running is a psychological sport

Well, first, I wanted to post the link to my LLS fund raising website. Please take a look and consider a donation! Even just $20 would go a long way in helping to find a cure and support blood cancer patients!!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nc/wdw11/ejustice

Okay, now back to the psychological side of running. I've been quickly increasing my mileage to cram for my half marathon that's just two weekends away from this coming weekend (EEK!!). Today, I did 6mi, and it went pretty well - except for the part that took me into the woods for a quick potty stop. I know, I'm crazy and ridiculous, but there's no way I could have kept going! lol

Anyhoo, back to my point. The route that I run is roughly about 3mi, so increasing my mileage is a bit tough sometimes whenever I have to run it twice. My mind focuses on the fact that I have 5 more hills to run, or I have 3 more streets to turn down. I get distracted away from my running and start thinking about how far is left based on the route. So, to help with this, I've started running new roads in the neighborhood that I run in. This helps so much, and I'm finding myself flying through my runs (mentally - they still take the same amount of time lol) without having to remind myself to focus on my running. It's crazy how much running down a new run makes me feel like my run is going faster than if I had gone the original route. Whatever works though!! :D

Don't forget to check out my LLS fund raising website - http://pages.teamintraining.org/nc/wdw11/ejustice - to find out why I'm training for the Disney Marathon! You can also donate directly on the website! Super simple! :D

Happy running, friends.

From my latest 5k race - Rock N Run in Charlotte, NC.

311

Welcome back ... and some exciting news!

Welcome back, running legs. Oh how I have missed thee. Our runs lately have been a great stress release, and I can't wait to run with you again. Tomorrow morning, shall we?

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I went for a 4.75mi run today, and it was great...but my Nike+ didn't log it for some reason. I'm so sad about this!!! Yes, I know that I went running, but I want my Nike+ to know too so that it can put it in the challenges I joined and towards my next distance level on the website. Sad times.

On another note - I'm about to start another great adventure!! :D I received a flier in the mail about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's training program called Team In Training (TNT). In a nutshell, they train you to participate in some sort of event (half or full marathon, triathlon, bike race, etc.) in exchange for you raising money for the society (with which they fund blood cancer research, aid to blood cancer patients, and many other things).

I went to an informational meeting last night about it, and I am SO extremely pumped!!! I've decided to train for the Walt Disney World Full Marathon, which is the first full weekend of January. We'll run our full marathon that Sunday, and it will take us through the park. We'll apparently be approaching the finish line with the Disney characters!! I can't wait - it sounds like such a great time!!

As part of the TNT program, our training team will meet on Tuesday nights to discuss the mechanics of running - running form, gear, and fueling yourself for runs. We'll then meet early Saturday mornings to increase our mileage. They'll also give us a schedule to follow on the in between days with runs and cross training days in there. Such a great chance for encouragement and some one-on-one training!! I cannot wait! I've always wanted to at least talk with a running coach, and this opportunity will have me working with one twice a week! WOO!!

One of the neat things about this program is that it definitely puts a purpose behind your running. I won't be running to just finish the race or prove something to myself and my body, I'll be running to help blood cancer research and cures. Our team will be partnered with a blood cancer patient, and we'll build a friendship with this person as we learn about their disease, treatment, and struggles they face. For myself, I'll have my uncle in mind. Although he did not suffer from a blood cancer, he did have a form of cancer that quickly took his life. Watching him (and my aunt & cousin) go through his treatments and life-altering procedures completely changed my own life and my perspective on life. I can't imagine how it is to be the person going through it. For these people, I will run.

As I said in the first part of this novel, the TNT program trains us to run in exchange for fund raising moneys. So, as a participant in this program, I will work towards a fund raising goal of $3,500. 75% of this money will go directly towards blood cancer research/patient outreach, and the remaining 25% will be used to fund my flight tickets, hotel stay, event registration, and some of my meals. I do not have my fund raising website set up yet (it will be done for me by the TNT people), but once I do, I will post the link here...so be checking back to find out how you can help send me to Disney and help find a cure for blood cancers!!

Okay - so, I do believe that I am done with my novel. I've been wanting to post about this new adventure that I'll be embarking on, but I didn't want to do so until after the informational meeting. :) Let me know what you think!! And don't forget to check back for more progress reports. I do believe I'm back in the great game of running.


246

meh

Sometimes, you get into these slums of life. I feel like I'm in one of those right now, and it doesn't help that I haven't had a good run in over 2 weeks now.

Hopefully tomorrow will be the day.

6 miles - woo!! (W1D3 done)

My 5mi run on Wednesday turned into 4mi, and my 6mi run yesterday turned into only about 1mi. The heat has REALLY gotten to me!! But, today was a new day, and I made my 6mi run!!! Of course, I did it at 8:30PM since it wasn't too hot outside at that time. It actually felt nice to be running, and I loved it.

Of course, since it was getting dark outside, the little critters were all starting to come out for the evening. I ran into countless bugs, had one up my nose and one in my mouth at some point. I jumped a few feet in the air twice when I ran across some frogs hopping across the road. But, the best part of my run (not those those things were necessarily good...just memorable!) was at the beginning. When I headed out, the sky was a GORGEOUS pink color as the sun was setting. If you know anything about me, you'd know that I love love pink, and this pink was of no exception! It was even better since God created that hue right there in the sky...never again to be created or seen. I tried taking a picture of it while I was running, but it didn't quite turn out....since I was running, of course. lol

Okay. I'm done rambling!! All in all, aside from the bugs and frogs, I had a marvelous run tonight!! I did 6mi in about 1hr 2min. And, I'm now officially done with Week1 of my half-marathon training.



Maybe I'm getting closer to being a Road Runner. *meep meep!*

188

Half Training W1D2

Today had a 5mi run on the schedule, so off I went around 10:00 this morning to get it checked off my list.

Ugg. I gave up after mile 4. It was so extremely hot, even at just 10:00, that I couldn't go any further. I even stopped my Nike+ workout, walked towards my car some, and decided that I was ridiculous and just needed to finish the 5mi workout I had planned. So, I started my Nike+ on a 1mi workout, went about a tenth of the mile, and stopped running again. I felt like a complete failure, but I just couldn't do it. It was so extremely hot.

Moral of the story? I mean, I have to learn something from this, right? I'll definitely be out of the house and running by 9:00 from now on. I can't handle running in that extreme heat!

Tomorrow and Friday are both rest days, but Saturday holds my long run. This week's long run is 6mi. I'll be heading out for that around 8:30 or 9:00 hopefully. I'll let you know how that goes.


Happy running!
171

Half Training, W1D1

Week 1, Day 1 of my half training is now complete! My schedule said to do an easy run of 2 miles, so off I went this morning!! I tried to get out of the house before it got too hot, which I did. I ran my 2 miles in about 19 minutes and some odd seconds. I can't remember exactly, and I haven't uploaded my run to Nike+ yet. Tomorrow is a rest day...so rest I will!

Not much to report. It was a good run. Hopefully with many more to come!

I took the plunge!

I did it. No more excuses and no more putting it off.

What did I do? I put together a fresh training schedule for a half marathon, and I also signed up for it!!! I'll be running the Ashville Living Well half-marathon on September 18, which is 2 days before my 25th birthday. Woohoo!! It'll be a fun way to ring in my birthday, right? I sure hope so! :)

The half-marathon description says that it's a "challenging course." Eek! Not only will I be running 13 miles, but it'll be a challenging course as well?! Have I gone completely insane? One may believe so!

I was hoping to attach my training program to this post, but I can't quite figure that out yet. Maybe I'll work on that and get it up soon!

Anyhoo - I just wanted to do a quick post to say that I've taken the plunge finally. I start my training tomorrow with an easy run of 2mi (who ever thought that would be an easy run?). I'll let you know how it goes! :D