I am reminded...

Shame on me for I have been a bad blogger. After my last post about my injury I started feeling a little overwhelmed. An injured knee, a busy work schedule and a lull in fundraising had me feeling ready to throw in the towel...which I don't even really care to admit. Then a little spark lit the fire again.

Unexpectedly, I was contacted by a friend whom I hadn't seen in a couple years. She told me that her family had very suddenly lost her grandfather to acute myelocytic lymphoma. It really hit home for me and reminded me again of why I even joined the Team in Training group to begin with.

Every single person going through cancer treatment or having lost their battle with cancer is somebody's "someone"--a grandfather, father, sister, mother or child. The list could go on. I know that every mile I run and every cent that gets donated is helping bring a little bit of peace to the families who have had cancer interfere with their happy lives. I hope that one day soon it will bring the peace of a cure.

Thank you to my friend for reminding me how important this is. I am grateful for your inspiration and proud to honor your grandfather.

Weekly update

Last Saturday was our first double-digit run, meaning 10 miles. It was horrible weather and I was extra tired, so I wasn't really feeling it anyway. In an effort to just get it over with, I skipped stretching and didn't adhere to the run/walk interval suggestion. Well, I ended up paying the price for my ignorance. With just under a mile left to go, I started to feel pressure in my knee and hip and ultimately injured my IT band. I was so mad that my long run was going so well then suddenly I had to finish my last mile by slowly limping to the finishing point.

For those who don't know, the IT band runs from the knee to the hip on the outside of your leg and can become a huge problem if it's not taken care of properly. I've spent the last few days icing, stretching and resting my knee and hoping to get back on track soon. I am not giving up on this race and will be taking the time to be well-stretched before any more running.

Shame on me for knowing better and still ignoring good advice. Always stretch. Always.

Get up and go-go..

Today was an 8 mile run. Our group is thinning out a little--partly from injuries and partly from people quitting because they're overwhelmed. I feel fortunate that I haven't had so much as a blister (knock on wood!). I would also be lying if I said that I wasn't, at times, slightly overwhelmed too. I will not give up on this though.

Although I had no intentions on doing so, I just went for it and straight out ran the entire mileage, stopping only for two 30-second water breaks. Needless to say, I am exhausted and not looking forward to a busy night of work. However, I got a little extra dose of positive energy today that will keep me going through the night--after I got home from my run I received a $50 donation from someone in my neighborhood that I had never before met. That is an awfully generous donation to give a stranger! I must say that it leaves me half tempted to knock on his door and give him a hug.

Since I suppose that could be borderline creepy, I'll just have to settle for sending him a very nice thank you card instead:)

Just like the USPS..

"We are mothers and fathers. And sons and daughters. Who every day go about our lives with duty, honor and pride. And neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night, nor the winds of change, nor a nation challenged, will stay us from the swift completion of our appointed rounds. Ever." I held fast to this motto on Saturday as I trekked through 7 glorious miles of puddles and this incessant cough. It may not have been swift, but it certainly was complete.

FYI...

Ok, it is freezing and extremely windy outside, but I am dedicated to this training and I'm lacing up my shoes for a run right this instant! It's part dedication and part stubbornness to do this right. Wish me warmth.

Team in Training running group

What a great group of supportive people! I think I'm the only person in this group that signed up alone, but everyone is so nice and so enthusiastic about what we're doing! I love the positive energy!

Happy thoughts...

A very nice thought occurred to me today...by the time all this marathon training is over, I might just wear a pair of shorts for the first time in 15 years! (not booty shorts, mind you, but maybe something a little above the knee..woot!)