Down But Not Out

This is my first posting in 10 days.....shortly after my last post....a headache of proportions I have not seen in years took me down. I muttled through the day but running was not on my radar. Today was my first chance to get in a run since that headache (and the leftover effects on my body) lifted. So I picked up where my training plan left off and ran 4 miles on the treadmill today. Clearly my time "off" from running made my time suffer. I finished those 4 miles in a long 47 minutes. But the really good part about it was that while I really didn't feel like getting on the treadmill today....I did.....and there were a number of times I wanted to quit and call it a day....but I stayed through it....and now I can't wait for tomorrow! The training plan tomorrow calls for my first multiple run day. This will help to prepare for the 3 runs I will make during the relay with hours in between. Tomorrow's plan is for two short runs (3 miles each). I am really looking forward to it!!! More tomorrow at the end of the second run. Two-a-days here I come!!

Leader of the Pack

As you undoubtedly know by the fact that you are reading this blog.....I am running not only because running has become my new passion....but for a cause! My team (Team MDAA) is running to benefit the American Cancer Society. As a part of our participation in this adventure....each of the 12 runners is required to raise $500. Being the overachiever I am....I have set 3 goals for myself. The first is to raise that team minimum....the second is to raise $1000 total and the third and final is to raise $1500. I would LOVE to make it to that third tier goal!!! I am happy to report today that as of November 8th....I had not only surpassed my first goal...but I have raised the most money of any member of the team! Thank you to all of you who have donated to my team and my personal journey! I am running because I truly hope that someday we will live in a world where none of us has to be touched by cancer in the lives of our friends and loved ones. Thank you for your help!!!!

The team's page is here: http://www.themdaa.org/TeamMDAA.html You can check out the team's progress as well as mine there.....and you can donate to our team if you like as well. If you do put in a donation, make sure you include my name in the notes field for PayPal so it gets properly credited :)

Breathless

On November 6th, I got up early in the morning, donned my running gear, and headed out to Fredericksburg for my very first competitive 5K race. The race was called the Live United 5K and was to benefit the United Way. I picked this course for its similarity in elevation change to the legs I will run during the relay in January. It was fairly cool on race morning....although standing there waiting for the race to begin....it certainly felt awfully cold! Temp was 39 degrees. During the race I kept pace with a small pack of people and tried to keep one female runner in my sights most of the race....she was wearing a t-shirt from the Marine Corp Marathon from the week before. I had no plans to keep up with her....just wanted to be able to always see her during the race. 2 miles in I had failed at that venture....she was well ahead of me. BUT.....I finished the race (all 3.1 miles) in 30 min and 57 seconds. I had in my head that I wanted to finish in under 30 minutes. So to be just 57 seconds over my goal.......I will take it for the first time out of the gate! When I crossed the finish line....my iPod was playing the song "Breathless" by the Corrs.....appropriate huh?

So here's how I finished:
Total time = 30 min 57 sec
Place = 35/50 runners overall; 17/27 female runners; 11/16 women under 40

You can review the race results here: http://www.racetimingunlimited.org/results/lu10rtu.htm

Behind in My Posting but NOT in Preparations

My Dad is my one and only OFFICIAL follower of this blog (he subscribes to my updates) and of course that means my Mom is a follower too :) I promised them that I would be better about updating...so here we go. I haven't written a blog entry in over 2 months! How terrible....but I have been fundraising and training. Starting tomorrow you will once again see my run totals at the bottom of the blog. Each day I will log how far I ran and my total time. The blog entries I will write from here on out will detail some of the cool milestones I have experienced since I last blogged. Just wanted to take the opportunity here to thank you for your interest and support! It means the world to me.