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!