I've made some major progress this week. On Friday I unoffically made my minimum. (It's unoffical because there is a check in the mail - it still has to get to my account to be offical.) Saturday morning (ALL morning) I ran my 2nd and last 20 miler. It was not a fun run. My mood wasn't good, and I just couldn't get into a groove physically. It was a beautiful day, but I found myself grumbling and groaning to myself the whole time, and even at a few points wanting to cry. Not because it was painful, I mean physically running 20 miles isn't going to ever be "easy" (unless you're an ultra runner, and then, well, you're an ultra runner so it's all relative.) I just was a mess mentally. At about 15 miles or so I just sat down on a bench, messed with my shoelaces and tried to give myself a pep talk. It didn't really work, except that I started moving again.

The only thing that kept me going was the REASON I'm doing this. I can have a unpleasant 20 miler but it is a self induced misery, and it means I CAN do something most people won't ever try. The reason, to help find a cure for blood cancers - meant I could toughen up and keep on going. Cancer patients deal with chemo, radiation and all sorts of uncomfortable, painful things. I can run a 20 miler on a beautiful day. (Even when my brain doesn't want to) I can keep working to raise money to find cures...I may have met the minimum, but I'm sure you know, I just hate a barely passing grade!

The big 26.2 is getting close! Just this past weekend I ran my "warmup" race the GO STL half marathon. I did well, finishing in 2:13:57 - which was my second fastest time ever for a half, even though I was not pushing hard except for the last mile. That last mile was the fastest. This was after 20 miles 8 days before. I have one more 20 miler this coming Saturday, and then the taper begins. Just thinking about how close the race is makes me nervous.

I'm getting very close to my fundraising minimum. (Just $245 dollars as of the evening of April 8th.) My goal doesn't stop there, but that is where I need to be in just 12 days...

The goal of curing blood cancers is getting closer too, but we aren't there yet. I heard lots of inspirational stories at the inspiration dinner for the Gateway Chapter's GO STL team...and lots of reasons we MUST keep this up.

Please help me meet my goal! I have less than 2 weeks until I need to have that minimum in my account. (I can still fundraise after that for awhile, but I need to meet that minimum then.)

Waiting for GO STL to start...

I'm about 5 weeks away from the marathon and getting into peak miles. The miles are long and my legs are tired, but I need to keep going. I've been running with the Gateway team training for GO STL. They had their last long run before the taper yesterday. From now on I will likely be doing my longest runs mostly alone. But I need to keep going. No one said it was easy, no not at all. Running 20 miles is hard if you are running alone or with someone else. I'll be doing 20 next week, then the GO half, then another 20 before my taper starts. I need to keep going.

We need to keep working for a cure too. The finish line is out there and you CAN help us get there. Every little bit helps. Will you help me move toward the finish line of finding cures for blood cancers while helping patients and their families along the way?

Group run March 23rd

Weather on March 24th

When the going gets tough...run on

When the weather is cold...run on

When you have to run before the sun rises...run on

When you want to quit because your mind is tired...run on

When your feet ache, your mucsles protest and you don't know if you can go another step...run on

As long as there are still sad stories...run on

Cures are out there to be found, people who can be helped by your donation...I will run on. Will you support me?

Yesterday was a good day. I ran 10 miles for the first time since October and it went wonderfully. It was a bright, warm, sunny day. I ran the whole time with at least one other person, which is something I haven't often gotten to do, even at group training. I came home and was able to get stuff done for my fundraiser event that was today...that is where the bad day comes in. Only 4 people came to my fundraiser...(though I must remind myself that several people who couldn't come made the point of donating...and those who did come were very generous. So it was not a failure, just a disappointment)

But here's the thing....My bad day doesn't even begin to compare to a bad day with cancer...I'm healthy, I ran 10 miles yesterday without really breathing hard, I'm not sore today and I'll go run again tomorrow. I'm healthy. I can run. Good health means so much, it's so basic...and easy to forget, to take for granted...

Will you help me make fewer bad days for all of those with blood cancers and their families?

Refueling at mile 5 with chocolate gu in the first picture and finishing mile 10 behind Forest Park visitors center in the second.