a new year, and some new knees!

I've been terrible with keeping up with this blog! My apologies. :)

I went running yesterday. Ran 5k. And I had no knee pain at all. None! Zip! Nada!! That's the first run since September that I didn't have knee pain afterward. I think I'm back in the game, folks! It's so much easier to go for a run when you're not afraid of killing your knees again.

So, I have a goal for myself. I was supposed to run the Disney Marathon today, but I didn't because of my knee. My goal is now to train over this year so that I can run the Disney Marathon next year. I know I can do it - I have no doubt about that. I just have to set my mind to it and just do it. I think training for a year will help me to do it slowly so that I don't have another injury.

Considering that a year ago, I was still only running about 8 minutes at a time (using the C25K plan), I think I'm doing pretty good...even if I didn't run a full marathon today. :)

What a gorgeous day, and a glorious run!

I think I'm finally back into the game, folks!! After running my half marathon in September, I have basically been out of commission when it comes to my running because of my knees. I tried resting them, but that didn't do enough to help me get back on my feet and running again.

Finally, after talking with several coworkers, I decided to bite the bullet and new running shoes. I've had my old ones for about 6 or 7 months now probably, so I was pretty overdue on some new ones. I also got a knee brace, and I talked with a coworker's husband (he's a doctor) about some exercises I can do to strengthen and help heal my knees (he told me I most likely have runner's knee). Sooo...coupled with all of those things, I think my knees are finally better!!!!...or at least on the mend. :)

I went running this morning, and it was GREAT! I ran 5.23 miles, and I felt like I could run more. I stopped mainly because I was coming to the part in my route that has tons of hills, and I don't want to overdo it with hills in fear of overworking my knees too soon. So, I went for 5.23 miles and decided to walk the rest (probably about another mile). I'll be stretching soon and will probably ice my knees a little since that's what the doctor ordered - I just wanted to post my excitement first. :)

Now to figure out a plan to get me up to a marathon distance by January! :)

I took this picture on my run today. I absolutely love how sunlight dances through the gorgeous-colored leaves during fall. Just wish pictures truly displayed this beauty!

386

Paint the Moon's Giveaway

I'm entering an amaaaazing giveaway on a great blog, and I thought I would share!!

Visit http://paintthemoon.net/blog/2010/10/the-incredible-giveaway-photoshop-actions-photography-resources/ to see what "The Incredible Giveaway" is all about!!! Paint the Moon offers many "Actions" and "Textures" you can use in Photoshop to edit pictures. I love her products and can't wait to start using them!!!!

Since I’ve been gone….

Well, it has been way too long since I have updated my running blog, and I must say – I haven’t been doing too terribly great with my running training.  I am running a full marathon in a little over 2 months, and I’m not ready for it one bit.  I put together a training schedule that will start on Monday.  I can’t wait to get going with the new schedule – I just can’t get myself to run until then for some reason.  bah.

Since I updated last, I ran my half marathon (Sept. 18, 2010 – 16.1 miles)!!  This was two days before my 25 birthday, and I think it was a fun fun way to ring in my 1/4 century year.  The race went well.  Mom, my cousin Cindy, and I went to Ashville, NC, and stayed Friday night so that I could run on Saturday.  It was a bit rough because of the monstrous hills all over Ashville, but I had fun!!  I walked up the hills, ran the rest of the course, and finished in about 2hr 34min.  Not too bad for walking a lot of it!!  :)

After half marathon – still smiling for some strange reason! ;)

Since my last update, I also ran in the annual 5k for Breast Cancer.  This was a pretty touching race as many of the people ran with loved ones’ names on their backs – either in memory of or in celebration of.  The ones that read, “I’m running in memory of my mom.” or the like completely broke my heart.

After the Breast Cancer race - I ran in memory of Mrs. Rita. 

Mrs. Rita was my Sunday School teacher for many years (high school and college), and she was also a youth worker all through my high school years.  She was always full of wisdom, laughs, and was an amazing prayer warrior.  

I can tell you the 9 Fruits of the Spirit because of a challenge Mrs. Rita gave us one year in Sunday School – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

And even now, when I get hungry late at night, I always remember her bit of wisdom that she shared many nights on youth trips:  If you get hungry late at night, you need to just go to bed.

Mrs. Rita didn’t let her cancer deter her from believing God’s word.  She knew full well that God would heal her, and although He didn’t heal her in the way we wanted, she is now completely healed and cancer free!  Woo!!

---

As I said, I’m running a full marathon in January.  It will be the annual Walt Disney World Marathon in Florida, and I can’t wait!!!  Throughout my training, I have been raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

It hasn’t been easy.  Out of the $2,900 that I have to raise before my race, I’ve raised a little over $1,000 of it.  Quite a bit left to raise!!  Please take a moment to visit my fundraising website - http://pages.teamintraining.org/nc/wdw11/ejustice – so that you can read my running story and possibly donate towards my run as well!!

Through your donation, you’ll be helping the LLS supply money for researchers working to cure blood cancers, provide encouraging services to blood cancer patients, and educate the public about these diseases.  I can’t raise the $2,900 without you!!

 

345

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?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.