New Year, New Runs

I forgot to bring my iPod to the office the other day, so I found myself listening to the music on my blog.  And, it reminded me that I have some running to do.  Perhaps I should add "Avoid procrastinating" to my New Year's Resolution list ...


Thanks for all the great tips for running with dogs -- my husky's been rearing to go, though I've found it more convenient to stay out of the 16 degree weather.  Yes, my friends, 16 degrees here in ol' dusty Texas. But the temps are on the rise ... which means my excuses are on the decline.


My brother-in-law's running the America's 1/2 Marathon at Texas Stadium in April.  I toyed with the idea of doing the 1/2, but wasn't sure I'd be ready.  However, since my hubby's sister is looking for a little motivation in the working out department, she and I decided to sign up for the 5k.  It'll be nice to have a goal in mind for those days when I really don't feel like doing squat.  And, it'll be a nice way to ease back into a routine of some sort.  


Who knows, perhaps another 1/2 is in my future for the summer ...

My Running Buddy

I've been itching to lace up my sneaks for awhile now.  So, I took my husky running with me this afternoon for the first time ever.  Sure, we've been on countless walks and car rides, and she's always a sweet and well-mannered dog.  But I was a little skeptical of how she would do running.  I learned a few things:

1. Huskies pull.  HARD. 
2. Always bring a baggie for ... um ... accidents.
3. Even when running, they'll still want to mark everything.
4. Doesn't matter which direction you're going, they want to go the opposite.
5. If they smell a rabbit, prepare to trip over every curb and shrub to get to it.
6. They. Never. Get. Tired.

After a mile, I was able to reign her in and get her home.  Perhaps we'll try the harness next time.  At least we got to enjoy a break in the cold weather -- sunny and 70 this time of year?  I'll take it!  Of course, tomorrow's supposed to be back in the low 40s.  I'm guessing the cooler weather will only make my husky more frisky ...

Ohwell.  I can already tell she's going to be a great motivator ... and I need every ounce of it!

Wanted: New Running Playlist

I'm chewing on your wonderful race suggestions and will figure it out eventually. As many of you have said, I just need to get back out there. So out there I will go. My goal next week is to put in a short run Monday, Wednesday and Friday -- I'm thinking a mile or so. Baby steps, people!

So over the weekend, I need to wash my running clothes, dust off the sneaks and update my iPod running playlist. I desperately need some new tunes to help spice things up -- and I'd like your help building my playlist!

What do you listen to when running? What tunes pump you up? What song will be the key to all of my running successes ... er, or at least get me out of bed in the morning? :)

T-minus 4 Days ...

Saturday was our last TEAM run before the big event on Sunday (just 4 days to go!), and Mother Nature made sure it was unforgettable. Here lately I've been spoiled with sunny spring weather in the 70s -- I've even dusted off my flipflops and stashed the sweats in the back of the closet.

Weatherman warned that a cold front was moving in Friday afternoon, but I didn't pay attention. I left for work in short sleeves ... and nearly froze my butt off walking to my car that afternoon. The temps had dropped 30 degrees in a matter of hours, with me waking Saturday morning to a windy 34. Dang it. I went digging through the laundry pile trying to find my fleece pullovers. (Don't judge me ... sure, they were dirty. But, a little smell was worth the sacrifice so I wouldn't freeze to death.)

Layered, gloved and grumpy, I huddled with the rest of my TEAM while we waited to get started. After quick announcements, we were off ... straight into 20mph winds. Grrrr, I kept thinking to myself, keeping my head down and hoping that the four miles would go quick.

About a mile in I started to notice stuff hitting my face. It was dark so I couldn't make out what it was. At first I thought dirt, but it was too soft. Then I thought gnats ... which made me paranoid and resulted in constant spitting. But seriously, there can't be that many gnats. I could catch a glimpse of something in the glow of the street lamps. Rain maybe? But my clothes didn't feel damp.

The sky began to grow lighter about two miles in, with grey clouds hovering up above. Something was blowing in all around me, so I stuck out my black sleeve to catch whatever it was. No, it couldn't be ... it looks like ... Small little crystals of ice. But it wasn't ice. It was snow. It was freaking snowing! The little ice flakes slowly turned into big, beautiful white flakes that swirled all around me as I ran. I just couldn't believe it!

I instantly forgot about how cold it was, or how the wind was making it hard to breathe, or the blister forming on my right foot, or the ten million things on my to-do list that day. There was something soo calming about it all and I wanted to keep going, as if the snow would stop if I did.

It swirled on for another hour or so after I got home (and of course I woke the hubby up to see it). It was kind of neat knowing that I got to experience it, while many others were still tucked in their warm beds. Kind of like a little secret between Mother Nature and those of us out there running ... and an amazing way to wrap up this training season!

No Dodging -- It's Friday!

Well, I won't harp on the obvious fact that it's FRIDAY, but I'm sooo glad it's here! 50/50 is officially on it's way down the road to dowtown Dallas. With this weather, I probably should have strapped on a life preserver! Hopefully the rain will simmer down enough to get in a dry TEAM run tomorrow morning.

I'm thinking of running up to the gym to drip a little sweat before work, but I have the end-of-the-week-don't-really-want-tos weighing me down. I'm a little jittery just sitting here though. Maybe putting on my sneaks will be enough to catch my lazy mind up with my ancy body. I watched Dodgeball the other night, and just love the scene with Lance Armstrong. So I had to share. Who couldn't use a dose of motivation (and chuckles) today?

Down, But Not Out

Since my event is only a month away, I went and talked to my Coach yesterday morning about my options. He got a good laugh at the ridiculously bulky ankle brace I've been wearing. He thought maybe adding Nike swooshes to the sides would up it's cool factor -- I think it would have been neat to at least have a few color options. I just wish it fit into my shoes like the box said it would!

Anyway, we sat and talked for awhile about where to go from here. Coach is extremely doubtful that it'll be strong enough for the full marathon. I was afraid of that, but hearing those words was like a punch to the gut. I've worked soo hard over the last four months, but all I kept thinking was that if I had just worked a little bit harder or cross-trained like I was supposed to I wouldn't be in this situation at all. While everyone's gearing up for a practice run at Cowtown next weekend, I'll be sitting at home once again wishing that my cankles were up to the challenge.

But Coach is right -- assuming my ankle continues to heal, I'll be able to run the 1/2 stronger, with less risk of re-injuring or even making it worse. There's just not enough time to pick up with training for the full. Unless I switch to the summer TEAM, which is another option.

And it's an option I go back and forth about. Sure, I could switch TEAMs so I can race the full. But then I don't get to cross the finish line and celebrate with the TEAM I've been sweating with for the last four months. The TEAM that I've grown with, and have turned into a runner with.

Before I started training, I was a couch potato with the occasional urge to do something aerobic. I wasn't overweight or completely out of shape, but I had no real desire to get up early or to do anything too competitive or athletic. Especially if it was freezing cold outside. To my first run I think I wore sweat pants, an old worn pair of Nikes, two cotton t-shirts and a hoodie. No breathable fabrics, no gloves, no watch, no breakfast, no water. Running just one mile made my heart want to leap from my chest and my legs turn to butter.

But now? I enjoy going for runs. I have cool new sneaks and running gear. I would never wear straight cotton, especially on long runs, or leave the house on chilly mornings without my gloves. I eat better, drink tons of water, and just feel better after going for a jog. I get ancy just thinking about it. For me, it's still not about how fast I'm going -- I enjoy soaking up nature and listening to some tunes.

But I know I've gotten a lot faster. And Coach has noticed the improvements too -- how I've learned to push myself just a little more each time, how I now run with my shoulders back and my eyes looking ahead (rather than hunched over and staring at my feet like before).

Yesterday, it was hard for me to think about making the switch to the half -- I'm an "all or nothing" type of person. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it's the best way to go and still finish with my TEAM. It's not about my run or how far I went, it's about the amazing experience I've had with TNT, and the thousands of dollars we've been able to raise to benefit cancer patients and their families.

I still feel a bit like I'm disappointing my donors. But, regardless of whether I cross the finish line after 13.1 miles or 26.2, I will cross it -- and the money will go to help find a cure. And, at the end of the day, isn't that what this is all about?

"50/50" Is Here!

Man, the weather here is just gorgeous! It's about 77 degrees, sunny, slight breeze -- just beautiful. And I was soo excited to check the mail today. Nestled amongst bills and ad pages, there it was -- a big white package post-marked Canada. I knew instantly it was the book from Sonia at Solo Running Chick, 50/50 by Dean Karnazes.

Since the book is about Dean's journey to complete 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 different locations, Ted at Ted's Running Journal started the brilliant idea of passing his copy of the book around to different bloggers around the country. I heard it's been stuck up north for awhile, so I'm thrilled that it's now able to spend a little time down south. Once I finish the book, I'll post the rules and get it passed to the next lucky person. I am SO excited to start this book -- I heard it's awesome! And, it'll be a nice break from the chic lit I've been reading here lately. So, thanks Ted for starting the trend, and thanks Sonia for passing it along to me!

On a side note, I did take advantage of the bi-polar weather yesterday and put in a nice four-miler on the farm road near my house. I was shooting for six, but since it was 80 degrees and I wasn't carrying any water, I decided to cut it a bit short. The smell of cow crap and the chirping of birds provided a great distraction, and I was glad that I had left my iPod at home. My knee held up quite well, though my ankles ("cankles" as I like to call them) were a bit sore this morning, probably from running on the uneven gravel.

Don't be too jealous of the weather though -- tomorrow is supposed to be back down into the low 40s, just in time for a long TEAM run. Funny how that works, isn't it?

Why I Run

Since I've started my training and fundraising with TNT, I've had many people ask why. Why I get up at 5:30 every Saturday morning, why I bombard friends and family with donation letters, why I set my sights at $1,800 and 26.2 miles.

There are many personal reasons why I initially joined. And now I have many other reasons that keep me going. Kids like Austin Moreno is one of them -- I mentioned his mom and one of our TEAM mentors, Kim, in my last post. Austin is now more than half-way through his three-year treatment for Leukemia and just celebrated his fifth birthday in December.

I had the pleasure of meeting this amazing kid last month while at Run On. He reminded me of my nephew -- running around with his buddy playing tag, shooting imaginary guns, toting around his Thomas the Train backpack. I noticed he was wearing colorful beaded necklaces and just figured he had made them himself for fun. I wasn't even close to being right. My coach, Mark, told our TEAM later that Austin participates in a program called Beads of Courage.

Beads of Courage is a unique program designed to honor the challenging journey kids take while experiencing cancer and related treatments. Through the program, the collection of beads symbolizes courage and serves to honor milestones achieved along each unique treatment path. Each individual bead Austin wears has special significance about his treatment:

• Beige - A Bone Marrow Biopsy/Aspiration
• White - A course of Chemotherapy
• Orange - Central Line/port insertion or removal
• Blue - Clinic Visit
• Magenta - Emergency/Ambulance/Unusual Occurrence
• Brown - Hair loss/thinning
• Lime - Isolation/fever/neutropenia
• Tortoise- Lumbar Puncture
• Purple - Morphine/Dopamine/PCA Infusion
• Silver/Black - Pokes (IV starts, Blood Draws, IM Injections, Port Access)
• Glow in the Dark - Radiation treatment
• Light Green - Test/Scans (EKG, ECG, MRI, CT, Bone Scan)
• Red - Transfusions
• Aqua - tube Insertion (Catheter, Chest)
• Yellow - Overnight at Hospital/ Inpatient Admission
• Dark Green - Stem Cell Harvest/Dialysis/TPN
• Silver - Surgery & Dressing Change
• Square Heart - Transfer to PICU

This picture speaks louder than anything I could say:

So when people ask me why, all I can think is -- Why Not?

Goodbye Weekend ... Hello Double Digits!

Well, I did manage to steal away for an hour Friday afternoon. Roadkill and unleashed dogs aside, it was extremely nice to enjoy a quiet 4-mile run in the warm sunshine. But that wasn't even close to my run Saturday morning.

Drum roll please ...

I made it 10 miles! Whoooo, hellllooo double digits!! It's about time, right? And it was glorious ... sore and slow, but glorious. The first six miles felt good, seven and eight I walked / ran, and ended up semi-briskly walking the last two. At 2 hours and 23ish minutes, I was the last one in, but my Coach was super excited for me.

I think the key for me this time was regular refueling. And perhaps the Powerbar I had for breakfast helped too. I just didn't let my feet stop, didn't let my legs give up. Though they wanted to around mile eight. My right knee kept popping, and I kept hitting my ankles with my shoes.

But I made it. And lived to tell about it. And now there's no turning back. :-)

Excuses, Excuses

So, obviously, this blog is still a work in progress. I can't seem to decide on a background -- suggestions are always helpful!

Anyhoo, training the past two weeks has been ... well, scarce. Work + a cold + 30 degree weather = way too many excuses keeping me inside lollygagging instead of outside training. I'm hoping to turn that around at our team run on Saturday. According to the schedule, I'm supposed to hit 8 miles ... but I may keep it closer to 5 unless by some miracle I have the energy to do more.

And, for any of my wonderful donors who are reading this, THANKS again for all of your support!! I've reached my halfway mark in fundraising -- just over $1,000 -- and I couldn't be more ecstatic. I know the holidays are hard, especially this year, so I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

Keep checking back for more updates!

Team In Training

"The people I’ve met through Team In Training have been some of the most compassionate, kind, strong, and dedicated people that have ever crossed my path. Some are survivors like me and our bond was immediate – and is for life. But survivor or not, we’re all united by the common goal of wanting to find a cure for cancer." ~ Natasha Wieschenber, Triathlete and Cancer Survivor

I did it. I went to a Team In Training informational meeting and committed to running 26.2 miles on behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in the Big D Marathon in Dallas. This won't be my first marathon -- I ran ... er, hobbled ... the Cowtown Marathon in Ft Worth. But that was eight years ago, and I've eaten a lot and have broken in a few couches since then.

The Big D will be different for many reasons. This time I'm running for a greater cause: to help find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma. I'm running to help improve the lives of blood cancer patients and their families. I'm running for our Team Hero, a cancer survivor who we'll get to meet at the next meeting. I'm excited. After I got home last night, hubby and I jogged around the neighborhood. Side cramps and numb feet aside, it felt good. It's nice to have something to strive for, a goal to reach, a cause to dedicate yourself to. In a way, a sense of purpose.

I started this blog to help raise awareness, to connect with others who are training, to hold myself accountable for my runs, to gain motivation from others. Hope you'll join me on my journey ... only four months to go!