April Showers...

Bring rain for another two months (at least).  Regardless, the saying can be interpreted as it will rain throughout the month of April - except for Sunday, RACE DAY!  It looks like we've lucked out and our first 70 degree day since October 2008 will be Saturday and possibly Sunday.  

So here are the details if you are up for an early start time:

Sunday April 5.  Start time at 7 am.  Anticipated finish time is 9:30-10 am.  Maybe a celebration breakfast/brunch/lunch afterwards?  If you want details on the course see race4theroses.org - there's some information on where to watch the race.

Thank you for all of your support throughout the training and fundraising.  I was able to come very close to my goal and there is still time to meet it (see Fundraising Page).  Like I've said from the very beginning - all support, in any form, is welcome.  It is no easy task running 13.1 miles, so your encouragement has been extremely helpful throughout this journey.  THANK YOU!

Reality of Running

I skipped this week's Saturday morning run and instead ran the 31st Shamrock Run 8K Race on Sunday. I participated in the race last year with my good friend Corinne and fellow runner Laura, and had a great time (Lauren cheered us on)! I remembered at around mile 4 there was an aid station with little cups of Guinness. You can't beat a race that serves you beer while you run!

I'm sure many of you were still sleeping Sunday morning around 6:30 am, but I was up listening to the rain come down.  I finally pulled myself out of bed (after much consideration of just sleeping through the whole thing), found my green shorts and shirt, pulled on my shoes, zipped up my heavy, waterproof jacket, and headed out the door. It was pouring.

I met up with the rest of my team before the race to pick up my timing chip and bib number. Then, among 20,000 people, I lost my team. I was really running solo this time, which was new to me. I run by myself all the time, but when I do these little races, I've always had a friend there with me. I missed that. I had a side ache that stayed with me throughout the race, and I had to get through it by myself.  Corinne is usually at my side, saying "You can do it, just breathe." This time it was all me, and her little voice in my head.

The weather took a toll on everyone.  I kept hearing comments being made on the weather.  It was definitely hard to ignore.  Rain pelted your face, gusts of wind blew the group to one side of the road or pushed you back.  Less than ideal conditions, but that's just part of running in Oregon. 

The course started at the waterfront, wound its way around downtown, out to southwest (just past my house), then back to the waterfront.  Coming down the final stretch I was focusing on the finish line and the free beer that awaited me, when some man came up beside me, told me I had a nice stride, and continued on.  It was the BEST compliment and run that I've ever had - actually the first.  I cruised through the finish line with the biggest smile on my face.

It worked out perfectly that the sun came out after the whole event had ended.  This race was a great experience for me. Never have I been so wet, never have I finished a race so cold, and never have I had to face wind like I did on Sunday. The reality of it is - that's Oregon in the spring - wet, cold, and at times windy. I feel a little more prepared for the elements that I might face on April 5 (RACE DAY). I also experience running without a friend pushing you on. Come Race Day, it'll just be me running among the thousands of other people. That's something that is still scary to me.  I'm beginning to come to terms with it.

Thanks for all of your support!!  I'm getting so close to my goal!  A quick THANK YOU to those who donated this week - Dad, Corinne, Judy, Trevor, Chris, Lauren, Gina!  You guys rock!

The Importance of Planning

Seven miles. That's running from my place in southwest Portland to downtown and back, and since I opted to sleep in Saturday morning rather than meet the rest of the TNT group at 8 am, that's what I had to do. I started down to the river, ran by south waterfront, under the OHSU tram, and hit the halfway point at about the middle of the Hawthorne Bridge. I didn't want to do an "out and back", I wanted to loop back to my place, spice things up. I made a mental route while jogging across the bridge: I would swing down and run along the Esplanade, swing back up, hit the Ross Island Bridge, wind my way around to Corbett, then end my nice, perfectly measured and executed run at my doorstep. Simple. I didn't expect to get sidetracked by finding the Springwater Trail. Having never ran on it before, I thought, why not? It heads in the direction of the Ross Island Bridge, I should be able to get off the trail at some point and find it. If I only would have heeded to the directions of the signs, I would have saved myself miles!

The first sign I ran past said 3 miles to Sellwood. I didn't realize that 3 miles to Sellwood would mean a fence-lined trail to prevent any attempt at a shortcut until Oaks Bottom Park, which is basically Sellwood, making a shortcut pointless. So I ran. And ran. Seven miles came and went and I was still on the east side of the river. I wouldn't have been so upset about the extra miles had I not felt like I had been thrown down Mt. Hood the day before. I was limping through the run from the very beginning. I probably should have just stayed in bed.

On tired legs I jogged across the Sellwood Bridge, stretched, and ran along 43 looking over my shoulder the entire time for a bus to pass and maybe take pity on a runner who went too far. No such thing happened. About two miles from my house I gave into my legs and walked! I walked/jogged the rest of the way up the hill and to my place. I have never been so happy to walk through my door. I immediately ran a hot bath and nursed my sore and extremely tired muscles.

Since the beginning of this journey, I have been learning and experiencing new things (i.e., sardines from a can, Goo, fundraising, layering). This last run taught me that I should plan a little better, especially for the longer runs. The silver lining - I now know the perfect ten mile loop from my place! I have also learned that raising money for a great cause is not as easy as it sounds, and I'm still making my way towards that $1,250 goal. Thanks so much for those that have already donated (Grandma, Stacy, Kathy), and for those of you still thinking about a donation....it will be much appreciated by not only me, but Barbara, Jennifer, Evan, and Emily (my honored teammates). Please take the time to visit my Training Page and make a donation.

Thanks!

Donation Challenge

I am challenging you to be the next person to donate.  As your reward, I will take you to see the movie of your choice.  You can go with me, or I'll set you up with a pair of tickets to go see the movie of your choice with the person of your choice.  There are so many good movies out there, so act quick to get your chance at an excuse to go see He's Just Not That Into You, Slumdog Millionaire, or (in the spirit of running) The Spirit of the Marathon (Portland only).

Get to it folks, we can't do it without you!  Donate (click)!

Jessica - Honored Teammate

Saturday's run really brought all the running and fundraising I've been doing together.  I joined Team in Training to help me complete a half marathon and meet other runners in the area, all while helping a great organization and individuals by asking my friends and family to donate to LLS.  

Before we started our run, we got a little pep talk from one of our team's honored teammates, Jessica.  She was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and has been in remission for 14 years.  Her story of survivorship is one that truly demonstrates the power of this organization and the funds that are raised.  After a round of chemotherapy that put her in remission long enough, she received a bone marrow transplant.  The chemotherapy treatment she received had only been out for a month and was still considered experimental.  She feels very strongly that her being here today is a result of the funds that go to research and she is extremely grateful for her team.

We have four honored teammates:  Jessica, Barbara, Evan, and Emily.  I am looking forward to meeting each one and sharing their stories with you.

Thanks!

13.1 Reasons I Run

1.  I like to run.  I am especially drawn to this half marathon because of what I am running for and I can't think of a better reason to run so many miles...maybe I should be running more.

2.  Running gives me a chance to listen to albums in their entirety.  My drive to work is about half an hour and I usually listen to the news.  An average run is about 40 plus minutes, just about the length of my favorite running album...Dying to Say This to You, The Sounds.

3.  Completing a half marathon has been a goal of mine for a while.  I finally got serious at the turn of the new year and decided that I would make it something I want to complete before I am 25. 

4.  Running is amazing meditation.  There's a rhythm to a run that clears my head and keeps me grounded afterwards.  

5.  I went to school in the running capital of the world, Eugene.  I guess the inspiration took a little time, but I am in awe of what has been achieved in Track Town.  

6.  I like to sweat.  Sure, it might take a little prodding to get me to actually do it, but truth be told, I like hard work.  And there's nothing better than a hot shower after a cold run in the rain.

7.  I like shoes.  I love running shoes.  The sooner I wear through my current shoes, the sooner I can get a new pair!  That means more miles.

8.  I want a dog, but I know that I can't have a dog until I am a little more settled and know I can make time to take it for long walks...or runs.  If I can go on long runs most days of the week, I can justify owning a dog.

9.  Have you ever ran in Portland?  There's the waterfront to run along, there's Forest Park to get lost in; running in Portland is beautiful.  I haven't figured out a better way to spend my Saturday morning than getting up and running along the river, that is when it's nice out of course.

10.  Long distance runners are a special group of people, and I love them.  

11.  If I can complete a half marathon, I can complete one third of a triathlon.  All I need is a bike and to learn how to swim competitively.  It's unfortunate they don't have a floating portion to the triathlon.  

12.  I really enjoy eating.  Pasta and meatballs, pad thai, sushi, hamburgers, curried chicken, cornbread and chili, mac and cheese, chocolate chip cookies, hummus, pears, popcorn, shrimp, you get the idea.  After a run, I feel like I deserve a good hearty meal.  A run is all the more reason to eat.

13.  I'm not a fan of walking.  The whole speed-walking thing has its place and its person, but it is definitely not me.  Have you seen a speed-walker lately, it looks so uncomfortable.  So I run, because running down hills is liberating, winding paths are like roller coasters, running in the rain eliminates showers :)  Running is great.

0.1  Why not?

Donate

Mile One

"Mile One" is done. Well, it was really my first three mile run with the Team in Training group. After a half an hour of shoe talk, we were told "this is going to be tough, you're going to hurt, you will be uncomfortable, and yes, you will get blisters. Deal with it.” Lovely. The run was nice and easy. With fifty other teammates, you can find someone who runs your pace and spend the run chatting.

That’s the running part, and to me the "easy" part. I’m still working on getting my fundraising up off the ground. I met with a fundraising mentor and she gave me hope (because honestly, raising $1,200 seems like a daunting task). In my twenty-four years of life I’ve met a lot of people, and although I have been fortunate enough not to have leukemia or lymphoma affect my immediate family or my close circle of friends, it is VERY possible that a friend hasn't been so fortunate. In my first meeting I found out that 894,235 Americans are living with leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Talking with my mentor, I also expressed a concern that I haven’t been personally affected and I felt a little odd fundraising for something that I don’t have an immediate connection too. My family has been affected by cancer and Alzheimer’s – shouldn’t I be involved in the search for the cure for those? My thought, and her thought too, was that all the medical research funded by LLS is beneficial to all cancers and all diseases. You never know what they might stumble upon.

I feel that this is a great cause and one that fits me well (running to raise money). Please pass around my blog and fundraising page to your friends and family. I would love to see how far this could go...who knows, maybe I’ll run a full marathon! Keep checking back here to keep tabs on my progress and my fundraising page to donate. Thank you for stopping by!