13 Days To GO!!!

Good Morning Bloggers!

Fundraising

I am still roughly $165 short of my fundraising Goal….My deadline is THIS WEDNESDAY. If you can spare even one dollar please please help me to reach my goal. Click on the Link on the top Right hand side (Make a Donation Here). It will be greatly appreciated : D


Training

Saturday I ran my last Long run, 18 miles. It was a little bit of a chilly morning but absolutely gorgeous in Valley Green. I am so glad that two weeks ago I ran with Meg and Tara (the Coaches). I think they helped me to find some more motivation in keeping on pace. When I am alone it is easy for me to say ‘alright I will switch to a 1:2 (run: walk) then walk another 3 mins here and there. Saturday I hit every interval.

My knee did start hurting about 3 miles in, which is rare. Typically it is not until after 12 miles that I start to feel some pain in the Left knee. I saw Tara at the 5 mile water stop and let her know. I am programmed to just not say anything, because I don’t want to complain and I also don’t want someone to tell me I shouldn’t finish. I told her it is just the normal pain I feel but for some reason it is a lot sooner in the run. She asked me what I did differently this week: wore heels, different exercise, etc.. Oh yeah…Bikram. I was not sore when I woke up on Saturday morning but I did take a Bikram Yoga class Friday night til 9pm. I only got a chance to take the two classes last week and I do like it. My body did not feel like it was taking a toll but Tara told me to just wait until after the Marathon to do it again, just in case that is why my knee was hurting prematurely. By the end of the run I was not in any excruciating pain, just cold very very cold.

Tara and Meg gave me a goal of 3 hours 50 minutes for my 18 miles, two weeks ago…. I finished in 3 hours 36 mins!!! I was amazed! I had an average of a 12 minute mile. I did refrain from taking pictures until the last 3 miles, because I know that does slow me down a bit. I figured once I got this run done, next week I can mosey along on my final ten mile run with the Team before the Big Day and take as many pics as I want. Oh I did see a deer this week, which was my first for Valley Green. Just got the mental pic on that one unfortunately.

I am extremely excited about this marathon! Yesterday the NYC Marathon was on TV and I watched, as I got ready for my nap. It is so close I can almost feel it!!! This morning I was getting dressed and I think I may have lost a lb or two the last couple weeks, my pants went on pretty easily and I just did laundry yesterday. My goal has not been to lose weight, but I’ll take it.

My parents picked me up right from practice on Saturday and I went back to Jersey with them. Slept on an Aerobed overnight and woke up with some knee pain. I only slept about 4 hours (including the extra daylight savings one). Yesterday I hit that point of complete exhaustion at about noon. I did give in and take a nap before I hit my pile of Homework. I feel great today so far, got about 7 hours last night : )

I wish I had a nickel for every time someone called me crazy for the amount that I run. I started this whole marathon thingy for reasons outside of me, but now I can’t explain it. It’s like I enjoy trying to find my body’s threshold for pain. Every time I lace up it is an opportunity to battle the negativity in my mind and every time I complete my goal, positivity engulfs my whole being. I wish I could give this away to other people so they would understand, it isn’t that I’m crazy…I just like to battle every now and again.


"We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon." ~Emil Zatopek


Here are some of the pics from Saturday:

HELP! Please Donate!

Ok guys! I really Really need your help! I am $265 from my goal and I have 6 days to reach it!

I thought that I would take this post to explain why I joined the Team and where the money raised goes.

Since joining the Team in 2009, I have had the opportunity to meet friends and families of survivors and those who have passed away due to these blood cancers. My coach this season is a survivor and it seems to me that everyone on the Team has their own story as to why they are running.


I joined because in 2002 my mother was diagnosed with Colon Cancer. She had a major surgery (that removed parts of her colon, intestines, and abdominal wall) and the doctors prepared us for the worst. Up to that point Cancer had always been something I had known of but that day it became a part of my life. She went through radiation and chemotherapy for the next year and miraculously made a full recovery and has been in remission since 2003. When she first came home from the hospital, we had a visiting nurse and her bed was in the living room because she was not able to walk upstairs. It was heartbreaking for me to see her that way, in so much pain. I wanted more than anything to be able to make her better, but there was nothing I could do but smile and pray for her.

In 2008, I had been looking for a job in the Penn Health System and was hired at the front desk  in the Abramson Cancer Center. I worked there almost two years, and I really loved it. I got a chance to see people of all ages and all stages of their disease. The majority of people had this distinct glow, an understanding and appreciation for life that most people didn't understand. There was a man who used to come in at 7am every week for lab work and every morning I would ask ‘How are you doing this morning?’ and his response was always ‘never had a bad day in my life.’ People like him made me extremely grateful. I, unfortunately have seen a lot of patients lose their battles with cancer, but have also got to witness a good amount beat theirs too.

No one knows how or who will be next when it comes to cancer. Even though my experience with my mom and where I worked were not leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma patients, cancer is cancer and the closer we get to a cure for any of them, the closer we all have to beating this. When I ran in my first marathon I had ribbons on my back of the people I had known who had cancer, survivors and those who had passed. Every time I thought I couldn’t go on, I realized why I signed up in the first place. I wanted to do something for someone else, hopefully the money I raised would be able to help more than just a couple people. At mile 18 when I wanted to just take a nap or sit down for an hour or two, I had to remember this wasn’t for me. That is what got me across the finish line in May 2010.

Here is a breakdown of where the money goes:

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is committed to curing leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and helping patients and their families. The support you provide is invested wisely.


Research 25.0%
Patient & Community Services   33.4%
Public Health Education   14.8%
Professional Education    3.0%
Total Program Services   76.2%


Management & General     8.3%
Fundraising        15.5%
Total Supporting Services 23.8%


LLS receives no federal funding. Because of the continued support of you and our partners and sponsors, in fiscal year 2010 we were able to:

1. invest $72 million, which includes funding for 103 new grants to researchers in academic institutions and $8 million in contracts through the LLS Therapy Acceleration Program

2. support 347 research projects in the United States, Canada and 9 other countries

3. provide financial assistance to patients

4. sponsor scientific conferences around the country

5. produce educational materials and videos

6. run dozens of Family Support Groups nationwide

The Team experience has been and continues to be incredible. The sea of purple jerseys that take over on race day and hearing everyone yell ‘GO TEAM’ as you run by is amazing! The stories we hear (called Mission Moments) every week before our long runs about why people joined or if there is a survivor and they tell us why they are there. That is why I stayed with the Team. We run with a Purpose and the statistics below show you exactly how the money raised is being used.

I know that it is a difficult time for every one with the economy, but just thinking about your normal day there is a dollar or two that can be spared. I know for me, I had to take a cut back on the amount of coffee I buy each week. That alone, is $10-15 I save per week. Donations are tax deductible and you are emailed a receipt right when you donate. Please help me reach my goal, so we can continue to make a difference, one mile at a time.

Early Bird or Night Owl?

After hitting snooze for TWO hours yesterday morning, I was able to wake up today! Ok I hit snooze for 50 minutes but I was still up at 6:15 and got a chance to go to the gym. I ran 4 miles on the dreaded treadmill. I do always feel better when I can actually get up and going (I write it pretty much every other entry on here).

But are there actually benefits to the time of day you exercise?

I started to look up some things online and WebMD stated there is no real difference, just to make sure that you make it a routine.

      http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/whats-the-best-time-to-exercise

They said that some people can’t imagine sweating before noon while others like to do it first thing so that they don’t squeeze that out of their schedule by the end of the day. I feel more accomplished during the day when I do it first thing and also the second part listed above. Yesterday was a perfect example. I had plans with a friend but initially I said I can meet at 6:30, so I could get a run in before meeting up. Then I decided to go after, but when I got home a little after 9 and sat down… I changed my mind, again. But that guilt helped me eventually get moving this morning.

Tomorrow will be another story…I am going to try again to wake up but I always tell myself I have time after class on Thursdays. Friday I am running after work for sure, I made plans with someone else, which is my 100% guarantee I won’t let my mind detour from the game plan. The long run is Saturday this week though so it will be a short run, followed by my 2nd session of Bikram Yoga. I was hoping to get there at some point this week before Friday but it just isn’t looking that way. Unless miraculously I wake up at 5:15 tomorrow with the alarm…then I will be starting the day with a Yoga class.

       All I know is for today, I ran. Tonight hopefully I will be in bed by 10:30 or 11…Sleep is crucial. I was also reading online that sleep 2 days before a long run is most important. Tomorrow night, I need to sleep like a champ so I can crank my last 18 mile, training run out…

Happy Halloween!!

I forgot to wish everyone a Happy Halloween!! I don't usually post non running related pics but here is a glimpse of what I was this year...I went to a couple parties so I dressed as two things

Holly Golightly- Audrey Hepburn "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Mime

Saturday Night was a bit messy, so I showed up like this with the Audrey Costume underneath. People thought I was Jackie O...so this was me this morning on the way to work.

I'm either Jackie O or a person in mourning (because all of my clothes are black anyway)..

I made over the blog to GO PURPLE!!! I am still $265 from my goal. Please follow the link on the upper right hand side "Make a Donation Here," if you haven't already. Every dollar counts guys :) And thank you to everyone who has already donated this year, and in the past. We are all making a difference!

Working Out the Final Touches

Oddly, I am not sore today! Hooray!!! I did get a full 8 hours of sleep last night, well 7 hrs and 45 minutes. So glad for night time showers! I feel refreshed today :)

I was googling, and came across this link of tips from Hal Higdon for Marathon beginner’s. I don’t care how many races I run, I would like to remain a beginner please. Thank you. I think with only 20 days remaining I will read a little each day so I get more and more excited for the big day!
Marathon Tips  


Since it was just two coaches and I yesterday for the last 9 miles, I got to pick their brains. They told me to wear whatever I plan on wearing for race day, this weekend for the 18 mile run. Her exact words were ‘Nobody wants mystery chaffing day of.’ Agreed. I remember running this summer, I think it was the 6 hr run and my arms being chaffed for like a week because I chose to wear a ribbed tank top. Fail. But I learned my lesson and the 8 hr run was minimal chaffing I think. I would like to be loud in my attire choices, because why not? It will be something to celebrate!

I know I have brought it up several times through writing and in person, but the intro speech at the Nashville Marathon was my absolute favorite and I continue to think of race day this way. The announcer talked about the months it takes to train for a marathon, and how much that is a part of it. I mean race day itself is such a small part of the whole. He said ‘You all have put in your work already, now it’s time to take your victory lap. That’s what today is.’ Immediate goose bumps. (I have heard people call goose bumps, goose pimples at least 8 times in the past month and it still catches me off guard. TomAyto..Tomahto).

I have an 18 mile run and a 10 mile run left that’s it! I didn’t realize til just now, holy crap! 20 days left…less than 3 weeks!! And 10 weeks til Disney!!! Holy Moly!! Where did the time go?

"Success isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started.”

Sweat It Out

Today I ran my fastest 12 miles ever! 2 hours even! My PR for a Half Marathon (13.1 miles) is 2:28.. So had I been running a Half today I would have broken my record!

Big things!!

It was a chilly one, but nothing I hadn't done before. I was talking about training for Nashville and the 16 miles we did in 18 degree weather. Not too many people came out this AM.
I ran with Annie at first, she ran the Nike Women's Half two weeks ago in San Fran. She told me all about it, sounded hilly. But I love the fact that they get Tiffany Necklaces at the end instead of medals, mixes it up. She said the expo had booths where you could have your hair done, or make a smoothie, or get a facial... Typical womanly things. All in all she had fun.

She ran the first 3 miles with me and then two of the women coaches met me before Falls Bridge. We ran to the 6 mile marker and turned around.

I was doing 2:1 today but when I was with the two coaches the pace was quicker. I thought my watch had stopped working at the end of the run when I looked down and saw the time. I was glad I didn't have to run alone.

When I got home I still felt good, so I text my friend to see if she was around to check out the Bikram Yoga place. We went to a 3:30 class today. Man that was hot, I sweat so much. It was hard and I'm pretty sure I'll be sore tomorrow. I paid for the intro so I can go whenever this week. I'm gonna have to fit at least two more in.

Some people are so flexible it's crazy. I accept my stiffness though. I can hold a tree pose for an hour yet I can't touch my toes or lift my legs straight up while lying down. I don't know why that is.

Today was a good exercise day. I feel good oh and the Eagles just beat the Cowboys do obviously it was a great ending to a wonderful day :)

Treadmills….arg!

That is pretty much what I think about that. The best, possibly only, good thing is being able to watch TV while you run.

The other night I went to the gym to run and it is pretty annoying to do the intervals, but I did it. A guy got on the treadmill next to me…There were about 11 empty ones, not exactly sure why he wanted to go right next to me. I was the only other person running. My gym is weird though, because it is all windows and I can see why people would count the row closest to the street out immediately. Awkward…

So kid gets on the treadmill and I am about 15 mins into my run already. He starts his jogging and you guys know the deal, he started looking at my machine. Probably because I was changing the speed every 2 minutes, but I made sure not to look at his. At least until he was off of it and couldn’t see me.

He didn’t bother me too much and when he got off, I glanced over to get the results: 30 mins and ran 3.76 miles I just smiled. It doesn’t matter how fast people go, even though I will look every time. After my 5 I still felt really good, which is good because I will have to do 5 times that in a couple weeks.

Anyway, the gym process is not my favorite. I cannot tell you how many times I have gone through routines with trainers on free weights and exercises yet every time I get there I hit the treadmill and unless I am taking a class, I leave. I know that strength training is important but I don’t know I am set to Cardio for some reason.

The Team Run this week is at Kelly Drive, 12 miles. I love how the down week is still pretty far to most people but 12 miles sounds like heaven to me now. I know I can do that, and I know that it will be freezing! I do love running in the cold though. It has been awhile, but if you go back in the blog I posted a pic from Valley Forge in 2010 when the Gatorade froze on the ground, I think we had done 16 that morning.

Now that the cold is coming, I have to fish through my running clothes. There are countless zip ups….somewhere in the clothes. I did learn my lesson on Sunday which I often forget, run home. I need to run home or at least not stay out for extended periods of time after my run. I need to change my clothes (shower) and get warm. Once I am sweating and then sit for awhile I start shaking and it is freezing! So Sunday I will run my 12 and run HOME!