Week 13 – 6 weeks to Race Day
Miles for the Week = 37 (Long Run 18 miles)
Quote of the Week:
“I’m gonna miss that smile
I’m gonna miss you my friend
Even though it hurts the way it ended up
I’d do it all again
So play it sweet in heaven
‘Cause that’s right where you wanna be
I’m not crying 'cause I feel so sorry for you
I’m crying for me” – Toby Keith
This week my emotions got the best of me after my long run. I cried. I can’t pin point exactly what I was crying about. I think it was a combination of being physically exhausted, being proud of myself because I had just run 18 miles (and wanted to stop after about 13!), because I thought about Jeff a lot, because I didn’t know I had the strength in me to complete such long runs, and so many other things.
When you are running for over three hours your mind tends to wander. I think a lot about Jeff when I’m out on the open road. I’d like to share a memory that came to my mind when I was running this Saturday.
Jeff was one of my biggest fans for going to law school. In more ways than one Jeff helped make law school possible for me. I loved coming home from my first year of school in Lansing and meeting Jeff up at J. Alexander’s for a drink and to catch up about life.
Throughout my three years of school Jeff and I kept in contact, via email and visits up at J’s. During my second and third year the visits were less frequent as Jeff spent a lot more time in California those years, but when we did get to see each other the conversations were great. He was an amazing friend. And even though the visits were less the emails still went back and forth,
Jeff got sick in my last year of school. I remember sitting in class and getting an email from him telling me he was sick and had been diagnosed with Leukemia and was at City of Hope Hospital in CA for experimental treatments. I got up and left class crying.
We still emailed each other until Jeff passed. He was always saying how happy and proud he was that I was taking the Michigan Bar Exam. Jeff passed before I received my results.
At his funeral Jeff’s ex-wife, Sharon, the mother of his children, said that she wanted to hear about how the bar exam went when I got my results. That she knew how Jeff had helped me and she just wanted to know.
After I got my great news, I kept my promise. I emailed Sharon. Here is part of what I wrote to her. “I really felt like Jeff was and is watching over me. He was always so supportive of me with school. I just wish he was here so I could share my news with him.”
Here is part of her response back, “I know Jeff would be very happy and proud. I believe that he is around all of us even though he is in heaven so I'm sure he already knows you passed your exam and is celebrating with the angels.”
It was a beautiful email that put things in perspective for me. It’s what happened next though that made me realize that what Sharon said was true, and that Jeff was still here and he was watching over me – over all of us.
Several days after I got that email I was working on my computer and needed to print something. I did not have my email account open. I did not have this email from Sharon open. I plugged my computer into the printer and it automatically started printing something, without me pushing any buttons. Out of the printer came the email from Sharon. I started crying. I knew at that moment that Jeff really did know that I had passed. I felt like this was his way of letting me in on this secret – that he was still here.
I was thinking of that day when I was running on Saturday. I was thinking when it was quiet and raining and there were not a lot of runners out on the path – that even when no one is out there cheering us on, people still know what we are doing.
I think of Jeff as my personal cheerleader when I am running. He is the inspiration that keeps pushing me (even when no one else is around and I think it would be ok to sneak and walk for a little while). Because even though no one is here watching, he is watching. He has already let me know that he is watching and he knows what I’m doing.
Jeff I hope I am making you proud. I hope that when you set out to help me with law school that I have become an attorney and a person that you could be proud of and put your faith behind. I miss you and it gives me great comfort that you are still here and are watching over all of us. I love knowing that I have people on my side up there. I miss you my friend.
Until next week…
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Week 12
Weeks to Race Day: 7 Weeks - Oh my God only 48 days!!!
Miles for the week: 29 (Long run 16 miles!)
Quote of the Week: "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." -John Bingham.
Training this week proved to be slightly difficult. I had a sinus infection that put a small detour in my training. Here's a funny little story to go along with it: I was running my 4 mile route around Newburgh Lake on Wednesday - that is if you could call it running. It was more like run a little walk a little because I couldn't breathe. I had come to the end of my rope and was just dragging ass home (cursing at myself on the inside for being so stupid to go out and run feeling as crappy as I did). As I was coming to the home stretch down Ann Arbor Rd. I saw what was an "oasis" in the middle my own personal "desert"....my mom's car at the local grocery store!!! I walked into the store (sweaty and looking as BEAUTIFUL as ever - getting funny looks from the customers and workers, to find my mom for a ride home. Thanks for looking out for me on that one Jeff - I needed a ride home that day more than ever!
Here's a little fun fact about what your donations help achieve:
Since the first funding in 1954, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has awarded more than $600 million in research grants. It was through these dollars raised and the research that was done that scientists were able to discover the life saving drug - Gleevac.
Since it’s introduction, approximately 28,000 people have been diagnosed with chronic phase CML- before Gleevac, approximately 6,600 would have died within 5 years; with Gleevac, that number has been reduced to approximately 980- that’s 5,620 lives saved and counting!!
Because the drug is available in pill form and singles out cancer cells, a patient can manage CML while living with a high quality of life.
Without support of people like you, the discovery of drugs like Gleevac would not be possible. But Gleevac is just one drug, and we still have work to do. Thank you for all of your hard work - you’re doing something wonderful.
My words of advice - stemming from the quote of the week...If there is something you've been thinking about doing - just get up and do it. I thought about doing this last year and never worked up the courage to join. Now, finally joining this year it has been one of the best decisions of my life. It was scary at first - but has been so rewarding on so so many levels. So keep this quote in mind and perhaps you will get the opportunity to start something new! "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
Thank you all again! Your generosity is overwhelming!
Until next week...
Miles for the week: 29 (Long run 16 miles!)
Quote of the Week: "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." -John Bingham.
Training this week proved to be slightly difficult. I had a sinus infection that put a small detour in my training. Here's a funny little story to go along with it: I was running my 4 mile route around Newburgh Lake on Wednesday - that is if you could call it running. It was more like run a little walk a little because I couldn't breathe. I had come to the end of my rope and was just dragging ass home (cursing at myself on the inside for being so stupid to go out and run feeling as crappy as I did). As I was coming to the home stretch down Ann Arbor Rd. I saw what was an "oasis" in the middle my own personal "desert"....my mom's car at the local grocery store!!! I walked into the store (sweaty and looking as BEAUTIFUL as ever - getting funny looks from the customers and workers, to find my mom for a ride home. Thanks for looking out for me on that one Jeff - I needed a ride home that day more than ever!
Here's a little fun fact about what your donations help achieve:
Since the first funding in 1954, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has awarded more than $600 million in research grants. It was through these dollars raised and the research that was done that scientists were able to discover the life saving drug - Gleevac.
Since it’s introduction, approximately 28,000 people have been diagnosed with chronic phase CML- before Gleevac, approximately 6,600 would have died within 5 years; with Gleevac, that number has been reduced to approximately 980- that’s 5,620 lives saved and counting!!
Because the drug is available in pill form and singles out cancer cells, a patient can manage CML while living with a high quality of life.
Without support of people like you, the discovery of drugs like Gleevac would not be possible. But Gleevac is just one drug, and we still have work to do. Thank you for all of your hard work - you’re doing something wonderful.
My words of advice - stemming from the quote of the week...If there is something you've been thinking about doing - just get up and do it. I thought about doing this last year and never worked up the courage to join. Now, finally joining this year it has been one of the best decisions of my life. It was scary at first - but has been so rewarding on so so many levels. So keep this quote in mind and perhaps you will get the opportunity to start something new! "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
Thank you all again! Your generosity is overwhelming!
Until next week...
Weeks 9 and 10
Weeks 9 and 10 (10 weeks till race day)
This week I would like to give you some information about Team in Training and their Honored Hero's.
Team Honored Heroes are very special people who have battled and survived, or who are currently battling, leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and who have agreed to share their experience to inspire and motivate Team In Training ® (TNT) participants. TNT participants train for and complete a marathon, half marathon, hike in a national park, century (100 mile) bike ride, or triathlon in honor of these extraordinary people.
By honoring a member in their own community, and hearing their story firsthand, TNT participants are able to understand the extreme value of their fundraising efforts.
Kensington's Summer Team's Honored Hero is Mike Larson (my team). Here is Mike's bio.
TYPE OF BLOOD CANCER: C-cell follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
DATE OF DIAGNOSIS: May 29, 2009
CURRENT STATUS: Watchful Waiting, with scans every 3-6 months
My wife, Jane, and I live in Brighton, MI with our 3 children, Ellie, Katie, and Tommy. Our house is usually pretty hectic with homework, playing, and extracurricular activities for the girls, cleaning up toys and removing Cheez Its from the heating vents for the boy, with mom running the house and volunteering, and dad working and doing fantasy football research.
On Memorial Day weekend, I was camping in the backyard with my daughters and woke up in the middle of the night with some severe discomfort in my chest. During the subsequent trip to the emergency room, I was first told that the discomfort was probably indigestion induced by sleeping on the cold ground in a tent. During the examination, several masses were discovered and, after several additional days of testing, the diagnosis was C-cell follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This type of lymphoma is not particularly aggressive, but is fairly advanced in my system. The doctors advised me to delay treatment for awhile to better assess a treatment plan.
After a few weeks of coming to terms with the hand we have been dealt, Jane and I decided this “watchful waiting” mode was an ideal time to do something to fight the disease — not on an individual level, but on an overall cure-the-disease level. We are both just completed our first Team in Training event in Orlando in January (Jane for the half-marathon, and me for the marathon). We are “hooked” on TNT and hope it continue to be a regular part of our family’s life.
Mike is an inspiration. He has been training with our team. He comes out almost every Saturday to run with us. He shares his "story" and give us that extra push to run the distance - because when the miles seem hard we have to remember that we are running for Mike and people who are also in Mike's situation. The fundraising we are doing goes to research which might find the cure so Mike and his family no longer have to face this disease.
This Saturday was a big training day for the Spring team (their 20 miler for the full marathon and 12 miler for the half marathon - I only did 15 miles, my 20 miler will be in about one month). At the round up in the morning our Leukemia and Lymphoma staff member Sally told us that Mike would not be there to run with us.
Mike had been in the "watchful waiting" phase of his disease. Mike has C-cell follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Follicular lymphoma is the most common type of slow-growing NHL and is the second most frequent type of lymphoma, accounting for about 20 percent of NHL cases. Most cases of slow-growing lymphoma are chronic illnesses that are treated when indicated. In such cases, there is no known initial treatment that fundamentally alters patients’ survival rates. Deferring initial treatment is often a very appropriate treatment option. Many physicians consider observation (watch and wait) to be an active form of therapy, which involves careful monitoring of the disease status and follow-up.
As we learned on Saturday, Mike is no longer in the "watchful waiting" period of this disease. Mike began chemotherapy treatments on Friday. This brought the team right back into reality. Although I am here for myself, and to get into shape and meet new people, what drew me into TNT in the first place was losing Jeff - and wanting to do something to help so that others don't lose the "Jeff" in their life. I am here to help find a CURE. I am here to help so that Mike's family do not lose him.
People constantly ask me questions about why I am doing this: what keeps you going? How do you run that much? Isn't it boring? How do you get up on Saturdays at 6:45? I think my Coach summed it up in his weekly email:
"What keeps you running when it gets really hard? What gets you out of the house early on Saturday mornings to run? What brought you to this program? These are the things to remember when the miles get long and the going gets tough. Also remember that pain is temporary and the discomfort that you feel is nothing compared to the what our Honored Hero's go through each and every day when dealing with this disease. If they can deal with that EVERY SINGLE DAY, then we can put up with some discomfort during our run."
Thank you again to everyone for your generous donations. With all of your help I hope that we all cross the ultimate finish line - A CURE.
Also, please remember to take the time to appreciate the ones around you and be thankful for your life and your health.
Happy Easter!
This week I would like to give you some information about Team in Training and their Honored Hero's.
Team Honored Heroes are very special people who have battled and survived, or who are currently battling, leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and who have agreed to share their experience to inspire and motivate Team In Training ® (TNT) participants. TNT participants train for and complete a marathon, half marathon, hike in a national park, century (100 mile) bike ride, or triathlon in honor of these extraordinary people.
By honoring a member in their own community, and hearing their story firsthand, TNT participants are able to understand the extreme value of their fundraising efforts.
Kensington's Summer Team's Honored Hero is Mike Larson (my team). Here is Mike's bio.
TYPE OF BLOOD CANCER: C-cell follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
DATE OF DIAGNOSIS: May 29, 2009
CURRENT STATUS: Watchful Waiting, with scans every 3-6 months
My wife, Jane, and I live in Brighton, MI with our 3 children, Ellie, Katie, and Tommy. Our house is usually pretty hectic with homework, playing, and extracurricular activities for the girls, cleaning up toys and removing Cheez Its from the heating vents for the boy, with mom running the house and volunteering, and dad working and doing fantasy football research.
On Memorial Day weekend, I was camping in the backyard with my daughters and woke up in the middle of the night with some severe discomfort in my chest. During the subsequent trip to the emergency room, I was first told that the discomfort was probably indigestion induced by sleeping on the cold ground in a tent. During the examination, several masses were discovered and, after several additional days of testing, the diagnosis was C-cell follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This type of lymphoma is not particularly aggressive, but is fairly advanced in my system. The doctors advised me to delay treatment for awhile to better assess a treatment plan.
After a few weeks of coming to terms with the hand we have been dealt, Jane and I decided this “watchful waiting” mode was an ideal time to do something to fight the disease — not on an individual level, but on an overall cure-the-disease level. We are both just completed our first Team in Training event in Orlando in January (Jane for the half-marathon, and me for the marathon). We are “hooked” on TNT and hope it continue to be a regular part of our family’s life.
Mike is an inspiration. He has been training with our team. He comes out almost every Saturday to run with us. He shares his "story" and give us that extra push to run the distance - because when the miles seem hard we have to remember that we are running for Mike and people who are also in Mike's situation. The fundraising we are doing goes to research which might find the cure so Mike and his family no longer have to face this disease.
This Saturday was a big training day for the Spring team (their 20 miler for the full marathon and 12 miler for the half marathon - I only did 15 miles, my 20 miler will be in about one month). At the round up in the morning our Leukemia and Lymphoma staff member Sally told us that Mike would not be there to run with us.
Mike had been in the "watchful waiting" phase of his disease. Mike has C-cell follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Follicular lymphoma is the most common type of slow-growing NHL and is the second most frequent type of lymphoma, accounting for about 20 percent of NHL cases. Most cases of slow-growing lymphoma are chronic illnesses that are treated when indicated. In such cases, there is no known initial treatment that fundamentally alters patients’ survival rates. Deferring initial treatment is often a very appropriate treatment option. Many physicians consider observation (watch and wait) to be an active form of therapy, which involves careful monitoring of the disease status and follow-up.
As we learned on Saturday, Mike is no longer in the "watchful waiting" period of this disease. Mike began chemotherapy treatments on Friday. This brought the team right back into reality. Although I am here for myself, and to get into shape and meet new people, what drew me into TNT in the first place was losing Jeff - and wanting to do something to help so that others don't lose the "Jeff" in their life. I am here to help find a CURE. I am here to help so that Mike's family do not lose him.
People constantly ask me questions about why I am doing this: what keeps you going? How do you run that much? Isn't it boring? How do you get up on Saturdays at 6:45? I think my Coach summed it up in his weekly email:
"What keeps you running when it gets really hard? What gets you out of the house early on Saturday mornings to run? What brought you to this program? These are the things to remember when the miles get long and the going gets tough. Also remember that pain is temporary and the discomfort that you feel is nothing compared to the what our Honored Hero's go through each and every day when dealing with this disease. If they can deal with that EVERY SINGLE DAY, then we can put up with some discomfort during our run."
Thank you again to everyone for your generous donations. With all of your help I hope that we all cross the ultimate finish line - A CURE.
Also, please remember to take the time to appreciate the ones around you and be thankful for your life and your health.
Happy Easter!
Week 8
Week 8 (12 weeks till Race Day)
Quote of the Week: "You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give." - Winston Churchill
I would like to start off by saying THANK YOU to everyone who came to my fundraiser at Karl's Cabin Friday night - you all made the event EXTREMELY successful! I am amazed by everyone's generosity. And thank you to all of my helpers - I had several friends and family members who were a great help with selling tickets and I don't know what I would have done without them there.
I would like to take this time to say a special thank you to Jeff's kids, Jake, Jill and Jenny who all came out Friday night. Jake and his sisters rallied their friends and family to help make Friday night the success it was.
Talking with Jake reminded me of talking with Jeff. Jake has so many of the same amazing qualities Jeff had. I know Jeff is so proud of the man his son is growing to become. Jake you are an amazing young man, who is wise beyond his years, and I am overwhelmed by your generosity and support. Thank you for everything. I am so glad you have joined me on this journey!
This week I ran 26 miles (I told you I was back on track after Aruba!) My long run this week was 12 miles at Kensington with the team. I felt great and I averaged an 11min. 33 sec. mile - which I was proud of for such a long run.
When we were running, Erin, a fellow TNT participant said, "I think something magical happens out here." I think she is right. Although, I do not think Kensington has any special power, I do however think Team in Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society are what have the special motivation! Each Saturday we have more and more people out to run with us. We have our always present Coach Rick. We have our Staff member Sally. We have our honored hero Mike who comes and runs with us. We all have our personal reasons for why we are out there. And with all of these aspects of training combined, it seems to make the miles go by faster and easier. It makes the pain worth it. And it helps you push yourself harder than you ever have before. That is what I think is magical.
It is this magic that has lead me to commit to the FULL marathon instead of the half. I secretly have been training for the full marathon - I just didn't want to tell people in case I couldn't handle the training. But now it's out there - so unless my body fails me I WILL complete 26.2 miles on Race Day.
Thanks again to EVERYONE for everything they are helping me accomplish here. I hope you all have a wonderful week. And please let's all remember the ULTIMATE goal is - a CURE.
Quote of the Week: "You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give." - Winston Churchill
I would like to start off by saying THANK YOU to everyone who came to my fundraiser at Karl's Cabin Friday night - you all made the event EXTREMELY successful! I am amazed by everyone's generosity. And thank you to all of my helpers - I had several friends and family members who were a great help with selling tickets and I don't know what I would have done without them there.
I would like to take this time to say a special thank you to Jeff's kids, Jake, Jill and Jenny who all came out Friday night. Jake and his sisters rallied their friends and family to help make Friday night the success it was.
Talking with Jake reminded me of talking with Jeff. Jake has so many of the same amazing qualities Jeff had. I know Jeff is so proud of the man his son is growing to become. Jake you are an amazing young man, who is wise beyond his years, and I am overwhelmed by your generosity and support. Thank you for everything. I am so glad you have joined me on this journey!
This week I ran 26 miles (I told you I was back on track after Aruba!) My long run this week was 12 miles at Kensington with the team. I felt great and I averaged an 11min. 33 sec. mile - which I was proud of for such a long run.
When we were running, Erin, a fellow TNT participant said, "I think something magical happens out here." I think she is right. Although, I do not think Kensington has any special power, I do however think Team in Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society are what have the special motivation! Each Saturday we have more and more people out to run with us. We have our always present Coach Rick. We have our Staff member Sally. We have our honored hero Mike who comes and runs with us. We all have our personal reasons for why we are out there. And with all of these aspects of training combined, it seems to make the miles go by faster and easier. It makes the pain worth it. And it helps you push yourself harder than you ever have before. That is what I think is magical.
It is this magic that has lead me to commit to the FULL marathon instead of the half. I secretly have been training for the full marathon - I just didn't want to tell people in case I couldn't handle the training. But now it's out there - so unless my body fails me I WILL complete 26.2 miles on Race Day.
Thanks again to EVERYONE for everything they are helping me accomplish here. I hope you all have a wonderful week. And please let's all remember the ULTIMATE goal is - a CURE.
Weeks 6 and 7
Week 6 and 7 (13 Weeks till Race Day)
Quote of the Week:
"Clarity and inspiration
Happiness is a destination, that's hard to find
It may take some time
In my mind there's something more
And I'll open up a brand new door
And find the strength to close the ones I left behind
I'll get there leaning on some friends I know
The road and the radio." - Kenny Chesney
Week 6 I ran 15 miles and week 7 I ran 10. I fell a little bit behind on my training last week but that was for two reasons - one I was on vacation, and two - it's freaking HOT in Aruba. Running at 8am and it was already 90 degrees and humid as hell makes it hard to get the long miles in. But I must say it was BEAUTIFUL to run along the beach and soak up the scenery and sunshine. The scenery there was breathtaking!! I will try to include some pictures in the next update. But now it's back to reality (they had to drag me back kicking and screaming) and I'm getting in all of my runs again and am back on schedule!
But when I was running this Kenny Chesney song was playing on my Ipod and it just struck me. It hit close to home. Perhaps committing to running this marathon is helping me finally leave my past behind me (miles and MILES behind me)! I am already coming out of training for this event a stronger person than I was when I started.
I've done a few fundraiser's over the past few weeks that have turned out to be profitable and fun. Both events were with my team. The first was a weekend standing outside Busch's grocery store in Livonia giving out suckers and collection donations. It was cold and windy but well worth it. For a mere 4 hours of my time I raised over $200.00.
This past weekend I was selling beads to the crowds of people down at Corktown for the St. Patrick's Day 5k Run and Parade. I have never been down to this event. Let me just start off by saying that EVERYONE was Irish that day. Selling beads again turned out to be a profitable fundraiser - I was there for 3 hours and raise over $150.00. I probably could have kept selling and made more money, however, as the afternoon progressed so did the drinking and I decided it was time to leave Detroit before all of the "Irish" partiers decided it was time for them to drive home.
Don't forget the event this Friday at Karl's Cabin. The dueling pianos are GREAT. It was be a fun and entertaining evening if you can make it. I hope to see a lot of you there. I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Quote of the Week:
"Clarity and inspiration
Happiness is a destination, that's hard to find
It may take some time
In my mind there's something more
And I'll open up a brand new door
And find the strength to close the ones I left behind
I'll get there leaning on some friends I know
The road and the radio." - Kenny Chesney
Week 6 I ran 15 miles and week 7 I ran 10. I fell a little bit behind on my training last week but that was for two reasons - one I was on vacation, and two - it's freaking HOT in Aruba. Running at 8am and it was already 90 degrees and humid as hell makes it hard to get the long miles in. But I must say it was BEAUTIFUL to run along the beach and soak up the scenery and sunshine. The scenery there was breathtaking!! I will try to include some pictures in the next update. But now it's back to reality (they had to drag me back kicking and screaming) and I'm getting in all of my runs again and am back on schedule!
But when I was running this Kenny Chesney song was playing on my Ipod and it just struck me. It hit close to home. Perhaps committing to running this marathon is helping me finally leave my past behind me (miles and MILES behind me)! I am already coming out of training for this event a stronger person than I was when I started.
I've done a few fundraiser's over the past few weeks that have turned out to be profitable and fun. Both events were with my team. The first was a weekend standing outside Busch's grocery store in Livonia giving out suckers and collection donations. It was cold and windy but well worth it. For a mere 4 hours of my time I raised over $200.00.
This past weekend I was selling beads to the crowds of people down at Corktown for the St. Patrick's Day 5k Run and Parade. I have never been down to this event. Let me just start off by saying that EVERYONE was Irish that day. Selling beads again turned out to be a profitable fundraiser - I was there for 3 hours and raise over $150.00. I probably could have kept selling and made more money, however, as the afternoon progressed so did the drinking and I decided it was time to leave Detroit before all of the "Irish" partiers decided it was time for them to drive home.
Don't forget the event this Friday at Karl's Cabin. The dueling pianos are GREAT. It was be a fun and entertaining evening if you can make it. I hope to see a lot of you there. I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Week 5
Week 5 (15 Weeks till Race Day)
Quote of the Week: "Every day is a new distance." - Coach Rick
I ran 17 miles this week. On Saturday I ran 8 miles out at Kensington with the team in 1 hour and 37 minutes. I got to the 4 mile marker, my half way point and then turned around and headed back down the trail. I passed Coach Rick and some other members of the team who were training a longer distance. As I passed him he said "Way to go Stacey, 8 miles. Every day is a new distance!"
My ipod had died at this point in my run - and I had 4 miles with my thoughts and the only sound was my feet pounding the pavement (or sloshing through the snow) and I thought about what he said.
Every day is a new distance. Every week we are increasing miles. Every time I run at Kensington for the long run I increase my miles, each week being more than the one before. Every week brings new challenges to my body and mind to make myself push through each run.
This can apply to so much more than just running. Every day in life is a new distance that we have to travel. Every day brings new challenges, whether it be at home, or work, with your family, friends or coworkers.
My perspective has changed since I've started training for this marathon. I have the ability to face these challenges. I have the ability to learn and grow from them. I have my health, my family and my career. LIFE IS GOOD. So I am trying to embrace these challenges because I can.
Thank you again to everyone who has dontated to support this cause. And helping me reach my goal.
Every day is a new distance. I hope you embrace every step.
Quote of the Week: "Every day is a new distance." - Coach Rick
I ran 17 miles this week. On Saturday I ran 8 miles out at Kensington with the team in 1 hour and 37 minutes. I got to the 4 mile marker, my half way point and then turned around and headed back down the trail. I passed Coach Rick and some other members of the team who were training a longer distance. As I passed him he said "Way to go Stacey, 8 miles. Every day is a new distance!"
My ipod had died at this point in my run - and I had 4 miles with my thoughts and the only sound was my feet pounding the pavement (or sloshing through the snow) and I thought about what he said.
Every day is a new distance. Every week we are increasing miles. Every time I run at Kensington for the long run I increase my miles, each week being more than the one before. Every week brings new challenges to my body and mind to make myself push through each run.
This can apply to so much more than just running. Every day in life is a new distance that we have to travel. Every day brings new challenges, whether it be at home, or work, with your family, friends or coworkers.
My perspective has changed since I've started training for this marathon. I have the ability to face these challenges. I have the ability to learn and grow from them. I have my health, my family and my career. LIFE IS GOOD. So I am trying to embrace these challenges because I can.
Thank you again to everyone who has dontated to support this cause. And helping me reach my goal.
Every day is a new distance. I hope you embrace every step.
Week 4
Week 4 (16 Weeks till Race Day):
Quote of the Week: “We are not put on this earth for ourselves, but are placed here for each other. If you are there always for others, then in time of need, someone will be there for you.” -Jeff Warner
I’ve run 16 miles this week. And this is a theme that you will hear over and over week after week as I get further into my training: “I’ve never run this far in my life.” My furthest run thus far was yesterday training with the Team at Kensington. I ran 6 miles – no stopping in 1 hour and 10 minutes.
My coach (Coach Rick) ran with me most of this session – talking to me throughout the course about running and how he got into it. And at around mile 4 when things were getting harder he began the countdown for me to the finish line.
I got to a point around mile 5 where my legs were just tired and heavy. It was at this time that I had my first “A-Ha Moment” (as Oprah calls them). I felt like I wanted to stop running and start walking for the rest of my training session because I was tired. But it was then that Jeff flashed into my head. I remembered why I was out there – to run to raise money to FIND A CURE. I thought – Jeff can’t run, Jeff can’t even walk – Jeff is not here. THAT IS WHY I AM RUNNING. THAT IS WHY I NEED TO KEEP RUNNING. I am now a voice for people who are battling blood cancers. I am a voice for their families and friends who are affected by blood cancers. And I am running for them because they can’t.
This is what Team in Training calls a mission moment. We need to remember why we are out there running and what the ultimate goal is. And when the miles seem long and it seems as if you can’t carry on, you need to remember the REASON. Needless to say I powered through my last mile. I finished, and I will continue to finish because I can and because I’m not just doing this for myself.
Thank you to everyone for your generous support. I will be forever grateful. Check back next week for another update. I hope you all have a great week!
Quote of the Week: “We are not put on this earth for ourselves, but are placed here for each other. If you are there always for others, then in time of need, someone will be there for you.” -Jeff Warner
I’ve run 16 miles this week. And this is a theme that you will hear over and over week after week as I get further into my training: “I’ve never run this far in my life.” My furthest run thus far was yesterday training with the Team at Kensington. I ran 6 miles – no stopping in 1 hour and 10 minutes.
My coach (Coach Rick) ran with me most of this session – talking to me throughout the course about running and how he got into it. And at around mile 4 when things were getting harder he began the countdown for me to the finish line.
I got to a point around mile 5 where my legs were just tired and heavy. It was at this time that I had my first “A-Ha Moment” (as Oprah calls them). I felt like I wanted to stop running and start walking for the rest of my training session because I was tired. But it was then that Jeff flashed into my head. I remembered why I was out there – to run to raise money to FIND A CURE. I thought – Jeff can’t run, Jeff can’t even walk – Jeff is not here. THAT IS WHY I AM RUNNING. THAT IS WHY I NEED TO KEEP RUNNING. I am now a voice for people who are battling blood cancers. I am a voice for their families and friends who are affected by blood cancers. And I am running for them because they can’t.
This is what Team in Training calls a mission moment. We need to remember why we are out there running and what the ultimate goal is. And when the miles seem long and it seems as if you can’t carry on, you need to remember the REASON. Needless to say I powered through my last mile. I finished, and I will continue to finish because I can and because I’m not just doing this for myself.
Thank you to everyone for your generous support. I will be forever grateful. Check back next week for another update. I hope you all have a great week!
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