TEN MILES!

Oh yes....Ten Miles.
Today I ran my first double-digit run since my winter season injury in January. Jen was on the fence regarding her day's mileage (she ran a half-marathon last weekend), and at last decided to stick with 8. We ran together for the first 4 miles...neither one of us was feeling "the groove". I wasn't looking forward to running the last 6 solo, but then things improved.

Solo, but Not Alone
At mile 6ish, I finally hit a groove. My pace leveled out, transitions between run and walk smoothed (ran 4:1 interval), and that little voice inside my head didn't rear its ugly head by whispering, "Just walk...why bother...what are you trying to prove".

Although I was running solo, I was not running alone. At the ten-mile turn-around, I started to see more TNT runners from other waves. We called out "Go Team!" to each other and had a few conversations with runners as we leap frogged between our run-walk intervals. At miles 6, 7, and 9, I realized I was feeling good. I quickly pushed that thought out of my mind for fear that I would jinx the run. When the finish was in view, I saw the group eating Victoria's Beakfast Burrito's --- I couldn't wait to eat the perfect post-run meal. I chatted, stretched, and just as I was about to eat, one of my mentees came in from her 12 mile run. This was the longest distance Cecile had ever run and she was grinning from ear to ear. She did it, and felt good.

Personal Accomplishments, Team Achievements
We started running as a team in June with a goal of 3-6 miles with zero dollars raised. Marathoners are now running up to 12 miles and, as a team, we have have raised over $115,000! Just imagine how much all Team in Training summer teams will raise nationwide. We are each making personal accomplishments in our running and fundraising goals, while making enormous team achievements for the greater good as a result.

Thank you, once again, to each individual who has donated toward my fundraising efforts. You are indeed making a difference in the lives of so many.
Donations are welcome until the date of my Marathon, October 11, 2009.

FANTASTIC FIVE!

The "D" Word has been resonating a little too much lately. The word? Defeated. But today, at last, I felt back in the game. And it was a realistic game of five miles at Rancho San Antonio. Love that place. Dirt trails, varied terrain, deer, bunnies, families of quail, and running with Jen.

Started off running intervals and walking (fast) hills -- keeping a reasonable check on the pace on the almighty Garmin 405. Hmm, I think I've heard that's a good idea from um...the coaches, Runner's World, Jack Galloway... Calves getting pretty tight and stopped to stretch at the turn-around.

Then the run back --- one and half miles of mostly downhill with occasional upward grade then the flats for the last mile. GREAT pace, feeling tall. Hit five miles, cool-down walk, stretched.

This was the run to replicate. Yeah, the first few miles of any run are suppose to suck until you get your groove on. Warm-up at a slower pace, then run the run. This is the routine to follow on next week's 8 mile run. Sidenote: Thanks Jen for snapping the pics!! Check out Jen's blog for her accurately detailed sequence of the run.

Bad Day, Good Run?

Saturday was definately a bad day, but overall it was a good run. I've sequenced the details below...

1. Hot morning
2. Dehydrated before the start
3. Running with Jen kept things in perspective
4. Started out WAY too fast
5. Goose-bumps at 2 miles
6. Increased walk interval (good: identified issue and made adjustments to plan /bad: the fact that there was an issue)
7. Figured out Nathan Bladder (so long fuel belt)
8. Consistantly walked last two miles
9. Hydration levels were NEVER maintained
10. Logged my goal of six miles (mileage is mileage -- run, walk, or crawl)
11. FANTASTIC post-run potluck for Honoree Week (kudos to Amy's breakfast burritos)
12. Spent rest of weekend sucking down fluids

So now what? I must get back into the routine of consistantly staying hydrated on a DAILY basis AND get back into a cardio routine on my cross-training days (M/W). AND...remind myself, that it's better to be learning from my stupid mistakes early in the season. Nope, this won't be happening again.

J9 Raises nearly $2800 for LLS in a Single Day!!

On June 20th, I hosted the 2nd Annual Waits-Mast Cellars Wine Tasting Event to benefit the Leukemia and Lyphoma Society (LLS) with great success!! With the help of 40 guests, I raised nearly $2800 in a single day. Guests enjoyed pinots from Waits-Mast Cellars while noshing on hard to find Italian Cheeses from A.G. Ferrari in Los Altos such as Trugole wrapped in speck, Gorgonzola Dolce with a dollop of carmelized red onion, and others with fig jam, apricots, pears, and ohhhh the chocolate cake with Starbucks coffee. Then there was the silent auction table --- TWO Crushpad Fuseboxes, massage from Sports Medicine Institute, season tickets to Renegade Theatre Experiement's 09-10 Season, AND cheese and wine tasting for TEN at A.G. Ferrari in Los Altos!!

Honoree and marathoner Keith Newman (see Keith below smiling with sunglasses) spoke to the crowd under my umbrelled garden, thanking them for enjoying the afternoon together while raising money for such an important cause. In April 2008, Keith was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma - for which there is no cure. LLS is helping to find a cure and to assist blood cancer patients and their families. Currently, Keith is training for TWO marathons 6 weeks apart. I asked Keith if he had ever run two back to back marathons before. He casually replied, "No. But I never had cancer before either."

I am once again astounded by the generosity of family, friends, and acquaintenances. Even in these challenging economic times, people are willing to give. Keith reminded me what I witnessed last season and am witnessing once again, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Thank you for your donations --- small amounts add up to big research dollars which makes life more livable for blood cancer patients and bring us that much closer to a cure.

GO TEAM!

Special Thanks to following for their generous donations and/or discounts which made this event possible:
Waits-Mast Family Cellars

A.G. Ferrari Foods

Crushpad

Sports Medicine Institute

Sports Basement

Renegade Theatre Experiment

Starbucks (Winchester/Magliocca in SJ)

Williams Party Rentals

Rubios

WOOT WOOT!

Season 3 has officially began and I'm feeling pretty good! I achieved a HUGE milestone last night at our 2nd track workout. I felt good running. We did circuit training - run a lap at a comfortably hard pace, do an exercise, run a lap, new exercise, repeat. With my NEW Garmin, ooooooo, I was able to track my pace. My fasted lap was at an 8:30/mile pace and my slowest was at a 10:00/mile pace. IF my goal were to run a 5hr marathon, I'm on track (maybe a little fast). Right now, I don't know what my goal is and I know those SAN FRANCISCO HILLS will affect my time. I think 5hrs is unrealistic based on my injury recovery process...but we'll see. I plan on KILLING core this season so who knows how fast that core strength will carry me.

New Season

I am once again training for the San Francisco Nike Women's Marathon. Our official training starts next week - I'm a bit nervous as my workouts were temporarily restricted while I went through physical therapy, that's a WHOLE different story. Apparently my issue was not entirely shin related - it was my sacroiliac. We'll talk about that another time - still bitter about the misdiagnosis, but I'm getting over it!

Napa Marathon 2009 - A Season Without Regret

I spent a lot of time penning a thank you letter to our amazing South Bay Run Team Coaches. They are very smart people, you know. So smart, that when one of the coaches replied to me that "a lot of thought and reflection when in to this (letter)," I had to agree. So, I'm posting the majority of this letter as an update to my blog.

To preface this letter, I'll state that I am still injured, awaiting physical therapy which will right things right. I've got new shoes. I'm still aqua-jogging and our numbers are increasing as people are realizing the benefits of the cross-training sport. Yes, I'm calling it a sport.

Yesterday was the 2009 Napa Marathon, which I was scheduled to run. There were many of us out there who were scheduled to run, but couldn't do to injuries. Many others recently ran their events, and were in recovery mode. A whole lot of these people were supporting the team by cheering all runners and running alongside teammates - many of whom were about to set PRs or running their first ever marathon. All of us on the South Bay Run Team had raised over $130K for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during the 2009 Winter Season.

This is my thank you to the coaches...

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

Dear Coaches,

What an amazing season it has been - lots of injuries, but fantastic weather until Napa Marathon race day. You got everyone prepped with scenic training runs, rigorous track nights, hard core core-strength, and a sense of humor. I was really bummed for several weeks that I couldn't run Napa, but I couldn't have ended the season on a better note than helping to support a marathon with such an enthusiastic and caring group of people.

Margot, Amy, Dianne, Evelyn, and myself had a great time in the rain ringing noisemakers and cowbells while cheering ALL runners (of course, a little bit louder for SBRT). Honoree Patty joined us near mile 9 for a bit, before moving up the road. Jason hung out with us for awhile at mile 24ish until he shedded his coat and began running along side countless teammates while circling miles 23 and 25. It was great seeing Megan and Adam going back and forth, watch Tanja keep Brian on track, see Rich pick up where I left Andria off. Then Katie and Tyler at the end knowing they had been out there, too. Also out there braving the weather were Wendy, Honoree Ellen, Debra, Mike Z., and Honoree Doug on the Victory Party dance floor.

I saved my leg for the 5.5 hour + people -- it was GREAT seeing Rakhee, Andria, Jen, Toni, Arianna, and James, (I know I forgot the names of others) and running alongside each of them for a bit. Running Robin in to the finish after the 6 hour time was fantastic.

The best story that I heard from the day, was of Mike S. being told that he wouldn't make the cutoff - that alone was enough to boost his endorphin/adrenaline output into a 10 second overdrive. He did that damn thing, and finished sub-6. The most memorable moment I witnessed, was standing with Kris as the the personal multi-car, music-blasting escort approached with the last TNT runners -- then joining in on the final approach to the finish. The fact that Napa officials took down their finish line, didn't stop the SBRT from creating their own. There was SO much support for our team throughout the race that I was unable to witness, but I've heard the stories which makes it true.

Not only have you trained our bodies well for the marathon, but our spirit to encourge and support each other until the very last TNTer crosses the finish line. 26.2 is 26.2 no matter what the stride.

I know you always thank the captains and mentors for everything they do, but it's thanks to great team leaders that we have such a unique team. You guys ROCK :)

----j9 (in the ginormous orange poncho)

Additional kudos to supporters I may have forgotten: Apologies to those of you whose names I may have left out - please let me know if I excluded you and I will add your name to the list.