Amy's Weekend/Race Report

My report of the weekend and race can be found here. I can't wait to read yours whether posted here or sent via email. I have a million questions that I never got to ask Sunday night:

Were you nervous at the start?
Did you ever experience the runner's high?
Did you hit the wall or a "bite me zone?"
How did you feel half way through your race?
How did you feel as you crossed the finish line?
How does it feel now that you're a marathoner?
When's your next race? (I'm only asking this because so many of you have already started talking about it!)

Those are just a few of the things I'd wished I asked in SF but hope to hear all about soon. Again, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT!!

WE DID IT!!!! Go Team!

And They're Off!

Dear family, friends and internet strangers,

We are off to our marathon weekend! Wish us luck as we travel to San Francisco to complete the Nike Women's Marathon/Half Marathon! It's so exciting! And I can't stop using exclamation points! I'm not sure about the others but I am not bringing my computer in an attempt to just enjoy the experience. However, there will be plenty of recaps and stories to tell when we return next week!

Thanks again for following our journey, for financially supporting us through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and for encouraging us to keep going! We are SO grateful for you!

Send your good thoughts and prayers out on our behalf on Sunday morning!

GO TEAM!

Dog Tags

Tonight was our team send-off dinner.  It was great fun, filled with energy, laughter, and lots of info.  Coaches gave out silly certificates for different things...best team smile, best jokes, etc.  I guess you can say the team honored patient is/was a man named Pete.  He's always mentioned at team runs, his sons are big TNT participants.  Pete died a few years ago just weeks before an event.  In his honor, the Long Island Chapter has dog tags (3 sets) that have Pete's mantra on it "ucandoit" as well as his name.  At each send-off the coaches/mentors/TC's vote on who they want to wear the tags at the events being run.  The criteria is "TNT spirit, someone who 'get's it', someone who represents why we run, why we train, why we do this."  That TNT member wears Pete's tags at the event, then returns them so the next team member can wear them at the next race.  You can imagine my surprise and my tears when they handed them to me.  I'm honored, I'm humbled, I'm shocked.  I wear them proudly.

The tears have started already and I'm still in NY.  I told you I was going to be a sloppy mess through all this!

The Mental Game

Below are some things I've found inspirational and/or motivating and will be repeating over and over this week as well as during the race. Use what inspires you.

Songs:

I Run For Life
Written By Melissa Etheridge
2005, The Greatest Hits The Road Less Traveled

It's been years since they told her about it
The darkness her body possessed
And the scars are still there in the mirror
Everyday that she gets herself dressed
Though the pain is miles and miles behind her
And the fear is now a docile beast
If you ask her why she is still running
She'll tell you it makes her complete

CHORUS

I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother your sister your wife
I run for you and me my friend I run for life

It's a blur since they told me about it
How the darkness had taken its toll
And they cut into my skin and they cut into my body
But they will never get a piece of my soul
And now I'm still learning the lesson
To waken when I hear the call
And if you ask me why I am still running
I'll tell you I run for us all

CHORUS

And someday if they tell you about it
If the darkness knocks on your door
Remember her remember me
We will be running as we have before
Running for answers
Running for more

Survivor
Written by Beyonce Knowles, Anthony Dent & Matthew Knowles
2001, Survivor, Destiny's Child

I'm a survivor
I'm not gonna give up
I'm not gon' stop
I'm gonna work harder
I'm a survivor
I'm gonna make it
I will survive
Keep on survivin'
I'm a survivor
I'm not gonna give up
I'm not gon' stop
I'm gonna work harder
I'm a survivor
I'm gonna make it
I will survive
Keep on survivin'

Matras:

I am strong.
I will not quit.
If he/she can survive chemo & radiation, I can surely finish this little walk.
My only job is to endure.
Just one foot in front of the other.
After this, I can have a cupcake. After this, I can have a cupcake. After this, I can have a cupcake. Make that ten cupcakes. (Courtesy of my friend, Mary.)
Have you hit a brick wall? Aim higher and jump over it.

Quotes:

Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart. -Mike Fanelli
It hurts up to a point and then it doesn't get any worse. -Ann Trason
Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. - Lance Armstrong
My thighs may not be the prettiest or the fastest out here on this...road, but when I ask them to move, they move. They’re getting me where I need to go and for that, I love them. -Melissa W.
Look here for more great running quotes!

Things that make me laugh:

Girl, please, my mascara runs faster than you. (Courtesy of my Melissa Wallenbeck)
Shunderwear (Courtesy of Katie Kane)
Girl runners are hot! (Courtesy of Heidi Slouffman)

Last Minute Ideas

Holy cow we leave on Friday. I will try not to "Mommy-stress" between now and then. So much to do, so little time.... I can sleep on the plane! :)

Ok. My last minute "to-do's"... For my TNT run last month I got my singlet. (word of warning, they're SHORT!...Like, not even clearing the belly-button!) I went to my local craft store (Michaels, AC Moore) and got iron-on transfers that can go in the printer from my computer. I printed out a pic of my grandfather with the words "In Memory" above it, and a pic of Gid with the words "In Honor". I then ironed them onto my singlet. Way cool. I'm also putting ribbons in the faculty rooms of all the buildings I've taught in....people can write the names of family and friends that have battled cancer. I will pin them to the back of my singlet. Really motivational when you're tired!

March to October 2008

Dear running/walking friends,

On Sunday, March 9, 2008, I wrote an email titled "10 Reasons to Call Me Crazy" and sent it to you. It was about 4am and I was pretty sure I would regret sending it once I was a bit less sleep deprived. In it I listed 10 reasons why you could finish the Nike Women's Marathon and why it was even a good idea. I was positive that while one or two of you might entertain the idea, it would never really happen. You're all busy wives, mothers, working inside the home, outside the home and training for a long distance event is quite a commitment. Plus, we're not runners! I mean, a few of you ran a bit in college but most of us weren't running as a regular part of our current lives. This was a ridiculous idea and since I wasn't even sure I wanted to do another marathon, I was banking on the fact that you would call me out on my insanity and ship me off to the nearest treatment center, therefore, allowing me to avoid another 26.2 mile race. Phew! Close one.

Except that's not at all what happened! Your responses started coming in and they read something like this:
"Call ME crazy, but that actually seems like a really neat idea, Amy."
"As I was out for a walk yesterday, I was thinking I will consider it."
"It's actually kind of tempting."
"Ok. I am crazy....I'm considering too. Holy cow what am I possibly getting myself into??????????"
"I think I'm interested. Maybe. I'm interested. I think."
"I'm in."

What was going on? Who were these people I thought I knew? They were supposed to laugh at me, question my my mental health, anything but agree to take on this challenge. Then the voice of reason appeared like an angel from heaven:
"WWWWWWHHHHHHHAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTT??????????!!!!!!!!!! I'm rubbing my head in disbelief... I hate running. Hate it...So how on earth would I find the motivation to get my butt out the door and train? What the-- You guys! The pressure!!!"

Surely, this one loud and convincing voice would rise above the rest because after all, most of us "hate running." Eventually, we had heard from 10 and all were seriously considering it, well 9 were considering it and 1 was hoping to withstand the peer pressure. I had one last hope."Sorry I'm just writing now... I must admit, when I hadn't checked e-mail for 5 days I knew that I would have quite a few e-mails but not THIRTY (from just you Houghton girls!) It's been great fun reading through them all and even the thought of running a marathon and/or h-m sounds incredibly crazy, but fun!, with all of you in SF!!:)" That was it. Even the above mentioned "angel" reluctantly gave in as she said, "OH YOU GUYS!!!!!!! I love/hate you all in a very twisted way." There was nothing more I could do but accept the fact that there would indeed be a 2nd marathon in my life.

The following weeks prompted debates about whether or not childbirth was more difficult than running a marathon and discussions about how many benefits there could be to actually following through with this: smaller butts, practice of discipline, enjoying a weekend with the girls, overall health and of course, actively supporting our friends and family who had faced cancer. Then as the reality of this commitment began to set it, words like terrified, scared, and overwhelmed began to appear as did training schedules and tips found online. You were all very proactive despite the understandable fears that existed. Some decided they couldn't join us (and one found out she was pregnant!) but in the end 7 of us signed on the dotted line and officially committed to conquering those fears, to training for the next 6 months and to raising collectively over $28,000 for blood cancer research and patient support. Remember how frightening that felt?

Well, here we are, one week from our departure to San Francisco and 9 days from the Nike Women's Marathon/Half Marathon. We've spent countless hours running, walking, stretching, cross-training, building our physical/mental strength and endurance and encouraging each other when we weren't sure we believed our own words. We've faced injuries, mental hurdles, doubts & fears. We've done it. WE ARE READY. On October 19th, we will join 20,000 other athletes and embark on the final leg of this particular journey.

Over the next week, in addition to list-making, packing and making sure you are well rested, nourished and hydrated, take some time to reflect on how far you've come. Whether your longest distance has been 9 miles or 20 miles, I bet you didn't think that was possible last March. You know everything you need to know to have a successful race. You will cross the Nike finish line on the Great Highway!

There's one finish line we've already crossed and that is the fundraising finish line. Again, last March, raising $28,000 for any cause, no matter how worthy, was quite daunting. Well, final funds are still being calculated but we've raised over $29,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!

Of course, we owe so much to the generous people in our lives that stepped up to join us in this important work with their financial contributions, encouraging words, baby sitting offers, running partner offers, the list goes on. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

It wasn't easy but we did it! You did it! I'm so proud of you all and can't wait to see you in San Francisco to complete the mission! GO TEAM!

With love and admiration,
Amy

!!!!!!

OH MY GOODNESS WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will admit, 5 months ago when we started this, that fundraising ticker-thingy was a tad overwhelming! I mean, I knew we could do it, but it just seemed so huge. $28,000!!! We did it gals!!!!

Packing List

Now that we're two weeks away, have you thought about the actual trip to San Francisco? What are the must-remember items on your packing list? And are you planning to fit everything into a carry-on, or will you be checking luggage? I think I can fit everything into a carry-on, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to fit all of my liquids into a quart sized Ziploc bag . . . Does anyone know if things like lotion, sunscreen, & face wash count as liquids?

The Big "C"

The Big "C"

by Kathy Cawthon, Survivor

The big "C" I heard someone call it.

Another just whispered the word.

That we don't even dare

to say "cancer" out loud

Gives it power it doesn't deserve.

So I'm giving that letter new meaning

and refusing to give into fear,

by reclaiming the power for you and for me

and by saying these words loud and clear.

Let the "C" be for Cure and Compassion.

Let it stand for the Candles we light.

and a Chorus of voices shouting You Can!

to all who will take up this fight.

Let the "C" be for Cash Contribution.

Credit or Check will work too.

Let it stand for Commitment and

Checkups and Cheer

and the Children Counting on you.

To everyone facing this Challenge

I say it's a fight we Can win.

Tell all who will listen, that starting today

That "C" is for Courage, my friend.