Did you know....

Only 2% of Americans are on the bone marrow registry?
That four out of five patients who need a life-saving bone marrow transplant never receive one?
That giving bone marrow is now no more painful than donating blood?

Please watch this movie. Get inspired. Get registered.
http://www.cvfaber.com/PerfectDonor2

Week 11

Our coached training on Thursday has stepped up. Now we're running 400m intervals at track practice. I bought some new shoes (after realizing that my old shoes were purchased in January and probably wouldn't be in great shape for the October marathon). It was great feeling the difference running in the new shoes versus the old ones. Kind of gave me some renewed energy.

On Saturday, we had a 1.5 hour run in Olema at the Point Reyes National Park. It was about a 40-minute drive and we had to be there at 7:45, which meant waking up at 6am. But I heard this was one of the prettiest runs, so I dragged myself out on Saturday morning. I thought we would be running along the coastline, but we were actually in a very woodsy area. The first 1.6 miles were all uphill. Whew! Of course, I kept reminding myself that it would make a great run back... love those downhill runs! I made it to the aid station about 3.2 miles in, and then I turned around so that I could get back for selling cotton candy at Safeway as a fundraiser. I met a really cool gal on my run back, Jen from Sebastopol, and had fun chatting with Lupe on part of the run back. I've really enjoyed the people I've met through TNT, and it was fun having someone to run with on the way back.

Cotton Candy sales went well. We only sold about $65 worth on Saturday in front of Safeway and then sold about $170 in front of Walmart on Sunday. We were in front of both venues for about the same amount of time (2 hours). After we paid for the sugar, Joe and I ended up making about $100 each that went into our LLS fundraising (Joe is on the triathlon team). We decided me will probably do it one more time in September, and the next time we'll only do it at Walmart.

I ran 11 miles!

On August 8, we had our first major 10+ run! I woke up early to drive out to the town of Sonoma to start our run at 8am. This was a big day! I was pretty nervous and had my Gu energy gel and Powerade all ready to go. I'm definitely loving the fuel belt I bought-- it makes carrying around some energy fuel and drinks so much easier.

We started off the run at one of the parks near the town square in Sonoma. I knew it had to be a beautiful area with all the vineyards around, but this run was really one of my favorites. The first couple miles were through a relatively flat area of trail and residential streets. Then we got up in to the residential area that was pretty hilly. I think about 3 miles in, we ended up at Gundlach Bundschu winery. It was amazingly gorgeous!!! Check out this photo and imagine running with these vineyards and hills as your view! All the fruit trees and grape vines and flowers were in full bloom. Our aid station was at the 4-mile mark, so I headed back to the park where we started. That made 8 miles. Then, I had to turn back and run back out. That was pretty cruel. By the time I'd run 8 miles and got back to start, I really wasn't feeling like turning around and running back out again. As pretty as it was! But I managed to run out another 1.5 miles before it was time to turn back (they were sweeping the course). So overall, I managed 11 miles in just under 2.5 hours. My legs were pretty tired by the time I was finished, but I put some Biofreeze on them and that seemed to help. I was pretty tired for the rest of the day, but I was amazed on Sunday and how little I was sore! I guess training really does help. :)

After the run, we had a fun pasta feed at Sebastiani winery (see photo of the giant barrels!). The best part of the celebration was seeing nearly 50 people register for the bone marrow registry! Such an easy way to save lives! Overall, a really great day filled with training and socializing.

My posts are lagging but my training isn't!

So I missed some posts once I became busy with my move and then was in L.A. for a long weekend. To bring it up to date, all is going well! I just signed my recommitment forms, so I'm totally committed to fundraising for and running the full marathon.

Track practices have stepped up (so to speak!). We ran the bleachers a couple weeks ago, and last night we ran intervals at a Level 4 intensity. And the dreaded lunges down the straight aways. Yuk! I can always feel the lunges the next day (although not nearly as much as after that first practice!)

Tomorrow (Sat) is my first 12-mile run! If I'm still alive afterwards, we have a fun party at the Sebastiani Winery in Sonoma. I'm hoping to get some photos from the run and afterwards to post on here. Stay tuned! :)

Week 7 - Sun-Wed

My mentor, Carla, says if we bring our blogs up to date, then we get a surprise. Woo hoo! Nothing too exciting to report. I did Pilates on Monday and noticed that my lower back was bothering me. Since I had to stop running and lifting over the winter due to lower back problems, I'm trying to be super mindful. I think this means that I need to do a better job of stretching out after runs. Luckily, my hamstrings don't seem super tight yet, so I think I can stay on top of it and keep it from becoming incapacitating, like in the winter.

On Tuesday, I was going to run hills with our team at Annadel, but it was just too hot. Plus, I had a meeting at 7pm, and I could only imagine arriving after running hills from 6-7 in 90-degree heat (or maybe 85 by then). So instead I swam a mile at the Petaluma Aquatic Center. The water was amazing!!! Of course, this has now resulted in a swim-off challenge with Joe (a member of the Triathlon team) that I can swim a mile faster than he can. The swim-off will take place tomorrow (Friday) at 3pm. To the winner, the victory!

Yesterday, I ran four miles on the elliptical/climber. I was still being a bit protective of my back and figured it wouldn't hurt to give it a rest and do my running on the machine. Tonight is Pilates and then track practice, so hopefully all goes well. :)

P.S. Carla rocks!!! ;-)

Week 6 - Saturday Long Run

Up at 6:30am for a 5-mile run in Novato at Hamilton Field. I've been to Hamilton before, and my reaction is always mixed. It's pretty (Spanish colonial architecture) but weird... in a Truman Show kind of way. It's a former Air Force base that has been turned into a planned community. So it's a mixture of military and suburban sprawl. But it made for an interesting and pictureque run. We started out along a levi where we could see the wetlands. Then about two miles in, there was a run up a fair hill where at the top we could look out on the base and the wetlands.

5 miles seemed much shorter. Of course, it's just a chance to catch our breaths before we tackle 8 miles next Saturday! I took my new fuel belt on this run, and I loved having it! It wasn't as sloshy or distracting as I thought it might be. And it's cool to be able to bring some liquid and carry some energy supplements with me. A good addition to my longer runs.

Week 6 - Thursday Intervals

On Week 6, we had track practice at Petaluma High School. I both look forward to and dread track practice. That's where we do intervals training, sprints, drills-- you know, all that fun stuff! (That really does help out in the end.) Today, we ran hills outside the track. Up and down 5 times. I wasn't fast, but I managed to get through it. And, actually, I wasn't very sore on Friday, which is new. Perhaps that means improvement?? :)
Go Team!