Week 9

Week 9!  Wow.  I can't believe how fast the time has gone.  This week I was able to get up early several of the days and pound some miles out on the treadmill at my gym before work, but I soon came to realize (again) that it's just NOT the same as running outside.  Besides the fact that there isn't any changing scenery as I tack on the miles, no cold breeze in my face, no puddle to jump over, or dog to warily eye, the muscles I use are totally different.  I find that my left calf (the same side as my weak ankle) gets a lot more sore when I run on the treadmill.  I try to consciously run the way I would on pavement, but there's no way.  I'm not propelling myself forward.  The treadmill is.  It's good in a way, because it helps me keep the same pace, but not so good when I set the pace too fast or too slow and it totally messes up my whole workout.  Gotta figure that one out.  It's just too dark to run outside before (and even after!) work now.

Our Saturday group run was definitely one to remember.  It was cold and rainy when we all met up at the Tidal Basin in DC at 7:30AM.  I had on my running shorts, tanktop, a long-sleeved bike jersey over my tanktop, and my fleece-lined rain jacket.  Those of us who were there commented that we were either really dedicated or really crazy!  I think it was a little of both.  :)  We headed out to run around the National Mall and by the time I crossed over by the Lincoln Memorial and got up to the WWII Memorial, I was too hot.  I took my jacket off and tied it around my waist.  The bulk of the jacket bouncing up and down around my waist was annoying.  Past the Washington Memorial, Smithsonians, cross-over by the Capital, back past Smithsonians, Washington Monument, WWII Memorial...  bounce-bounce-bounce bulky jacket.  So when I got back to the Tidal Basin for a shot of Gatorade, I discarded it and headed out again.  (BTW: Orange Gatorade is NOT for me!  Blech)  Of course now that I shucked my jacket, the rain and wind picked up and I was freezing!  I was also soaked.  A couple of times I didn't quite have the leg length to leap over some huge puddles, so my shoes and socks were soaked through.  I could feel the back of my right heel getting rubbed raw, so I stopped to adjust my sock at some point and my fingers just wouldn't work.  The great thing about being so cold is that it propelled me to keep moving!  It was too cold to just walk.  I HAD to run.  7.21 miles later, I was done with my run and happy to shrug back in to my rain jacket.  But even that was a struggle, as my frozen body was rigor mortis!  Haha.  The end of the run and drive home had me looking like this:

You can't really tell how cold or rainy it is, but you can kind of see how intense the red on my face is.  The pelting of the rain on my face and the constant blowing of the wind left me with a bit of a windburn.  I was red and rashy-looking for the rest of the day.  I also accumulated 4 blisters.  What a day!  It was an adventure for sure, but I'm not sorry that I decided to brave the weather and participate..  I need all the training I can get, and it's these group runs that really keep me motivated.

FUNDRAISING!

I officially have 11 days left before my personal deadline for fundraising!  Since I have increased my fundraising goal, I need all the help I can get!  I'm currently 70% to my new goal.  I know we can do this!  I must admit, I'm a bit nervous, but I'm staying positive.  I've turned in my re-commitment paperwork with this new amount, so this is it!  This is the amount that will be donated to CCFA whether it be from all you generous people or by me making up the difference.  Either way, this experience has been totally worth it and I'm so pumped to hold up my end of the deal by completing the 1/2 marathon!  I really am trying hard to keep up with the training and not to focus on my weak ankle/calf.  I can do this.  I'm excited to do this.  I've been so impressed with everybody who has become involved in this great cause.  Thank you for keeping me motivated and humbled by your support.

Just 6 weeks left until race day!  YOO HOO!!!

Week 8

Week 8 ended with our Saturday group run for 60 minutes.  It was a very warm and HUMID morning!  Of course my body was not used to running for so long anymore and the air was thick, so there were several times when I had to stop and walk.  But I still put in almost 5 miles, so I think that was good.  I wore my ankle brace and popped 4 ibuprofens before-hand, so my ankle felt great!  :)  It was nice to be with the team again after missing a couple of weeks.  I really stay motivated on the group runs!

We also had a guest speaker come to talk to us about nutrition.  She had some very knowledgeable information to pass on about balancing your diet, how to replace nutrients and fluids lost on long runs/workouts, and tips on how to listen to what your body needs.  I hope to soak all of this in!

FUNDRAISING

I have a VERY exciting fundraising update!  Friday morning I came in to work to find a notification stating that I received a large donation -- in fact, it was the EXACT amount I needed to reach my goal!  I was SO excited, shocked, surprised, thankful, elated!!!  When I looked to see who the generous donor was, I was even more shocked to see that I had no idea who this person was.  I couldn't believe it.  Did I just forget that I knew this person?  I took a couple of days to try to figure out the acquaintance, but I came up blank.  I emailed this person, and here is part of the response:

We have not met.  While searching the Internet [I found] a link to your donation site.

I do not know anyone with Crohn's or Colitis disease.  But I am really impressed with your devotion to your siblings and your independent initative to help them and others suffering with the disease.  The fundraising, the marathon, the website - really, not that many people (even those who have a loved one with Crohn's or Colitis) would go to all the effort.  There are not enough people who do such things and I want to show my appreciation for those that do.

Again, I was just floored by this person's kindness!  And from somebody with no real connection to me, my family or to the disease!!  Really, I am so grateful.  It truly touches my heart.  This seems like such a small effort on my part, and yet the rewards are SO GREAT!  I am continually humbled; yet proud to be the vehicle   in which funds are raised for CCFA.

The result of this FABULOUS news is that I have increased my fundraising goal!  I have now committed to raise $3800 for CCFA.  I'm so excited to have the opportunity to do this.  THANK YOU to all of you who have donated.  I am equally grateful for everyone.  Just knowing that you support me has fueled my motivation and I am continually impressed with the generosity and readiness of all to support this cause.

Our team is currently sitting in 4^th place in fundraising out of all 27 chapters sending teams to Vegas.  THANK YOU for helping us achieve our goals!  As a reminder, my personal fundraising deadline is October 31st! Just a few weeks left.  I know we can do this!!

Week 5, 6, 7

It's been a couple of weeks since my last update.  Here's the news:  I took a couple of weeks off of running, as my ankle seemed to be getting worse.  I went to the doctor who was concerned that it might be a stress fracture.  Luckily the xrays showed nothing, so it's just a major sprain.  I've been prescribed physical therapy -- the doc said it could take up to 6 weeks for it to fully recover!  Hopefully the couple of weeks I've taken off is good enough, as I'm ready to get back in to the training!  I've gone for a couple of small runs (treadmill only), and so far so good.  I can definitely FEEL my ankle, but I'm hoping the pain will stay away and I can move to the pavement soon.  There is such a difference running on a treadmill VS propelling your own body forward on the pavement.  It feels as if I am back to square one with the training, which is quite frustrating, but it is what it is.  I've gotta really pick it up so I'm ready for the race -- less than 2 months away!  Wow.

In more EXCITING news, we totally crushed our September goal of raising $30,000 as a team!  The last week in September we were still about $1000 away from our goal, but we made it!  In fact, we raised nearly $39,000 in September!  

THIS.     IS.     AWESOME!!  

Thank you to all who have helped contribute!  I am continually honored and thankful for such generous donators.  Since we first started this challenge, our team has raised a total of over $71,000 for CCFA!  Amazing.  I really feel like we are making a difference!  Which is what this is all about.  We just received information on booking our trip out to Las Vegas and it's really starting to dawn on me how close we are!  It's going to be such an amazing weekend.  I can't wait!

If you are still planning on donating (THANK YOU!), my personal fundraising deadline is October 31st.  We officially have until the second week in November to turn in our money to be counted for our trip (even though donations will still be accepted all the way in to January, 2010), but I want to be sure I have everything in place well before the November cut-off.  Please leave a comment if you have any questions!

GO TEAM CHALLENGE!!