire all day.

9/03/09 - 135 days to go - planned for easy run today but it was anything but easy - 4.5 miles of torture - muscles still fatigued from Mon & Tues runs - today was painful. Averaged 13 mm.

9/02/09 - 136 days to go - 2 mile fast walk this am - and day of rest!

9/01/09 - 137 days to go - 5 mile group run in Quincy/Braintree - with lots of hills (Thanks Paul & George for keeping me going!!) Avg - 10 mm.

8/31/09 - 138 days to go - 4 mile road race - last of this series for season - finished 39:41 (10mm) - which was 5 minutes faster than time last week. It was a tough run, really pushed hard but it felt good.

8/30/09 - 139 days to go - day off today!

8/29/09 - 140 days to go - 4 miles today planned - actually ran 5 miles today in the rain - it was slow (11mm) but felt like I could have done more - would have if I hadn't been so soaked - my clothes felt like they weighed more than 5 lbs. It was nice to see another crazy soul out there running - we crossed paths several times on our running routes. Also found some great running music - "Black, White & Run" by the Hives .... tomorrow is my day off.

8/28/09 - 141 days to go - started a run this afternoon but was not feeling well so called it a day off;

8/27/09 - 142 days to go - ran 3.5 miles this morning - then 30 min cardio workout with personal trainer - whew! exhausted!

8/26/09 - 143 days to go - walked 5 miles & mountain bike ride tonite ( 3.5 miles) - crosstraining day ... tomorrow run;

8/25/09 - 144 days to go - walked 4 miles this morning - worked out for 30 min then ran 1.5 miles (11 mm) and walked 1 mile. Legs tired but felt good & weather was much cooler!

8/24/09 - 145 days to go - 4 mile road race tonight - hoping its a little cooler than last week!! Ran in 43:05 minutes - took off a min from last week - slow but steady progress!!

8/23/09 - 146 days to go - day off but will likely run a little tonight - I feel out of sorts if I don't get at least a little run in each day!

8/22/09 - 147 days to go - Ran with team for first time - was scheduled for 2 mile run - ran 2.61 m (11:36 mm) - felt really good and enjoyed running with everyone.

8/21/09 - 148 days to go - ran 2.5 miles (11:42mm) - quads still tight but felt much better running - humidity was rough even at 8am - looking forward to running with the team tomorrow morning!

8/20/09 - 149 days to go - playing today's run by ear - depending on how legs feel - ran 2 miles - 11:32 mm and walked 1 mile. Quads still sore - not as bad as yesterday but enough that I didn't want to push.

8/19/09 - 150 days to go - planned to run 3 miles - ran 1 (12:15 mm) but quads tight and hurt too much so walked last 2 miles. Think my blood sugar was too low and I didn't feel real well; feeling real bummed but there's always tomorrow. Going to rest today and do real short easy run tomorrow and see how I feel.

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I have 4 months to build my strength and endurance to the point where I can run 26.4 miles. That's a bit of a long road ahead but possible with hard work - my goal in the marathon is simple and that's FINISH and know that my efforts made a difference in someone's life!

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!

Your support is very important and essential to my success. All donations are greatly appreciated. No amount is to small. Please help support my participation in Team In Training and advance LLS's mission with a donation!

We can make a difference - one person at a time!

Thank you for your support!

~ Tamara

Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress and join me on my jorney. Feel free to email me with questions, comments and encouragement at tamara.latorre@mac.com!

8/6/09 - 163 days to go - It's official - today I became a member of Team in Training Ran 2 miles this afternoon. - had to walk parts of the hilly section.

8/7/09 - 162 days to go - sunny & hot - rode 13 miles on my mountain bike - very nice ride - running tomorrow

8/8/09 - 161 days to go - sunny & hot - ran 2 miles this morning - ran the whole thing comfortably and could have done more but didn't want to do too much too soon. Now taking bike for short ride then to the pool to relax.

8/9/09 - 160 days to go - sunny & hot - ran about 2 miles (new route) down in Harwichport - ran around 11 and it was getting hot;

8/10/09 - 159 days to go - very hot and humid - ran 2 miles - walked 3/4 up hill to top then ran the rest - my body & legs were not liking me much today. The heat kicked my butt! Tomorrow I will give myself a little break .... I think ...

8/11/09 - 158 days to go - took today off - walked for an hour around mall before shops opened and bought a Garmin Forerunner so that I can keep more accurate track of my training. Fun!

8/12/09 - 157 days to go - Ran 5 miles (13.16 mm) this morning - run was easy and slow - found my breathing was easier today (one of the many benefits of not smoking) and never felt very out of breath even on the hills- but I'm feeling it in my legs & I just love those hills.

8/13/09 - 156 days to go - ran 3 miles (11:23 mm);

8/14/09 - 155 days to go - ran 3 miles;

8/15/09 - 154 days to go - ran 2.5 miles (13:04 mm) - quads were killing me ready for day off tomorrow;

8/16/09 - 153 days to go - day off today!

8/17/09 - 152 days to go - running 4 mile road race tonight at 7 and hoping my quads are well rested after the last painful short run. The heat is going to be a killer toniight - UPDATE: heat was awful and the first mile brutal - felt like I was breathing in fire - finished 44:41 - which is a minute faster than last time 6/15;

8/18/09 - 151 days to go - today is supposed to be the hottest of the year - day off - going to movies (Ugly Truth). Walked 3 miles this morning.