Last week didn't start out so bad, but it sure did turn out to be a rough week!
I had a great run on Tuesday morning in Scottsdale despite the lightning storms and 85 degree weather...at 5:30 am! It was so hot and humid I was sweating so much it looked like I had run a full-marathon! But that was just the beginning. The extreme change in temperatures from the hot, humid run to sitting in a freezing cold conference room all day was more than enough to bring on a nasty sinus infection, fever and horrible sore throat.
Needless to say, I didn't get any running done the rest of the week. I was very disappointed to miss the run on Saturday morning and thought I would try to stay somewhat active by going for a short hike with a friend. Well, the hike didn't go as planned. Twenty minutes into it, I twisted my ankle and had to hobble my way back to my car. As I slowly made my way down the hill, I beat myself up for (1) thinking that going on a hike was a good idea, and (2) not listening to my instincts. My instincts had warned me that going for a hike wasn't the best idea considering I couldn't fully breathe out of my nose, but I did it anyway.
I can't change what happened, but I've learned from my two setbacks this week. I've been resting up, and elevating and icing the ankle. I missed running with and seeing my team on Saturday so I'm hoping I'll feel well enough to make it to track practice tomorrow!
On a positive note, the past week was a great week for donations! THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to my fundraising goal! Your generous donations have helped me move closer to my goal, and help us win the fight against blood cancers!
Hopefully the cooler weather this week won't be too cool! I'm looking forward to a better week! :0)
-E
Monday, July 27, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Week 10 - Hills anyone?
We just completed week 10 of training and are now in the midst of week 11! I can't believe it's been that long! Our long run this past weekend was 1 1/2 hours....and very tough! We ran off Surrey Ridge just north of Castle Rock in an area that was very hilly!
Oh my goodness, I had no idea when I showed up on Saturday morning what was waiting ahead for me! The loop was about 2 1/2 miles with a steady, inclining hill that was nearly 3/4 of a mile! Man, oh man did my legs and glutes get a workout! I'm glad we occasionally run hills for our long runs, but this one was killer! My running friend, Blake, was the only reason I made it through the loop and "the hill" three times.
Blake motivated me to keep going and when it looked like I might give up, he encouraged me to remember why I'm running. As I was sucking air like a brand new Dyson, going up "the hill" the third and final time, all I could think about was how hard it must be for Mason, one of our Team Heroes, to go through chemo treatments during the summer when I'm sure all he wants is to be outside playing like all the other kids. The pain I felt in my legs and the burning in my lungs disappeared when I thought of all the patients, like Mason, who are enduring much more than me just to survive each day. My pain is temporary and can be soothed with a few Advil and a hot bath, but the pain and discomfort one must feel during chemo or other cancer treatments is unimaginable!
I'm going to do my best during the remaining weeks to be more aware of any complaining I might do and turn it into positive actions: I'm going to give praise for the wonderful life the Lord has blessed me with, pray for others who are suffering, and simply give thanks for the opportunity to live another day! I can't wait for our next long run this Saturday!
Wishing you many sunshiny days! :o)
-E
Oh my goodness, I had no idea when I showed up on Saturday morning what was waiting ahead for me! The loop was about 2 1/2 miles with a steady, inclining hill that was nearly 3/4 of a mile! Man, oh man did my legs and glutes get a workout! I'm glad we occasionally run hills for our long runs, but this one was killer! My running friend, Blake, was the only reason I made it through the loop and "the hill" three times.
Blake motivated me to keep going and when it looked like I might give up, he encouraged me to remember why I'm running. As I was sucking air like a brand new Dyson, going up "the hill" the third and final time, all I could think about was how hard it must be for Mason, one of our Team Heroes, to go through chemo treatments during the summer when I'm sure all he wants is to be outside playing like all the other kids. The pain I felt in my legs and the burning in my lungs disappeared when I thought of all the patients, like Mason, who are enduring much more than me just to survive each day. My pain is temporary and can be soothed with a few Advil and a hot bath, but the pain and discomfort one must feel during chemo or other cancer treatments is unimaginable!
I'm going to do my best during the remaining weeks to be more aware of any complaining I might do and turn it into positive actions: I'm going to give praise for the wonderful life the Lord has blessed me with, pray for others who are suffering, and simply give thanks for the opportunity to live another day! I can't wait for our next long run this Saturday!
Wishing you many sunshiny days! :o)
-E
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Why I Run...
I have met some great people on this team, but I've also had the chance to hear their stories and why they're all doing this. Every Saturday morning before we set out on our run, we have what is called a "Mission Moment". This is when a team member shares their story about their battle against cancer or their loved ones' battles. Almost everyone has a family member or a story about a loved one that drives them to run and raise money for LLS. I'm fortunate to say I don't have a story or experience to share.
During the long run this Saturday I ran with a guy from my team, and as were running he asked me why I'm running and raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He wanted to know if I have a connection to LLS or a survivor of Leukemia or Lymphoma. My family and I have been blessed to not have experienced a life with blood cancer, or any cancer for that matter. As we ran, we talked about his reasons and my own, and I thought more and more about why I run.
I explained to him that when I signed up for TNT, I had no idea what to expect. Initially, I thought joining TNT was a good idea for me to join so I could train for the Nike Women's Marathon, and to occassionally run with other people. However, since joining, my reasons for being a member of TNT have taken on a completely new meaning for me. It's no longer just about the training or having people to run with at the crack of dawn on Saturday mornings. Running this marathon and being part of TNT has become so much bigger and so much more important than I ever could have imagined! It's so much more than running!
It's about the people who are living with Leukemia or Lymphoma and still manage to go on with their daily lives. It's about the mom who runs to find a cure for her 6 year old son so he doesn't have to spend another 4th of July weekend with pneumonia in the hospital, so he can stop the steroid and chemotherapy treatments, and so he can attend school on a regular basis just like the other kids his age.
It's about the incredible strength I see in the woman who has battled breast cancer AND now Lymphoma, but still she runs and raises money for others so they won't have to experience the same struggles.
It's about the man who runs in his mom's memory or the lady who runs in her husband's memory.
Being associated with these people has taught me so much about life and life's struggles, and being strong enough to surpass those struggles. I'm running and raising money because I believe in the cause! I believe in finding a cure for blood cancers!
-E
** The photo above is with Mason, one of our Team Heros! This picture was taken at breakfast after one of our first Saturday runs. **
Welcome!!
Hello, everyone!
Welcome to my blog....finally! I've been saying for the past couple of weeks I would get this up and running, but time flies when you're running! Haha! I'll try my best to update everyone on how my running is going each week. If the next 12+ weeks are anything like the past 9 weeks, I'm sure you'll find my posts to be quite entertaining!
Over the past 9 weeks, I've started the full-marathon training program with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training (TNT). It has been an eye opening and wonderful experience so far! Running during the past 9 weeks has been good for me. It's helped me focus on the things that are important in life and get myself back on track with working out and managing my time. I've also had some not-so-fun times with aches and pains, sucking air like a vacuum it seems at times, and remembering that eating Italian food for lunch isn't a good idea when I'm planning to run in the evening! Man was that a stupid mistake!
I've also become accustomed to making Friday nights "early nights" so I can get up for the early morning runs on Saturdays. At first I dreaded waking up on Saturday morning because I felt like that was my only day to sleep in, but I've quickly learned to enjoy Saturday mornings! I might scare you with this statement, but I actually look forward to Saturday mornings now because I get to see all the great people on the TNT team. I love the peace of the morning and knowing I've lived to see another beautiful day!
Sorry I haven't entertained you with all my funny and comical stories yet, but I do promise there will be plenty to share. Please stay tuned for more updates on my running, fundraising, and self-enlightening experiences. I'm sure you'll get a few laughs out of them...I always do!
-E
Welcome to my blog....finally! I've been saying for the past couple of weeks I would get this up and running, but time flies when you're running! Haha! I'll try my best to update everyone on how my running is going each week. If the next 12+ weeks are anything like the past 9 weeks, I'm sure you'll find my posts to be quite entertaining!
Over the past 9 weeks, I've started the full-marathon training program with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training (TNT). It has been an eye opening and wonderful experience so far! Running during the past 9 weeks has been good for me. It's helped me focus on the things that are important in life and get myself back on track with working out and managing my time. I've also had some not-so-fun times with aches and pains, sucking air like a vacuum it seems at times, and remembering that eating Italian food for lunch isn't a good idea when I'm planning to run in the evening! Man was that a stupid mistake!
I've also become accustomed to making Friday nights "early nights" so I can get up for the early morning runs on Saturdays. At first I dreaded waking up on Saturday morning because I felt like that was my only day to sleep in, but I've quickly learned to enjoy Saturday mornings! I might scare you with this statement, but I actually look forward to Saturday mornings now because I get to see all the great people on the TNT team. I love the peace of the morning and knowing I've lived to see another beautiful day!
Sorry I haven't entertained you with all my funny and comical stories yet, but I do promise there will be plenty to share. Please stay tuned for more updates on my running, fundraising, and self-enlightening experiences. I'm sure you'll get a few laughs out of them...I always do!
-E
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