This Is Really Happening!

(5/17/10)

I am not sure who all was up to notice the weather at about 6:30am on Saturday, for those who don't know it was pretty disgusting. A light drizzle while you are running is nice, keeps you cool, but when that drizzle periodically turns into rain....not quite as enjoyable. So the conditions were not ideal, but I still managed to finish!!! And I am not going to lie, I walked twice, for a total of about 6 minutes (two songs). But in the grand scheme of Saturdays situation I am not disappointed with the two walk breaks, because start to finish it took 3 hrs and 50mins. I was hoping for more like 3hrs, 30min...20min more than the 18 miles took, but when your shoes are full of extra water weight, it slowed me down a little bit. Needless to say I was a little disappointed in the way Saturday turned out! I thought about it later and decided to grant myself some grace, because ulitmately I crossed the 20 mile finish line!!! And I can take solace in the fact that I am 99% certain the elements in San Diego will be nothing like this past Saturday! And I ran 20 miles with my feet feeling like bricks....so surely I can run 26.2 without the water weight! So as the soreness and stiffness subsides and I am feeling back to normal, I can confidently say that I am going to reach ALL of my goals. The fundraising and crossing the finish line!

P.S. I couldn't have done all of this without the Love and Support of all my Family and Friends, I want to Thank You all from the bottom of my heart!!!!

Almost There!!!

(5/11/10)

Almost there Training...I am becoming a little anxious because this weekend I will be running 20 miles! The longest run before the race! As this Saturday approaches I can't decide if my anxiety is the anticipation of this weekend, or of the big day (probably a bit of both!) Even though my training is going quite well and I comple 18 miles and lived, so really whats 20? and then what 26.2? And to prepare myself for race mode I registered for the Amy Thompson Run For Daylight, which is the Monday before my marathon, so that will be one of the last runs before taper...the trainers suggest low impact training and yoga the week before the marathon. Luckily I think some of the anxiety is misguided excitement! Because even as I write this post I can tell that I am just really pumped to achieve one of my life goals in less than a month...and I get to do it in San Diego!

Almost there Fundraising...I know this is not reflected on my page yet, waiting on some updates, but according to my calculations I have less than $100 to go to reach my goal! Which is a huge relief, but at the same time I have to have this accomplished by May 21...so a little anxiety inducing! Which leads me to my next thought...if you have been wanting to donate but keep forgetting or feel like you don't have anything to contribute, please remember that every little bit helps! I know the site prompts you to donate at least $25 but please know that I appreciate generosity in any amount! I am just happy to know that I have people in my life that are so supportive!!!

THANK YOU!!!

(5/04/10)

I wanted to take a moment to Thank Everyone that has been so supportive!!!! This weekend our BBQ was a great success!!! I couldn't be more proud of the turn out. So many of the people I love and care about were there to share the afternoon, which turned out to be beautiful! And everyone was so happy to be there and participate in a gathering for such a great cause! I truly can't express how grateful I am to have such a fantastic and generous support system!!!

And for everyone who has shared their support through letters, messages on facebook and donations here online THANK YOU!!! Really the emotional support that I have recieved from so many people, even a few I don't know, is really tremendous and inspirational!

Thank You All Again!!!!

WooHoo!

(4/27/2010)

This last weekend I completed 18 miles! I only walked one hill and it took me a total of 3 hours and 10 minutes, that includes my stops for hydration and GU. This 18 miles felt a million times better than the sixteen both mentally and physically, in fact I finished the 18 in less time. I didn't spend much time preparing for the 16, but I did this time. I ate a good meal for dinner, a snack and lots of hydration throughout the evening, went to bed at a reasonable hour, stretched before bed and woke up early enough to let myself "wake up" and this all really made a difference. Now as I come up the home stretch of training and fundraising I am getting pretty excited!!!

Don't Forget:

Mark Your Calendars!

May 2, 2010 I will be having a BBQ at my house, to bump up the fundraising!!!

Food & Drinks all day, all I ask in return is a donation to the LLS Team-In-Training

Every little bit helps! Please feel free to bring everyone and their mother...and neighbors!

Success?

(4/17/10)

Last week we ran 16 miles for our team run. It started at 6:00am, the weather was fantastic and the trail through Quivira park was very pleasant. I say success because yes I did in fact complete all 16 miles. The question pertaining to sanity. At mile 14 it had become abundantly clear that my body had never experienced this kind of endurance before. I had been telling myself that my Rowing practices were 3 hours long of course I have endurance. Rowing turns out not exactly the same as running, so I will continue my training and hopefully mile 26 will be a little prettier than 16 was...

My sanity came into question last week before my 16mile run. When I tell people that I am training for a marathon I usually get one of two responses

"why would you ever want to do that to youself?" or "wish I could but, uh, more power to you." I honestly didn't think it was that big of a deal, but for some reason last week I gained a little perspective....I saw someone I know at the gym, I don't want to name names, but she is probably early 40's and she told me her goal was to run 1 whole mile by the end of the summer! After hearing that, and right before I was going to run 16, my perspective changed a little bit. I realized that 26.2 miles it A LOT! and that not everyone can do something like this. It made me glad that I am using my ability to do something great. And that is raise money and run a marathon to fight blood cancers.

Getting Excited!

(4/08/10)

Finally!!!! One of the big reasons I chose to run this marathon is because of the great support you recieve from the Team-In-Training program. This is my first marathon so of course I am going to need help trainging...and this weekend I get to participate in my first team run (16 miles)!!! The team runs are on Saturday mornings and I work on Saturdays so I have unfortunately missed all of them until now.

Also as of today I have turned in all of my recomittment information, so there is no turning back now, San Diego here I come!!!

Thanks Everyone For The Continued Support!

A Minor Set-Back

(3/31/10)

I am sad to admit that last weekend was the first weekend I missed a big run! It was supposed to be 14miles, and I had originally intended on running the inaugural Rock-The-Parkway half-marathon. But as all of us know life sometimes gets in the way. I had very important training for my clinical internship, that I am beginning this week, so I missed the run. Not to mention my allergies were out of control and it was Kathleen's birthday celebration. By the time the weekend came to a close I just didn't have time. But I am going to make it up by being much more diligent from here until the end!

On a happy note...I mailed out quite a few letters last week, for donation requests. So far the response has been inspiring. So I would like to Thank those who have been providing me with their support!

A little update

(2/24/10)

I am happy to report that I am still on top of my training! When I began this journey I was a little discouraged because I am not able to participate in the weekly team runs. The teams runs from what I have heard make running 8 miles much more enjoyable. I am surrently doing these runs inside on a treadmill because it is difficult to convince other people to join me and I am a baby when it comes to running outside in the cold! Things should be turning around though. I should be able to join in on the team fun by the end of March. Just after I finish the Rock-The-Parkway half marathon.

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 have chosen the run the Rock-N-Roll Marathon in San Diego.

I am running in honor of my Dad ( a survivor) and 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!