Still up and running!

September 22-UPDATE

Happy Fall to you all! Just a quick update on my training and another "Thank you" to all of you who helped me far surpass my fundraising goals. The Half Marathon in Raleigh is in a few short weeks and I'm ready and excited to race in honor of your friends and loved ones. I'm running over 20 miles a week and completed my longest run of 12 miles last week. It was exhausting and my right knee is a little worse for the wear, but I truly loved every step.

Last weekend, James and I ran in a 10 K(6.2 miles) race at N.C. State and I WON for my age group!!! They just posted the results tonight and I was shocked. I finished in 1 hour and 17 seconds and that was very fast for me. The race was on Sept. 13th which would have been my dad's 62nd birthday. I ran to honor him and I think he put wings on my feet and power in my heart. He went to State and I know he would have been thrilled to know we were there to honor him. Just think how fast all of your honorees will make me!

Have a great Fall and I will be in touch with my race results! I'll be thinking of you all on November 2nd!

Love, Love

Katie

P.S. The picture is of James and me after the race.

JULY 18-UPDATE

Hello Friends and Family! I am still up and running and feeling great. I am so thankful to all of you for helping me to far surpass my fundraising goal. You all are the best! If you have not already donated, please know that we still do need your support. 75% of the funds raised goes directly to the LLS. We have lives to save!

I am running 3 to 4 times a week, up to 6 miles at a time and increasing that milage every week. I'm averaging about 15 miles a week so far. I'm also working out with a trainer at the YMCA to build up my core strength. It's tough, but I'm feeling stronger and better prepared every day. I ran in my second race on July 4th with my college best friend. She is an accomplished marathoner and we stayed together for about 20 yards before she took off at her flying pace. I ran the 4 miles in 38.40 and was very pleased. Races are fun!

So, my big news is that I've decide to continue my training and after running the Raleigh City of Oaks Half-Marathon in November, buckling down to get ready for the CHARLOTTE THUNDER ROAD FULL MARATHON!!! It's on Saturday, December 13 and I invite all of you natives to come out and cheer me on or at least pick me up if I give out. I will get the race map out to anyone who wants to come with approximate "run by" times.

I hope all of you are having a great summer and thanks again so much for supporting me in this crazy adventure.

Katie

JUNE 14 - UPDATE

I ran in my first race today!!!! ( Imagine Rocky theme song music here!) I ran in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure in Raleigh. My goal was to run the entire race without walking in under 45 minutes. I managed to run the entire time and came in at 34 minutes with a sprint to the finish. I think it was the cheers at the final 50 yards from my Miller men that carried me over that finish line.

It was a great experience and I can't begin to describe the beauty of 35,000 people in pink and white. Many ran for those battling breast cancer or for those who had lost the fight. Many runners were battling breast cancer themselves or had beaten the disease. Every survivor that crossed the finish line had their name announced and it gave me chill bumps. I read the names of honor on every person's back I passed and it made me get teary thinking about all of the love, power and support that was hovering over Raleigh today. Whew! Who knew running could have such an impact on our lives?

So, needless to say, I'm so IN for my half marathon and I can't thank you all enough who are supporting my fund-raising efforts. For those of you who donate on line, please let me know if you would like me to run in honor of someone(person or pet) whether they have cancer or not. I am pinning ribbons on the back of my shirt and running with the names of those who are loved by people that I love. Every time I think of pinning those names on my jersey it makes me cry! What a softie.

Thanks to all of you and please send me names for ribbons. I will be proud to carry their names on my back. I know it will make me stronger.

Love you!

Katie

Welcome to my Team In Training home page!!

Well, here we go friends and family! For some crazy reason, I've decided to run a half marathon in Raleigh on November 2, 2008. I am not a runner. I am a rider. I've always been a rider and still am. I set a goal for the summer to run 6 miles on a local trail, in hopes of improving my stamina for riding. Days after setting this goal, I received a card in the mail for Team in Training addressed to "Resident of Culpepper Ct.". It was a post card mailed out to everyone in Durham, but it truly seemed to have a bigger purpose for me.

Team in Training raises money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Team In Training helps prepare you for your race and gives you coaching, guidance and mentoring. In exchange for helping with my training, I have pledged to raise $1500 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The most amazing part is that it is all focused on raising money 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. If they can endure hundreds of hours of treatments, I can surely manage to run 13 miles by November 2nd.

So, here comes the exciting part for you! You can run in spirit with me! All you have to do is make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission. You know you want to!

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. I'll share all of the blood, sweat and tears and keep you all posted on my progress. Thanks for your support!