Only Ten Miles and A Thousand Dollars

Thankfully, this weekend was only ten miles.  Honestly, ten miles now seems simple compared the longer mileage that we are doing.  The marathon is seven weeks away from today, and after my 16 miles run last weekend I am truly feeling confident that I will pass through the finish line on March 20.  Unfortunately, not first to win the car (I had to give up on that goal early on in training realizing that speed just wasn't going to happen for me).

For about a month now, Hilary and I have been planning a fundraiser for my mom's store that was last night.  It was The Best of 2010 Gallery Open House where the customers, students, teachers and staff of my mom's quilt store, Harper's Fabrics & Quilt Co. had the opportunity to display their work in a gallery type of open house which cost $10 for the evening.  I fostered up lots of silent auction items, raffle items and food from the Downtown Overland Park area (where the store is located).  I am so thankful for how giving everyone in this neighborhood was.

The fundraiser was a huge success! I didn't anticipate all the people that came and am so thankful for everyone who came to spend the evening with us and those who donated items and their time in helping.  Together Hilary and I raised around $1,200 that evening. I am so happy with the turnout and support! And, of course, am very thankful for my mom's support and letting me use our small business as a venue!

A Saturday Success

I don't know if I have ever accomplished so much in one Saturday.  I ran 16 miles and raised $455 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

It all started at 5:30am when I woke up to indulge in a bagel and peanut butter to give me energy.  I didn't even really need my alarm Saturday morning, because I was honestly tossing and turning thinking about what I was going to do if my knee couldn't make it on this 16 mile run, since it just barely got me through 14 miles two weeks before. I had been nursing it carefully with ice and barely running for two weeks (although, I did get my 4 mile birthday run in), but I was scared that my knee would be what would stop me from completing my goal.

Before I headed out at 6:20am I took some Advil, and I don't know if that was what was different, but I honestly felt like I had a new knee! Thanks to the City of Leawood we had clear trails and a beautiful view during our run.  I can't lie that it wasn't easy, but I also feel bad complaining considering that my knee worked (seriously, like a new knee!) It wasn't pain free, but it wasn't nearly as painful as my 14 mile run. I guess it could have been the electrolyte supplement I took, too and I don't know and probably won't know until our next long run, when I am sure I'll try something else new.

Here's my "Snow Bath", where my dad got the shovel and covered me with snow and I sat for about ten minutes.  It was cold, but I think that it was beneficial, and I can officially say that I think it cut my recovery time in half (I mean I don't really know because I have nothing to compare it to considering it's my first 16 mile run).

Saturday Night was my very first Youth Sewing Saturday Night where all the proceeds of the evening went to my fundraising efforts.  I had 13 girls come to sew, eat pizza and of course have fun! It was a great turnout and thanks to one of my co-workers who volunteered her time to help me, we all had fun with treats and a raffle (I think I was more excited about the raffle than they were)!  Thanks to my mom for donating her portion of the class and making some treats, all the girls who came out for it and especially to Joyce for helping me keep track everyone!

I found out today that this week marks our honor patient Emily's one year since she was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL).  She has fought so hard and is still fighting; she is doing great and has overcome so much. She and every other patients and survivors are the true heroes to every story.  This money that I have raised this weekend goes towards the research to fight Leukemia, Lymphoma and other blood cancers. There is no better way I have spent a Saturday than running and teaching sewing to help cure blood cancers.

My Dilemma

So for the last week my knee has been bothering me every time I have run, so I have been doing my miles in different ways to let it heal before our 16 mile run this weekend.  As seen below this is me ice swimming this weekend for my 8 miles...

Just kidding...I was, though, impressed with how long I was able to swim (in the pool, of course).  I was suppose to  do an hour and half (the amount of time it would take me to run 8 miles) but thought that was going to be nearly impossible, and was actually shooting for an hour.  Well I swam for about an hour and 20 minutes.  Unfortunately, I wasn't blessed with the swimming genes of many of my cousins but I was still impressed considering I haven't swam for 10 years or more!

So tomorrow's my 25th birthday, and all I seriously want for my birthday is to run my 4 miles and know that my week break of running (but not training) has paid off and my knee gives me no pain. 

Let's Talk Ice Baths

Me at about 9 miles. Apparently, my legs were still bending at this point!

On our 14 mile run this morning my body was talking to me...so naturally I knew pain awaited me at the end of the run.  Morgan, a teammate of mine, and I (yes, the Morgans were in action together) talked ice baths during our run a few times, and we were dead serious.  Now, remember its 20 degrees outside and I have ice crystals hanging from my hair (unfortunately my picture doesn't do justice) but we were still considering.

I am kind of thinking this is a weird picture to make public, but I am just going to go with it!

Here's me in my ice bath (I am fully clothed).  I don't know what actually motivated me to do it right when I got home (maybe pain of stairs?), but it was terrible.  First off, there was no ice. I prompted my dad to get the ice and meet me in at my bath (now remember I am fully clothed), but by the time he was there, no ice was needed.  I WAS FREEZING! Let alone I had just been outside for 3 hours! So my ice bath was an epic fail.  My knee (the primarily pain place) was only in the cold water for 3 minutes total, so now I am back to manually icing.  So much for my ice bath that was really just a cold bath.  There is no doubt I will try again; I'll probably fail again, though.

A New Year Indeed

Yes, its New Years Day and I can't believe I have been up since 5:45am to run 8 miles and raise $75 dollars! If this isn't a good start to a New Year than I don't know what is!

A training this morning one of our coaches asked "Who had a different kind of New Years Eve than ever before last night?"

I proudly raised my hand as I thought about how I went to bed at 10:30 last night after watching New In Town on Netflix all by myself.  I can not remember the last New Years Eve that I wasn't even awake to ring in the new year, but I am more ready than ever for 2011!

And with a New Year comes a new resolution...

Unfortunately, this picture doesn't do justice for the horribly cold 15 degree weather this morning, but here I am getting ready to "boot block" today to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Now how does this relate to my New Year's Resolution?

Well, I am working on doing things out side of my comfort zone (notice I am running a marathon in March...not exactly something I am yet comfortable with), and standing on the corner of a busy intersection in 15-20 degree weather to raise money isn't exactly in my comfort zone. Today I have made steps to my new leaf.  And guess what??? It was a blast! Even if people just gave some change every little bit helps! Our group that went out raised $275 within 2 hours!

As a team member of mine said to a car who mentioned how cold it was: "This is a small pain compared to the one those individuals with blood cancers go through."

Help Us Fight Blood Cancers!