My second-worst run ever...

First of all... congratulations to Casey, for finishing her 20 mile run! She'll be gone for almost 2 weeks after this, and I will miss her terribly while she's away.

Now...let's talk about these "weather conditions" Casey mentioned below for a moment. Due to the ice storm in the Northeast that you may have heard about (or experienced first-hand) our group run was moved from the scenic, peaceful sanctuary of the Niskayuna bike path (where we have had all of our group runs to date) to the State Office campus... a 2 mile loop of arterial roads and overpasses that circle the office complex. As you can imagine, compared to the tree lined bike path with a view of the peacefully flowing Mohawk River, the honking and screeching of SUV tires and ice-slicked asphalt was a slightly less soothing environment. It was also a lovely 12 degrees out, with a windchill of about -80.

Only a brave few attempted to conquer the inclement weather, and with Casey's 20 and my 10 miles on deck, we chose to give it a shot. As Casey will attest to, I've been relatively good about keeping the whining and complaining down to a bare minimum during these Saturday morning group runs, despite the fact that they get me out of bed at 5:40am on my precious weekends and it's freezing cold out, which I hate. Unfortunately, this Saturday proved to be too formidable an opponent for my recent good cheer. About 1/3 of the way through lap #3, somewhere near mile 5, I called it quits, and just before mile 6, Casey agreed. I went back to my apartment complex and did another mile on the treadmill, and Casey went back out on Sunday, determined to get in her 20 miles.

The thing is, it wasn't even the cold temperatures alone that scared me away. We've been running in the cold, and I can handle it. It was the entire environment as a whole, which further proves to me that this running business is just as much a mental challenge as it is a physical challenge. Yes, my muscles hurt in weird ways when it's cold out - but that wasn't what stopped me. I've grown comfortable with the bike path - I know where the mile markers are, I know what is ahead of me and what's behind. The dog walkers, bike riders, bird hunters and fellow runners all afford me a sense of comfort and camaraderie...but pounding pavement in circles on a 4 lane roadway, even with my best friend in the entire world on one side and our ever-inspirational mentor on my other wasn't enough to save me.

I'm really hoping next weekend's run (which I will be doing without Casey, much to my dismay) is back on the bike path...

~RSF

20 Mile Run!

Due to weather conditions yesterday that were absolutely deplorable, I decided to postpone my 20-mile run until today (Sunday). I enlisted three wonderful friends to accompany me on 4 loops around the Pine Hills/Whitehall Rd. area, amounting to a (according to Google Maps) total of 20.13 miles. Allison (orange hat) was with me on the first and last loop, Emilie (maroon shorts) did the 2nd loop, and Theresa (baseball cap) joined me on the 3rd. I couldn't believe I did it, but I did it! And I have great friends to thank for braving the cold and ice to support me in this effort. I couldn't have done it without them!

Got my new shoes on...

This is a picture of my new sneakers (well one of them anyway - don't worry, I have two). The Addidas Supernova Sequence. If you know me, you know my love of shoes... but did you ever think I'd be so excited about a sneaker? Probably not. Now, what if I told you I'd be running 10 miles in that sneaker on Saturday? Being excited about them just started to make more sense, huh?

~RSF

PS - I thought it might be time for an updated countdown clock, so...

MySpace Countdowns

Kickboxing

Becky, in her awesomeness, is taking a kickboxing class, which serves as cross-training for the race preparation. I have the utmost respect for Becky's participation in this, but I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of kickboxing. I like yoga, cardio dance, step aerobics, actually most classes I have tried I have liked. I'd love to try spinning but they don't offer it at my gym. But kickboxing...not so much. I always feel stupid doing it, especially because I generally smile all the time, and you look stupid when you are making kicking and punching motions with a big smile on your face. Plus, it just makes me think about how I'm probably not doing the kicks and punches right, so now matter how much I try to twist up my face I'd still be getting my ass handed to me in an actual fight.

Turkey Trotters

I have some catching up to do on this here blog, but I wanted to get a quick picture up - Casey, Norris and I after we ran as 'bandits' at the Turkey Trot (which wasn't our fault - they ran out of numbers AND timing chips and told us just to go for it!). How happy are we??
~RSF

16 miles

I ran 16 miles yesterday! It's 10.2 shy of the ultimate goal, but the fact that I survived it gives me even stronger confidence that I will be ready for January 18th.

I ran the first 9 with Becky--who ran her first 9-miler ever, but I'll let her do her own bragging on the blog--and then the last 7 with Norris. Hopefully, I'm not shooting myself in the foot by doing all my training runs with other people when I will be running the full 26.2 on my own. However, I think there will be plenty of distractions and entertainment to keep me occupied in AZ. Not as good as the company of those I run with here in NY, but I'll have to take what I can get.

The second accomplishment of the day was taking an "ice bath" at the strong suggestion of Coach Meg, Coach Joanne, and TNT veteran Gabbie. After a legitimate struggle to force myself into the tub of extremely cold water, I was able to sit in it for more than 20 minutes. Guess what? I'm not in pain today! They were totally right on about the ice bath. Brrrrrrr.

Our Fantastic Mentor

Here is a picture of our mentor, Norris, running the NYC Marathon on November 2, 2008.

He is on the left, giving the thumbs up and rocking the purple Team in Training singlet.

Go Norris!

I'd RATHER jump in the lake...

Weather report for tomorrow morning's 7am group run: 15 degreesF. On and off snow flurries are possible along with variably cloudy skies. Cold. High 27F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.

Am I crazy???

~RSF

There is Officially a Crazier Way to Raise Money

Today I received a donation request from a friend who is doing something crazier than running 26.2 miles. She is jumping into Lake George on December 13th.

In honor of this, she is requesting donations for the Special Olympics.

Holy crap.

I donated.

If you would like to do the same, click the above link and note that you are sponsoring Hilary Kellogg.

Running on a treadmill is probably as close to the mentality of a hampster as you'll ever get...

I ran 3 miles on the treadmill at lunch today. Oh, and I ran/staggered my first 8 miles (with Casey's help, of course) on Saturday. That's it - that's all the news I have to report... I just don't want everyone to think that Casey is the only one of us having any fun...

~RSF

P.F. Chang's

And on a different (yet also food-related) note, I want to say that, for the record, I don't like P.F. Chang's.

I went there once. For three times what you would pay at a normal Chinese restaurant, you get the same exact food as you would get at a normal Chinese restaurant, except on fancy dishes.

So, just in case you were wondering if P.F. Chang's had any impact on my decision to run this particular marathon, now you know: It sure didn't.

I would run the Cheesecake Factory Marathon anywhere, however...

Icing

Just thought I'd write a little blog as I sit here in bed with a bag of frozen vegetables icing my knee. Oh, what we do for the love of running...

And in Other News...

I can run again! Yay! 10 miles at my first group run back on Saturday. I was so happy I almost cried.

Beautiful Jewelry for a Great Cause: My Team in Training Fundraiser!

Come to my TNT Fundraiser: A Jewelry Party Featuring the Beautiful Baubles of Billie B. Strands! (Artist Laurel Burns and some of her creations are pictured here for your viewing pleasure.)

Invitation is as follows:

The holidays are right around the corner! Here is a wonderful way to get some shopping crossed off the list, celebrate with new and old friends, and
support a great cause:

To benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, please join me for a jewelry party featuring the beautiful baubles of Billie B Strands, designed and handcrafted by my good friend Laurel Burns.

The party will feature light food and drinks, raffle prizes, and more! 10% of every jewelry purchase will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). As many of you know, I am currently participating in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training, where I am running a marathon (26.2 miles) and raising money for blood cancer research. Please visit my Team in Training page to find out more, and/or to make a tax-deductible donation.

This party is part of my effort to raise at least $5,000 for LLS as a Team in Training participant. I hope you will join me for this great cause and some beautiful jewelry!

Date: December 11, 2008

Time: 7pm

Location: My house -- 905 Myrtle Ave, Albany, NY

Good News!

It's too bad they don't ask you before they publish pictures like that in the Pace Setter. The Pace Setter is a publication of the Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club, the local running club to which Becky and I both belong. I also belong to the Albany Running Exchange, which is another local running club, currently in my better graces due to...well...not publishing a picture of me like THAT anywhere. At least, not that I know of.

The good news is, I can run again! I'm still a little nervous about doing so, but I can run again! I did 3 miles on Thursday, and 6 miles today. I'm still not sure how I get back on track in terms of doing the Team in Training schedule, which would put me at 12 miles next Saturday, but I'm hoping I can get there soon. The coaches will let me know what to do, and how. The coaches and Norris have been amazingly supportive and helpful throughout this period of injury.

I am so happy to be able to run again. I haven't felt like myself since I had to stop. Now I can reclaim the missing piece of my identity, routine, and spirit, and keep moving forward!

She's famous too...!

Check out Casey in the November 2008 issue of the Pace Setter!

Can't Wait to Start Running Again

Because blogging is a sorry substitute.

And just wanted to say I love you, Becky. Since I know you will read this. I'm so glad we are doing this together!

Every Runner Needs a Massage

Yesterday I treated myself to something that I wouldn't normally spring for--a massage.

The running books agree: massage is essential for distance runners.

But I figured, not being a particularly fast runner, or a wealthy one, that this was something that could be skipped.

Now that I'm injured, I've been trying to figure out ways to fix myself as quickly as possible. Holly came to mind. She is someone I know from theater, who is Licensed Massage Therapist and practices out of her home. Once, while doing "Anything Goes" this past May, I jammed up my foot pretty badly by running down the hall in high-heeled sandals (smart move, Casey!) I literally couldn't walk in my character shoes without sharp shooting pain. Holly took me aside, took my foot in her hands for a few (painful) minutes, and the next thing I knew, I could walk again--pain-free. This was especially helpful since I had 5 minutes before I had to be on stage, singing and dancing in front of an audience.

I could go on about some other examples of Holly's incredible healing abilities and sensitivity to people's health issues--there are many--but I'll stop here for now. So I made an appointment.

I had no idea how messed up my entire body had gotten from two months of beating on it for long distances. When she massaged my glutes....owwwwww.

So the moral of the story is, spring for a massage. It's so worth it!

The good people from the Office of Alumni Relations sent me a few more shots from the hockey game. Don't I look teeny next to these guys?

In other news...I think Casey deserves a huge hug from all of her friends, family, and supporters right now. To watch the clock tick down to race day and be forced to the sidelines for even a short amount of time... I can only imagine how she's feeling right now. The good news? 2 weeks may seem interminable, but in the grand scheme of things, it could be much worse. In no time she'll be back on the bike path, kicking butt and taking names. I ran 6 miles on Saturday and though I was going to die. Casey laughs in the face of 6 miles. 6 miles, what? It'll be real funny in Arizona, when she's running laps around me, taunting me to the finish line... but in the meantime, give her some love!

~RSF

Good news...sort of

I went to the doc today and he belives I have tendinitis in my knee and foot. The cure? No running (stick to biking or swimming) and 2 aleve, twice a day, for the next 2 weeks.

This is good news, right?

Has anyone else noticed that the less I run, the more I blog? Is this a coincidence? I think not...

Does anyone even read this blog?

Pictures from Becky's Big Night!

At the RPI/UMass hockey game on October 19, Becky was presented with a $500 check from the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity toward her fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.


















Becky's parents attended the game to see her "honored on the ice."



















Norris, her TNT mentor and manager of the RPI Field House where the game was played, beamed with pride.























Becky's friend and TNT co-conspirator, Casey, also came to the game to show her love and support. However, she was taking the pictures, which is why she isn't in them. So here is a random picture of her from a completely different night.

A New Challenge

So I am injured.

While running the Hudson-Mohawk Half Marathon two weeks ago, I acquired some persistent pain in my left foot and right knee. I thought it would go away if I took it easy on the running for a few weeks after the race, but it's now two weeks later and I'm still in pain when I run. I shared this with our wonderful mentor, Norris, who advised me to go to the doctor, and get in touch with the TNT coaches. He also told me that the first thing the coaches would tell me was to stop running for 1-2 weeks.

I was not happy to hear this.

See, once you start running, you get pretty addicted to the feeling. I am not a biochemistry expert, but my understanding is that running causes your body to produce endorphins, which make you feel great. Well boy have I been feeling great these days! Sure, I feel good because I am raising money for an important cause, I'm meeting a lot of wonderful people, and I'm getting in good shape...but it's less a feeling of thoughtful satisfaction about meaningful endeavors and more like a "la-la-la I love life I feel WONDERFUL!" feeling.

When you stop running, even for a few days, you sure miss those endorphins. I mean, don't get me wrong, I feel fine. But fine feels more like crappy when you've had two months of "la-la-la-I love life WONDERFUL!"

So today I went to the group run, bringing my trusty canine companion, Stella, and just walked around a little bit. I was glad to be there, but it was sad to be on the outskirts of the activity, rather than in the middle of it.

And it's a little scary. I have 3 months, and I have hundreds of miles of training to put in before January 18th. I need to get better, and I need to get better quickly.

But maybe having this setback is part of the process. It was almost going a little too smoothly before. I was leaping up in mileage way before the training schedule called for it, and my speed was increasing significantly with each 5k race I entered. I was starting to think that this whole marathon training thing was going to be a piece of cake. And now I am back to reality.

TNT is based on the indisputable fact that training for a marathon is a huge challenge. That's why it justifies significant financial sponsorship from family and friends. That's why there are coaches, mentors, weekly group runs, clinics, and hundreds of miles of training.

And of course, a few aches and pains while training for a marathon are nothing compared to the ups and downs of going through treatment for cancer, but maybe this is a good reminder that setbacks are a part of every challenge that can and will be completed.

Lesson 3,598: People will always continue to surprise you...

Last week, I received some incredible news, just at the point when I needed it the most. I've had a cold that has kept me down for the count for about two weeks on my training, and pressures from my job that seemed completely overwhelming. With recommitment looming, my fundraising goal seemed to be moving further and further out of reach. My conviction was faltering, and I was starting to seriously consider bagging this whole idea, wondering who I thought I was to be able to take on such a task? In the face of an economic crisis the likes of which have not been seen since the Great Depression, who am I to ask this of my friends, coworkers, and loved ones? But last Monday, something happened that changed the game.

I drove into work, the whole time thinking about how to approach the topic with our local LLS chapter directors, and about whether or not continuing on the path to the race was really a good idea. I got in, turned on my computer, and there sat an email - from the Vice President of RPI's Lambda Chi Alpha (LXA) and Class of 2009 President. LXA had just been recognized by the Rensselaer Alumni Association with its annual Community Service award - a $500 donation to the charity or charities of LXA's choice... and LXA had decided to award that entire $500 donation to me and my race. When I read the email, I couldn't decide whether to laugh or to cry. Any thoughts of quitting the race were quickly put to rest. If a group of young men - almost all of them complete strangers to me - could believe in me and my cause, then I needed to stop doubting myself and do a little believing as well.

Tomorrow night, Casey, Mom and Dad will join me at the Houston Field House on the RPI campus as the Engineers take on UMass... and LXA hands me a "big check" out on the ice. Hopefully I won't fall on my face... and hopefully I'll have some great pictures to share with you all! With the $500 donation from LXA and my pledges that are currently en route to the processing center, I am officially at just over $1,500 - about 40% of my fundraising goal, and almost halfway there! I have a long way to go, but my hope is renewed... and now I have to get down with some serious training!

~RSF

Oh, the horror...

While Casey was running her half marathon, I encountered what could possibly have been my running arch-nemesis this weekend. Mr. Ding-A-Ling. Oh, sure, he seems harmless enough... but have you ever tried running through a suburban neighborhood being followed by the ice cream man? It was, quite possibly, the longest mile and a half of my entire life. No one should ever be forced to run to the ice cream truck jingle...

~RSF

Long Time No Blog

Okay, so I'm not breaking any records for keeping up with this blog. But there are some exciting things to report on since the last time I wrote, which was, what, a month and a half ago?

1) I have officially (well, actually UNofficially, because 5-10 donations have not yet been processed) raised just over $2,100 for Team in Training. So $1,700 to go, but at least I'm over the hump. Time to hit more people up for money!

2) I have scheduled my Team in Training fundraiser for December 7, 2008 at 2pm. It will be a jewelry party featuring the work of my good friend Laurel Burns. Her jewelry is gorgeous! (I am going to make an e-vite or a website with some pictures so you all can see some samples.) Ten percent of her total sales from the party will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

3) Today, I ran the Hudson Mohawk Half Marathon in 2 hours and 27 minutes and managed to stay alive. My knee started hurting around mile 5, which I think was due to the chilly weather (it was an absolutely gorgeous fall day, but eventually you just need to give up on shorts and wear pants). But I made it! I can only imagine what 26 is going to be like...

4) About a month and a half ago, I met a woman at a race--one of those kick-ass runner types--whose 30-year-old daughter had just gotten a leukemia diagnosis. An atypical age to get leukemia, and apparently not the best kind of leukemia to get. I ran into this woman at the half-marathon today, and found out that her daughter is doing well so far. Not out of the woods yet, but her treatment is proceeding how they want it to at this point. I'm so glad that the money we are raising through Team in Treaming is contributing to better outcomes, and I hope that hers continues to be good.

5) I ran a 27 minute 5k a few weeks ago. Which is a snail's pace for people like...Norris (our speedy mentor) but for me is tantamount to an Olympic sprint.

I will try to keep blogging more regularly, but for now I need a long nap and probably some more food when I wake up. Ahhh, running...

I might go faster BACKWARDS...

So after two weeks of being sick and not running a step, I hit the road again yesterday... but I had one important thing to do first. After thinking I was breaking land-speed records at a 10:30 pace and running 4 mile jaunts with ease, the time clocks at a few recent races made it apparent that I was living in a world that we'll call "Becky's Fantasy Running Land". It became very clear to me that I was lacking one thing (no, not my grip on reality) - a properly calibrated Nike+ sensor. So yesterday afternoon, I warmed up and hit the treadmill for a quarter of a mile to track and calibrate my distances properly. What did I discover, you ask? Well, suffice it to say that I do not run a 10:30 mile. On a good day, I run an 11:40 mile. On a normal day.... 12:05.

4 miles tomorrow for me. At the rate I'm going, that'll take me just about an hour.

Please send Casey your love and support - she's running the Hudson Mohawk 1/2 on Sunday!!

~RSF

Next time I want turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes waiting for me...

So I finally crossed the 5 mile mark... and it turns out that Casey really wasn't lying about the peanut butter pretzels. A couple of things she may have glossed over, however:

A) 6am on a Saturday is worse than any other 6am of the week.
2) Crippling knee pain at mile 2.75.
Y) Bikers from hell screeching, "LEFT!" in your (left) ear as they go wizzing by.
D) Amazingly delicious fudgy brownies (which taste EVEN BETTER after 5 miles of running/staggering), water, and massages at the end.

If I try it out again, minus the knee pain, it might not be so bad. On the other hand, my knee might just be anti-social (it didn't bother me one bit this morning on my run). If it is, we're really going to have a problem with the race, considering the number of people that will be there. I guess I'll have to show up at another group run to socialize it one of these days...

~RSF

PS: I knew Casey would like the Marathon Method better than the Non-Runner's Guide. And please, feel free to comment about what kind of nerd decides to run a 1/2 marathon, then goes out and buys a bunch of BOOKS about it instead of just getting started.

The Marathon Method

Becky, being a very intelligent and well-read individual, went out and purchased two books on marathon running and recently passed them on to me. One, which she referenced in an earlier post, The Non-Runner's Guide to Marathon Running for Women, is a witty take on one woman's effort to "get off the couch and get on with your training!" The other, The Marathon Method, is written by a fitness coach who notes that he often logs 30 miles with clients before 10am. I like the book. It's straightforward, written in a way that is very easy to digest, and contains a lot of useful information about training, strength training, stretching, and staying injury-free.

My favorite part of the the book is actually the introduction, where the author is touting the benefits of running. He comments on all the TV commercials advertising medicine for ailments that can be prevented and/or diminished by running. How often, he mused, do we see a commercial that says, "Ask your doctor about exercise!"

On a more serious note...

This morning, I received an email from the TNT director of our local chapter (a truly lovely, kind inspiring young woman about the same age as me). It was from a TNT "alumni", sharing her story... and I thought it would serve as a poignant reminder of why Casey and I are on this specific journey, with this specific organization. If you have a few minutes, it's worth the read.

~~~

Kind of crazy to find yourself hoping that someone you love has Lymphoma, right?

Hard to imagine, but at this point that is exactly what my whole family doing.

Most of you wont know who I am, some of you may. I now live in Baltimore, MD as of May this past spring, but before that I was in Albany for some time. I became involved in TNT in January '07. I fundraised and trained to complete my first marathon in June '07 in San Diego California. I was lucky to not have been directly effected by any blood related cancers, me nor my family, nor any of my friends. I just fell in love with the organization, the people who are involved, what they help others achieve and what they help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society accomplish.

At the same point in time that I started training for my first marathon, my sister Julie started working in Boston for the Massachusetts Chapter of TNT. She became a Campaign Coordinator, mostly involved with triathlons during the spring and summer, and marathons in the winter months. She needed to get a job, wanted to work for a non profit agency, and like me, fell in in love with the mission of TNT.

When I ran my first marathon in San Diego, my brother Steve was able to cheer for me on the side lines. Not being involved with the event or the organization at the time, he was completely moved by what he saw. The support and the cause was overwhelming and he decided he needed to be a part of TNT. He then signed up, fundraised and completed his first marathon in January '08 in Phoenix.

My sister Julie, in Phoenix with her Massachusetts TNT chapter was able to cheer my brother and I on as we ran the marathon in Phoenix together. Since then we were known as "Team Southwell". All three of us have now completed various events for TNT: San Diego Marathon, Phoenix Marathon, Boston Marathon and Lake Placid Half. We have never had a close person to run for, we did it just for the simple reason of what the money we raised could do for others............until now.

For almost a week now "Team Southwell" has actually been hoping that the most important man in our lives actually is diagnosed with lymphoma.

For 3 months now, my father has been having problems with his right leg. It progressively got worse. His symptoms developed from pain, to foot drop, to a numbing sensation all down his leg. When he got an MRI done, he was told that he has a large mass wrapped around his sciatic nerve, they were unsure if it was cancer or not. Last Friday in Syracuse doctor's operated on my father. After an hour of surgery, they confirmed that it was cancer. The surgeon came out to my mom, said they were not sure what kind yet, but they were hopeful that it was Lymphoma. As the surgeon hugged my mom, my mom said " funny, three of my kids have fundraised and run marathons for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society". The surgeon responded "maybe that is a great sign then".

So, it has almost been a week, and there still has been no confirmation of what kind of cancer my father is living with. My family and the doctor's are still crossing our fingers that it is a type of Lymphoma, because we are told that it is the most treatable kind of cancer he can have.

I am confident that without the LLS and TNT, we would not be able to live with that kind of hope, that Lymphoma would be a type of cancer that would not be considered "the more treatable kind of cancer". But right now, we are able to say, and think, and hope that, because of people like you.

Thank you to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, to their staff, their coaches, their mentors and their participants. Without people like you I may be struggling here in Baltimore away from my family, thinking that my father is living with a death sentence, but I am not.

Before all of you complete your training over the weekend, before you shut your alarm off because this weekend you just don't have it in you to get up and train, know that you make a difference, you offer hope.

Go Team!
~P.S.

~RSF

She's thinking, "it can't be THAT easy..."

I didn't know about the pretzels.

~RSF

#11 is to get Casey off your case...

Here are the top 10 reasons to go to the Team in Training Saturday morning group runs:

1) After the run, you get to eat peanut butter filled pretzels, which are the best thing in the entire world, especially right after you run.
2) The coaches and mentors are there, so you can get all kinds of good advice and support.
3) You get to meet Honored Heroes (blood cancer survivors) and other really positive, inspirational people.
4) The bike path is mostly flat, and very beautiful place to run.
5) Everyone is super nice and supportive.
6) There are so many people there running (and walking) at so many different paces, you are bound to find someone to run with.
7) There was a cute guy there the other week and I think he might be coming back.
8) You run so much farther there than you ever would on your own. And it actually goes by fast because you are having fun and socializing. Even 10 miles!
9) Did I mention the peanut butter filled pretzels?
10) When you run 5+ miles before 9am on Saturday morning, it completely absolves you of feeling like you have to do anything else productive for the weekend.

I'll pretty much follow a bagel anywhere...

Today, Casey, Theresa, Emilie and I ran the Bruegger's Bagel Run under sunny skies and a refreshing breeze. It was a beautiful morning for a run, if a tad bit hot. Nothing, however, makes you realize just how far you have to go in your training like being passed by a bunch of elite runners coming down the home stretch when you're under the 1 mile mark (of a 5k) huffing and puffing and turning bright red... except for watching your friends' ponytails bobbing off in the distance before the first half. Regardless, it was a great morning, and as Casey has pointed out to me at least 12 times today, I shaved a good 2-3 minutes off my time for this race two years ago - which isn't half bad. I powered out with a burst of speed at the final few meters that I never knew I had... allegedly mowing down a 300 year old man (who was pretty pissed off) as I stumbled across the finish line. Now, if only I would get my butt out to those damn group runs that she keeps reminding me about...

~RSF

Could NASA engineer me a calorie-free cheesecake too?

A couple of things about getting up at 5:40am to run before work:

1) Are you aware that in late August in New York, the sun doesn't actually rise until after 6am? 6:13am on August 26th, to be specific. Which, this morning, was approximately a mile and a quarter into my 2.5 mile run.

2) In late August in New York, it's also kind of chilly out at 6am. That probably has a direct correlation with item #1, seeing as how it's still mostly dark out.

3) Drivers operating motor vehicles don't always react as quickly to you as you totter along a main arterial. Again, refer to #1 for a possible clue as to why. They also go a lot faster, seeing as how it's pretty much only you and them on the road.

At least I have all of that revolutionary new spandex running gear I purchased online last week keeping me warm, and yet still ventilated. Some of you may shudder at the thought of spandex. I, however, embrace it (at least when it comes to my bottom-half). It keeps everything in place and minimizes unsightly wobbling. Plus, the dent in my butt due to an unfortunate event we'll call "The Great New Year's Eve Mishap of 2002" seems much less noticeable after 2 layers of NASA engineered Nike spandex.

Another plus - looking at the scale this morning did not make me want to gouge my eyes out with a wooden spoon. In my book, that almost makes up for the whole 5:40am buzzer business.

~RSF

What a Day for a Heart Attack...

Yesterday, I ran 4 miles (compared to Casey's 10 on Saturday, I am aware that this is paltry), averaging my fastest per-mile time yet (a time that hovers slightly around that of a 3-legged turtle crossing the road). One reason I may have run "so fast" was that I miscalculated the time of day (okay, or I'm just lazy) and didn't head out the door until 10am, a time at which the sun was already blazing in a cloudless sky and the temperature was around 80 degrees. It was the perfect late-August mid-morning... and I would have died of a heart attack or an aneurysm if there hadn't been a slight breeze blowing. I should have known better and gotten my butt out the door at 8am or earlier, but... well, enough with excuses - I just didn't. It turns out that being finished and escaping death is a powerful motivator to get yourself moving. I thought about laying down with my face on the linoleum of my kitchen when I got home, but realistically, it was just too dirty to seriously contemplate, and I sure as hell wasn't going to mop the floor before collapsing in a sweaty, purple-faced heap of death. I stuck my head in the freezer instead.

The good news is that, after my run, I spent a few hours at the pool (as I felt the need for some congratulatory sitting-still) reading a book titled The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and On with Your Training, by Dawn Dais. I figured that reading about training was almost as good as actually training, especially since our training period technically doesn't start until late September... right?

The book is terrific. I felt as though I was reading something I could have written- the author's life motto once mirrored mine in her "I don't run unless I'm being chased" mentality, and she took on this challenge with the help of her ever-positive running buddy, Chipper Jen. Sound like anyone else that might be blogging on this website to you?[I'll give you a hint - her name starts with a 'c', ends with a 'y', and 'ase' usually goes between the two.] If Dawn could survive the marathon she trained for, I can certainly survive the half marathon that I'm training for. The people who have donated (or will hopefully donate) for the cause and those struggling every day with blood cancers are counting on us to fulfill a goal that has been set, and I'm looking forward to moving forward. Next weekend: 5 miles or bust. I promise to get up a little bit earlier this time.

~RSF

8 miles

No, not the Eminem movie, but how far I ran yesterday. (With new friend Theresa, who is pushing me to new heights.) Go me!

6 miles

I ran 6 miles yesterday with my new TNT friend, Theresa. The running part of this process is going great so far. Now I just need to start fundraising...

The Countdown!

MySpace Countdowns

Learning to Love 6am...

Today I finally took the plunge and got up at 5:45am to run. Since starting a new job at the beginning of June, finding the time and energy to run regularly has been a real struggle for me. Late summer is the busiest time of year for my office, and a late night at work has become more the norm than the exception. Running during my lunch hour is unpredictable, tough to schedule, and sweaty. Nights when I'm not at work get filled up quickly with social commitments or (if I'm lucky) sleep.

Eventually, I came to the realization that the only way to get my training schedule on track would be to run in the morning (something I've known for years, but have managed to deny until now). Early in the morning, as I'm typically expected in the office by 8:30am. I, however, have never been much of a morning person, as some of you may or may not know. When that alarm goes off, I'm the queen of the snooze button, and I'm never much of a conversationalist before my first cup of coffee or 9am (whichever comes first).

Today, however, I rolled out of bed, threw on my sneaks, and was out the door on my way at 6am. I'm not even entirely sure I was awake until my first half-mile was over. There are good and bad things about 6am, though I have to say, I'm starting to think the good may outweigh the bad. There's less traffic on the roads I travel. It's cooler in the morning. Sunrise light looks a lot like sunset light if you hit it at the right angle. Everything else in the world is just waking up, and there's a kind of peaceful quiet before the bustle of the morning rush begins. Plus, when I get done, it's 6:30am and I have the whole day ahead of me!

Now just two things remain to be seen:
1) Will I fall asleep at my desk, snoring and drooling at 4 o'clock?
2) Will I be able to get up at 5:45am every day for the next 5 months?

We'll just have to wait and see.

--RSF

Our Wild and Crazy Journey Begins...

Becky and I signed up for Team In Training (TNT) on Tuesday, July 29, 2008. I’d gotten a flyer in the mail. Sign up for a half-marathon or marathon, train with a local group and coaches, and raise a few thousand dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The events are in January 2009--one in Phoenix, AZ, and one at Disney in Orlando.

I’ve been running for several years now, and the farthest I’ve gone thus far is a 10k, about 6 miles. I’ve talked about going for higher distances, but can’t seem to get beyond my three mile routine. This sounded like a good way to motivate myself to train for a half-marathon, which I was sure I could do with the proper training. I decided to go to the meeting, and mentioned it to Becky, who agreed to go with me for moral support.

At the meeting, we heard many people speak. Everyone who spoke talked about what a life changing experience Team in Training had been for them. Several spoke about how they had never run a day in their life, and 6 months later ran a marathon, thanks to Team in Training’s inspiration and support. We also heard heart wrenching stories of people affected by blood cancers, from lives lost to those bravely fighting to live.

About an hour later, Becky and I gave our credit card numbers for the non-refundable deposit, signed on the dotted lines, and registered for the PF Chang Rock’n’Roll Marathon and Half-Marathon in Phoenix, Arizona, on January 18, 2008. As you can see from the picture on the left, Becky and I are always doing crazy things together. To do this event, we would each need to raise $3,800. By the end of the meeting, I’d decided to go for the full marathon. Becky, always the wiser of the two of us, signed up for the half.

This past Saturday (8/2/08), I participated in my first group run with Team In Training. Everyone was really nice and supportive, and I ran five miles. Theresa, who gave me a ride to the Niskayuna bike path, where the run took place, was my inspiration for the day. After never running in her life, she began training in May 2008—three months ago—and ran EIGHT miles at the group run that day. Wow! The bike path is beautiful, and I’m looking forward to running there again.

And speaking of inspiration, our honored hero for this marathon is Will Armstrong, an adorable 4-year-old boy who is undergoing treatment for Leukemia. He is pictured below. You can learn more about Will at his caring bridge page: www.caringbridge.org/visit/williamarmstrong. We are running and raising for Will and many others who are bravely battling Leukemia and Lymphoma.

Welcome!

Welcome to Casey and Becky's blog, where we will be chronicling our experiences as we train for P.F. Chang's Rock'n'Roll Arizona Marathon and 1/2 Marathon on January 18, 2008! [Click here for the race website]. Over the next 5 months, we will both be posting entries on our thoughts, feelings, challenges and triumphs. We hope that reading our blog will give our generous donors a chance to participate in the journey along with us! If you are interested in receiving notification when the blog is updated, please send us an email.

We can't wait to get started!

-RSF