Today I got something in the mail that I had sent away for, and I was thrilled to receive it- it was my "Be the Match" kit from the National Bone Marrow Registry. I have wanted to join the registry for many years but never have. One of my friends on Face Book- had posted that is was free through June 22, so I hoped on-line- super easy, and requested the kit. It came today and I already completed the steps inside and will send it back tomorrow. I would love to match someone. I just feel so strongly that this is the right thing to do- I'm healthy and fit and I have no reason not to go on the registry.
In other randomness:
I have fallen in love (well at least strong like) anyway with morning running! I've been meeting my friend Jen to run on Mon/Tues/Thurs mornings and it's worked out so perfectly. It's a great feeling to have the run done for the day once I get to work. Also I don't have to worry about finding time later on in the day for it!
Speed work is TOUGH! We ran our first actual speed workout on Wednesday night- it did not help the situation that it was 92 degrees outside. But I was proud of myself for getting out there and doing it, I ran the prescribed pace for the prescribed time. Only one way to find out how fast I can be- run faster and work on speed. And everyone is so encouraging even the super fast people who can lap me always shout out good job as they pass! So, so sweet and so kind!
I am very, very blessed to have the running family that I do. They simply rock!
Hope you all have great weekends!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Let's "out run" childhood cancer
Tomorrow evening I will be running my second 5K in a week notice I said running and NOT racing! I plan to run this one easy, but it's a cause I believe in with my whole heart and I wanted to get out there and support it anyway I can.
This race is for Nationwide Children's Hospital's childhood cancer research. Research matters and research has life saving potential. Anyone of you who have known me for very long know I had a "little friend" named Christi who passed away from neuroblastoma (one of the worst forms of childhood cancer) in September of 2006. She started her treatment here in Columbus at Children's Hospital. She was sweet and dear and a fighter to the very end. She endured something no child ever should with grace and dignity and a smile on her face. My favorite quote of hers was "I'm not sick, I just have cancer."
She graced and touched my life in immeasurable ways.
This race tomorrow is for you sweet Christi!! Until we meet in a much better place than this earth!
This race is for Nationwide Children's Hospital's childhood cancer research. Research matters and research has life saving potential. Anyone of you who have known me for very long know I had a "little friend" named Christi who passed away from neuroblastoma (one of the worst forms of childhood cancer) in September of 2006. She started her treatment here in Columbus at Children's Hospital. She was sweet and dear and a fighter to the very end. She endured something no child ever should with grace and dignity and a smile on her face. My favorite quote of hers was "I'm not sick, I just have cancer."
She graced and touched my life in immeasurable ways.
This race tomorrow is for you sweet Christi!! Until we meet in a much better place than this earth!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Running for Ellie- Feeling Grateful
This morning I ran my first 5K (3 miles) of the season with the Fleet Feet Race Club, it was a great time! The weather was perfect and it was great to see and run with friends.
This 5K was especially meaningful because it was for a little girl who lives in our Community named Ellie- Ellie has a disease that is robbing her body of it's ability to walk, run, talk, or even breathe. She was there this morning at the finish line, giving each of us a thumbs up and a high five as we crossed the finish line.
When I see someone like Ellie I'm reminded of the great gift I've been given of two heathly legs that allow me to run, am I the fastest? No way not even close, but somehow running for charity that doesn't seem to matter as much. It matters more that I'm out there, that I'm using the ablity that God has granted me to be able to run! I'm thankful that I can! I plan to continue to run, to run my best to celebrate that gift!
Hope your weekends were as fun as mine!!
This 5K was especially meaningful because it was for a little girl who lives in our Community named Ellie- Ellie has a disease that is robbing her body of it's ability to walk, run, talk, or even breathe. She was there this morning at the finish line, giving each of us a thumbs up and a high five as we crossed the finish line.
When I see someone like Ellie I'm reminded of the great gift I've been given of two heathly legs that allow me to run, am I the fastest? No way not even close, but somehow running for charity that doesn't seem to matter as much. It matters more that I'm out there, that I'm using the ablity that God has granted me to be able to run! I'm thankful that I can! I plan to continue to run, to run my best to celebrate that gift!
Hope your weekends were as fun as mine!!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
In Celebration of National Running Day
Tomorrow is National Running Day! Wow a whole day dedicated to one of the great passions in my life.
Now as a child, young adult, and adult well into my thirties I was not remotely athletic, I hated gym class, so much so that I took summer gym to avoid it in High School. I can vividly remember in HS having to be able to run a mile in 15 minutes or something like that. Believe me that was the LAST thing I wanted to do, so it's amazing to me now how much I love running.
I also remember getting started with running- a program called Couch to 5K, I had decided that I wanted to challenge myself and a friend suggested this program to me. I remember that first walk/run I ever did- how hard it was and how I was sure that I was never going to make it even one mile. Suprise of all suprises I did make it, ran my first 5K and I was off so to speak.
In 2006 I trained for and ran my very first half marathon and from then on I was hooked. Now running isn't just something I do- it's a huge part of who I am. Running has become a way to soothe stress, ease a broken heart, spend time alone or with others and just to stay fit and active. Now I am not breaking any land speed records out there, but I'm out there doing it.
I have gained invaluable friendships through my running, and have had the privelage of cheering on others as they have started running.
So tomorrow in celebration of the abilty I have to run, I will be enjoying a run. And for those of my fellow runners out there- Celebrate tomorrow- celebrate YOU! Whether you have completed a 5K , 10K half or full marathon or many of the above- you are runners, some of the most wonderful people on the planet. I'm blessed to count myself am0ng you!
Happy National Running Day!
Now as a child, young adult, and adult well into my thirties I was not remotely athletic, I hated gym class, so much so that I took summer gym to avoid it in High School. I can vividly remember in HS having to be able to run a mile in 15 minutes or something like that. Believe me that was the LAST thing I wanted to do, so it's amazing to me now how much I love running.
I also remember getting started with running- a program called Couch to 5K, I had decided that I wanted to challenge myself and a friend suggested this program to me. I remember that first walk/run I ever did- how hard it was and how I was sure that I was never going to make it even one mile. Suprise of all suprises I did make it, ran my first 5K and I was off so to speak.
In 2006 I trained for and ran my very first half marathon and from then on I was hooked. Now running isn't just something I do- it's a huge part of who I am. Running has become a way to soothe stress, ease a broken heart, spend time alone or with others and just to stay fit and active. Now I am not breaking any land speed records out there, but I'm out there doing it.
I have gained invaluable friendships through my running, and have had the privelage of cheering on others as they have started running.
So tomorrow in celebration of the abilty I have to run, I will be enjoying a run. And for those of my fellow runners out there- Celebrate tomorrow- celebrate YOU! Whether you have completed a 5K , 10K half or full marathon or many of the above- you are runners, some of the most wonderful people on the planet. I'm blessed to count myself am0ng you!
Happy National Running Day!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Pefect Saturday
Ahh today was the perfect Saturday- I got up this morning and went to MIT to run- I did 5 miles in a little over an hour so not too bad (not fast by any means but not horrible), it was a perfect day for a run- sunny and cool. I had a lot of fun out there on the trail- and next week we get to explore a whole new trail system!
Then I got a nap, and now I'm going to clean up my scrapbooking area in the basement so that perhaps I can actually scrapbook down there in the near future.
It's been a perfectly relaxing Saturday! Hope yours has been the same.
Then I got a nap, and now I'm going to clean up my scrapbooking area in the basement so that perhaps I can actually scrapbook down there in the near future.
It's been a perfectly relaxing Saturday! Hope yours has been the same.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
New Season- New Goals
A brand new season of Marthoning is about to begin! I love beginnings, and the start of something new, it's like hitting the reset button and we get to begin again- fresh. New Goals, new opportunites for success, new challenges.
This season I'm going to train to run my second marathon- simply amazing to me as the girl who used to say all the time I would only run if someone was chasing me. I am so looking forward to getting out there and beginning this journey again. I know more what to expect this time, like how hard a 20 miler can be and how it can be so much better when you share it with friends. What to eat and what NOT to eat as the case may be. :)
I've picked the Marathon I plan on running- Tow Path Marathon on October 11. It's a Marathon near where I grew up and it's flat as a pancake, which is good.
I'm putting out my Goals for this season here in writing so I can come back to them at the end of the season and see how I did:
1. No missing any planned weekday runs.
2. Speed work on Wedensday nights- even if it's painful and I have no clue what I'm doing- I'm still going to get out there every week.
3. Weights twice a week without fail- I always do poorly at this so I'm recommitting.
4. Eat well- To quote my dear friend Katia- "Food is fuel it's not your friend", so making a commitment to eat better and fuel my body better.
5. Run a faster Marathon than I did last fall (see #2)!
I'm looking forward to this season! It'll be a good one I"m sure.
Getting ready to hit reset!!
This season I'm going to train to run my second marathon- simply amazing to me as the girl who used to say all the time I would only run if someone was chasing me. I am so looking forward to getting out there and beginning this journey again. I know more what to expect this time, like how hard a 20 miler can be and how it can be so much better when you share it with friends. What to eat and what NOT to eat as the case may be. :)
I've picked the Marathon I plan on running- Tow Path Marathon on October 11. It's a Marathon near where I grew up and it's flat as a pancake, which is good.
I'm putting out my Goals for this season here in writing so I can come back to them at the end of the season and see how I did:
1. No missing any planned weekday runs.
2. Speed work on Wedensday nights- even if it's painful and I have no clue what I'm doing- I'm still going to get out there every week.
3. Weights twice a week without fail- I always do poorly at this so I'm recommitting.
4. Eat well- To quote my dear friend Katia- "Food is fuel it's not your friend", so making a commitment to eat better and fuel my body better.
5. Run a faster Marathon than I did last fall (see #2)!
I'm looking forward to this season! It'll be a good one I"m sure.
Getting ready to hit reset!!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Injuries, MIT and Boston
Wow it has been forever since I've updated the blog-guess I better get on that! :)
I began this year training for a half marathon, but two weeks ago the plan to run the half got nixed by my very first running injury (I've been very lucky!), a strain in a muscle in my foot that makes running or walking very painful. So I'm doing Physical Therapy and exercises at home to get it better as soon as possible and get back to running. For now I'm doing biking and some ellipitical. I'm going to try swimming this week too- although I'm not a strong swimmer I can least get some movement in.
I'm very sad to not be running the race I planned with my friends, but there will be other races and it's important to get an injury healed and not let it nag. I know my friends are going to do awesome at their Marathon- they have all been running so strong this season.
We also had our MIT banquet recently and as always I enjoyed spending time with my running family. I'm incredibly blessed by their friendships.
And now on to Boston- I had several friends who ran the Boston Marathon on April 20. It is HUGE deal to run Boston because you have to qualify to do so. I'm continually amazed that I get to run "with" people who have qualified, run and finished a Boston Marathon- simply amazing. They make me want to run better, to run stronger just by being around them.
So on with healing this foot and getting back to running ASAP, so I can run a strong marathon in the fall. There will be speedwork in my future- one of my friends swears by the fact that her speed work took her from a 10:30/mile pace to a 9:30/mile pace in a year. I would love to go from my 12-12:30 pace to 11:30 or 11:00. But like Jeff says if you want to run fast you gotta run fast.
I began this year training for a half marathon, but two weeks ago the plan to run the half got nixed by my very first running injury (I've been very lucky!), a strain in a muscle in my foot that makes running or walking very painful. So I'm doing Physical Therapy and exercises at home to get it better as soon as possible and get back to running. For now I'm doing biking and some ellipitical. I'm going to try swimming this week too- although I'm not a strong swimmer I can least get some movement in.
I'm very sad to not be running the race I planned with my friends, but there will be other races and it's important to get an injury healed and not let it nag. I know my friends are going to do awesome at their Marathon- they have all been running so strong this season.
We also had our MIT banquet recently and as always I enjoyed spending time with my running family. I'm incredibly blessed by their friendships.
And now on to Boston- I had several friends who ran the Boston Marathon on April 20. It is HUGE deal to run Boston because you have to qualify to do so. I'm continually amazed that I get to run "with" people who have qualified, run and finished a Boston Marathon- simply amazing. They make me want to run better, to run stronger just by being around them.
So on with healing this foot and getting back to running ASAP, so I can run a strong marathon in the fall. There will be speedwork in my future- one of my friends swears by the fact that her speed work took her from a 10:30/mile pace to a 9:30/mile pace in a year. I would love to go from my 12-12:30 pace to 11:30 or 11:00. But like Jeff says if you want to run fast you gotta run fast.
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