TAP-ERRRRR

That's right! The taper begins today... Its all down hill from here, people! Yesterday I did my 20 mile run. I started at 6am in High Point (back it up---it started when I woke up at 4:30am). I ran 7 miles in the dark along the course of the NC Marathon that was being held there yesterday. Note to safety champions out there, I had my reflective vest and headlamp on. Plus I carried my cue sheet to know where I was going.

Finished that part fine, just a little frost on my shoulders and arms from where the sweat FROZE b/c it was 27 degrees out.

I ran back to the car and changed out of my sweaty top layers into dry, little lighter top layers. Then started with the other thousand runners who were doing the NC Marathon. I ran the half marathon to round out my 20 mile training run.

Here is the great thing about running--I happened to come across a gal who I helped to introduce to running. I have not seen her in over 10 years, since I moved from Durham, but she recognized me and we were able to catch up over a few miles.

Blech. Some days you're the windshield, some days you're the bug. Today I was a very squished bug. Ten miles at Salem Lake with Ruthan. Another alum, Liz, joined us as she is training for another race in October. Here is us at the end of our 10-mile run (Rufus is indicating the mileage, I am indicating I am a "10"):

I thank God for Ruthan. I never would have stayed on the intervals without her. I probably would have cut across the crazy-low lake to cut the route short or just flat quit. She reminded me that its not about us, its about those who can't do what we are doing, but wish they could.

A good reminder that we must be relentless. Relentless for a cure.

We've got a lot of work to do, people! Granted I am 15 pounds heavier than the last time I trained for a marathon, but 5 miles was a little harder than I expected it to be yesterday. I thought for sure I was just running faster than I thought b/c I was talking to Coach Elliot, but nope, 3 miles in I was only 30 seconds off my target pace.

It was pretty dang humid though so maybe I can hide behind the thick air. Better yet, maybe I should not have had the 3rd DOs Equiis the night before at dinner.

Did some yard work when I got home. My hamstrings had a lively debate about which sucks more: running 5 miles or stretching to pull weeds. This morning we have a 3rd choice in the debate...

getting out of bed.

Last year lymphoma took my man’s best friend. Jake and Paul met in 2000 and were inseparable since. Paul took him hiking, hunting, even mountain biking. Every time we take out the mountain bikes he thinks of biking on the trails in Boone, NC with Jake tearing along just off the trail. He was a smart dog—often too smart for us. I learned this when I packed the kids lunch one morning before school, then went to get their lunch boxes. Jake stealthily crept around the corner, grabbed the sandwich, ate it and lay back down before I got back. I returned to a counter with 2 sets of snack bar, 8 oz water, napkin. My first thought was that I was going crazy because I SWORE I made the sandwiches, but nope, no sandwich. I turned around to see Jake smirking at me and wagging his tail. I knew I had met my match.

Needless to say we have a Jake-sized hole in our lives. Most of you know me---I need to DO something. So I am doing a marathon and Jake is my honored hero. The kids honored him by doing a triathlon in October of last year so I am following in their footsteps.

I am a woman on a mission to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers and to help support the families of those with blood cancers. To accomplish that mission, I’m participating in the Kiawah Island Marathon as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training. Like the other members of TNT, I will be raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.

Often the same medications that are used to treat humans can be used in animals. Or at least be a precursor to a treatment or cure. For example, Jake was treated with prednisone--@ $0.03/pill instead of chemotherapy which would have cost about $10,000 and still not bought enough time.

I’m am supporting my husband and honoring his best friend this winter, and with your help I can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well. Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team in Training and help advance the research for cures.