2012 For a Cure!

Hi everyone! It's that time again - I'm so excited to be involved with Team In Training to raise funds to beat cancer. I can scarcely believe this is my fourth year participating in Team In Training, where I'm again training for the Twin Cities Marathon in October in honor of my dad, who passed away in 2008 far too young.

I'm a firm believer in the saying that one never steps in the same river twice, and this season is no different. For the first time, I'm starting the season with an injury - a confluence of issues with my right hip, glute muscles and proximal hamstring (oh, the things I learn about physiology through running injuries.) I've been seeing a physical therapist for nearly three months now, just saw my chiropracter on Friday, and am scheduled to see a non-surgical sports doctor on Tuesday. Practically, in addition to a daily regimen of PT exercises, this has meant I'm only running three days a week and cross training the other three. It's quite the challenge. But, of course, it's tough to complain too much when so many of my teammates are cancer survivors, and some are still battling with the effects of cancer treatment. I fell in love with running not because I was great at it but because I love being outside in the sun and fresh air, and I love the freedom of going tremendous distances with my own two feet. And, of course, it's pretty great to be able to use running to support an organization that makes a palpable difference in people's lives every day.


I'll be following the training schedule. But I need your help to get across this finish line. This year, my goal is to raise $1,750 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by July 15. You can make contributions here. I appreciate your help and anything is appreciated. Thank you so much for your consideration again. I'm looking forward to updating you often about training, "mission moments" to remember what we're all contributing toward, and my progress in fundraising.

Whew. The summer is flying by! First things first though:

HUGE thanks to my most recent contributors. I'm currently at $1205.80, or 68.9% of my goal to raise $1750 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. That's only $544.20 to go. Good thing, because race day is a mere 66 days away (!!).

I am WAY behind in publicly acknowledging my most recent contributors' generosity. My tremendous apologies for this delay, and heartfelt thanks for your support.
Tremendous thanks to:
Linda and Greg T, Minneapolis
Sheila B., Minneapolis
Ann C., St. Paul
Aunt Julie, Fergus Falls, MN
Anonymous (whoever you are, you are awesome)
And fellow bloggers @brooksylite, @tomkeepstrying, and @fitnessyear
Aunt Bonnie (CO)
Cristy DLC, St. Paul, MN
Kecia P, Grand Forks, ND
Darrell G., Minneapolis
Michelle R., St. Paul
Kate E. and Pat S., Minneapolis
Rebecca A., MT
Phyllis and John N., Sioux Falls, SD

Thank you, thank you, thank you all again. Oh, and I did all of my pushups - and there's video evidence! 200 pushups and 46.2 lunges in all.

As far as a training update... our mileage continues to creep upwards. My schedule called for a 15 mile long run last Saturday. Good thing I got there early and got in a bit over 4 before we started, because about 1.5 miles from our starting point, a storm blew a tree down, which took a powerline with it - directly over our trail. Nobody was hurt, but here's a very blurry photo of those of us stranded at a gas station, waiting for a ride back to our cars. (I know it's not clear, but I'm crouching in front with the blue shirt.)

I'll be cutting back a little this week, but next week am scheduled for my first 18 miler of the season - always a tough training run. Hopefully I emerge without an injury. Whew!! Wish me luck!

Upping the ante: Through Wed 7/13, every dollar for blood cancer = I do one pushup

I'm upping the ante.

My guilty marathon training confession: I hate strength training. I find it boring and time-consuming. But I'm all about doing things I don't like to do for a great cause. Toward that end...

I’ll do a pushup (no knees) for every dollar contributed toward my Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fundraising goal now through midnight this Wednesday, July 13. [Pushups will be completed on Thursday, July 14.]

So *gulp* $5 = 5 pushups. That means if 20 of my friends and family contribute $5 each, that’s 100 pushups. My current record for no-knees pushups is 20 (!!). YIKES!!

No contribution is too small. Thank you in advance for your consideration - it's greatly appreciated!

Thank yous, 29% towards goal (13 days to go, eek!), and today's 12-mile run

First things first - thank yous! I'm now at $513.40, or 29% towards my goal of raising $1750 by July 15 to beat blood cancers. Thank you for your support!

Special thanks go out to: 
Margit M., VA
Aunt Betsy and Uncle Paul M., MT

(But, of course, I've got a ways to go, and my deadline is only 13 days away! If you can contribute, I would be grateful. You could give a dollar for every race mile ($26.20); a dollar for every team training run this season ($48) or a dollar for every day I get out and train for the race ($120 for 120 days this season.) It's all helpful and appreciated!



I have to admit it was tough to get going this morning. But, as always, I was glad I did. Much of the route followed the Twin Cities Marathon route, which helped.

The first two miles were rough, as always, but the run was eventful. First, boats on Lake Harriet:



Then I cheered on runners on a 10k race. Go runners!!
A downed tree blocked the Minnehaha Parkway trail path, probably from the thunderstorms that came through last night.

So I had to take an off-road alternate route, below. We'll find out how much poison oak/ivy I found soon, I'm sure!

Then, I found a very friendly cat at a water fountain. After I petted him for a few minutes, he bit me. Nice guy.

(I don't think he really meant it; it was more of a I-love-petting-so-much-I-occasionally-lose-my senses type thing.)
Also, on recommendation from one of my teammates, I decided to try Honey Stinger Waffles (you can get them from REI.)

They look like this:

They were really hard to open (why no notch on the wrapper?) and mine got a bit crushed trying. Crinkling the package also attracted the attention of a hungry black lab (cute.) Verdict: Incredibly tasty. Well-tolerated. Will be using again.

Then I high-tailed it back to the car before my iPhone battery ran out and I lost my Nike+ run mileage. Made it back with about 5% of battery left!

Also win: I froze my water bottles and my post-run powerade zero bottle so that they thawed during the run. Perfect and worked especially well for the powerade zero bottle that stayed in the car. When I returned, it was about half thawed and SO COLD. Tasty!!

26.7% towards goal; thank yous!; summer heat training

Wow. Thank you so much to all of you who have contributed; your response has been phenomenal. I'm now at $467.20, or 26.7% towards my goal of raising $1750 by July 15 to beat blood cancers. Thank you for your support!

(But, of course, I've got a ways to go, and my deadline is only sixteen days away! If you can contribute, I would be grateful. You could give a dollar for every race mile ($26.20); a dollar for every team training run this season ($48) or a dollar for every day I get out and train for the race ($120 for 120 days this season.) It's all helpful and appreciated!

Big thank yous to my most recent donors:
Bill S, Park Rapids, MN
Kathy L., St. Paul
Emira I., Lincoln, NE
Kari M., St. Paul

You guys are great, and your support is so, so appreciated. I can't believe how lucky I am to have so many great folks encouraging this marathon run adventure to beat blood cancers. Thank you, thank you again!

Our training continues. We have team runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays; today, we were to focus more on pace runs. But owing to the heat, we simplified the run a bit: 5 min marathon pace, 5 min recovery; repeat three more times for 40 min total. Tomorrow, my schedule calls for 6 miles; seeing as the heat index is expected to reach 105*, I'll be doing that six miles in the morning! However, as it's also supposed to be 70%+ humidity (we obviously got the best of the weather condition grab bag tomorrow), I'll probably be dripping sweat by the end. No team run for the 4th of July, but one of our mentors will be hosting an unofficial team run in Minneapolis - the last of the 8am Saturday training runs. From here on out, we'll be getting team runs underway at 7am. Pretty much every Saturday. Good thing I found some double caffeine running gels!

Our LLS staff member, Kim, brought race jerseys for sizing purposes/trying on to today's run. I can't believe we're already this far into the season. Next thing you know it'll be marathon morning...! Egads!! Onwards!

Happy 9th birthday honored teammate Alie!; 15.8% towards goal - thank yous! and hill reps in the rain...

First things first - now 15.8% towards my goal of $1750 by July 15 to beat blood cancers. Hooray!! Big thanks to 

Ruth P., Minneapolis (who just finished her first 26.2 in Duluth - congrats again, Ruth!)
Paul B., St. Paul

If you haven't already, please consider donating - I can put in the miles but I can't make this goal without your help. Every little bit is helpful and is greatly appreciated!

Hill run with the TNT team today. We use the lock and dam hill (different than the trail), which is a quarter mile one way. Last time we did 2-4 hills. This time we were scheduled for 4-6. Who did 7? This girl.

The evening started off in the 60s and humid, but then…

Yeah, it wasn’t even drizzling; just straight up, honest-to-goodness raining. I brought my windproof vest with and when I got warm put it down on a concrete sign thingy; at the end of the hill reps when I went to pick it up, it was just soaked. My shoes were squishing. Water was rolling off my visor. But still, better than summer heat if I had to choose. It was a chilly ride home though!

Our honored teammate, Alie, is celebrating her ninth birthday on Monday. She's been in the hospital since before her bone marrow transplant in February recovering - making lots of progress but can you imagine being in the hospital that long when you're eight years old? Way to go, Alie - happy birthday and feel better very, very soon!!

10.6% towards goal; Thank yous! and training in earnest...

WOW. This month has just flown by! I've just submitted my first checks and they will be reflected in my fundraising total shortly. I am 10.6% towards my goal, and my goal deadline is LESS THAN FOUR WEEKS AWAY! Holy moly! I'm working to raise $1750 by July 15. If you can help - no gift is too great or too small - I'd appreciate it. Thank you in advance!

Rest assured, though, I've been diligently training. Last weekend we were scheduled for 13 miles, and as I missed my turnaround, I ended up with something closer to 14 miles. To my great surprise, though, I wasn't completely exhausted when I got back. However, my trusty fuel belt, which has been with me since my first marathon, finally gave out. Looks like I'll need another one of those!

On the bright side, you can't ask for a more gorgeous route. This is actually along the marathon route about mile 19 (I'm generally pretty tired by this time in the race!). It's not unusual to see eagles flying along the river.

This week is a cutback week. Sort of. I'm supposed to be running 4 miles a day on Monday, Tues, Thurs and Fri; Wednesday will be our hills workout with the team. The hill, as you might recall from previous seasons, is .25 miles one way, or .5 miles up and down. In other words - a hill to be reckoned with. I think I did four hills last time; this week, I'll be shooting for 6. That's 3 miles up and down the same hill, and for those of you counting at home, 1.5 miles of just running up hill. If that doesn't make me a stronger runner I don't know what will! Then, Saturday, we'll be running only eight miles. Instead of 13+. See? Cutback week!

Some positive news for our honored teammate, as well - Alie has taken very well to her recent umbilical cord blood transplant in February. She has passed her 100 day mark, which is a GREAT sign, and she continues to improve. Hooray Alie!!

And of course I need to take a moment to thank the first folks who have supported my journey this year. HUGE thanks go out to:

Sally C., Minneapolis
Michael and Patsy N., St. Paul
Les and Carol J., Battle Lake
Susan and Rich S., St. Paul
John B., St. Paul

I can't do it without you. Thank you again!