So I ran a little over 5 miles on Saturday through Liberty State Park. It was really pretty...running along the bay with the Statue of Liberty and the NY Skyline in the background. It was actually one of the harder runs we've done, because it was all open. This let the sun and the wind come in without much to block them. Also, running next to large bodies of water? Plus: really pretty. Minus: really muggy.
It was requested that I take pictures along the run! Which I didn't do. :p Sorry! I need to get a camera to take with me on runs. I could have used my cell, but those pictures aren't great and I forgot my cell. I'll do better next time!
Then I went for a quick 2 mile run on Monday. I should be going for a 3 mile run today, but I don't know if that's going to happen. I did something to my foot, and now it hurts off and on when I'm walking or standing on it. It's in a weird spot...I didn't sprain my ankle, and it's not in the arch. It's sort of above and behind my arch a bit. When I realized it was actually a problem yesterday, I started to ice it. It feels better when I sit, but gets aggravated when I walk. I'm a bit nervous to call this one of those aches or pains that you just blow through. I *really* hope it's nothing, because I will be quite upset if I injured myself this early on in the game (though it might be better to do it now actually if I can recover in time to still train and run the marathon.) And on a quick little jaunt down the road, nonetheless! I'm going to call my coach later today and ask him what he thinks. It's great to have a team like this with people that know about this stuff!
For those of you who bought Yankee Candles, I just got a call yesterday that they came in. It happened a lot faster than I thought! So I'm going to go probably this weekend and pick them up so I can get everything out to people. Yay candles!
Not sure what this weekend holds in terms of a long run for me. It might be Cranford, or it might be Philly running with regular (sort of) friends and not the TNT crowd. Or it might be nothing if my foot needs rest. We'll see!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Getting into the swing of things
I'm finding that getting started is a bit harder than I thought it would be. The fact that I have an excuse I think only makes it worse, honestly. See, I came down with a wonderful case of mono in April. I feel better now, and have for a few weeks. But even when I was feeling better, my energy wasn't at its normal level. I could function in my daily life without much problem; however, I had some fairly significant stuff going on elsewhere, which was monopolizing the limited energy I had. Work was crazy for a while into the end of May. Once that calmed down, I had concerts for choir and was suddenly out at night more than usual. And in these weeks, it came down to a matter of priority. I simply could not justify chancing having to call out sick for work because I ran 3 miles the night before and that took all my energy.
All of that just ended literally 3 days ago, so now I should be able to get back into the swing of things. Provided I'm not so out of the habit of running that I put off getting started again.
Partly because of this fear, I ended up running last weekend. I was really debating going, since I had concerts that weekend (the end of choir season for me). If I ended up feeling sluggish for the concerts (or worse even, lost my voice or had any sort of chest/throat irritation from running in the mugginess...) my choir director would likely have killed me. :) But I figured I could take it easy, and stop whenever I wanted. And I hadn't been out for a run in WEEKS, and the longer I put it off, the harder it would be to go again.
So I went. And anticipated running 5.5 miles. Which ended up being 6.2 or so, on account of the last water station being put out farther than we realized. Oops.
But I did just fine! So that's very heartening. I was sore the next day, which is to be expected, since I just up and ran that without any sort of lead in (which you're not really supposed to do, but oh well...). Our run this weekend is at Liberty State Park, with the path overlooking the NY Skyline & Statue of Liberty, so I'm really excited about that. I swear, you can get some of the most beautiful scenery while running.
I'm optimistic from here. I want to go out for a short 2 mile or so run tomorrow, and then I have the longer run on Saturday. I'll have more time next week to do runs during the week after work as well. All in all, I think I'll catch up in no time!
Fundraising is starting to look less intimidating as well. I got a number of donations, and am really thrilled at the generosity everyone has shown. It is so encouraging to have that support, and to receive the (sometimes unexpected) contributions. I've got thank you cards in the mail....but if you're reading this, thank you again! I sold some Yankee candles as well which was great! I just sent in a bunch of donations, so now I'm just waiting for my donation page to update. It still says I'm only at $230, even though I'm actually sitting at something like $900 or so.
All of that just ended literally 3 days ago, so now I should be able to get back into the swing of things. Provided I'm not so out of the habit of running that I put off getting started again.
Partly because of this fear, I ended up running last weekend. I was really debating going, since I had concerts that weekend (the end of choir season for me). If I ended up feeling sluggish for the concerts (or worse even, lost my voice or had any sort of chest/throat irritation from running in the mugginess...) my choir director would likely have killed me. :) But I figured I could take it easy, and stop whenever I wanted. And I hadn't been out for a run in WEEKS, and the longer I put it off, the harder it would be to go again.
So I went. And anticipated running 5.5 miles. Which ended up being 6.2 or so, on account of the last water station being put out farther than we realized. Oops.
But I did just fine! So that's very heartening. I was sore the next day, which is to be expected, since I just up and ran that without any sort of lead in (which you're not really supposed to do, but oh well...). Our run this weekend is at Liberty State Park, with the path overlooking the NY Skyline & Statue of Liberty, so I'm really excited about that. I swear, you can get some of the most beautiful scenery while running.
I'm optimistic from here. I want to go out for a short 2 mile or so run tomorrow, and then I have the longer run on Saturday. I'll have more time next week to do runs during the week after work as well. All in all, I think I'll catch up in no time!
Fundraising is starting to look less intimidating as well. I got a number of donations, and am really thrilled at the generosity everyone has shown. It is so encouraging to have that support, and to receive the (sometimes unexpected) contributions. I've got thank you cards in the mail....but if you're reading this, thank you again! I sold some Yankee candles as well which was great! I just sent in a bunch of donations, so now I'm just waiting for my donation page to update. It still says I'm only at $230, even though I'm actually sitting at something like $900 or so.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Where it began
This, like all good things, began at Disney.
Maybe not quite -- I suppose running a half marathon seems crazy enough to some people that explaining my motivation for that one is also necessary. On that account, I'll simply say that my family was doing it, so I did it too. It's like peer pressure, but in a good way.
But at Disney, while running the half, I decided to run a full. (More accurately, it was sometime after running the half, when I no longer felt like I might die from running so much and instead was pumped with adrenaline and accomplishment at having just completed 13.1 miles.) And more than that -- I think while there I also decided to join Team in Training. I got interested in it at least. I saw all these people in purple shirts running for a cause, and supporting and encouraging each other. I saw coaches, who had already finished the race, running back along the sidelines to help their teammates through. I thought if I were ever to run that far, having that support would definitely help me to the finish line.
So I looked into it. I browsed the internet, and attended an information meeting. And that's when I learned about the cause: raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. See, I didn't join TNT as I believe most do. I haven't suffered the loss of a close one due to a blood cancer. I don't know anyone who has been diagnosed. I guess in a way, you could say that my involvement with TNT began primarily for myself.
My motivation has, of course, changed. Raising over $4,000 is a fairly daunting task, and I would not be doing this if I did not think this is a worthy cause. Since joining TNT, I have become more aware of blood cancers and their impact on society. While running alongside fellow TNT members, I have heard their stories, of their loved ones who were diagnosed with a blood cancer. I have met and talked to "honored members" -- people who are currently battling a blood cancer, or are in remission. These people inspire me.
And so I run. I run for survivors, I run for fighters, I run for those who have been claimed by blood cancer. I run for my family and my friends. And yes, I even run for myself.
One step at a time, and I will eventually cross that finish line.
Maybe not quite -- I suppose running a half marathon seems crazy enough to some people that explaining my motivation for that one is also necessary. On that account, I'll simply say that my family was doing it, so I did it too. It's like peer pressure, but in a good way.
But at Disney, while running the half, I decided to run a full. (More accurately, it was sometime after running the half, when I no longer felt like I might die from running so much and instead was pumped with adrenaline and accomplishment at having just completed 13.1 miles.) And more than that -- I think while there I also decided to join Team in Training. I got interested in it at least. I saw all these people in purple shirts running for a cause, and supporting and encouraging each other. I saw coaches, who had already finished the race, running back along the sidelines to help their teammates through. I thought if I were ever to run that far, having that support would definitely help me to the finish line.
So I looked into it. I browsed the internet, and attended an information meeting. And that's when I learned about the cause: raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. See, I didn't join TNT as I believe most do. I haven't suffered the loss of a close one due to a blood cancer. I don't know anyone who has been diagnosed. I guess in a way, you could say that my involvement with TNT began primarily for myself.
My motivation has, of course, changed. Raising over $4,000 is a fairly daunting task, and I would not be doing this if I did not think this is a worthy cause. Since joining TNT, I have become more aware of blood cancers and their impact on society. While running alongside fellow TNT members, I have heard their stories, of their loved ones who were diagnosed with a blood cancer. I have met and talked to "honored members" -- people who are currently battling a blood cancer, or are in remission. These people inspire me.
And so I run. I run for survivors, I run for fighters, I run for those who have been claimed by blood cancer. I run for my family and my friends. And yes, I even run for myself.
One step at a time, and I will eventually cross that finish line.
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