Wednesday, October 22, 2008

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

Saturday, October 18, 2008

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! :-)

Friday, October 17, 2008

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! :-)

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

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!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

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. :-)