A Slacking Blogger

I'm so sorry!  I've been such a slacker at updating the blog, letting you know what's going on with my running. Believe me, it's because all my free time is busy with either running or getting ready for the race.

I've been getting in some good runs, 8, 9 and 11 mile runs.  Times are averaging anywhere between 11 & 12:30 a mile, which makes me happy. I've had some issues with the asthma, the lungs don't want to work quite as well as I'd like them to, but I won't complain. The runs have been challenging, each in their own way. The 8 mile run was an out and back done on a long, hilly road on a cloudy, grey, windy day. The 9 and the 11 were done with Running Buddy and were pretty good runs, all in all. 

I'm happier than I can even express that that all my stomach issues seem to be a thing of the past. Going from GU to Stingers was such a good move!  I introduced Running Buddy to them and we're both hooked.  The cherry flavored gels are reminiscent of the Luden's Cherry Cough Drops from our childhood memories.  Yummy Goodness! Seriously - I could eat these things like candy!  We also tried the pomegranate flavor and those are almost as tasty! Maybe I prefer the cherry flavored just because of the good memories they stir, but I'll be packing both for the race.

I have had some issues with a shin splint in the right ankle.  It's just a sharp pain in that area just above the ankle bone where my foot and shin come together.  That coupled with the numb feeling in the bottom outer area of my left foot has caused me to become rather concerned about the shoes I've been wearing.  Just before the Woodbury Country Mile, I bought a pair of Ascics Kayano shoes. Like my Sauconys, they are a stability shoe, but I think they are "softer". With all the asphalt/concrete running I do for training, I'm not sure they are the right shoe for me, so I've gone back to the Saucony ProGrid Guide 4.  I'll get a few runs before the race in the new shoes, but I'm sure they'll be just fine.

Clothing is next on the concerns list.  While the weather is getting colder here in Minnesota, I'm finding that it's the perfect weather for me.  I am much happier running when it's cooler than when it's warmer if I'm wearing the right clothing for the temperature.  However, the race is in North Carolina, which means I will probably need to wear my warm weather running clothes.  Last year, I ran the race in shorts and a short sleeved shirt.  I plan on something similar for this year, but I may change the shorts to a pair of capris.  I'll pack for all weather and decide the night before. One thing that won't be up for debate is my shirt.

I've ordered a Wear Your Number shirt.  It will be printed with the race bib design on the front, along with my name.  On the back will be the logo of my $1,000 sponsor, my employer, Thomson Reuters.  Under that will be the words "Light the Night 2011" and a special printing. 

The special printing will read as follows:

Running in memory of Will, Toodie, Gordy and Ann
Running in honor of Heidi, Noah, Cole, Charlotte, Mike, Jenna, Samantha, Margie, Jon & Christopher.

Even now, as I tell all of you about this, I am remembering more people who deserve a spot on my back.  Michelle, Greg, Pete, John, Viktor ... just to name a few.  While it makes my heart heavy to know that so many people are continuing to be affected by cancers, of all kinds, knowing that every day we are making strides towards a cure will make every single mile of those 18.1 miles worth it.

Yup - 18.1.  I've decided that I want to run the Pamlico Jack Challenge.  The Challenge is to run the 8k (5 miles) on Saturday morning and the half-marathon on Sunday.  I'm pretty determined that this will be my last long run, so I want to go out with a bang.  Most everyone I know, particularly the runners, are insisting that this will not be my last half, but I'm fairly convinced in my own mind that it will be.  I've already run 3 more than I ever thought I would and after the OBX, I will have run 4 half-marathons in a year's time.  That might not seem like a lot to those who run races every weekend, but it's 4 more than I ever thought I'd be able to do.

Right now, I'm feeling very selfish, not as altruistic as I was when I first started this adventure.  I will continue to run, but I'm going to stay under the 10 mile mark.  I want to run for the heck of it and for my health.  I want to be able to skip a day without feeling guilty because I've screwed up my training schedule. Even as I write this, I realize that I'm slipping back into that "about me" mode that I was determined to stay away from. 

I can't forget the reasons why I started this adventure -  Cole, Charlotte, Noah, Heidi,  MikeToodie and Will, and their families, people I've met through the years whose lives have been affected by blood cancers and I can't forget the reasons why I stay committed - Jon, Christopher, lymphoma survivors, and Paul & Jane, who lost their teenage daughter Ann, in February, all my 2011 LTN team mates;  Greg, the brother-in-law who is a prostate cancer survivor; Michelle, the breast cancer survivor, Viktor who lost his earthly battle but finished the race and won the crown of life.

I will run as if my life depends on it.

I will run because someone's does.

I will run.

Can I get a drumroll, please?

I almost captioned this "Can I get a witness" because I just feel like shouting Hallelujah!!  I have such amazingly wonderful things to share, but first....

 I'm still here and I'm still running!  Since my last post before the Light the Night event, I've still managed some pretty decent times during my training runs ------ OH WAIT------ you want to hear about the Light the Night event? You want to know how everything turned out?

Well, can I just say it rocked?  That the last update from the local chapter indicated over $550,000 has been received and more money is coming in?  Can I just say that the Thomson Reuters Light the Night team and its subteam, TRiumph exceeded our goals by $3,000?  Again, I feel like shouting "hallelujah, can I get a witness??"  Through so many individual efforts, a bowling/silent auction fundraiser, the company match and the corporate sponsorship, we were able to provide $16,550 towards the fight against blood cancers.  Now, can I hear you say it too? 

I am so proud of the team.  They are such caring and invested individuals.  Some of them are survivors, some of them are fresh from the loss of a loved one.  All of them are truly amazing individuals and I am better for spending time with each of them.

Here's a picture of the team with Rod Carew

Note that this isn't all the team, just the ones that made it for the picture with Rod. 

I have one thing left to do for this team and for all of you who have taken the time to read this journal and have possibly sponsored one of my training runs.  I have to run a half-marathon and I have to keep my word.  Remember that I said that if anyone gave me $1,000 I would put their name on my running shirt.  Well, Thomson Reuters is matching my $1,000 so I'm going to proudly wear the company name and logo on my shirt.  However, you see those amazing people in that picture above - well, they have stories too.

The man in yellow, well, that's Jon.  He's a survivor. The redhead?  That's Deb, she was walking in memory of her husband's cousin, Gordy.  Somewhere in there is little Margie, another survivor.  That white hat, that's Jon, again, a survivor.  Paul and Jane, they walked in memory of their daughter Ann.  Carla, her son Will.  Amanda in honor of Samantha.  Stories that I am priviledged to have heard and each of them has given me permission to add more to my shirt.  When I run my half-marathon on November 13, it will be my honor to have the names of the loved ones on my back as well. 

Now, about my training, it's been going well.  I'm continuing to maintain a pace between 10-12 minutes per mile.  I'm truly confident I've mastered the gut issues with the honey and honey based energy gels.  There's some tweakiness in the right ankle, but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse.  I don't feel as nervous about this race as I did last year at this time which makes my training kind of fun. Don't get the wrong idea, I said kind of fun.  I'm still not in love with running, but it is starting to grow on me.

I'll try be more diligent in the coming days.  I have some long runs ahead and I'm sure you'll want to know all about them.  Ha! 

Until next time...