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The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Fighting Blood Cancers
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SpiritEyes

OMG!

Posted by SpiritEyes Nov 18, 2009

Wow. Last week I was battling the flu - missed team practice    it was a practice I really really ultimately wanted to attend!  Hopefully we will have another team breakfast after training so I can get to know my teammates better.

 

Saturday we are doing 7 miles.  The halfway(ish) point for the Surf City Half Marathon.  This will be a true test for me on how I am doing with training...  yeah, I need to do MORE during the week - and it is oh so hard to get back into the swing after the flu, but once I get going I feel great 

SpiritEyes

Six Miles!

Posted by SpiritEyes Nov 12, 2009

Six Miles Saturday!!!!   But our coach is feeding us breakfast after the run.  Talk about working for you meal! lol

Join my LLS Cause on Facebook!!!! 

SpiritEyes

Really?!

Posted by SpiritEyes Nov 9, 2009


I haven't been really good at updating this blog - to be honest I did not really think anyone was reading it !


It has been about two weeks since I last wrote - a lot has been happening!  We have been meeting as a team and training each and every Saturday at 7am!    This past Saturday we ran 5 miles. Ok, the TEAM ran 5 miles, I ran 4.5 lol


It was a gorgeous day for running, I just wish the route we ran was a little more pretty. 


But then again, I should count my blessings, Leukemia is not pretty.  I am blessed that I can even run at all on such a gorgeous day.  We have an awesome coach - Noah, who has been a big help with getting us off to the right start. My biggest challenge in this whole marathon training thus far is pacing.


I have to get better at pacing myself on the whole coarse.  I find myself doing very well - but I tend to start off too fast, and not keep my pace going up or down inclines.  If I can just get myself better at pacing, I will be able to increase my endurance and not feel so beat up the day after a run.


Thanks to all my friends and family for your continued support!  Without your encouragement, I don't know if I could do this. I find myself on the days that I am feeling lazy and discouraged - hearing your well wishes and words of support ringing in my ears, and on those days - when I feel least like running, I think of all of you - and all the people battling Leukemia and Lymphoma. 


This is what keeps me going


On that note - I am off to workout and get a run in! 


This coming Saturday I want to run the full course with my team!  Six Miles!!!



Oh yeah!

SpiritEyes

ACK! 

Posted by SpiritEyes Oct 22, 2009

Ok, I guess today was the promised "setback" that is bound to happen.


I know training is a process, and I know there will be good days and bad days - well this one wasn't *bad* per se, but I wasn't at my best either.


Just under 2 miles in 25 minutes, about 1% incline and I felt like I was suffocating.  One lesson learned:  do not take mucinex for sinuses prior to a run, it dried me up horribly and my throat and nose were so dry that it was hard to feel comfortable in my breathing.  I also made the mistake of starting out short on breath, I should have warmed up and done some breathing exercises before we set out on the run.  I have to find a better way of dealing with sinus problems before a run - I am definitely keeping away from that mucinex! Probably have to abstain from taking it when I have sinus issues during this whole training process.  Most of the sinus probs are from barometric pressure changes - I really must remember to utilize my biofeedback training to help with this!


Ralph ran with me today.  I am actually quite impressed with him!  He hasn't run since his military days, and he still can keep a good pace without straining.  Actually I feel I was holding him back!  He also has some good solid advice.  He is being supportive - I need that.  And I need to know things like those that he was telling me:


1) don't drink too much water while running.  a) it messes with my pace b) it teaches the body that as soon as its under any exertion it needs water.  c) it would slosh around in the tummy making for an uncomfortable run


2) when running uphill, shorten my stride - it really does make it easier!


3) make sure I exhale all the air - stitches in the side can be caused when the lungs do not empty of air completely between breaths.  It can be just as important if not more so to concentrate on my exhale as my inhale.


4) approach breathing in running like my yoga; by breathing through the nose and exhaling through the nose I will prevent my throat and mouth from drying out.


5) the body doesn't stop sweating when I stop running - so I shouldn't rush off to the shower without a cool-down period first


Good pointers! He is good in how he advises as well, he is not bossy or mean.  I need that as well.  Who knew he could be such a good teacher/supporter?

 

 

Don't forget to donate and support me in the race for the cure!  click here!

SpiritEyes

Taking it all in....

Posted by SpiritEyes Oct 20, 2009

 

I am sitting here on my deck, looking out over the hills, enjoying the cool fall breeze  thinking about the 2.5 miles I ran yesterday in 20 minutes.  It is a bit daunting to think of the 13 miles I must run in February, at this rate it will take me almost 2.5 hours to run (if my math is correct, and it might not be, math was never my strong suit)

 

Not a bad start all in all. 

 

Official Team training begins this coming Saturday. I think I am ready - our first team run will be 4 miles. That in of itself is not as bad as running said four miles at 7:30am! I am going to have a harder time with that aspect than with the actual 4 miles!

 

I try to look at it this way - if I am still half asleep, it just may be easier for me to run, I may think I am dreaming it, thus do more than I would if I was awake and doubting myself!

 

Such a gorgeous day to get out and run again - I think I will just concentrate on pacing and not worry about my time as much.  On that note - I am off!     

SpiritEyes

Let the training begin

Posted by SpiritEyes Oct 20, 2009

This is my first time ever "blogging"!  I am excited to be doing this for TNT!

 

This challenge is very dear to my heart for many reasons.  The first being, my grandpa, (who was also my favorite person in the world) died in 2005 from MDS - a form of Leukemia.  I am running this marathon in his memory.   I am myself a cancer survivor - not of leukemia, but of a gynecological cancer.  So, for me to be in this place in my life - training to run a marathon is quite a miracle.  Grandpa told me I would do something like this one day.  So here I am - training for this marathon.  It is here I will blog my experiences and share information.  Please be sure to visit my fundraising page and sponsor me in my endeavors:

 

SpiritEyes' TNT Surf City Orange County Marathon Fundraising Page


Please help me raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!