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