Thursday, January 24, 2008

Events of the week...

Alright folks! Time to get down to brass tacks (as my 10th grade French teacher used to say, much to the class' amazement and delight)...

Last weekend was a 12 mile run, though I think I only went a little over 11 'cause I screwed up the course. I still feel pretty good about it because I was running on my own and always feel like its a win when I can make myself do a long run by myself (what with water stops, etc.) Tonight, I need to make myself run 6 miles at the gym and then on Saturday I will be doing the monster training run. 20 miles. Holy crap. I am, quite frankly, sort of nervous. I've been trying to practice the marathon thing this week, you know: sleep, carbo load, drink lots of water, etc. I just need to keep pumping up, up, up.

Also, much to my never-ending relief, the fund raising minimum has been reached! I've had a number of contributors who have not yet been properly thanked, and I'm going to work on that, but I'd just like to say right here "Heartfelt thanks to all of you who have helped me out." Truly, this effort is about fighting leukemia and honoring a precious life. For those of you who have reached out to help, you are amazing! I feel honored to have all of you in my life.

The fight goes on though. If some of you are still looking for ways to help take action, consider a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society event. Honor Sean or honor someone else. Who hasn't been touched by cancer? Remember McKenna? Her family and friends do and always will, having signed up to do a marathon event in June and I'm 100% behind them. I've raised my money and now you can help the Johnson family work for McKenna here atMiles for McKenna.

Or go find a TNT event that you want to do. Let me know and we'll keep running! Let's keep fighting, people!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

STupid Mountain Cedar

Today's post is an informational one on the allergans of Northeast Texas, which have now taken the blame entirely for the previously attributed cold. Yes, I think that I was suffering an allergic reaction from what I hear is a common allergan down here - Mountain Cedar. Mostly, I'm self diagnosing the sudden onset and retreat (during the cold rain yesterday) of all these symptoms. After a good nap yesterday and the rain, I was able to do a 5 mile run - major mental relief. Tonight I'm going to attempt 7 miles as I work to "catch up" with my weekly training. All is well, and I have some very, very nice friends out there who have been more than generous. You know who you are, and thanks!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Feeling lousy

Well, I feel horrible today. That long run on Saturday has turned into an achy, icky cold. I skipped running yesterday because I felt horrible. I tried to go today, went about a mile-and-a-half and felt horrible. This was compounded by the enormous, boatload of guilt and fear that come from now the third day with little or no mileage. I may try to go to the gym tonight and do something even if I don't run. Because seriously, I am totally freaking out about this. Otherwise, nothing new to report today (but surprise - less than 2 weeks between posts!)

Monday, January 14, 2008

Almost there - one month to go.

So, last week in Minnesota amounted to some rather paltry training time. I was able to get some passes from a friend of Ellen's (thanks Kirsten! - sp?), but the training was horrid, horrid! I tried to run on Friday night, but I only did a 3 mile run. I must have been fatigued, dehydrated, improperly carbohydrated, etc. This was a bad, bad night for running. I tried again on Monday (after spending the weekend sleeping and drinking gallons of water) and did much better on a 5 mile run. But...a big but...that was it. No long run. Yup, I'm bad. I got back to Tyler on Tuesday and ran another 3 and 5 mile run before the long run on Saturday, which was - wait for it - 17 miles!

I swear, this nearly did me in. Seriously, around mile 14 or so, I just got all floppy and was seriously losing the will to go on. Fortunately, I HAD to return to the trail head, and that was 2 - 1/2 miles away, so the 17 miles was completed. I got a lot of my energy back around mile 16 where I must admit, I got sort of emotional. All of a sudden, I was just imagining how it was going to feel to finish this race, and all this training, for Sean. Sometimes, I just can't believe he's gone. I mean, really. Some days the loss is just so...acute. It's been 10 months, but on somedays it feels like it may have just been 10 minutes, and I just miss him so much. Everything he was, everything he wanted to be (I was imagining him beating on the drums for me). Anyways, sometimes when I need a little boost I remember that day that I raced him, the summer before he was diagnosed (probably already sick). I told him that he might be faster, but I could run longer and I would eventually win. Boy, did he prove me wrong. He ran, and ran. Told me that it was something that he was really good at, that few would catch him if they tried. So anyway, there I was needing my boost, thinking of Sean, and I imagined the finish line of this Austin marathon, and how it would feel. I'm here to say right now, that I am going to be a PUDDLE! I know it. I'm going to fall apart and that's okay. Hopefully it won't happen until the very end, because - as I learned on Saturday - crying and running both compete for oxygen. Fortunately, I managed to reign things in before I got hysterical on Saturday - mostly afraid that people would think I had hurt myself and not really wanting to explain the truth, or any part of it.

Okay, so I just send out a plea for funds. Only something like $300 left for this venture and here's hoping that people come through. So hard, and yet so exhilarating. Right. I gotta go - need to go run 3 miles before I do another 8 tomorrow. Stay tuned for more dirty details, this weekend is a 12 miler, than 20, then the taper begins! Down, down, down to the zero hour!