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.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
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!"
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!"
Friday, September 12, 2008
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
~~~
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
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
#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.
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.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
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
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