Jacob or Snow?

I wish I could say that Jacob L. Loose watched us run pass him 3 times this morning as we circled Loose Park, but no unfortunately he faced the wrong direction.  Maybe he turned around to stare at the flurries just barely fly through the sky.

I wanted to be more excited about the snow, but ashamed that I thought it was cotton blowing from the trees (well I don't know from where exactly) I just couldn't muster any excitement for such a pathetic sprinkling.

But, my excitement today (besides our 4 mile run) was that I have finally figured out who Jacob Loose is.  He owned a biscuit making company.  Duh!

The Turkey Trot

Turkey and running! What couldn't make a better Thanksgiving? Well, maybe a few things, but I'll stick with the optimism on this holiday.

Hilary, Andrea, Holly, my dad and I all ran the 5K Turkey Run in Overland Park this morning.  Not too bad besides the 6,000 other people running and the 20 degree weather, but seriously it was good practice for our marathon.  Weaving in and out of people (now, no worries people were for sure weaving in and out of us), but it seemed somewhat counter productive that the line for leaving went from a 9 minute mile to the walking line.  I guess we should have gone closer to the 9 minute mile.  All and all, the traffic wasn't too bad after the first mile or so.

I guess our 3 mile training day was a success with the 5K! 

Runner's Remorse

First off, Melissa has joined our team! The more running friends the better! The picture above is after our 6 mile run today, and although it looks as if we are posing...well, we are because none of the running pictures turned out more than a blur.  The blurry ones are Facebook quality, but definitely not blog material.  And speaking of 6 miles...it was surprisingly easier than I expected.  Ok, the last mile was tough...but the last mile of our 4 mile run was hard too! It's just that last mile mental psych-out!

I promise that if it becomes a routine to see deers, I will not post my terrible Blackberry quality photos every post.  But TWO RUNS in a row our running buddy has been there...just creeping on us from the woods...

Now on to Runner's Remorse...I did some shopping today.  Some shopping for running gear, and I even went to the BIG sale Under Armor was having, but still I am having some remorse about buying running gear when I probably don't need it.  Or do I? I guess since it hasn't been under 40 degrees on any of my runs I feel like my "armour" is ok for now.  Maybe I will be feeling better when I have to run 18 miles in 15 degree weather.

Our New Teammate!

Alright, I might be acting like I have never seen a deer, but I didn't know they would let me get so close while it just sits there and watches me.  I am sure he was thinking, "what is that girl doing all bundled up, fondling around with her gloves and that Black device that looks nothing like a Berry?"

I wish our new teammate would have at least followed us, but when I mentioned that to Hilary...she looked at me like I was crazy.

He was gone after our 3 mile run...guess he got tired following us incognito in the woods. 

First Official Team Run

Saturday was our first official team run! 7 am wasn't all that bad and 4 miles was easier than I thought!  The training actually officially began with that run too! Just all this excitement!

I enjoyed running with the other team members and Andrea.  I was surprised to do it without my Ipod, which our trainer highly suggested we not get into a habit with our Ipods.  I don't want to have to rely on either, so it's good not using it on the longer team runs.  I am sure I'll probably still use it on my 3 mile run with Hilary tomorrow morning.

So far, so good and so much better than I expected already!

Meeting Emily

We had our Team in Training Kick-Off party last night and was great to meet our team going to LA!!! Our friend Andrea also joined the team so it will be great share these memories with her as well.  Along with meeting our team, we met our sponsors who have experience in running events with Team in Training, and will also be running it with us!

Most importantly we met our Honor Patient, Emily, who will be our united team inspiration. Her story truly gives me a hope and cause for what we are running for.  We are running to save lives like Emily's, through fund raising for research for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Emily was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) on January 20, 2010 and is currently recieiving maintenance treatments that will last two years. She was only 20 years old and just getting ready to restart classes at KU after Winter Break when she got diagnosed.  After taking a semester off from her Speech Pathology major she received grueling and painful treatments that have battled the cancer so far.  Emily is now back in school ready to graduate in December 2011!  

Emily's story hit home with me, because she is so close to my age, lives close and is at a similar point in her life.  It feels like yesterday that I was a junior in college. This disease seems is so real, and I am so happy that I am running in March to help raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

As for the running...we haven't hit big runs yet.  Only the 2 and 3 miles so far, but come tomorrow (when training ACTUALLY begins) and the 4 mile run...I might have a different opinion.