What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger... so we'll keeping adding more distance

We've had two great runs so far this week, both at least 5 miles! Week 6 has been awesome for me!

I commented to Jeremy before the start of the last run that I really enjoyed just running anywhere and then figuring out how far we ran. So that's what we did on our second run this week... totaling 5.5 miles (at least). Jeremy mapped out the run and you can check it out here. We ran by the White House in this run... definitely something you can't do everyday... or maybe we can lol :-)

Today, Jeremy hinted already at going for the 6 miles! I'll keep you posted... 6 miles during Week 6 sounds like a great idea lol :-)

Thank you for everyone's donations!! I'm really getting excited as the time gets closer for the run in Miami... I know I'll be prepared and definitely psyched with everyone's support! :-)


Week 5 Summary:

• 10/17: Ran 5 miles
• 10/16: REST
• 10/15: Ran 45 mins/about 4 miles
• 10/14: Ran 5 miles
  

3, 4, now 5 Miles!... & the "345" ticket!

Today was our DC Team Challenge Meetup training run @ Arlington, VA.  We meet every Saturday at various places throughout the DC Metro area at 8am for a long run and today it was 5 miles at least.  I don't have an exact calculation, but some team members wearing GPS said it was 5 miles.  We ran 30 minutes and then turned around for 30 more mins ... so it was a good run.  I found another running partner, Elizabeth, who shares similar pace with me and she's great at saying encouragements at the right times!

We met at Washington-Lee High School and headed for a run/bike trail called, Custis Trail.  There were plenty of hills and windy paths on the trail, but Elizabeth and I kept going for the 60 min run.  We only had to briefly stop for a traffic light to wait for traffic to pass, so this is a great trail to run without stops.

After the run we all met back @ Washington-Lee High School and Kevin (our Team Coach) answered any questions.  Then our fundraising clinic, presented by Dani our Team Manager took place.  She shared some insight on how we're (DC Team) doing compared to the other at least 50 (I believe it was a # high like that) Regional Teams are doing.  Team DC was in 2nd place last Saturday, but Team Long Island has surpassed us.... we'll catch up again I'm sure.  Dani made sure to congratulate on our great Team work so far and it's only the beginning!

Next was the fun surprise part.  Every Saturday, Dani acknowledges the Team Memeber who has raised the most donations during the week, she also awards the most creative websites, and Team members are invited to enter into a Raffle for a few dollars.  The winning you receive is then for you to place towards your Fundraising Goal.  I bought a ticket for $5 and 20 minutes later Dani pulled the winning ticket - Ticket #345.  I reached into my pocket and at first I couldn't find it, thinking no problem, because I never win anyway. lol  I found my ticket and it was #345!! I won :-)  I've only been home for 20 or so minutes and I already recorded the winning amount on my website.  Thanks DC Team Challenge!! :-)

I can't wait to continue running this week.... my last post is correct.  I keep feeling better the more I run! :-)

It's all about managing your bank

I ran across this quote (no pun intended lol) and thought it was a good way to think about the running I do during the week with Jeremy.

"Putting miles in your training log is like putting money in the bank. You begin to draw interest on it immediately."
-Hal Higdon

I've taken the past couple days off to rest up for the Team Challenge training meet-up on Saturday morning. These meet-ups happen every Saturday and on last Saturday, when I took a break before the meet-up, I felt really good running the entire time. So far the past week I've run a total of 9 miles, with 5 miles being the longest single distance. I guess hitting a 5 mile milestone this week, means I need to rest a couple more days. It's fun to see how my body adjusts to the running I've been doing. Each time we run a little bit more or add that extra run up Capital Hill, it gets easier. :-)

The last post I mentioned friends and family supporting me with dollar a mile or such, but Jeremy is helping me increase my personal training bank of mileage. Even though sometimes I tell Jeremy I think I've reached my limit, we push a little farther, and add to my bank.... thanks, Jeremy! :-)

Training = Fundraising AND Running @ Lunch is Fun!

This is a quick post that I'm writing while watching the last Presidential debate.  Today, Jeremy & I ran about 45 minutes, but we're not sure of the distance.  I believe Jeremy said he estimated it to be 4 miles.  We started running to the National Mall and then Jeremy asked me if I wanted to head to the Lincoln Memorial or go up Capitol Hill.  I suggested we run up the opposite side of the Capitol (which is still a hill), so that's what we did.

Then we ran down different streets in the neighborhood behind the Capitol and I recognized some of the streets from the "Mystery Capitol Run" we did last week.  So it's great we're able to change up the running route.

Also, after running at least 5 miles yesterday, we weren't interested in pushing ourselves too hard.  But thanks to Jeremy I pushed myself with this run.... if he didn't meet up with me at lunch, it would have been a perfect REST day lol

I just realized tonight when commenting on Nichole's comment on my previous post, that my Training and Fundraising are progressing at the same rate... Training is at 5 mile (38% of 13.1 miles) and Fundraising is at $1,389 (39% of $3,600).  Thanks for everyone's support & donations!  I'm going to cross that Finish Line in Miami and CCFA will get closer to finding a cure for Chron's & Colitis!

Where do you want to go today?

Today was my first run for the 5th week of my Half Marathon Training... and I ran 5 miles (at least) today!

Jeremy and I started from near the Capital Bldg and we just kept running.... I remember commenting to him that I like it when we switch the running route up.  So that's exactly what we did today.  

I also told Jeremy about some of the hills that Kevin introduced into our Team Training Meetup run this past Saturday.  Kevin said adding hills in your routes helps increase your endurance for long runs (i.e. 13.1 miles).  

We ran downtown near the Archive Bldg and by the Navy Memorial... and by the Ellipse and then to the Lincoln Memorial, by the World War Memorial (around it once) and Washington Monument and then along Constitution Ave between the National Mall and to the right was a good view of the Tidal Basin with the Jefferson Memorial.  

How many monuments & memorials was that for today?  Running in DC @ lunchtime is so much fun!  I mapped out our run for today as close as I could... Jeremy said he would take a look at it, but it looks like it was at least a 5 mile run. :-)

Week 4 went fast! (summary of 17 miles)

• 10/12: REST
• 10/11: Team Challenge Meet - Ran 4 miles
• 10/10: REST
• 10/9: Ran 4 miles
• 10/8: REST
• 10/7: Ran 4.5 miles
• 10/6: Capitol Hill Mystery Run (4.5 miles)

You're part of the Team & My Fundraising Update

I found a fellow Team Member's fundraising page and she says something that really puts all of this Training & Fundraising into perspective for me and I thought it was a great point to share with my Blog Readers!

Be a part of Team Challenge with me... No, you don't have to run... I'll do it on your behalf with your donation & support.

This is a good way to let my supporters know that even a donation of $13 (a dollar per mile) is appreciated!

Thanks for everyone's support & donations!  All your support and help means a lot for me to be able to cross the Finish Line in Jan 2009.  Thanks to you, I'm 39% of achieving the required fundraising  - this is exciting!

13.1 miles is far, but finding a cure for Chron's & Colitis is getting closer for us!

Team Challenge Training Run was great!

Today I woke up around 5am and was excited about my first Team Challenge Training Run.  Mac told me, "put your running shoes on, and run like crazy!"

We met at 8am @ Potomac Running Store in Arlington, VA.  I didn't know what to expect as far as who was going to be there and of course was nervous about everyone else's running level.  I was hoping not to be getting in over my head... well, everything turned out great!

Our Team Challenge Manager, Dani, had everyone fill out Running Profiles, so that her & Kevin could group everyone according to their running experience/level.  I was in Group 2 - not too bad to be considered middle!  I met some great ppl and looking forward to our future running training sessions.

Our Team Challenge Running Coach, Kevin, proposed a 4.6 mile run.... I wasn't too crazy about it since I just starting running 4 miles comfortably the past week, but I was up for the challenge.  I ran with a couple girls that seemed to be at around the same running pace as me.  At the end, Kate & I ran down Wilson Bvd to make up for not doing the couple of zig-zags down side streets that Kevin had originally proposed.  So here's a link to what I'll call the Potomac Running Store Team Challenge.  

After we all returned to the Running Store, Kevin introduced us to some running techniques and exercises to do after our runs.  They involved leg/knee-lifts when you run, lunges, and different sprint runs to finish off our runs with. It was so much fun..... I can't wait until next wkend!

Make the Mind Run the Body...

Jeremy is always reminding me that I'm not tired when we're running... and it's just mental. This quote follows along with that same philosophy and thought I would share it :


"Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."

- George S. Patton, U.S. Army General, 1912 Olympian

Everytime it changes, I feel better

Yesterday we ran 4 miles via the Lincoln Memorial run.... but we did it backwards!! It was fun to run on the opposite side of the Mall first and then to run the opposite away around the Lincoln Memorial. I believe doing that helps me mentally get stronger running... Jeremy and I talk about that lots when we're running. I often try to say positive things like "I feel great" or "It's so beautiful out," to try to distract myself from being tired while running.... some days it works better than others.

Yesterday, running opposite way around the Lincoln Memorial did the trick - it was a good 4 mile run yesterday! Also, having Wednesday (10/9) off with a rest, probably helped yesterday's run.

Have to wait & see what today's Lunchtime run is.... I think it's going up to near 80F today again... so it will be another warm day - but the sun is shinning :-)

Running the Capitol Hill Run... no longer a mystery!

Today we ran the 4.5+ mile run up Capitol Hill and through the neighborhood.  It's a great run and I believe changing up the run really helps - especially when you add a bit more distance. :-)

I told Jeremy that I definitely feel the difference in my body & breathing when I'm running up the Hill.  I realized that I do feel better once we reach the top of the Hill (I know it's kind of common sense, but I'm trying to reinforce the positives in my head with my training)... so I'm enjoying the challenge of the Hill this week to start my runs.

Jeremy remapped the Capitol Hill Run after we paid attention to more of the street names this time... and he found out it's about 4.6 miles.... so I'm just calling it 4.5 miles.

I haven't biked to work the past few weeks, now that I'm running everyday at lunch.  I miss biking and thinking I might try doing it at least once a week and not run that day... I'll let you know what I try.  I just want to be careful not to overdue my training! :-)

Solved!!! - Mystery Run Distance + Route

Jeremy provided me with this link for our run yesterday. I really enjoyed changing up from our normal run last week to Lincoln Memorial. It looks like we surpassed our 4 miles mark... but this is just an estimate... so at least we matched 4miles if we didn't go over.

I reviewed the route Jeremy mapped out and I think it's pretty close to where I remember running yesterday.

Not sure about running route today, but we're meeting @ 12pm. I'll keep you posted! :-)

Mystery Run up to Capitol Hill

Today, Jeremy and I decided to switch it up and just run anywhere. Running the same route everyday can get boring.... so Jeremy paid attention to the time and I'm sure he kept his usual pace ahead of me, so we're pretty sure we ran equivalent distance.

We ran up Capitol Hill to start... this is tough just walking up it, but to run up it... well, sure you can understand. So we ran around the Capitol Hill neighborhood -turning at red lights or when we saw a clear straight sidewalk to run on... eventually, we turned to run down Capitol Hill and Jeremy asked if I would like to run back up Capitol for the ending... opposed to a lap around the Mall to finish off the run. We opted for the run up the Hill and then Jeremy encouraged me on the last bit to sprint to our office bldg.

It was a good run and we enjoyed the beautiful fall weather... I'll post the route/run sometime this week. More running tomorrow!

Total of 18 miles for Week 3

Short post to let you know all the walking I did this wkend. I met my visitors @ Union Station and after a quick dinner, we walked throughout DC by the Capitol Bldg and to the Mall.

Next day, we woke early and headed to the National Zoo. The weather was perfect for walking through the Zoo... we saw 2 of the panda bears and cheetahs to name a few of the many animals.

Sunday morning, we had breakfast @ the Old Ebbit Grill and walked more around downtown DC... making a stop for pictures @ the White House. Pumpkin pancakes at the Old Ebbitt are highly recommended!! (Don't have the pix yet from my visitors of the WH.)

So it's back to running tomorrow... possible, that I'll be biking to work tomorrow depending on weather and when I get to bed tonite. :-)

Week 3 Summary:

10/4-5: Walked lots!

10/3: Ran 4 miles

10/2: REST

10/1: Ran 4 miles (Happy FY09!)

9/30: Ran 4 miles

9/29: Ran 4 miles

9/28: Ran 2 miles

9/27: REST

More miles than last week and still going....

Yesterday, was a great run for me to the Lincoln Memorial - 4 miles! I told Jeremy I believe that was my best 4 mile run so far. Funny how I almost thought yesterday would be my break, since I worked late the past few days... and Tuesday, 9/30 - the last day of Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 until Midnight!
Tomorrow I'll be running again and Saturday morning is the first Team Challenge Meetup @ the Tidal Basin for a morning run.