The True Inspirations

This past Saturday was our first 20 Mile Run (out of two) before we head to LA in just 4 weeks.  It was the best run yet, and I really think there were so many reasons why.  Below is our team at 5 Miles and at 15 Miles.  Sorry we forgot to take pictures after the 20 Miles.  I guess we were all anxious to get to the ice bath.  What was amazing about running 20 Miles was not that we ran it, but what got us through it.  I am very lucky to have two of the girls I run with working at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, because Saturday when times got tough running, Kourtney and Morgan both told inspirational stories about their closeness with patients and families who have struggled with blood cancers.  The stories were truly the ones that got me through the run. We are making a difference and helping to fund research for the cure for blood cancers.  Kourtney said it perfect (something like this), "those who have blood cancers are fighting much harder and are in much more pain than us."

Today, I had another inspiration.  Not necessarily the most happy moment, but it reminded me of what I am running for.  I have mentioned before about a customer who I have never met whose husband has Lymphoma, and she supported me with a contribution and a very nice email.  When I got to work this afternoon, a note was left for me about her coming in from Lawrence.  She wanted to meet me and tell me some devastating news.  Her husband, after battling Lymphoma for the second time, was now put on Hospice.

After receiving this note, I knew that I would have to write a very difficult email letting her know that her family and her husband were in my thoughts and prayers.  It's truly devastating that now his blood cancer has taken over his life and time has run out for him.  He has put up a strong fight for years, and on March 20 he will be in my thoughts as I run those 26.2 Miles.  In a reply from his wife, she wanted me to know that she appreciated everything I was doing.  This meant the world to me and will always stay with me. I am helping and bringing hope to many that I don't even know, and this is one of the most powerful things I have experienced from all of this.

LA-Like? Maybe?

Today, is one of those days that is a pure tease.  It's February and I am running in a tank top in 60 degree weather thinking about how wonderful the months to come are.  It just never works that way.  Those fluke nice days in February just give me a taste, more like only a droplet of Spring, and then terrible weather creeps from behind the corner to get us a few more times.  But who am I to be negative about such a wonderful running day in February!

So as I am running, I am thinking about LA and how it will be similar to this. Unfortunately, the only thing similar was the weather and the disgusting port-a-potty I had to stop in (well, from what I have heard).  I came up with way more differences:

- Instead of dodging puddles of melted snow, other racers will be dodging to get around me during the race.

- Crowds of people will be cheering me on from the sidelines; not brown snow littered with trash that only crunches when I accidentally step on it.

- Bikers won't be zooming by leaving their trail splashing on my face

- And, I'll be running 26.2. miles, instead of 4 Miles (which turned into slightly more)

As I finish this post, I almost want to delete it, because it sounds as if I had a horrible run today when in actuality, I had the best run I have had in weeks.  Or maybe, it's because I just know that LA will be so much better than the Leawood trails that I am accustomed to.

We have our first 20 Mile run this weekend! And another Sewing Saturday Fundraiser (why I scheduled it after my 20 Mile run is unknown to me)! Look for an update!

Running All Day

I really felt like yesterday my entire day consisted of running.  And to be frankly honest, it did.  I woke up and ran 4.5 miles with the team and then had to leave for class. I felt guilty, but extremely lucky at the same time.  Since the snow has been so bad, we have been in limbo all week of where we would run come Saturday.  Lucky us, it was Shawnee Mission Park and it's massive hills.  I felt lucky when I was done with my small one loop, but guilty that everyone else was enduring much harder of a workout than I was.  I give them much more props for finishing their 18 miles in Shawnee Mission Park.

After class, I headed to gym to hang out with this thing.  Nothing like my friends with Team in Training.  It doesn't talk back, and worst of all it has a 30 minute time limit! I can not complain, because my 13.5 miles might have seemed to be endless, but I am much more proud of everyone else for accomplishing the dreaded course of Shawnee Mission Park.  One of these days, I am sure I will come to terms with this course.

I had established a little plan of how I was going to get 13.5 miles in at the gym where the time limits on the incredibly busy treadmills are somewhat of a burden.  Here's how my workout played out:
3 Miles (Running and yes, I did go over my limit considering that I don't run a 10 minute mile)
1 Mile (Bike=12 Minute Mile)
3 Miles (Running, over my 30 minute limit again)
1 Mile (Bike=12 Minute Mile)
3 Miles (Running, over my 30 minute limit again)
1 Mile (Bike=12 Minute Mile)
1.5 Miles (Running, finally under my time limit)
It wasn't exactly how I would have wished my 18 mile run went, but I had been dreading this day since I signed up for the marathon knowing that I would have to perform magic to get this run in without the support of my team.  I could have done it outside, but since I only have one outside running outfit that couldn't get washed in time, it just wasn't happening.  Yes, yes, maybe I am too much of an over-planner and could have just winged it without obsessively planning all week, but I guess that's just me.

So my day full of running, ended around 5:00pm.  If I wasn't running on the treadmill or at Shawnee Mission Park, I was frantically racing to be to class on time, which I was not.

I am really looking forward to my 20 Mile run in two weeks (yes, I did just say that), so that I can get back on schedule without this cockeyed treadmill predicament.  We have 6 weeks left of training. Three 8 mile runs, two 20 mile runs, and then the finale of 26.2 Miles!!! 

And thank you to Tyler, for helping me format my blog, so that it doesn't look like I am a novice blogger, as well as a novice runner. 

Oh, Snow Days...

Yes, it's a blizzard here (well not so much anymore) and I am waiting for my driveway to get cleaned off so I can go to the gym. It's really the only thing I can think about because I am so sick of being trapped in my house.  I ran on Monday in fear that I wouldn't make it to the gym with the blizzard coming, and just barely squeezed my work out in yesterday morning with my dad (who knew my dad would kick my butt with his workout).

So, I've also been shopping.  Well, to be accurate, I haven't bought anything yet.  I keep opening the links that some of Team in Training girls have been exchanging through emails; and I mean by keep opening them, I mean I re-open them about every hour or so, thinking that I am ready to make my decision and then can't do it.  This is a hard decision; what am I going to wear on my lower half for the marathon?

I thought about sharing pictures, but I decided I wanted it to be a surprise. I don't know why, but if I release this information then all the fun goes to waste, and my posted marathon photos will not be a surprise.  I resemble the model so much that my readers/fans (the so many that I have) will think that I have already run the marathon in these funky pants.