Just Keeps Getting Better

Yesterday I ran the farthest I have ever run in my life, 14 miles!! And from here on out, every week will be the farthest I have ever run. It's amazing that a year ago I was in Tallahassee getting ready to run my first half marathon. After I was finished I was convinced that was the farthest I would have ever run. Honestly at that moment I didn't have any interest in running even that far again. But now, here I am running that far just on a training run!! Not to say that I didn't take a two hour nap after I got home, because I did. But it was different. Yesterday I went out and had fun and by the end of the night I wasn't in pain or even thinking how that was all I did yesterday. It was just the beginning of the day. And you know what? I am feeling that runner's high. The endorphins are like on steroids or something and I feel like each run, it's just going to get better. I know that the pain will come and after awhile ( I think it's mile 11 for me) it becomes ALL mental, but I have faith now. I ran more than half a marathon yesterday!! My friend told me I had the runner's glow :) It's awesome! And I am pumped to keep going!!
I still need to set a date to have a spaghetti dinner, I am trying to find a place close by, but I will post as soon as it's set. Thing's are happening :)

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

Oh Happy Valentine's Day :)

The Calm Before the Storm

I went for a run early this evening, around town. It was the calm before the storm. My motivation was capturing some of the sights on my phone:

City Hall at the Days End

Brotherly Love <3 href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSodVVqwjg72RodExL9AtOc-ADLiK_JLabGNyuQVQimAdAlrKWVU1d53nmhVkhQ6azHna792HkeBty7L0NZ47CoO0-uxAeOW8fVF-MuII2hMeUyawX5K11MztICTbloGP1bT65WCfgJ8lh/s1600-h/south+st.bmp">
I love the statues on the South Street Bridge and for the longest time I never realized they were there.

I am feeling great. Today, yesterday, and Wednesday I ran about 5 miles. Inside yesterday and outside Wednesday and Today. It really hasn't been too cold. Sunday though... Let's just say I hope the plows hit Kelly Drive first :)

Run Bear Run

On Top of the World

Yes that is frozen Gatorade from Saturday Morning's practice. Actually I guess it is more of a slush but regardless it was FFFFreezzzzinnnnGGGGG!!!!

This weekend was incredible!!! Saturday morning, we gathered around at Valley Forge in the 19 degree weather for one common goal. To run! It was a big crowd this week because the Summer Team had their first training. I felt bad for them because I don't know how I would have felt if my first practice was hills and slushy Gatorade. I was running late, because I stayed the night in Jersey at my mom's. I woke up around 6am so that I could have enough time to go back to my apartment, change, and grab the re commitment paperwork (It was due yesterday). I pulled into the parking lot about 8:05 and saw the Mass of people. I was able to sign in and get the route from someone before we took off. It was similar to the run we did two weeks ago, except when we ran two miles one way on the path and turned around..We ran another mile out and back from the split in the path. I kind of dropped back from the group in front of me around the second mile. But I brought my headphones because I was planning on running solo. This guy, Kurt, dropped back with me. He waited for me in the end last week too. I could tell that he can run faster but he was just being a good team mate. A couple weeks ago, I over heard him talking about how he just ran the Disney Marathon. So I assumed he was one of the coaches, because who the heck would be out running 10 miles two weeks after they finished a marathon? I asked him how long he has been a coach and he told me he wasn't. He's a Hero.

Looking at him I would have never thought, but then I found out it was 20 years ago. He had lymphoma and went through 3 years of treatment. He said that his body responded really well to the treatment and thankfully he was able to make a recovery. He started explaining that the longer you go, the smaller your chances. Since it has been 20 years he has the same odds as getting cancer as anyone else now. He's run 8 MARATHONS!!! That's amazing!! I wanted to ask him why he hasn't shared a mission moment at practice yet but maybe they are waiting til closer to the race.

The Mission moment last Saturday, Oh my Gosh it was so sad but inspiring. The one girl, who is running the Paris Marathon, began running with TNT because her Uncle had passed away from a blood cancer. While she was training for one of her marathons ( I can't remember how many she has done) Her father was diagnosed with the same blood cancer that her uncle had. The weekend of her marathon (It was in California and she is from Pittsburgh I think..I may have some of the details jumbled..Anyway a LONG distance) her father got worse and went into the hospital. She debated running but her mom encouraged her to go run, For her dad. And she did. Her mom was able to bring a computer into the hospital so that the dad could see her daughter cross the finish line. (He had never been able to see her finish one) And so they watched their daughter, finishing her marathon in California, right in Pittsburgh. The daughter moved home for a year to take care of her father and he passed away in September of last year ('08). She keeps running in honor of her father and her uncle. I think she said that her mom has run at least one race too, which is just absolutely amazing. As she was talking about the money being raised, she said that there were more options for her dad when he was diagnosed than there were for her uncle. Each year, the research goes farther and they really are getting closer to a cure. The fact that She was able to share all of that with us and continue to fund raise and run, I literally don't have words for the strength and inspiration she has within her. I saw her this week running and I smiled and just got more inspiration just when I needed it. I saw her around 8 miles and it was an automatic reminder as to why I was there.

Once I passed the 10 mile mark I had to calm myself down. I was only 1 mile from running the farthest I have ever ran, not in a race. I was so Happy! And I wasn't in pain at all!! Like I said I had dropped back but I never lost sight of the group in front of me and there were some runners behind me too. I looked at my phone to check the time between mile 5 and 10 and I was at a 10 min pace!!! It was incredible!!! When I finished I was glowing I'm sure.. The ride home I had the heat blaring on my face but I just couldn't get warm.

I was going to drive home to my mom's right from Valley Forge but I started to Shiver before I got to Philly so I decided to go to my apartment, shower and get warm before heading back to Jersey. I have never been so happy for a Hot shower! Because I was so cold I straightened my hair, so the weather forced me to look half presentable lol. My mom and I went to Geets Diner when I finally got back to Jersey and I was floating the rest of the day. Of course, the snow started...

On my drive to my mom's some flakes started to fall and I was SO glad it waited until then.

"We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.” ~Sonia Johnson

HOME STRETCH

$813 to go!!!!!!!


Wow we are getting so close!!!! Under the $1,000 mark!!! I am turning in my re commitment paper work tomorrow morning at the team run, which means, this is really going to happen guys!!

I just finished putting through all of the donations from the benefit. It took longer than I thought because my bank thought someone stole my credit card. They locked it last week after the 30th donation went through. That would be one kind hearted thief to donated all of his/her stolen money the the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society haha. Only a short update today but definitely something worth writing about. Thank you all for helping make this happen. The LLS Team in Training passed their $1 Billion mark in fundraising last month!! And we are all apart of that :)

New Kicks

Check out the new kicks!! I got them last week. Okay yes they are almost identical to my old shoes, but hey if it ain't broke..



Training is going along. I ran ten miles again with the team yesterday morning at Kelly Drive. I stayed with Caitlin for the first 8 miles and I think we were faster than a ten minute pace because I was like exhausted the last two miles. Big things happened yesterday:



1. It was the first time that I have run the loop since the 20 in 24 race last July ('08). When I ran it the last time it was 95 degrees out and I was just not having a good running day. My brother, Sean, and my dad were working the first water stop which was 2 miles in and I was already walking when I got there. Mentally I was not in it, that hot summer morning. Since that day I have kind of had a fear of Kelly Drive. I have dreaded running it. With Team in Training and with the 5K I did on New Year's I ran it, but only on the boathouse row side... Anyway it was clear that my mental block was melting away. We ran from Lloyd Hall up to Ridge Ave, then back and across Falls Bridge and finished the loop. When I ran a year and a half ago we did it in reverse, so it was a different view. I remember doing the Aids Walk in High School and that was the only other time (making 3 times total) I have run (walked) the loop. Being a runner in Philadelphia, that's pretty rare. But I did it, and I didn't walk. Although the last two miles were a slow trot, I pushed through it.



2. I drank Gatorade and had a Gel pack for the first time while running. I have been nervous about drinking anything other than water. I have had past experiences with drinking water and getting cramps. But after hearing our coach on Tuesday Night it became clear that I HAVE to eat and drink when I run this. I took a gel pack, Chocolate, at the water stop about 6 miles in, a little less than 6 I think.. It didn't taste that bad at all. Caitlin grabbed a twizzler and I had to giggle because here I am worried about some Gatorade (I mixed it with water, just in case) and people can actually eat candy and still run..



So even though I had to drop back from the group in the end of the run, it was still a big day. My time was better than last week, but I am not exactly sure how much better because I don't know what time we started. I am thinking it took about an hour and 40 to an hour and 45 mins to finish. Considering the Broad Street run two years ago took me two hours to run, I am pretty satisfied.



All in All it was a good week.

This is a longer than usual quote, but it's just that good:

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race”
~Calvin Coolidge

Pictures from the Benefit

I'm not really sure what's going on with the spacing in this post. I apologize for the extra scrolling you'll have to do closer to the bottom. There are worse tragedies lol.

The Hall looked beautiful!! I had some awesome help decorationg :) The balloons look excellent.

Warm and Cozy

Aunt D holding down the fort.

Aunt D and Geri have been selling these hearts since Thanksgiving. I think the winner, says "Remember when Katie was In a Training bra?" Very funny Neal :p

Aunt Diane and my Mom in the kitchen. The food was awesome and yes

my mom is in the kitchen Uncle Joe lol.

First round of the Numbers game. If I could do it again I woulda wore Jeans.

It was cool to have both sides of the family playing. Aunt Diane and Danny were doing some trash talking. Dee Dee and Beth are counting off.

Megan turned the mic up on me, at least I felt like she did. I'm singing Aretha Franklin's "Respect" $70 to sing one song..Not too shabby

Brian came up to help me. He is one heck of a dancer.

For the Championship: Round 2 of the Number game..Dee Dee vs. Alec

Robbie is getting the crowd going

And the Winner is: DEE DEE Wohooo Go Girls!!!! Sorry Alec better luck next year

Uncle Joe Delaney and Michael

Danny and Aunt Lourdes

Aunt Diane (Delaney) Pilone

Aunt Peggy and Aunt Lourdes