Miles 10-12

To my amazing family and friends, thank you for your patience over the last month that I have not blogged. As the training gets harder and the miles longer it is difficult to find the time to sit down. Wow! So much to say I don't even know where to begin!
Let's see...the 10 mile run was awful, painful, cold and...awful! I went home that morning and felt like this was it, if I can't do 10 miles how will I ever do 26? I barely completed the run my knees hurt so bad, my hands were frozen (36deg that morning) and our water was stolen from our water stop so I was choking on my own saliva! See, awful! But I pushed through to the next week, and it's a good thing I did because 11 miles was awesome! When I got to the end point I immediately found a coach to ask if I went the correct route. It just seemed way too easy to be 11 miles! I went home feeling great that day, cold-but great! Well that is until I sat down for a little while and tried to get back up, then it felt like I had been hit by a truck. Still working through the week running 3-4 miles 3 times a week I am finding a new set of challenges. Just as I was comfortable in my runs, mother nature has changed her tune. As the seasons are changing it is now dark and cold when I get home from work. From now until the race I will mostly be training in the dark. Boy I cannot wait for that Oklahoma winter wind to kick in with the 30 deg temps! (do you catch my sarcasm) :) So now I am using trial and error to find the attire best to stay warm yet let my body breath and sweat. Now we are up to 12 miles. Last weekend I missed the group run, so my kick ass husband stuck it out and ran the entire 12 miles with me so I wouldn't have to do it alone! I was impressed that with no training but the occ run with me during the week he was able to complete the full 12! And there I was the last 2 miles whining and complaining with every step :) Nonetheless he stuck with me, what a trooper! So today, with the TNT group I ran 12 again. We are now at the half way point of training. No more 1 mile increases per week (oh-no!). Today 12, next week 14, then 12, 16,12,18 etc (see the pattern). There is no turning back now! Today was the re-commitment day for everyone. We officially turned in our paperwork for travel and signed up for the marathon. I will admit, I was hesitant to make it official or at least to sign up for the full. Today's run was...eh. I do not anticipate having any more "easy" runs like the 11 mile run so I should just get used to the fact that it will be painful from here on out!
On a different note, fundraising is going great! Thank you to everyone who has helped me make it this far. I am almost at $3300, that's $1700 away from my goal but I am not going to give up yet! Every step I take, every dollar we raise makes a difference in someones life. I learned this week of a dear friend of my grandmother's who was diagnosed with lymphoma just over a month ago, and passed away last week. I will continue to run for his family and everyone else whose lives have been touched by cancer.
Love you all. Thank you for your support.

Nature calls me loud and clear

Hello Hello to my family and friends. I am sorry I haven't blogged in so long! As you may remember last weekend I went to the lake and this week I was very busy training hard to prepare for my longest run yet. Last time we talked I completed 6 miles, oh how I wish I was at 6 miles again :) Training is going great and fundraising for the LLS is going just as good.
I have cut back from my over-zealous six day a week work-out, to four 30-45 minute runs and one endurance run (1.5-2hr). That seems to help my muscles relax and rebuild themselves.
This week I was very hesitant to stick my neck out there for the 8 mi run. I was quite certain in fact that I would be walking, at least, the last mile. Turns out I do not have enough faith in myself! I did very well, completing 8 miles in 1.5 hours. Miles 1-4 felt great; the 4 mi turn around point was at the top of a small hill with a lakeside water stop. It was a beautiful place to stop. I enjoyed my yummy Gu, Gatorade shot and water all while watching the choppy water of Lake Hefner. I know I know, it sounds cheesy! But you truly lose touch with reality when you run for that period of time with nothing to occupy your time but your own thoughts (most runners use an MP3 player or IPOD, I do not). The Gu that was like peanut butter last time, was more like...jello this time. I am learning tricks of the trade :) (A half a mile before my water stop I started squishing the pack in my hand to warm it up and change the texture-much easier to swallow!). Mile 5, was like I was high on crack cocaine :) LoL. The Gu gave me an instant boost making me feel like I would breeze through the next few miles (but it didn't last long)! At about 5.5 mi I felt the urgent call of nature. That is right my beloved family and friends, if that isn't TMI then I don't know what is! I was sure that if I didn't find a port-a-poddy in the next mile I would need to walk the rest of the way to ensure no accidents! And then, the most beautiful sight I have ever seen! Like being in the Sahara Desert with no water for days, a light from above shone down on a Port-a-Poddy at mile marker 6. You can imagine my excitement! So, with nature taken care of and Gu in my system I took off to complete my journey. I thought that miles 7 and 8 would have been horribly painful. They were surprisingly not. I can't even really describe it, except to say my movements were "robotic". I felt my feet hitting the ground, but everything from my breathing to my foot pattern was totally involuntary, it was just happening. I definitely felt the impact of every step in my knees, but otherwise I felt amazing! One of the coaches told me I had experienced "the zone" so many runners speak of, that point where you feel like you could run forever. How cool. I guess I am now a true runner :)
In synopsis, this week I learned that I am definitely going to need to use the Port-a-Poddies during the marathon! (Note to self: carry anti-bacterial gel in pocket). I also learned that Gu is not to be confused with it's close relative crack cocaine, and lastly, my friends and family ROCK! I couldn't have made it this far without you guys cheering me on. Thanks so much!

6mi and still alive!

I have so much to share this week I am not sure where to begin! First and foremost I wanted to ask everyone to keep Maria's family in your thoughts and prayers this week. I found out this morning that Maria passed away yesterday. She fought harder and lived more in her 2 years then most do in a lifetime. She is a hero and an inspiration.
I continue to work every week to increase my mileage while decreasing my time. This week I shaved 8 minutes off my daily 3 mile runs! Unfortunately, I did not keep my pace consistent enough this morning to make as good a time as I had hoped. Oh well! At least I finished without stopping!! I had my first Gu today. Imagine sucking something the consistency of peanut butter, oh and you are so thirsty you are basically choking on your saliva-yup, that is exactly what it was like :) I was running with one of my coaches when I ate it, she told me "It takes some getting used to" and "Before you know it you will be craving it!". Um, I'm pretty sure that I will not ever "crave" something that makes me want to gag it's so thick! As hard as it was to swallow, within minutes I felt an immediate burst in energy like I was on my first mile! Woohoo- I thought to myself, I can totally do this! Then I hit 5.5 mi and I wanted nothing more then to walk the rest of the way! But I pushed through it and the feeling of relief when I was close enough to see my car in the parking lot was overwhelming! I am starting to truly feel like a runner. My lungs can carry me forever, my knees cannot! Watch out guys maybe I can do a triathlon next ; ) (NOT!) Side note: I volunteered at the Redman Triathlon on Saturday. Did you know that a full Triathlon includes a 2.4 mi swim, 112 mi cycling and 26.2 mi run!? Now you see why I said "Not!" :) I'll run the marathon and let you do the triathlon...deal?
I started receiving sponsor donations this week in the mail. I cannot thank you all enough for taking this challenge with me to fight for a cure. It is exciting to check the mail everyday and look for another donation for the LLS, another life saved.
Next week I will be at the lake for a family vacation. That means running 7 miles by myself!! I hope I can do it without my teammates. It will be a true test of my determination! Wish me luck!

for maria

Every weekend before our group run begins our coaches give us an update on a Team In Training family and honored hero. This week we learned that Maria, a 2 yr old in OKC, diagnosed with Leukemia a year ago is losing her earthly battle. She underwent surgery a few weeks ago and has not recovered well since. At the end of the week hospice was brought into her home to make her comfortable for the remainder of her fight. I told myself before I started running, after hearing Maria's story, no complaining today, no stopping when my knees hurt, just running for a cure. I pray that someday a cure will be found, before another innocent life is taken. So today, join me...no complaining, no stopping. Today is Maria's day.

Not too bad

This morning I stepped it up a notch in my training. Not only did I run 4 miles, the farthest I have run thus far, but I finished with my best personal time as well! I am surprised how little that extra mile affected me. All week I ran 3 miles, exhausted and moaning by the last 0.5 mile. Not today, well actually I was exhausted and moaning the last 0.5 mile, but it was at 3.5 miles instead of 2.5!!
Our coach failed to mention in the pre-run email that today's run was hillie. So you can imagine how happy I was when in warm-up he said, "Remember to take baby steps up the bridge, reserve your energy for the top"...I wonder what he means "top", how steep can this bridge be? HOLY COW! We all know I tend to exaggerate, but this hill was big enough that I couldn't see anything on the other side until I was at the top! So, thanks to that hill, my buttocks is tight like J-Lo's tonight :) No worries, I'm sure it will return to normal tomorrow! I thought I was a slow runner because Sean is always nearly a half a mile ahead of me, but I stayed in the front of the group the entire run today! That was an accomplishment all in itself!
I also learned about Gu today. I was told anything over 4 miles I should drink Gatorade and at least 1 Gu pack/4miles. So I went to the Sports store to find out what this Gu is. Basically it is a small packet of a TON of caffeine and protein in yummy flavors, but a not so yummy consistency. Obviously, I grabbed the chocolate flavor (can't imagine that will tickle my fancy like Dove chocolate, but it's worth a shot) and a few random flavors as well. Next week I bump up to 5 miles, so I will let you know just how chocolaty the Gu really is ;)
Good News! No blisters at all this week, only knee pain that I continue to push through. I am told it is a part of the game! I will continue to run and sweat this week, with your love and support. Thanks to my dear family and friends.

Awe-inspiring

I hung posters at work this morning telling my co-workers I am running for a cure with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and within hours had my first awe-inspiring moment. I was approached by someone I work with every day and he told me he is a two-time Lymphoma survivor! How amazing that 12 years ago he had a 60% chance of losing his life to Lymphoma and today he is an otherwise healthy fiesty man! I suppose I have unfairly passed judgement and assumed that my co-workers wouldn't understand my motive. Here I was offerred a donation by someone whose life has been personally touched by Lymphoma and I would have never thought to tell him I was running for the LLS. My first official day of fundraising and I have been touched by an amazing story within hours. What an amazing experience this will be, what an amazing experience this is already.

Running in the dark

Sunday, August 31st 2008. Five o'clock: Before the sun was even awake yet, Sean and I were preparing for my first group run at Lake Hefner. My foot already hurt from my very first war wound, a blister on my poor little pinkie toe (the first of many to come I am told). I laced up my tennis shoes and got ready to go. When we arrived, we were greeted by a few faces just as tired-looking as ours. Ruth, one of the honored heroes (that's what TNT calls cancer survivors), who is training for her 5th and 6th marathon, was there ready to go. A quick note to self: do not complain about how hard this 3 mile run will be at 6 in the morning when the person next to you has 11 miles farther then you to go AND this person is a cancer survivor! That puts everything in perspective.
The coach was pointing out the mile markers for me and told me to keep an eye out for the water stops as we got started. She said she would try to keep up with Sean and I, but she was pacing herself because she and Ruth were taking a long walk/run today. I told her not to worry, as I am very slow! All this booty slows me down :) First half mile, feeling good. Except for the fact that I can't see in front of me (and we all know that I have to look at my feet to walk!) because it is so dark out. It is surprisingly relaxing to hear the rhythm of my breathing, the pounding of my feet on the pavement and the wind coming off of the lake. First mile: a mile already!? Wow, that went by fast! Although my lips are dry and I could really use a drink of water. Where is that water stop anyways? Mile and a half: Half way there! I am starting to slow down now-I sure hope I can keep the pace long enough to finish. Two miles: My goodness, when will this be over!? And where is the damn water stop!? We pass the coach and Ruth on the last mile. They give us a little cheer and said, "And you said you were slow! Look at you go!". All the while I am thinking, can I stop now, did I go far enough to say, "At least I tried". Must keep going. Sean is at least a half a mile ahead of me now. The sun is starting to peek out of the sky now. Last half mile: The tiniest little incline feels like Mount Everest. My legs are like jell-o and my toe...my poor little pinkie toe. I can see the parking lot we started at, coming closer and closer. Can I stop now because it is within eyesight? Does that count? Okay, I guess I can make it that last 0.2 of a mile. Except here comes another Mount Everest! I push through the lack of oxygen to my brain and blood flow to my legs and I am finally done! I clap for myself, saying out loud, "I did it, without stopping". Then I realize how funny that must look that I am clapping and talking to myself. What a small victory. 3 miles, only 23.2 to go :)