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!
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, andmy 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!!
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!
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!!
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'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!
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!
Hi, I'm Erin. I am committed to not only run a marathon but set a personal goal to raise $1750 for LLS. Last year, we raised $1,450! It's a great organization, so please consider contributing today!
I am training to participate in the Twin Cities Marathon on October 7, 2012 as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I'm running for my dad and our honored teammate Tyler. Learn more here.
Hi, I'm Erin. I am committed to not only run a marathon but set a personal goal to