TRAIN RUN HOPE CURE

hey :)

2009-01-12T15:08:00.000-08:00

Hey there, friends :) Remember this site?? I pulled something off it today to use at my women's Bible Study... and wanted to say that I'm thinking of you all and sending you hugs. It's been almost 3 months since we ran together. Wow - lots has happened in those 3 months! :) Seems like almost a year ago (especially if I was to have to run 13.1 miles in the next week!)

Hoping that you are finding joy and peace - whether you are running/walking or not :) Lots of love to you :)

P.S. when's our next reunion?

A Final Thank You

2008-11-09T12:30:00.000-08:00

It has been three weeks since the seven of us ran/walked the race we'd been training for since March. I think I speak for us all when I say, it was an incredible experience and we owe a gigantic THANK YOU to all the people that supported us along the way! Thank you for reading our updates, visiting our websites, listening to our complaints, tending to our aches and pains, providing childcare, offering encouragement, training with us, inspiring us with your stories, allowing us to run in honor of your loved ones, and donating $29,826.15 to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on our behalf! Wow! Add that to the money raised across the country and $18 million will make quite a difference in the lives of so many facing cancer. That's worth running for and we could not have done it without you. Thank you for choosing to participate in this journey.

And to my fellow teammates, thank you for sharing this with me.

Until next time...

Amy's Weekend/Race Report

2008-10-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-10-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

And They're Off!

2008-10-16T22:10:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-15T19:26:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-14T10:44:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-10T00:31:00.000-07:00

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 except 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 they 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

!!!!!!

2008-10-05T05:32:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-04T16:35:00.000-07:00

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"

2008-10-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

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.

Delirium at Mile 21

2008-09-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

While some people experience the infamous "runner's high" as the miles increase, Elizabeth and I seem to experience delirium. Perhaps they are the same thing, I don't know, but it was fun-ny! Elizabeth is one of my Westside TNT teammates and we happened to do our 20-miler together yesterday. We started out at 6am and I knew this one was going to be difficult. I was exhausted and my legs felt like lead but I was going to finish, I had to.

The funny thing about Elizabeth and I training together is that we tend to be a bit grumpy at 6am. Neither of us are morning people and in general, we're probably not the ones people look to when needing a perky bit of encouragement on the course. (I think we even spent one morning actually competing for the title of bitchier bitch! :) We both have training partners that are cheery and positive enough to make up for our deficit in this area. Well, with the absence of these perky partners on Sunday, one of us was going to have to adjust or we would never make it. Elizabeth stepped right into that roll! It was amazing and Jen, her training partner, would have been so proud.

I have to admit, I barely remember the details of the morning. By the time we turned the corner for our final few blocks we were so delirious that everything was hilarious and we had even caught up with a couple fellow teammates who were also in a similar state. Elizabeth kept saying miles when she meant minutes and I, seriously, could not stop laughing. Everything from the waist down hurt but I continued to laugh and I laughed all the way home. I think this might have been my body slipping into survival mode. How else is it supposed to react to this many miles?!

Now, you may have noticed that I've titled this entry "Delirium at mile 21" but in the first paragraph I mention we were scheduled for a 20 miler. Well, those of us that started early were given wrong course directions and when all was said and done, I discovered we actually completed 21.8 miles! With the exception of some pretty impressive blisters and the general soreness of every inch of my body, I feel pretty good! And I'm ready. Seriously. I can't believe it but I feel ready for Nike!

So many generous people have joined in and made donations over the last couple weeks and I AM OVERWHELMINGLY GRATEFUL to each of you! Thank you Danielle & Jeremiah Frink, Angela Uhl, Krista Roorbach, Carol Samrualruen, Anonymous, Jeff Gray, Gabe Ben-Meir, Rochelle Holguin, Gina Esposito, Paul Logan, Brenda Antonio, Amie Cole, Jill Brune, Mary & Jarod McBride and Joan Begemann for helping me come so close to the goal of $3200! With a couple additional donations that are on their way, I think I'm $125 away! Truly amazing. Thank you for your partnership and support for this worthy cause.

Quote

2008-09-28T05:21:00.000-07:00

I saw this quote for the first time on Friday. Thought I'd share...

"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 it's place. If I quit, however, it will last forever."

~Lance Armstrong.

Houghton Homecoming Run Invitation

2008-09-27T19:00:00.000-07:00

Hey all (this included ANYONE reading this post),

This is a cordial invitation to anyone who would like to join us. The Western NY portion of our infamous little band (Kristen, Heidi, and Ginny) are getting together at Houghton this Saturday to do our long run together. We'll be doing 8 miles, with one of us going on for a total of 12. Feel free to join us for a mile, 2 miles, 6 miles, whatever. We'd love the Houghton Homecoming company! Place and time to be determined. Watch this post for more info.

Mud and Medals

2008-09-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

I did it!!! Ok, I know that some of you have done this before, and others do it on a weekly basis, but I've never done more than 10 miles. HOLY CRAP I JUST DID A HALF MARATHON!!!! I was a little slower than I wanted to be, but considering the horrible weather conditions, the pee break, and the photo-ops, I really can't complain. I finished. That was the first goal.

Did I mention the weather??? Hmmm...... I think the floodgates of Heaven opened for us. Soaked. Absolutely drenched. I had to wring out my SOCKS at the finish line. My underwear were wet. My ponytail dripped down my back for 13 miles. We started the race in designer Hefty bags. We were a sight, let me tell you! I chuckled when I heard someone ask if they made gutters for hats and visors. The rain was unbelievable.

Yes, the first event had to be a photo-op. We took pictures together at the signs for 5K and 10k. 15K was next to the "Flood Zone" sign. Pics of the vineyards, farms, the gigantic mud pit we ran in (miles 5-7) and the Peconic Bay (when it seemed that mile 10-11 really was a bit longer than all the others). I also had to stop and take a picture with the friendly police lady in the bright orange raincoat....after all, she stopped traffic for me! It's only fair that she makes it into the marathon chronicles!

Wow. And even with all the aches and pains and the end of the adrenaline rush, I can say that it was FUN! Let's do it again!!!

Seven and a half miles - 82 minutes.

2008-09-27T09:32:00.000-07:00

I've decided that I need a weekly pep rally to get me through these last few weeks. Feel free to join in so I can cheer you on as well!! ;-)

Today was my 7.5 mile run. I had some of a coffee drink that Michael made me this morning, and I think eating (um, or drinking) BEFORE I ran was quite helpful this week! The first four miles were awesome! The fifth - not so much, but after I figured out (duh) that I needed to slow my pace, I was walking on air during mile six. Mile seven was fine - add half a mile and I was done! Woo Hoo!! It took me 82 minutes, which keeps me at about a 11 min/mile pace. I KNOW it'll probably get messed up on race day between the crowds, taking pictures, the infamous 1 mile long hill, etc, but I feel pretty good about it.

Next week I have a nine mile run and then taper back to six for my final long run before race day. My coaches have been very encouraging. I'm so grateful that they've worked with me to develop a training schedule for my - umm, unique - situation.

As far as smells - smelling whatever Michael was eating while I was running mile 5 was NOT helpful. I'm not even going to ask. ;-)

Smells

2008-09-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

Ginny and I talked about the different scents we’ve encountered along our running routes. There are some pretty interesting ones and between the two of us, they varied due to the country vs. suburbs lifestyle. What started the conversation was the smell of manure, which is frequent in my neck of the woods. I commented that it was either chicken or pig and that if Shannon were there, he could tell us. It is one of his spiritual gifts, distinguishing manure scents.

Other things I’ve smelled… Yesterday, I passed two dead animals that were very ripe. Speaking of ripe, one route takes me past an orchard which smelled like peaches for a while and now of apples. The orchard smells are my favorite. I also run by a greenhouse which has flowers and mulch in the air. I also love to smell fresh hay being baled and corn being chopped. What about you? Any interesting scents?

The Original Shunderwear

2008-09-24T18:37:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Shannon discovered that I am not the original shunderwear model. As he was watching the third night of Dancing With the Stars (only for the commercials), Richard Simmons came bopping into a grocery store advertising something to two ladies. Shannon said, “Look, the original shunderwear!” Now, if you didn’t have a mental picture before, think of Richard Simmon's shorts with me in them!

I did wear them for my run yesterday and unfortunately saw more relatives and neighbors than ever before! They did get a wave out of the Mennonite boy down the road.

My Longest Run Ever

2008-09-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

Well, you all are going to laugh, but I had my longest run ever yesterday of 6 miles! Yay! ha ha The best part was that my leg did not hurt at all - so thank goodness for that.

Besides that, there's nothing really good to say about that run. For some reason it was a mental struggle from the very start. The run previous, I did an excellent job with distracting myself in thought. Not so much on yesterday's run. Uggh. I took a few short power walk breaks, didn't drink enough water, and was just plain tired. I ended up finishing it in 67 minutes, which is probably pretty good considering how bad of a run it felt like it was. Not sure how I'm going to add another seven miles in the next four weeks, but it has to be done. I'm glad to do it, just not sure how. Any tips, advice, words of wisdom?

What's The Signifance Of Today?

2008-09-19T16:51:00.001-07:00

September 19, 2008. Well, firstly, it's Heidi K's birthday! Hope you're having a great day, dear friend. And secondly, we are exactly 1 month from race day! We're really almost there, almost ready to cross both finish lines-- marathons & fundraising. We have about $2000 left before reaching our goal of $28,000 which is amazing! Can you feel the excitement building?!

A huge thank you to everyone that has contributed so far, many people will be touched by your generosity and lives will be saved. We are so grateful for your partnership and support.

If you're reading this and would like to help us raise these final dollars, please click on one of the names listed to the right to make a donation today. (Katie, Jen & Kristen O. have reached their goals so please, click on another name to help their fellow runners do the same.) We need your help. Also, feel free to invite your friends and family to join us. We're so close and we have just over a week of fundraising time left!

Marathoners, see you in a month! Until then, keep rockin' it!

Wishing and A-Hoping

2008-09-15T22:21:00.000-07:00

Sunday Long Run- Wishing for 18 miles. It's not unusual for me (and most walkers) to have soreness in the hips at the end or after long workouts. Yesterday, it started on my right side around mile 6, way too early, and it was worse than usual. I guess I'm joining the rest of you, "the I'm in pain crew." It didn't hurt when I was running or walking up hill but the course wasn't all uphill :) and my running stamina is not up to 18 miles. So, I did what I could and then cut it short by about 2 miles. After a strong 16 miler last weekend, I was looking forward to this 18 miler so it was frustrating not to even finish the course. I hope it was wise. I hope the icing and stretching that I'm dedicated to, from this day forward, takes care of the problem. I hope I'll be able to finish the full course next Sunday. I hope that all of us with aches, pains and more serious injuries approach the final weeks with wisdom and positive spirits.

Fundraising- More hoping, I hope I can raise $800 in the next 15 days! I'm getting nervous. Cancer is something all of us can relate to and the research being done will benefit and touch each of us in some way, if it hasn't already. In these economic times, I understand that many of us have less extra money which is why it's so important to give the little bit we can to help those who are adding medical bills on top of the already existing bills. If it's difficult for us financially, it must be that much more difficult for a person or family facing a cancer diagnosis. Please, help them by making a donation of even just $5. If you have more to donate, please feel free but if you don't know that every dollar counts and when combined, small donations become large donations.

Thank you- Ross Kay, Jill Vasant, Ronya Henderson, Linda Bourbeau, Lisa Severino, Kate Klimow, Tina Moon, Kristi Hennessey, Dave Simons, Michelle Tillen, Stephanie Kettner, Wendy Shiba, Stephanie Maruyama, Sandra Zenner, Evelyn Shelton, Michelle Mumford, Carla Slivano, Stan Koyanagi, Melissa Gunzburg and Jennifer DeHaven are the generous people who made donations this week. THANK YOU! And a big thank you to my sister, Melissa, for inviting her colleagues to participate in the fight against cancer. (Thanks, KB Home!) She also sent the invitation to her friends outside of work and some others did the same. There is no question, I could not do this without the support of my family and friends. I hope (there's that word again) that more of you will consider passing along my website to your contacts and invite them to donate $5 to this worthy cause, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

This week, I'm wishing and a-hoping for a lot, for me, my teammates and all those reading this!

Fancy names that I just can't remember

2008-09-15T18:13:00.000-07:00

Well, the verdict seems to be in. I do not have a stress fracture---thank you Jesus! I do, however, have an injured ligament in my foot. This ligament has a big fancy name that I just can't remember. In non-Dr. terms, it is the one that connects the foot to the ankle. I just know that it is swollen and still aches. Here's the deal.... I'm allowed to continue to train as there has been improvement in it. I go back to the Dr. for treatment again next week and twice the week after (before the race)---I am now on a "taper" schedule as my first half marathon is in 12 days. The Dr. is a sports chiropractor who is 1) an athlete himself and 2) is very familiar with TNT and promises to have me back to 100% in time for the events.

I have also been advised to get new sneakers. Who would have thought that my mileage may be "up" on my running shoes???!!! How freaking cool is that???!!!! You mean I actually put enough miles on those bad boys that they need to be put out to the old sneaker pasture? (Katie, do you have one that we can use?)

Now...here is the plug for hydration. This whole injury started 2 weeks ago after a 10 miler in AWFUL conditions. (Kristen, it was probably like what you experienced this past weekend) It was the morning that the tropical storm/hurricane was supposed to hit but then didn't until much later in the day. The humidity was the worst ever. Anyway, LONG story really short, my little group of slow runners and I dehydrated (I'll share that miserable experience another time). The Dr. said that if I swelled really bad (which I did), then I could have cut the circulation in my foot, thus causing injury. I probably stepped wrong, twisted it, something like that, but b/c of the swelling, my footing was off, and I didn't feel it. So girlies, DRINK DRINK DRINK DRINK!!!!

Content in all things

2008-09-15T03:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I ran the 1/2 marathon yesterday here in Rochester - and bottom line, I feel like it was the worst run I've ever completed. Why? Because I stopped and walked for 2 minutes... not a good reason you say? :) In my "running career", what little it has been :), I've never had to walk ANY of my long runs ever, so as soon as I stopped to walk around mile 9, I felt like a failure. Never mind that it was 85 degrees and humid beyond belief, never mind that up until that point I had run UNDER my goal time, never mind that I had to pee from the first mile (the line for the bathrooms were 10+ minutes in wait time before the race, so we decided to go during the run... there WERE no potties on the run! AHH! Not a muscle that I wanted to be holding for 2 hours!!)

So, all this to say, I'm laying in bed this morning calculating the time it would have taken me to reach my goal time - I would have had to run 2 minutes and 38 seconds quicker - that's all - to be at my goal. For some reason, figuring this out made it worse... in my mind I immediately say, "Kristen, of course you could have run that much quicker!" And then I begin to remember how much pain and how much swelling of my head from the heat I was feeling those last 4 miles. And that wonderful still small voice (gotta love it :) begins to bring to mind the Phil. 4:11-12 verse:

"for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

Being content. Content in not doing what I thought I would do. Content in being ABLE to run. Content in finishing being enough.

What I did not realize was that the next verse was, ironically: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." So appropriate for my run to put these two verses side by side. I now read this last verse here in a new light: I can do all things through Him - and one of those things is God giving me the strength to be content. Stop being frustrated, stop berating myself, stop wishing my run to have been different. What I have completed is good enough.

Ever have one of those runs/days? :)

Rain Heads: What a Day to Wear White

2008-09-13T09:08:00.000-07:00

Katie and Ginny here in Houghton, of all places. My (Ginny's) family finally have gotten ourselves housing and are together here at last! Katie came up this weekend to finally deliver a box she smuggled out of NZ for us. It's been so long that Aidan thought the toys in it were presents that Katie brought for the boys. So we did Katie's first 20 miler, and my second, together.

We started at 6:30 this morning. As Katie ate her Cheerios and I ate my cereal bar, we began to hear noises coming from behind the TV. We're in the basement.

Katie here. I asked, "Ginny, is that rain?" She continued with her long run routine with some stretching and in her "I am trusting weather.com" voice replied, "Naaaah!" We made our way up the steps, opened the door to the darkness and saw the steady rain pouring down. I really did not want to do these 20 miles and would have gone back to bed if it wouldn't have been for Ginny's adventurous, determined and never-quitting spirit. So, we started running.

About 0.1 miles into the run, the only thought I had was "what a day to wear white and my shorter-than-my-underwear shorts." I must admit the shorts were a good decision. They have less fabric than any of my other shorts and didn't weigh me down.

Ginny again. I think Katie looked stunning in her shorts -- quite literally. We looked like we meant business, me in my $2 Meijer official running singlet and Katie in her 'shunderwear' and our fancy, sparkly running shoes. AND we were running on Rte. 19. Only die-hard runners brave the 18 wheelers and milk trucks on this route. We had arrived. 11 years later, mind you, but we arrived, nonetheless.

We were doing well. The first 3 miles, I felt heavy. It might have something to do with my pre-run ritual of donut holes. Thanks to Max in Fillmore, the homemade cinnamon donuts from the Houghton gas station (now a Citgo) were weighing me down.

We were trucking along at our stupendous speed of 10 minutes a mile when we hit the plague of the frogs. As we planted water bottles last night, I accidentally ran over a HUGE bullfrog. God forgive me! May s/he rest in peace (can a bullfrog be female??). I think his cousins were out for revenge because on East River Rd., miles 4 to 8, about 5 million more bullfrogs and smaller relatives had given their lives also in protest, or were stationed to spook us out of our stupendous pace.

Katie back in the blog. We arrived in Belfast right on time and were joined by Patty Pepperato and Lucy! We were shocked she accepted our last minute invitation and chose to run 2.5 miles with us in a torrential downpour! We knew we had to do this run but Patty and Lucy get all our respect because they willing joined our craziness. We really enjoyed the new company and mini-reunion. Maybe Houghton wants to add a Reunion Run to its alumni weekends? Ginny was extremely thankful for Patty's presence since she had bathroom connections. We had just finished 10 miles and Ginny needed her SECOND break of the run. Patty got on her cell phone, called her friend and Gin had a bathroom within 100 feet. Please take a moment and pray for Ginny's bowels on race day.

Patty and Lucy split away from us at Rte. 19 in Belfast and we continued back toward River Road. We felt good at mile 15, when out of heaven, a tan Toyota Camry was driving toward us. I have never been so happy in my life to see Aaron!!! Don't tell Ginny. Aidan and Rees, with Houghton pom poms in hand, rode in the back cheering for us as Aaron drove at our 1 MPH pace. It was a welcomed distraction and fun addition to our run.

Aaron and the boys stuck with us until we hit Route 19 and then headed home to make our victory waffle feast. Caneadea left us with three miles to go and Ginny's challenge to run the last three at marathon pace. What was she thinking?

We made it. Two of the last three at a nine minute pace and finished running up Luckey Drive hill. As we walked into the house, two towels were waiting, waffles were on the griddle and our cheerleaders were there to greet us. Aidan said he wanted to name us "Rain Heads" and he wants me to come run a marathon with Mommy every day. How about in six weeks?