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!

Back in the saddle for a cure!

I've made a tremendous decision in my life. Last year I wrote about my intent to run the Twin Cities Marathon to benefit people who battle blood cancers and their families. With your help, I did it – I finished in 5:22:22 (eleven minutes faster than my first marathon!), and together we raised $1,797.60 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I've again committed to run a marathon, a full 26.2 miles, at the Twin Cities Marathon on Oct. 2, with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training.

Why, you might ask, am I subjecting myself to four months of grueling training in the summer heat – again?!!?

I'm running for my dad, Ned Jimmerson, and our honored teammate,Alie. 

My dad, Ned Jimmerson

I lost my dad too young two and a half years ago, when he succumbed to stroke complications and diabetes. The best way I could think of to honor the memory of my dad is by surmounting an incredible physical challenge (I never thought of myself as a runner of any stripe - and I’m sure you didn’t either!), and to support a worthy charity in doing so.

Alie, our honored teammate

LLS supports patients with blood cancers and their families. Alie is one of those patients. She’s eight years old and was first diagnosed with leukemia at age 3. Today, Alie is recovering in the hospital from her second bone marrow transplant. In addition to running in memory of my dad and Alie, I'm also running in honor of others who have survived, lost or are battling with all cancers.

I have a coach, a team, a training program, and a noble cause on my side. I’m committed to a daily personal training routine and weekend training with my team. I’ll write fundraising letters (like this one), plan fundraising events and participate with my team at the Twin Cities Marathon.

But I need YOU to help me with the most significant part of this endeavor.

I have set a personal goal of raising $1,750 in donations by July 15 for LLS’s continued support of those who battle blood cancers and their families. If you need extra time, your contributions will gladly be accepted after that date.

•  $25 provides patients and their loved ones with free booklets with up-to-date information on their disease and help them make informed decisions about their treatment options.
• $50 makes a Family Support group possible, complete with a trained facilitator, where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members.
•  $100 helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.
• $1,000 makes one- on-one conversations with health care specialists possible, providing patients with information about their disease, treatment options, and preparing patients with questions for their health care team.

No donation is too big or too small. About 72% of all funds go directly to research and patient aid, and your contribution is tax deductible. I'm really looking forward to keeping you updated on my progress as we get closer to October.

Your strong financial support, and the strength and tenacity that my honorees have used in battling disease in their lives, will carry me across the finish line. I hope I can count on your support, and look forward to hearing from you!

Across the finish line!!

Pictures to come soon, but I made it!! I finished the marathon on Sunday, and not only that, but finished with a new personal record, shaving off 11 minutes and 23 seconds off of my time from last year. Not bad considering I wasn't sure I'd be able to finish. AND of course we raised over my goal of $1750 by the marathon to defeat blood cancers - better than any finish time I can think of!

Video of me crossing the finish line, about 45 seconds in - black pants, bib on the leg, purple shirt and sunglasses.



But, of course, battling blood cancers was the real reason I was on that race course. Check out this Twin Cities Marathon "Faces in the Crowd" video clip of my teammate Tyler, who is a blood cancer survivor and completed the marathon on Sunday.



The weather could not have been more perfect. Last year, I was focused on avoiding the pace bus that picks up folks slower than the minimum pace (13:44 per minute.) This year, I just had a blast - a smile on my face almost the whole way through, giving high-fives to little kids along the marathon route.

I had a much better pacing plan than last time, actually figuring out my run pace (as opposed to trying to derive it from the overall pace, as I was last year) and striving for negative splits (running the first half of the race slower than the second.) That didn't quite happen, but I did start out more slowly than I did last year, and if I run again next year, I will certainly work to improve my negative split plan. An additional bonus - since I was coming up on a mile every 12 minutes or so, and I had to vary my pace every mile, the negative splits pacing also kept me occupied and less focused on 26 miles.

Also, this year I was taking salt tablets, which I think greatly reduced the quad and glute cramping I experienced last year.  Last year, I didn't start my run/walk until mile 10, and this year, I only ran the first mile straight through (slowly - but still couldn't slow down to the pace in my pacing plan!!). Mississippi River Boulevard proved to be the toughest (and slowest) segment of the course, from the Franklin Av bridge to Summit Av, only because of the huge hills there. Sure enough, my quads and even calves started to threaten to cramp. I walked whenever I felt them start to seize and made it through ok. I cruised through the miles 21 through 25, compared to last year!! I couldn't run my three minute segments, so I'd just walk until I felt the cramping pass, and then try to run another 30 seconds or minute, or even 15 seconds, until I felt my legs threaten to cramp again. Anything to keep on going!

Overall, highlights included:
- Seeing so many friends along the race route! Especially Kate and Pat with the bullhorn (around mile 9), Karl (around mile 15), Al, Jen, Anna and Liam, and Tony (around mile 19), and Michelle and Jeff (around what, mile 21? 22??), and TNT friend who was a race marshall, April, around mile 19.
- Seeing my awesome coaches and teammates along the race route!
- Watching first-time marathoners rock it out.
- Spectators who stuck around for us back of the pack folks. You guys are SO AWESOME.
- Favorite spectator sign: "26.2. Because 26.3 would be crazy."
- Seeing Alan Page, Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and former Purple People Eater, play his tuba around mile 2. (I voted for you, Justice Page!)
- The "Return the DVD" people collecting DVDs in front of the Basilica, around mile 1.
- Running behind a guy that had "The Penguin" logo pinned to the back of his shirt.
- Seeing all of the TNT cheer teams along the route! Go green and purple!!
- Watching 70+ year old runners pass me. Wow. Pretty cool. I hope I'm entering marathons at that age!!
-  Enjoying a couple sips of some kind soul's birthday beer, set out in little cups like a water station, around mile 24 : ) Have no fear - it was literally about two sips.
- Giving little kids along the route high-fives.
- Being cheered on by little kids who can't even read yet.
- The race volunteers - race marshalls, volunteers who hand out gatorade and water, EMTs - are just incredible. I never got through a water/gatorade station without someone hollering "GO ERIN" : )
- Seeing all of the other incredible charity teams members and their cheer stations along the route. Folks fighting MS, the Childrens Tumor Foundation, American Cancer Society, all incredible folks and athletes running in their name. Very cool. 
- Playing on my iPod as I ran down the last .2 miles to the finish line: "Tubthumping," Chumbawumba. Wow, that song takes me back.

And, for a bit of humor, how I was certainly feeling Monday and Tuesday:


All in all, a fantastic race and another wonderful marathon experience. Thank you, again, for all of your support. You're fantastic!

Twin Cities Marathon spectators wanted!!; Less than $200 left to reach fundraising goal!

I can't believe it. Less than $200 to my goal of $1750 to blast blood cancer!! That's only 14 folks giving $15 each. I can take contributions after the race on Sunday, but I can run much easier knowing that I've reached my LLS fundraising goal. If you can help, please contribute today!

Wow... once again I'm blown away by your generosity. Tremendous thanks to:

Elizabeth W., Madison, WI

Mark R., Madison, WI

Pete T., Madison, WI

Cristy DLC, New Brighton, MN (TWICE!! Thank you Cristy!!)

Michael and Patsy N., St. Paul

I can't believe how many wonderful folks I'm privileged to be surrounded by. Thank you very, very much.

RACE DAY - T MINUS FIVE DAYS!!

My race number is F2853. I have a massive case of the jitters - my hip/leg is still giving me trouble and I don't know what that's going to mean on race day. Lots of water, anti-inflammatories, physical therapy work, the stick, quality time with a foam roller and hopefully a little luck will pull me through. 

Race day is currently forecast to be 56*, but sunny. Not bad. Let's hope it holds.

There are 44 other Team In Training athletes that will be running the Twin Cities Marathon. Come on out and support my teammates as we run the most beautiful marathon in America!

Given my hip issues, I'm going to assume a 5:30 finish time - about three minutes faster than my last marathon time. If I'm feeling really good, I'll try for the 5:20 finish time. The race starts at 8am, but since I'm slower, my pace group can take up to 10 minutes to pass the starting mat. 

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE TEXTS AS I GET CLOSER TO THE FINISH LINE

Also - you can sign up to receive texts when I cross various points on the marathon course. You'll be notified when I pass the start line, 5k (3.2 miles), 10k (6.4 miles), 13.1 miles, 30k (18.64 miles) and an additional spot, as well as the finish line. Sign up here.

WHERE I'LL BE ON RACE DAY

Here's an approximate idea of when I'll be at various miles on the course, give or take a few minutes. If I'm able to run the 5:20 schedule, you'll see me a bit earlier - about 22 seconds every mile. West River Road on the Minneapolis side of the river is especially sparse and spectators are really helpful there!!

1 - 12:35 (12th St/Hennepin Av; 8:22am)
2 - 25:10 (Lyndale/Douglas Av; 8:35am)
3 - 37:45 (Douglas Av and Oliver Av?; 8:47am)
4 - 50:20 (Dean Parkway/Lake of the Isles Pkwy; 8:59am)
5 - 1:02:55 (West Calhoun Pkwy, between 32nd St & 36th St; 9:11am)
6 - 1:15:30 (West Calhoun Pkwy/Sheridan Av S; 9:25am)
7 - 1:28:05 (22nd/East Harriet Blvd; 9:38am)
8 - 1:40:40 (W Minnehaha Pkwy/Humboldt Av S; 9:50am)
9 - 1:53:15 (Minnehaha Pkwy/35W; 10:03am)
10 - 2:05:50 (Minnehaha Pkwy/Chicago Av; 10:15am)
11 - 2:18:25 (Minnehaha Pkwy/Cedar Av; 10:28am)
12 - 2:31:00 (Cedar Av S/E Nokomis Pkwy; 10:41am)
13 - 2:43:35 (E Nokomis Pkwy/52nd St; 10:53am)
14 - 2:56:10 (Minnehaha Pkwy/Nokomis Av; 11:06am)
15 - 3:08:45 (Godfrey Rd/Hwy 55; 11:18am)
16 - 3:21:20 (42nd St/W River Pkwy; 11:30am)
17 - 3:33:55 (West River Rd/36th St; 11:43am)
18 - 3:46:30 (West River Rd/28th St; 11:56am)
19 - 3:59:05 (West River Rd/Franklin Av; 12:09pm)
20 - 4:11:40 (East River Rd/St. Anthony Av; 12:21pm)
21 - 4:24:15 (East River Rd/Marshall St; 12:34pm)
22 - 4:36:50 (Summit Av/Cleveland Av; 12:46pm)
23 - 4:49:25 (Summit Av/Snelling Av; 12:50pm)
24 - 5:02:00 (Summit Av/Oxford; 1:12pm)
25 - 5:14:35 (Summit/Dale, 1:24pm)
26.2 - 5:30:00 (John Ireland Blvd & 12th St/Rice St, 1:40pm)

And, if you want to bust out your purple and green gear - here are the official TNT cheer stations!

Mile 4.5 (8:00 a.m.) - Located in Minneapolis at the northwest corner of LakeCalhoun near the Calhoun Beach Club (corner of Lake St. & Dean Parkway).

Mile 10 (8:40 a.m.) - Located at the intersection of Portland Ave and 50th St.

Mile 17 (9:15 a.m.) - The TNT cheering section will be just prior to the official mile 17 water stop of the marathon. We will set up at about 34th Street and West River Road . Park along Edmund Blvd. It runs parallel to the River Road. You will need to walk down a small hill to get to the River Road. (It is about 4 blocks south of Lake St.)

Mile 22.75 - also mile 6.75 of the TC10 Miler - (9:35 a.m.) - Located at the intersection of Summit Ave. and Snelling Ave. (This is our official Honoree Cheer Station).

A few notes about cheering - first, cheering is AWESOME. You can't know how fantastic it is to be cheered on by hundreds of strangers! If you're planning to be cheering on runners on Sunday, or are a volunteer, you are a ROCKSTAR. 

As awesome as cheering is, though, remember one thing: 

- Don't say "you're almost there" unless you're at the St. Paul Cathedral. 26.2 miles is a really long way, even if you've already done 13, or 15, or even 20. : )

See you Sunday!!

77.5% toward goal; 12 days to race day!

Wow. I'm sorry it's been so long since I've blogged. The good news is that my workload has increased quite a bit and involved a great deal more travel this year. I love my new portfolio, but it certainly has reduced my blogging time!

First things first - I have a TON of new donors. Thank you so much!! We are only $394 away from goal!! Big thank yous to:

Duane N., Ortonville, MN
Paul B., St. Paul
Jenny L, Madison
Carole L., Green Valley, AZ
Jane P. and Dave M., St. Paul
Ethan F., Minneapolis
Kecia P., Grand Forks, ND
Penny Ives, Minneapolis
John B., St. Paul

On a more positive note... training is going alright. I've gotten through a very warm summer - much warmer than last year - and missed only one long run the entire season. The midweek runs, though, have been a different story - it's been tough to balance the extreme heat and risk of heat stroke and our training schedule. Last season, a teammate had to drop his race because of heat stroke. A seasoned runner can tolerate heat more easily, but as I am only in my second year of running, I've been playing it safe - spending more time cross training in the pool on days when the heat was unbearable.

Last race, I finished in 5 hours and 33 minutes (5:33) and change. I'm hoping to run the same this time around, and if things go really well, finishing 15 minutes earlier. We'll see.

There are so many things to do! We just received our race jerseys today; I'll need to add my name and my honorees to mine. (This year, I'll be using iron-on letters, not the puffy paint. Last year's jersey looked... grass-rootsy : ) ). And I have my bib number - F2583.

FOLLOW ME ON RACE DAY VIA TEXT MESSAGE
Follow my progress on race day. Every time my race chip crosses a mat along the course, you'll receive a text message. Register here. 

RACE INFORMATION
Come on out and support my fellow runners on race day! We'll have 44 athletes besides myself running in the Twin Cities Marathon from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program. The race starts at 8am, but it's best to assume that I'll be starting around 8:10am (takes awhile for thousands of runners to get across that start line!)

The race is 26.2 miles between the Minneapolis Metrodome and the Capital in St. Paul.

Spectator guide [pdf].
Course map. 
Starting area map.
Finish area map.

More soon!